Here is a great article from FastCompany about a serial entrepreneur Richard Tait. The creator of Cranium games which are terrific fun to play and a new "natural" sports drink -- think a mix of Red Bull and Gatorade. He uses Steve Jobs as a model and asks the question "Why be in the Navy when you can be a pirate?" Focusing here on adventure and living by one's wits not theft.
This applies to how you practice you lacrosse skills -- are you going to practice in a plodding sort of way or will you be creative in your practice such that when a sudden opportunity arises in a game you are ready to seize the chance?
http://www.fastcompany.com/1803092/five-lessons-to-do-what-you-loveand-succeed
FC Expert Blog
Five Lessons To Do What You Love...And Succeed
BY FC Expert Blogger Shawn ParrTue Dec 27, 2011
This blog is written by a member of our expert blogging community and expresses that expert's views alone.
Entrepreneurs come from all over the world, but most share an innate passion for questioning the constraints of ideology and discipline, and identifying practical solutions to problems by combining ingenuity, resourcefulness, and dogged determination.
You Never Know Where a Good Idea Is Going to Come From.
I'm fascinated by the different types of people I meet in the world and the way their personalities show in what they do. People with passion, energy, ideas, and an unquenchable thirst for life inspire me the most. I’m fueled by their energy, fascinated by their ideas, and inspired by the way they live life to its fullest.
While working with Starbucks, I had the lifelong pleasure of meeting a man with more energy and verve for life than an army of optimists. Richard Tait is filled with passion to constantly push boundaries, explore new frontiers, and voraciously bring new ideas to life. Richard Tait, creator/founder of Cranium, and more recently the sports hydration drink Golazo, is an amazing example of an entrepreneur at heart. I recently spent time kicking a ball around in Seattle with Richard where he shared his entrepreneurial story of chasing the American dream and pursuing what makes him tick.
Start Young and Dream Big.
Richard has been a self-described entrepreneur since he was 4, selling fish door-to-door in his native Scotland. Richard's humor and industrious attitude gave him the perfect entrepreneurial foundation. After coming to the U.S. and studying Business at Dartmouth University, the lights on his American dream began to look a bit dim. He had dreamt of working with Apple, but after being denied several positions on multiple occasions, he settled for working for Microsoft as a Project Manager--this was in 1988, long before the PC or takeover of the Internet. Being at Microsoft for the next 10 years led Tait on an amazing adventure one could never have anticipated. And after an astounding 10-year journey, Tait knew he was ready for his next big thing, he just wasn't sure what that was.
Rainy Days and Passionate Serendipity Lead to Big Ideas.
It was a rainy Seattle day, the perfect reason for a few buddies to challenge their board game skills. After being thrashed in a game of Scrabble, followed by a glorious comeback in Pictionary, Tait sat back and contemplated the whole experience. He was amazed that both games were overwhelmingly dictated by the players whose skills aligned with the game. After realizing that very few board games offered a challenge for a variety of skill sets, he saw an opportunity. He knew that there must be adults and children alike wanting to partake in friendly competition with a variety of skills, where everyone has a chance to shine. From that simple insight, Richard began to sketch out the blueprint for the revolutionary board game Cranium.
At that time the game market was full of negativity, and Tait wanted to create something radically different, an entertainment company full of pizzazz and positivity. He and his partner began building prototypes at night at their local Kinko's, conducting focus groups in peoples' living rooms, and in short order, Cranium was created.
After manufacturing 2,700 games and creating an out-of-the-box distribution relationship, the board games were sold in unusual places such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Starbucks, and it worked. If you ask Tait how he got there, he’ll tell you it was by constant ducking, diving, determination, and the power of word-of-mouth. The key to his success is that he never forgot his customers were his sales force, and he approached every aspect of his business with them in mind.
Boredom Can Be a Great Motivator.
Entrepreneurs often find themselves unsatisfied, bored, or wanting more. Fast-forward to 2008 after Cranium’s monumental success and sale, Tait found himself asking what next. As he sat in his office watching Mexico and China battling around the soccer ball at Quest Field, his next big aha moment struck. Inspired by the 60,000 people and the roar of the crowd and drums, he decided to create a passion brand for soccer. Tait started to think about a brand that was all about engaging with the people who embraced soccer the most.
By talking with soccer players and coaches and watching them during and after games, Tait found that players want a product that energizes them while offering hydration benefits. He also found that they don't like putting unnatural products in their bodies. After watching players at a soccer game mix Red Bull and Gatorade to get their hydration and energy fix, he saw an opportunity--and that's the genesis for Golazo, an all-natural sports energy drink. Golazo, which means "big goal" in Spanish, contains 10 natural ingredients and gives athletes the hydration they need while offering an extra boost of energy they often crave. Tait has big aspirations for Golazo and is on a mission to win the hearts and minds of soccer players everywhere.
Passion and Risk are a Powerful Combination for Success.
Tait has a profound passion to share his entrepreneurial spirit, hoping others will adopt the courage and determination needed that pushes them to take risks others aren't willing to. Tait encourages anyone with the unique opportunity to intersect their personal passion with a professional pursuit, to go for it. Not surprisingly, Tait derives a great deal of inspiration from Steve Jobs. "Why would you be in the Navy when you can be a pirate?" is a philosophy Tait adopted from Jobs and lives throughout every bone in his body. He has been a pirate his whole life; he would rather rebel, pioneer, and try something new. He lives in a community of breaking rules, rather than conforming to them as most entrepreneurs do.
