Being a Student of the Game

ESPN released their entire 2012 College Lacrosse TV Schedule back in January, and if you haven't seen it yet, here you go.  There is nothing like going to watch live college lacrosse game, but the next best thing is watching it on TV. With ESPNs 37 game coverage you can watch the best match ups this season has to offer right from your couch. We posted an article last spring about being a student of the game. Don't just watch lacrosse as a fan watch it as a student. Take the opportunity to learn from the best lacrosse players in the nation. And with ESPNs most expansive lacrosse coverage ever it has never been easier.

Lacrosse is an incredibly fast paced game no matter what level or age you play at. There are so many moving parts which makes it hard to get a grasp for lots of the little details; like where everyone is supposed to be on the field, understanding off sides or visualizing a pick and roll. That is why it is extremely important to watch lacrosse. Its easier to visualize and understand the things your coach has been teaching you.

Things to look for while watching the game...

Take note on how quickly and comfortable every player can transition between their right and left hands. The ball never stays still. The more the ball moves the more out of place the defense will become. Sharpen up your sticks and play some wall ball. 

The offenses may seem complex but they are the same concepts that any middle school or high school team will run. Pick and roll, cut the open space, draw and dump. You can learn a lot by watching the best do it. 

"If you want to walk, play baseball." There is never a moment where a player is not running their absolute hardest. 

Rides are not an opportunity to relax and catch your breath, its a chance to play some quick defense and get a free possession. Clears are just as important; you cant score with the ball in the D-zone

Learn the positions, understand the responsibilities for every individual, defense, middy and attack. There is more to a position then simply scoring or stopping the other team.

Even the guys on the sideline are paying attention listening to their coach and ready to jump in the game.

Evolution of College Lacrosse

The 2012 Division I college lacrosse season marks a huge transition in the sport. University of Michigan's inaugural  season represents the next chapter in college lacrosse. The expansion of the sport in the Midwest is now in full swing. The inclusion of giant state schools will change the landscape of competition. The days of Ivy League dominance are over; their presence in Division I will continue to wane. Though Ivy League players and coaches have not lost their hunger, they cannot compete with the larger schools. Coach Tierney's departure from Princeton University for Denver marked a turning point in the sport. At Denver, the academic standards for Tierney's recruits and players are not nearly as rigorous Princeton's and it's peers. The search for an LSM who is big, strong, fast, has an amazing stick becomes a little more difficult when he needs to have a 3.5 High School GPA.

Denver and the state schools have something else the Ivy's cant offer the countries top recruits: money. The Ivy's cannot give Athletic scholarships, and while there are ways around it, it's harder to attract student athletes when great programs like Duke, North Carolina, and Ohio State can offer full ride tuition.

With the first Ohio State-Michigan Division I lacrosse game set for April 14, the lax world should be excited. Lacrosse is no longer a small University game but is on its way to becoming a huge, nationally crazed, cash cow like NCAA football and basketball. Schools are starting to realize the advantages of fielding these teams. Schools like Michigan bring millions of dollars of revenue every year from football; tickets, licensing, and most of all television. Lacrosse has the potential to be just as big and Michigan's commitment to their lacrosse program is proof. We should we pumped at the possibility of one day watching one of the best rivalries in all sports duke it out in the Big House in front of 100,000 fans. And who knows, perhaps March Madness could be overshadowed by the Lacrosse Final Four.

And for those who doubt, think about this. Princeton won 22 football Division 1 championships in under 40 years at the turn of the last century, now the entire Ivy and Division 1-AA Football league are an after thought. 

Setting Goals

On Lil' Laxers we talk a lot about improving your game, working hard in the off season and becoming the best lacrosse player you can be. This is our goal and we assume is your goal as a reader. All of your hard work seems kind of silly without a reason...like trying to accomplish a goal. Goals are so crucial because they give us something to reach for. A goal can remind you every day when you lace up your cleats why you are pushing yourself so hard. Being the best you can be is an obvious goal but more specific goals are necessary too. There are two types of goals and each are equally important. 


Firstly, there are short term goals: maybe one season, a week, or even a single game. These can be as simple as do not drop a pass for an entire practice or be able to cradle with your off hand by the end of the season. Your goals are there for you to focus and fuel your drive. The other kind of goals are long term goals, targets that you keep in the back of your mind for down the road. This is where you can really show your ambition. We always hear, shoot for the stars, this is your chance. Choose a lofty goal, put your blinders on and work as hard as you can every day to get there. It wont happen immediately, but if you continue to push one day it will come true.


Writing down your goals will help you visualize what you really want to accomplish and make sure that you remain focused. Make a check list before every practice on what you need to work on. Keep these little notes and compare them week in and week out to make sure you are truly living up to your own expectations. Having a visual reminder helped me stay focused. Freshmen year in high school I was fortunate enough to make the varsity squad but did not get a lot playing time. After the season I hung my Varsity letter on my wall. Every morning when I woke up bright and early to go workout the P on my wall reminded me what my goals were; to play on varsity. Everyone is different, but find what drives you. 


Setting goals for your self is important for everything in life, not just for sports. Setting expectations and working towards them works in the classroom as well.  Whatever your goals are, write them down, stay focused and keep working your hardest.

