Making the Team
- Recently in preparation for our team meetings with athletes and
parents I thought of the five dumbest things in lacrosse;
-
An attackman that shoots
before he looks
-
A defenseman that
doesn't play his stick in the ball carrier's hands
-
A goalie that isn't
ready when the ball is shot
-
A player that comes to
tryouts but isn't in shape
-
A student that isn't
academically or paperwork eligible (medical, insurance, parental
permission, team rules) to play (HS players don't forget to get
cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse before college) - if you are
having trouble with academics, make a deal between the athlete and
parents to explain the homework to mom/dad every night and their
grades will come up.
All of these can be managed
by you, the player, if the coach lets them know the score. If players
are thinking about how to make your team, here is the simplest answer
for field players;
-
Be in shape so you can
hustle even in the fourth quarter of practice
-
Shoot 100 times a day, 50 left and 50 right all on
the move
-
Get
6 ground balls every day - practice or games
-
Be
able to handle the ball well enough to get that ground ball to the
next or more skilled players (zero turnovers)
-
Play
strong position defense (even attackmen - riding hard is really
playing defense)
-
Go to class and do your homework, all of it every day -- then show
it to a parent
and you will make the team.
For goalies, being ready
before the shot, watching the ball and moving aggressive to every shot
from warm-ups through to the end of practice as well as take care of the
ball (throwing and running) after the save and there will be a spot for
you.
Copyright Weston
Lacrosse 11-9--08
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