It is with this spirit, a healthy impatience, and a dogged determination that pushes Tait, and other entrepreneurs alike, to take risks that others cannot fathom. Like Tait, we encourage you to take a risk, push boundaries, and make your dreams come true. Pursue your passion with your professional path, and if you get knocked down, get right back up. Be a pirate, not a sailor.
Shawn Parr is the The Guvner & CEO of Bulldog Drummond, an innovation and design consultancy headquartered in San Diego whose clients and partners have included Starbucks, Diageo, Jack in the Box, Adidas, MTV, Nestle, Pinkberry, American Eagle Outfitters, IDEO, Virgin, Disney, Nike, Mattel, Heineken, Annie's Homegrown, The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, CleanWell, The Honest Kitchen and World Vision.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
A great way to look at life!
Generally we like to focus on lacrosse, but sometimes something that is not in the normal focus is very worth while to mention. The video below shows Steve Jobs talking about learning to think for yourself -- setting yourself up to expand your vision. To us this greatly applies to much of life but there is also a direct application to lacrosse. When you practice by yourself or a buddy, be very creative.
For example make yourself some challenge when you play wall-ball try to hit one spot and increase the number of times in a row you hit it. Or see how many times you can alternate hands. Make it fun -- not just bouncing the ball off the wall.
Steve Jobs:
Monday, December 19, 2011
A great way to have fun and work on your lax shooting.
Kyle Harrison and Joe Walters play the lacrosse version of Horse --> LAX
The best point here is that making practice into a game is a great way to have fun and to improve:
Notice how Paul Rabil (as in 111 mph shot) turns his whole body when shooting.
Paul Rabil really making the point -- use your whole body not just your arms when you shoot on goal.
Two videos that show the very basics how to shoot on a lacrosse goal.
These two videos start at the very basics on how to shoot -- note that both players stress having the arms extended. In the second video the player uses the phrase keep the arms in tight -- which I don't like his choice of words. His meaning is not stiff, but instead to keep the arms extended by staying in close to the body during the follow through so the shot is an overhand shot and does not become more of a side arm shot. He does a nice job explaining the disadvantage of a sidearm shot being easier for a goalie to track. The side arm shot can generate a lot of speed, but is less accurate and the goalie knows it will not be bounce shot.
There is one point I want to stress for more experienced players. These videos are good to make one think about one's shooting form: hiding the stick head behind your head, weight transfer, power starting at the feet-twisting of the trunk, wrist snap etc. The way for experienced players to really improve is to use standing in front of the goal only for a short warm-up or when really concentrating on form. In a game you will not be standing still and shooting so when you practice you need to be running and shooting.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Great video featuring Casey Powell and a second with Kyle Harrison. -- How to shoot at a lacrosse goal.
Great video explaining the fundamentals of shooting on goal by lacrosse great Casey Powell. CP does a terrific job breaking down the process of shooting. Standing in front of a goal and really thinking about what you are doing at each step of the shot is important. The next step is to start to add movement -- full speed movement as you are shooting.
Casey Powell
Kyle Harrison
Paul Rabil in some great videos demonstrating how to improve your lax skills.
Paul Rabil -- explains why the Behind the Back Pass is not just flashy -- it can save time. Additionally, he shows two ways to make the pass:
Additionally, here is a video showing Paul Rabil in action -- This is not a tutorial but a highlights reel -- the point I want to make is that for kids standing still and ripping balls into a goal is only a good idea for the very youngest players. Older players need to practice shooting on goal while they are running. It is very clear from watching the video that running and shooting is what is needed in a game which means that is what players need to practice.
Lacrosse players get ready for spring this winter.
Vitality Lacrosse has a winter programs (in fact in CA WA and NV) checkout http://www.vitalitylacrosse.com/
All West Lacrosse has a wide variety of programs — they have spring programs and are posting their summer camps for girls and boys.
http://www.allwestlacrossecamps.com/Programs/spring_programs.htm
Aspire Lacrosse has a series of really good programs — a version of box lacrosse played outdoors and some stick skills classes that focus on the most important lacrosse fundamentals. http://www.aspirelacrosse.com/
For Canadian style Boxla http://calilax.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/calilax2012parent.pdf
Tim Booth has a variety of Boxla, Clinics and Travel Team opportunities.
For strenght and conditioning Paye’s Place has a variety of year around sports clinics including lacrosse. http://www.payesplace.com/lacrosse_clinics.php
The Performance Science Training Institute has a winter training program. http://www.thepsti.com/winter-break-speed-and-agility-camp/
Another great option is the Riekes Center http://www.riekes.org/
As spring starts check our website for summer camps in 2012 www.lacrossecampfinder.com (the site will be over the next few months).
Saturday, December 17, 2011
A great blog with some supper photos showing proper form.
Check out this link for a great series of pictures with some solid commentary explaining shooting on a lacrosse goal:
href="http://24seven.laxallstars.com/pros-vs-joes-lax-shooting-edition"
Videos are very helpful but some times it is better to look at a photo and have time to digest the body position.
Note for some reason the link is not acting proper -- sorry but cut and paste the URL time -- darn it but worth looking at the photos.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Silly Fun -- A great way to improve your lax skills
Just experimenting with your crosse is a great way to get better. Make a video at the same time as you are doing some crazy wall ball -- even better. Check these guys creativity:
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Great drill for d-pole laxers.