Aiming: Shoot Where the Goalie is Not

Everyone talks about scoring goals; getting the most power, the best accuracy, under hand, side arm, worm burner, "btb". Power, accuracy, and crowd pleases are all useless if you are not shooting in the right spots.  "shoot where the goalie is not", seems simple enough but its the key to not just shooting but scoring goals. It doesn't matter if you shoot 100mph and can shoot with accuracy with in a inch if you are aiming stick side high everything.  The more the goalie has to move to save the ball the more likely he won't, whether it's left to right or up to down, keep the ball away from the goalies stick. So aim for corners. Think about it, if the keepers stick is by his head the corners are the farthest distance in every direction. If the pass comes across the crease so is the goalie, meaning he can't block the far post. If is stick is high put it low, vis versa (in the corners of course)...and thats where your super strength and accuracy come handy. Many coaches tell you to bounce your shot at the goalies feet, hoping the bounce will catch the goalie off guard. When a goalie sees the ball go low so does he, when the ball bounces it meets him half way making his job easier. Rather than aiming for the ground, pick your corner and go for the netting. Throwing in a stick or head fake can make the goalie go one way, opening up corners for you to pick. It doesn't need to be an extravagant full body acting job, just a quick head nod or stick pump fake will get the job done. Even the slightest movement from the goalie can make all the difference (if you can aim well). And remember to change planes. If you fake high, don't shoot high. You are only going to make the goalie look great...at your expense. Just remember shoot where the goalie not and start raking up the Gs.

Its All in the Kicks

With more cleats being made for lacrosse than ever before you have more options on what type of cleats are right for you. Lacrosse specific cleats blend the support of a football cleat while lending the flexibility and speed of a soccer shoes. Most lacrosse cleat models are made with different spikes and that's where the decision making comes in. Each have their own advantages, but you most definitely dont have to buy them all. 


Metal Screw In Cleats. Everyone wants to "click clack" while charging the tunnel, and luckily they are extremely useful cleats beyond their sound effects. The stiff metals spikes come in multiple different lengths for your preference. Being able to change your spikes is one of screw ins best advantages. This makes them the best option for wet and muddy grass fields. With such large spikes these cleats are perfect for big hard cuts. Unfortunately most turf fields have rules against wearing metal spikes and for good reason. The metal not only tears up the turf but increases your chance or injury. 
Plastic Screw In Cleats. plastic screw ins give all the advantage of their metal counterpart but with extra hazard to your home field and yourself. The beauty of screw in cleats is if you don't like the spikes, you can always replace them.
Plastic Molded Cleats. Plastic molded cleats aren't interchangeable . The spikes are smaller than the screw ins but there are twice as many, but the extra traction means more speed. Plastic Molded Spikes are probably the most usable cleats. Screw ins might offer slightly better traction of wet grass but plastic molded makes up for it in versatility. They can go back and forth between grass and turf seamlessly, which is a big relief when you only have to break in one new pair of cleats this preseason.
Turf Cleats. Turf Cleats are still reminiscent of an age of lacrosse played on astro turf apposed to artificial grass turf. Unfortunately the little rubber nobs built into the sole do little on the grass like turf, and the rarity of astro turf renders these cleats useless. Don't cross them off your shopping list though, "turf dogs" make great training shoes as well as fashionable kicks.

Snowy, Cold, Windy with a 100% Chance of Wet.

Preseason practices can be miserable if you aren't prepared for the weather. Here are some quick tricks to brace the cold that will make early spring practices a little more bearable.

Wear Insulating Winter Gear, (Under Armor, Nike, North Face, etc) that will keep all your body warmth in. Clothing should be form fitting so that you can stay agile.

Bring your sticks inside the night before playing, don't leave them in the car or the garage. If your stick spends all night outside in the cold you might as well throw it out, it's as good as broken. 

Putting some athletic tape over your helmet ear holes (tape on the inside) will block out the howling wind. Not only will you stay warmer but you may be able to hear your coach yelling over the wind.

Preseason practice comes with wet, icy, and snowy conditions, make sure your stick is up to the challenge. Refresh yourself on how to tape the perfect stick and prep and take care of a wet pocket.

Nothing is worse than putting on cold and wet equipment, take the extra five minutes after practice and you won't regret it. Believe it or not wet gear doesn't dry in a damp closed bag in the garage, it needs to be laid out to dry. (that does not mean the kitchen floor, I am trying moms) Stuffing gloves and cleats with paper towels will soak up most of the moisture and putting them next to a heat vent will dry them completely.

NLL Preseason Brawl

We by no measure condone fighting, but still check out this clip of a NLL preseason fight. What makes this fight different from every other hockey or NLL fight you ask? Not only is it preseason, but both guys are on the same team! Even weirder The Rochester Knighthawks are promoting this video on their website and youtube channel. Can you imagine the Heat releasing a video of Lebron, Bosh and Wade going toe to toe in a 3 pronged death match? Exactly! The only thing positive to take away from this video is that both players are wearing rib pads, they know whats good.

Student-Atheltes...Students First

With lacrosse practice, school work, family and everything else we have on going in our lives we are all extremely busy. We all need to find to accomplish everything we need too. We need to find time to practice all of our skills and hone them for our games and team practices while juggling demanding academic expectations as well. And while lacrosse is obviously very important we are all, Student-Athletes. Students first, so you must able to balance and manage your time. 


To start off know what needs to get done and when. Keep an agenda, calendar or sticky note system, what ever works for you to keep you organized. When it comes to school work procrastinating is the worst thing possible, why stress about a project for three weeks and then pull an all nighter when you can do 10 minutes every night and finish early. You will be less stressed and produce better school work. Be proactive and stay on top of your assignments.


Once you finish your school work you can once again focus on being an athlete. By laying out all of your assignments you can more easily see where you have free time to practice, whether its doing some lifting or playing wall ball. You can block off daily slots to practice. Like you school work it shouldn't all be done for 5 hours straight one day a week but rather 20 to 30 minutes a day every day. Although you may not have full schedules now time management is extremely important, especially with aspirations of playing high school and even college lacrosse. As the school work become more demanding so does the lacrosse, and then simply having enough time is your biggest enemy. So learn now how to make the most of your day.