This is a great looking defense drill from Notre Dame Lacrosse. This is great for teams, but easily a couple of buddies can do this on their own time. Note the athletic stance -- this is really key for solid defense and this drill helps you focus on that skill. Also note the players are working on communication -- this skill is really hard to get youth players to do -- making it part of your practice is really smart.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Lacrosse preseason training options for SF bay area players
The Menlo Atherton Youth Lacrosse program has an exciting new club that is starting it's second year and has a great list of resources for the local community. Here is a link to some of their information: http://menloathertonlacrosse.com/Page.asp?n=46084&snid=jNHB%5D1M%3EX&org=menloathertonlacrosse.com
Aspire Lacrosse has some very good programs offered year around -- well worth checking out. http://www.aspirelacrosse.com/Home_Page.html Register by Thursday Dec 1 for early bird discounts!
Sebastian Turner a local high school coach is a really nice fellow and coach is available for private lessons.
Other really good options are:
Golden State Lacrosse Academy http://www.gs-lacrosse.com/ Two really nice former pros that run travel teams, clinics and private lessons.
Booth Lacrosse http://boothlacrosse.com/ -- really nice and demanding former pro that runs travel teams, clinics and private lessons. Played and teaches both the indoor and outdoor game.
All West Lacrosse is a larger organization that has many coaches, travel teams, clinics and private lessons.
Another option is Team 24/7 http://www.team247lax.com/Clinics/SanFrancisco.aspx
Feel free to email lacrossecampfinder@gmail.com) with questions about options for girl lacrosse players -- very solid options locally. This weekend on Dec 3 Stanford will have a girls clinic.
Our website www.lacrossecampfinder.com is taking a break from being updated but will be ready in the spring for next summer's lacrosse camps!
Another very wonderful option is Boxla -- indoor lacrosse -- checkout options in San Jose and Oakland. This summer there will be an option in Redwood City.
http://usboxla.pointstreaksites.com/view/usboxla/recreation-leagues-5983/box-lacrosse-academy-san-jose/beginner-intermediate-program
http://usboxla.pointstreaksites.com/view/usboxla/recreation-leagues-5983/oakland-dry-ice
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Easton Lacrosse has put a lot of thought into their new helmet.
Read a really positive review about the new Easton Lacrosse Raptor helmet. Note how well this helmet scores in important areas of weight, fit, safety -- the main area this helmet scores a bit lower is looks -- I like the look of the helmet -- many people seem "used" to other styles.
I suggest trying the helmet and thinking about comfort and safety.
Read the Lacrosse Playground review: http://www.lacrosseplayground.com/easton-raptor-helmet-review/
Easton Raptor Helmet Review
Posted on November 28, 2011 by Britt
Categories: Easton, Equipment Reviews, Helmets
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Per many requests from readers we will begin writing reviews on the latest equipment in the game. Kicking off the first review is resident author, Michael Britt. Easton supplied him with their new Raptor helmet. Below is his honest analysis.
First Impressions
First thing you notice is the incredible weight. Closest thing to it would be my old UVA Gait helmet from ’06 (the hybrid box/field helmet with an affinity for concussions). The Raptor is so lightweight that the next reaction is to figure out how sturdy it is by grabbing the sides and pushing and pulling at it… it’s a rock. Right off the bat, the Raptor was able to address one of the biggest concerns I had heard from friends – that it was not as durable or established as the Pro7s, TI, II’s, etc.
Once you put on the helmet, you notice right away that the fit is top of the line. The helmet comes in three shell sizes and is further customized by a click wheel (like the CPX-R). The shell size, click wheel, and the most comfortable chinstrap I have ever worn made for a helmet that sits firmly in place with the perfect amount of tilt (top bar, por favor).
The Raptor facemask was the only initial concern I had. The placement of the bars, especially in tilt mode was perfect and vision was unaffected. However, the mask is noticeably further from your face than other lacrosse helmets (it failed the “lick test” which is a good or bad thing depending on your individual preference). I am not sure if it is a structural requirement for the mask to be constructed the way it is, but ideally, I would like to see the mask maybe .5” closer for a more streamlined appearance and a cleaner side vertical bars. Outside of that, I loved the chin piece and loved the fact that it offered complete coverage to the concussion hot spot that is the jaw line. The scalloped visor was also noticeable while strapped up and definitely increased vision.
Performance
I absolutely loved playing in this helmet. The weight and fit of the helmet is fantastic. Gone are the days of helmet jitter that you get from ill-fitting helmets. The Raptor was able to handle the physicality of an indoor lacrosse game with ease (multiple slashes, helmet to helmet ‘bumps’, and some board action).
It is my opinion that–right now–the Raptor is the best combination of safety, weight, and technology of the helmets available. I would also like to see tests between the Pro7 and Raptor for side impact/jaw lines (the concussion hotspots) to see which is safer. However, because of the Easton-Bell heritage (and because they manufacture Riddell football and lax helmets) I would assume that the Raptor is safer.
Comparison to CPX-R and Pro7
Subjective and on a scale of 1-5, 1 being awful and 5 being laxtastic.
Last Word
A big reason I think High Schools, Youth Clubs, etc. will consider the Raptor is the product supportability factor. The majority of schools send their helmets out after each season to be reconditioned and repaired to meet safety standards. Currently, programs are shipping their Cascades, Warriors, etc. with their schools football Riddell’s to a Riddell-certified reconditioner for repairs for logistical and cost-effectiveness reasons. The problem with that is that you get lacrosse helmets back that have been reassembled wrong (e.g. CPX-R parts in a Pro7). My assumption here would be that since both Riddell and Easton have the same parent company, the reconditioners will leverage product familiarity and the result will be helmets that remain safer longer and limit the amount of “Franken-helmets” on team storage shelves.
Lastly, I recommend any lacrosse player in the market for new gear this year to go down to Dick’s, LaxWorld, etc. to check out the Easton line. Try on their products side by side with other manufacturers. The great thing about Easton is their guys are incredibly accessible, if you do not like an aspect of their product, go on their Facebook Page and tell them.
Thanks again for the guys over at Easton Lacrosse for giving me the opportunity to review the Raptor. I appreciate what they are trying to achieve and look forward to the technology they will bring to the lacrosse community. Head to Eastonlacrosse.com for more info.
I’m Brick Tamland. People seem to like me because I am polite and I am rarely late. I like to eat ice cream and I really enjoy a nice pair of slacks. Years later, a doctor will tell me that I have an I.Q. of 48. I spend my free time playing for Los Banditos in the Metro Area Box Lacrosse League.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Good article about why boxla would be a great idea for college lax
A thoughtful article from Lacrosse Allstarts: http://snip.it/s/orp
I’m loving box lacrosse. I don’t think it’s better or worse than field, I just think it’s awesome. And I’d love to see some real deal college teams start to pop up. I actually can’t believe it doesn’t happen more often! Sure, there are a lot of barriers to entry, and reasons that college box lax isn’t going to happen in a major way anytime soon, but the idea definitely has potential. And for teams looking to gain an edge on the field, it just might be that Scott Bakula-esque Quantum Leap so many are looking for.
Looking down the list of top scorers and offensive players in the NCAA, and MLL, you can see the box influence. Travis Moore, Kevin Crowley, Mark Matthews, Bryan Neufeld, Robert Church and a number of others are all in the top 20 and the skills they developed in box lacrosse are definitely paying dividends on the field. In the MLL, there are less “pure” box players, but many of the guys in the top 20 also play pro box, and they all say that playing box has greatly helped their field game. Paul Rabil, Brendan Mundorf, Casey Powell, Joe Walters, Ryan Powell, Stephen Peyser, Ryan Boyle, Kevin Buchanan and a host of others play a lot of boxla, and it’s clear that they have improved as players because of it. Even defensive guys like Mitch Belisle of Trilogy Lacrosse tout the benefits of box. It’s the real deal.
So why aren’t college lacrosse coaches and programs pushing for more box lacrosse right on campus? After all, where there is a will, there is a way. So when opportunity knocks, you’d better be ready to answer the door. And it’s knocking. Ok, enough of the cliches. Let’s talk college boxla.
First things first, before we get to addressing the constraints, and how we can find solutions, I’m going to talk about why this is a good idea just a little but more. Box lacrosse is tough, it’s fast-paced, and it requires huge amounts of skill to truly play well. The skill sets from box lacrosse translate well to field lacrosse, especially on the offensive end, and provide new ways of attacking the cage, running offenses, and even defenses. We all know that Zones are en vogue right now, and the backside of a boxla defense, aka “the wall”, uses and teaches many of these pass and recover principles and techniques.
The tight spaces mean stick skills must be sharp, and the limited number of players on the floor means that every player out there has to be pretty well-rounded and able. There is no hiding in box lacrosse. Defenders are forced to use a short stick, which makes them play better defense with their feet, and it forces them to be more comfortable and skilled with a ball in their stick. Goalies may present something of an issue, as the debate is still raging as to whether or not field goalies can make the transition, or if it will even help them. All I know is that Ginny Capichionni may be the best active US box goalie and she played women’s field lacrosse in college, and all the goalies in our box league last winter said it made them better field keepers. But like I said, the jury is still out there.
Even if the goalie situation is a loss, it’s still safe to say that the majority of players on field teams would benefit from playing box lacrosse, so since it SHOULD happen, let’s look at why it’s not happening, at least not in a major way.
Title IX is the first thing people will bring up. Colleges and Universities simply can’t add additional sports teams for men without adding women’s teams, and box doesn’t have a counterpart on the female side. The other issue is that many schools already offer a disproportionate number of athletic roster spots to men, so creating a new men’s sport becomes even less likely. Add on to all that the current economic situation isn’t exactly rosy, and the outlook becomes even more dire. But lacrosse has proven time and time again that it doesn’t always follow the standard path, and many of the solutions are already out there.
Other issues surround costs, places to play, coaching, rules, expectations and eligibility issues. So I’ll try to address each with possible solutions, and get around Title IX budget issues at the same time.
The MCLA, and a number of other smaller college leagues provide the perfect example to follow. The schools that now have MCLA teams didn’t want to add programs for one reason or another, and yet here they are. Lacrosse people simply made it happen. Of course, MCLA teams couldn’t exist at schools where NCAA teams existed, but that didn’t stop the NCLL from getting more popular either. When Boston high schools couldn’t add programs, MetroLacrosse created a league of its own. There are a number of leagues like this all over the country at many levels. When lacrosse people want to play, we make it happen. If there isn’t an option where we fit in, we create one.
This may seem like a simple answer, and that’s because it is. But it’s also been proven true time and time again. So if a group of college players out there decided to create a box team at their school, you can bet they’ll find a way to make it happen. The costs will be considerable depending on how a team approaches it, but it’s definitely doable, especially if they start small. In fact, the first go-round could be accomplished by having the regular team form a “box lacrosse club” through the student assembly or recreational sports office. Play in the gym at first, and keep it open to any student that wants to play. Your school now has an intramural box lacrosse league. Costs are relatively low, the school is involved, and there is no travel budget. Plus people already have equipment. All you’d really need are goals and goalie equipment. Do it to it.
Now I understand that playing in a gym or on a tennis court might not be ideal, but don’t let that get you down. Everything has to start somewhere. Once there is enough interest, you’d probably want to find an indoor soccer location nearby, or hope that your school takes the ice off its hockey rink for the fall. Maybe your school has an old hockey rink they don’t use anymore? Or this is one nearby? Raise some money to convert it to a box lacrosse facility! This may seem like a crazy expectation or potentiality, but like I said, when lacrosse players decide to get something done, they can often find a way. Schools in warmer climes could conceivably build an outdoor box or multi-use facility, and that could drastically cut costs. I’ve played box outdoors before and it’s awesome. Maybe a local rink is getting new boards… buy their old ones! Find a way to make it happen. Be creative! In NYC we use an outdoor roller hockey rink and it’s great, so don’t doubt it!
Ulax NYC box lacrosse Boniello lax
Get creative, people!
As far as coaching goes, this is one of the tougher areas. There aren’t a ton of Yanks with box experience, but again, one only has to look at some pretty successful field lacrosse coaches to see that this shouldn’t matter. Mike Daly of Tufts was a college BASEBALL player at Tufts. In 2010, he led the Tufts Jumbos LACROSSE team to an NCAA DIII national championship. Want another example? Ok. Erin Quinn, the legendary coach at Middlebury (now their AD) never played lax in his life. He learned the game as a coach, and he learned it well. Well enough to win a bunch of rings! So all you need is a good coach with enough drive to learn and improve and you should be set. It’s not like they grow on trees, but if we broaden our search criteria (e.g. ex-baseball/football/hockey players, coaches, refs, etc), you might just find a not-so-hidden gem. And that brings new people in to the game. BONUS!
The last major obstacle in my eyes probably surrounds eligibility. I’m sure there would be some concern that a lax coach couldn’t also coach a box lacrosse team, or that the two sports would be viewed as the same, since they are both lacrosse. But indoor track is different from outdoor track, and many of those coaches coach BOTH teams. Athletes in those sports win two varsity letters (and some of the cross country guys win 3) every year, so it’s pretty clear that precedent is set here in lacrosse’s favor. This can happen.
There are certain teams and schools out there that should be doing this already, and off the top of my head they are: Manhattan College in NYC, ASA Junior College in NYC, Adelphi, CW Post, NY Tech, and Dowling, on Long Island as well as MCLA Briarcliffe. WHY do I single these teams out? Because I know that there is a box league nearby that runs before their seasons start! All they’d have to do is enter a team!
I can’t imagine any of the school coaches would frown on their players organizing their own winter lacrosse team. And I can even see the schools supporting their students initiative. Everyone would get to play more lax, and it would be a great way to stay tough before the field season truly began.
In the end, most people will dismiss this as a waste of time or money, but if done right, collegiate box lacrosse could do a lot for any program. People probably just won’t believe it until some team pulls it off and wins a national championship. And when that happens, you can come back here and tell me how right I was.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Easton Lacrosse talking about helmet fit.
Easton Lacrosse is working hard on making products that will really fit players. Checkout this video explaining helmet TILT.
I like how light the helmet is and that there are three different sizes.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Laxers checkout this workout.
Lacrosse Conditioning: Northwestern Women’s Lacrosse Middie Erin Fitzgerald Demonstrates Workout That Helped Wildcats Win 2011 National Lacrosse Championship
Posted on November 17, 2011 | Leave a comment
While many still wonder how a lacrosse program in the Midwest can be as dominant as the one Kelly Amonte Hiller has established at Northwestern, those who have watched an Amonte Hiller-coached team know the Wildcats’ success starts in the gym. For proof, look no further than junior Erin Fitzgerald.
A high school attacker, Fitzgerald transformed into an attack/midfield hybrid in Northwestern’s fast-paced offense. Knowing the position switch necessitated a conditioning boost, Fitzgerald as a freshman started working out twice a day while switching to a protein-based diet.
It paid off. Rather than tiring as the season progressed, Fitzgerald played her best at the end of the year. The Mt. Sinai, N.Y., native worked her way into the starting lineup by playoffs, and in four postseason starts she tied for the team lead with 12 goals. But the Wildcats that season would up blowing a six-goal lead in a loss to Maryland in the 2010 NCAA championship game. With the collapse fresh in their memories, Fitzgerald and her teammates took their conditioning to a new level in the ensuing offseason. The workouts stayed the same — hard sprints mixed with strength and conditioning — while the intensity increased.
“Our workouts got 10 times harder,” Fitzgerald said. “Everyone was pushing each other because we had something to prove, and we were all kind of pissed off.”
The Wildcats responded, outscoring their opponents by a whopping 121 goals and avenging their loss to Maryland in the 2011 NCAA championship game for their sixth title in seven years.
Staying in shape is nothing new in the Fitzgerald family. Erin’s parents, sister and brother all played sports at the Division I level. She mixes up her workouts with spinning, running, kickboxing and even boot camp as her schedule permits.
“The feeling I get after a hard workout is probably what I look forward to most and what gets me through my workout,” said Fitzgerald, who works under the guidance of Northwestern Director of Sports Performance Jason Pullara. “Just knowing that I’m going to be in top shape and able to compete at my best on the field.”
Q&A with Erin
What’s your favorite workout?
My favorite workout would probably be sprints into some plyometric things — whether it’s squat jumps or mountain climbers — just to keep my heart rate going.
What music do you like to listen to in the gym?
I just like to mix it up a lot, whether it’s rap or rock, I just like to change it up. I’m a big Nicki Minaj fan.
What is your diet like?
I try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and I also make sure I always have protein, whether that’s chicken or salmon or peanut butter. I try to stay away from deserts, but I’m a big candy person.
Suggested Workouts
Dumbbell Snatch
This exercise builds lower body power and explosiveness.
Use one dumbbell. (Fitzgerald uses a 25-pounder.)
Start by getting in a Romanian dead lift (RDL) position, with your hips back, shoulders over the dumbbell, back flat and slight bend in your knees.
Grip the dumbbell at about knee height.
Extend through your ankles, knees and hips quickly, simultaneously keeping the dumbbell as close to your body as possible.
Raise it until your arm is extended over your head, with the dumbbell in alignment with your ears.
Finish in a quarter-squat position.
Repeat four times with each arm for 3-5 sets.
Front Squat
This exercise builds lower body strength, specifically in your glutes, hamstrings and quads.
Hold a barbell in front of your body on top of your shoulders.
Begin in a standing position and squat (pushing your hips backwards) until your thighs are parallel with the ground.
Explode back up to a standing position, keeping the bar on top of your shoulders.
Reverse V-Ups
This exercise strengthens your core muscles.
Use one exercise ball.
Assume push-up position with your hands on the floor and feet resting on the ball.
Slowly roll the ball forward until your body is fully extended. When executed properly, your body should form the shape of a triangle.
After your rear has reached its highest point, roll the ball back to its original position.
Fitzgerald recommends three sets of 10.
A version of this article appears in the November issue of Lacrosse Magazine. Previous Gym Rats features have included UMBC coaches Kelly Berger and Amy Appelt, and Team USA goalie and Marquette assistant coach Scott Rodgers. Check back to LaxMagazine.com for tips from Mercyhurst’s Ian Wild. Don’t get the mag? Join US Lacrosse and its 350,000-plus members today to start your monthly subscription.
Here is the link which includes pictures to show the proper form for each workout:
http://laxbuzz.com/2011/11/17/lacrosse-conditioning-northwestern-womens-lacrosse-middie-erin-fitzgerald-demonstrates-workout-that-helped-wildcats-win-2011-national-lacrosse-championship/
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Great workout ideas from two top lacrosse pros.
Rabil & Hartzell Wallball Workout
Ryan Rabidou November 10th, 2011 2
InsideLacrosse.com
Rabil & Hartzell Wallball Workout
The off-season is among us, which means it's time to hit both the wall and the gym. Johns Hopkins strength coach Jay Dyer and MLL all-stars Paul Rabil and Kyle Hartzell share how to kill two birds with one lax ball.
NCAA
"Incorporating technical skill into your workouts can really benefit you in areas when you're tired. Fourth quarter breathing can be heavy, when your stick needs to be air-tight. Doing these stickwork drills during rest periods helps work on focus, concentration and strength endurance. -Paul Rabil
Phase 1
Incline Backpedal Runs (2-4 sets of 5 reps)
Stay low with a slight bend forward; do not lean back into the hill. Maintain this athletic position as you sprint backward up the hill.
Incline Backpedal Runs 2-4 sets of 5 reps
Medicine Ball Toss (10 tosses)
As soon as you complete your backpedal reps, perform 10 tosses with a medicine ball. Place your palms underneath the ball and squat down. Explode out of the squat position and throw the ball into the air as high as possible (use a medicine ball that will bounce). Let the ball bounce, catch and repeat.
Medicine Ball Toss 10 tosses
Wall Ball Exercise No. 1
Stand about 15 feet from the wall. Pick a spot on the wall and throw overhand hitting the spot 15 times righty then 15 times lefty. Focus on whipping the ball hard so it comes back on a straight line.
Wall Ball Exercise No. 1
Phase 2
Incline Side Shuffle (2-4 sets of 5 reps)
Stay in an athletic position and shuffle to the top of the hill — do not let your feet crossover or touch while shuffling.
Incline Side Shuffle 2-4 sets of 5 reps
Medicine Ball Slam (10 slams)
Perform immediately following your shuffle using a medicine ball that does or doesn't bounce. Raise the ball over your head, swing the ball forward and as it moves toward the ground, be sure to squat down to incorporate your legs into the movement and create more force when releasing the ball.
Medicine Ball Slam 10 slams
Wall Ball Exercise No. 2
Stand 15 feet from the wall. Pick a spot on the wall and throw sidearm hitting the spot 15 times righty then 15 times lefty. Focus on whipping the ball hard so it comes back on a straight line.
Wall Ball Exercise No. 2
Phase 3
Incline Sprints (2-4 sets of 5 reps)
Face the hill and stay low in an athletic position. Sprint accelerating up the hill, pumping your arms.
TRX Rows (2-4 sets of 10-15 reps)
Anchor a TRX to a fence, football goal post or whatever you have access to that's close to a hill or wall. Keep your ankles, hips and shoulders in alignment when performing the exercise.
TRX Rows 2-4 sets of 10-15 reps
Wall Ball Exercise No. 3
From the same distance, pick a spot on the wall and hit it throwing underhand and catching the ball up high. Complete for 15 times righty, then 15 times lefty.
Wall Ball Exercise No. 3
This was from Inside Lacrosse -- http://insidelacrosse.com/news/2011/11/10/rabil-hartzell-wallball-workout -- they have a lot of great articles.
Nice interview -- learn how the pros get traded and some great video clips of lax action.
A great way to learn is to watch some really skilled action -- checkout both the great offense and defense action:
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
A very nice article on the slide.
Learn the Art of the Slide for Better Defense
Thomas Alford
Article by: Thomas Alford | November 8, 2011
In lacrosse, playing the position of defense is based on technique and foot positioning. Defensemen must adjust and react to the offensive player’s moves. The man with the ball always knows his next move. It’s up to the defenseman to catch on to it, but if he catches on too late, he may cost his team a goal. However, a seasoned defenseman can direct his opponent to an area of his choosing and get help from his teammates.
Below, I describe sliding to an opponent who happens to be dodging from X (the area behind the goal). This can be explained in a three-step process. We’ve included pictures of Johns Hopkins defenseman Jack Reilly demonstrating the process to perfection against a Georgetown attackman in a scrimmage this fall.
Step 1: Trail your attackman from X, as you’re one step behind him. Stay one step behind him with your stick fully extended up field. This will create a funnel, which gives you control as you direct him where to go. Trailing your attackman allows you to stay balanced, dictating your opponent’s motion.
jack reilly 1 Learn the Art of the Slide for Better Defense
Step 2: Without overstepping your attackman, get topside of him. This is critical. If your attackman gets topside at Goal Line Extended (GLE), then potential slides from the crease are foiled. Remember, you want to be in control and force him toward your help.
jack reilly 3 Learn the Art of the Slide for Better Defense
Step 3: Force him under. By now, you’ve forced him to roll back. As he rolls back, he’s going to think he has an open lane to the goal. He’s mistaken. As he approaches the goal, your slide is awaiting him on the crease. The slide will either be from the crease or it will be a COMA slide, which is a slide from across the crease. Depending on your defensive scheme, you may find yourself sliding from both angles during the course of a game.
jack reilly 4 Learn the Art of the Slide for Better Defense
This is perfect team defense. The goalie should be pointing out where the ball is at all times, while also signifying who is about to slide. As a defenseman, it’s difficult to know where your man is dodging. That is exactly why you need to approach your man as if you’re directing traffic. Create an illusion for him. Make him go one way. Once you’ve positioned your body and forced him one way, you’ve made it easier for your teammates to know who’s sliding and where they will rotate.
Thomas Alford is the co-founder and social media manager of LacrossePlayground.com, a digital media magazine covering lacrosse equipment, apparel and lifestyle. A former midfielder at the University of Maryland, Alford is a Washington, D.C. native, a non-profit consultant and an assistant coach at Gonzaga College High School. He can be found on Twitter at @ThomasAlford33.
The above article is from an interesting blog:
http://blog.stack.com/2011/11/08/learn-the-art-of-the-slide-for-better-defense/
http://blog.stack.com/wp-content/uploads/jack-reilly-1.jpg
http://blog.stack.com/wp-content/uploads/jack-reilly-3.jpg
http://blog.stack.com/wp-content/uploads/jack-reilly-4.jpg
What a lacrosse family. Read this to get some insight into college recruiting
Recruiting Roundup: No. 1 Young Gun sophomore Shack Stanwick to Hopkins
Ty Xanders November 9th, 2011 0
InsideLacrosse.com
InsideLacrosse.com
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Inside Lacrosse's No. 1 sophomore Shack Stanwick, A, Boys' Latin (Md.) committed to Johns Hopkins on Tuesday afternoon, according to a close source. He also considered Virginia, Duke and North Carolina.
Under Armour
After putting up 28 goals and 30 assists for the Lakers in his freshman season, Stanwick had an excellent summer, turning in strong performances at the Under Armour underclass games, Jake Reed's Blue Chip, Brine Shootout in several events with both the BLC Crabs and Boys' Latin. Here is his writeup from October's Top 20 Sophomore Young Gun rankings:
"There will be plenty of players who will attempt to fight their way into the top of the class of 2014. As of now, though, Stanwick is the established No. 1 prospect in this class. As a freshman, the 6-2, 160-pound attackman finished the 2011 season as Boys' Latin second-leading scorer (28G, 30A - second to his brother, Johns Hopkins frosh Wells Stanwick). He continued with a hot summer, participating in the Under Armour Underclass games, Nike Blue Chip Camp, the Maryland Free State Games and with the BLC Crabs. He has the established Stanwick skill level and lacrosse IQ, but his athleticism is the X-Factor. He moves like a basketball player around the net, using his size to attack the cage, create shots and post up his opponents."
Shack is the youngest of eight siblings in a renowned Baltimore lacrosse family. The three oldest - Coco, Wick and Sheehan - were each standouts at Georgetown University (where Mr. and Mrs. Stanwick also attended) while Tad finished his career with Rutgers in 2010. Steele, a senior at Virginia, brought a national championship to Charlottesville this past May and won the Tewaaraton award. Covie is a freshman attacker at Boston College and was the No. 2 incoming women's recruit while Wells is a freshman attackman at Johns Hopkins and was the No. 4 incoming men's recruit. Also of note, Shack is the first Stanwick male to repeat a college choice of his older brothers.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Serious about lacrosse -- think about Boxla
Here is a really solid article about the benefits of playing Boxla -- a Canadian version of indoor lacrosse -- box lacrosse.
Tier Lacrosse: Keeping Up With The Canadians
Trevor Tierney | November 8, 2011 | 0 Comments
Editor’s note: Please welcome Trevor Tierney back to the Lax All Stars! This week, we posed a few tough questions to Trevor about BOX lacrosse and how playing indoor can make all the difference in the world. For more information on recruiting and lacrosse in general, make sure you check out Trevor’s website, TierLacrosse.com!
Got a question you want Trevor to answer in next week’s post? Drop it in the comments section below and we’ll make sure he sees it!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Tier Lacrosse
Have you played any box lacrosse? What do you think of the game in general?
My personal experience with the game was that after I graduated from college, I made the NLL’s Colorado Mammoth as a forward because I did not feel like my field goalie skills would transfer over that well to box goalie. I was relegated to the practice squad and I only played in one game and I am quite proud to say that my stats on the NLL website read like this: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 5 PIM. So, despite the fact that I spent more time in the penalty box than I did on the field, playing for the Mammoth up in Toronto in front of 16,000 screaming fans was one of the coolest athletic experiences of my life!
I also absolutely loved practices with the Mammoth. The training camps and the Friday night practices were the most fun that I had ever had playing the game in my life. The more confined space, the boards keeping the ball in play, the physical nature, and the overall speed of the game, make it an absolute blast to play. Despite playing the game since I could barely even walk, I was seeing my stick skills improve dramatically and it was helping my game in the summers as a goalie in the MLL. I was in awe of the game and completely fell in love with it. It made me wish that I had been born in the Great White North!
When one looks down the list of the Top 50 scorers in NCAA Division 1 lacrosse over the past 10 years, it’s hard not to notice that there are a lot of Canadians on the list.
These guys grew up playing box lacrosse for the most part, so is the proof in the pudding? Does playing box simply make you a better offensive player?
Jason Donville sends out an awesome email blast to all the NCAA coaches, which lists the leading Canadian players on all NCAA teams and the statistics which show how the Canadians are basically dominating the game, at least from an offensive standpoint. The simple explanation to this is due to the fact that these players grew up playing indoor lacrosse as youth players. The other factor, that is different from when I was in high school, is that Canadians are also learning the strategy and technique of playing field lacrosse as they get older. So, they start from a very young age playing youth box lacrosse and then as they grow, they continue to play box, but also play and learn the field game at a fairly high level. The combination of the two experiences develops the best offensive lacrosse players in the world.
The reasons for this are pretty simple as the stick skill work that is learned in box lacrosse translates very well to being a great offensive player in field lacrosse. The indoor setting is the absolute best way for youth lacrosse players to get better with their sticks. The boards keep the ball in play in a tighter space with only five players on the field, so all the young players, regardless of skill, get way more touches and repetitions than in field lacrosse. The drills that you can run and just the overall style of the game allow players to develop their stick skills in a way that is impossible to achieve through just playing field lacrosse.
Are there any drawbacks to a box-only lacrosse education? We don’t see the defensive ranks in college dominated by Canadian box players like we do for offense, so is that one of them?
There are some bad habits that you can learn from box lacrosse. Although some Canadian players get away with having only one hand in college, I still think it is highly beneficial for a player to be able to use both hands in field lacrosse. There are also some skills in field lacrosse, like shooting on the run down the alley, dodging from behind the goal and wings and clearing through for space, that are not as well developed in box lacrosse. However, the positives from playing box far outweigh the negatives and playing box at the youth level clearly develops superior players.
It is a bit of enigma in that you do not see as many great Canadian defensive players as offensive players. You would think that box lacrosse would develop great defensive skills in players because it is such a physical game and there is a lot of individual defense played… And actually, some of the Canadian midfielders that I have seen over the past few years also play fantastic defense in a short-stick role.
The reason that you have not seen as many pure defensemen though, is that the Canadians have not started playing as much field lacrosse, up until the past five years or so. Now that they are stressing more field lacrosse play in the middle school and high school aged kids, you are starting to see some better defensemen come out of the woodwork as they are learning to play with a long stick.
The combination of box lacrosse skills and field lacrosse skills is a scary combination. Just look at Brodie Merrill, who is definitely the best defenseman that I ever played with throughout my pro career.
How can a prospective college recruit better themselves by playing box lacrosse? What kinds of skills should they focus on learning? Is playing box and field comparable to being a two-sport athlete?
Frankly, I think that it is too late by then if a player is a prospective college recruit. If you simply study the two games at the youth level, there is really no comparison. Many youth lacrosse games last about an hour, tops. There are usually running-time halves, and for a majority of the time, the ball is on the ground.
Many times, there will be a couple players out there who are better than the rest, and the ball will end up in their sticks for a lot of the time as well. That means that most of the kids on the field are touching the ball maybe one to three times a game if they are lucky! Sadly, youth lacrosse is starting to turn into baseball with a lot of our young athletes standing around watching from the midline, just as many young baseball players get stuck standing in deep, deep roving right-field.
In the U.S. lacrosse world, we all need to start investing more time, energy and money into the box lacrosse game for our youth lacrosse players. Not only is it the best way for them to improve as lacrosse players, it is also way more fun for them to play! If parents want to hear one of the best kept secrets as to how their son can become a great enough lacrosse player to get recruited or receive a scholarship, then playing some box lacrosse is a great way to try and accomplish those goals. If we keep naysaying the indoor version of the game, the Canadian players will be more than happy to keep taking over the field game, getting those spots in college, taking those scholarships and dominating the leader boards in scoring!
Excerpts from these answers were taken from my new blog up on TIER Lacrosse entitled, “Keeping Up With The Canadians” and can be found over on Tier Lacrosse’s blog!
Kind regards,
Trevor
Tier Lacrosse
Check out TierLacrosse.com for more great articles from Trevor Tierney.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
For those in the SF Bay Area -- info on a solid program for BoxLa -- indoor lacrosse.
Denver University Elite vs Cali*Lax ALL-STARS – The Real Fall Classic
Posted on November 3, 2011 by Lacrosse Playground
Categories: Coverage, Indoor
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Santa Cruz, CA – The Denver University Elite Box Lacrosse team is taking their game to California this December to challenge the Cali*Lax ALL-STARS at the California Invitational on December 10/11, 2011. The age groups of the developmental series are as follows: Pee Wee (U12), Bantam (U14) and Midget (U16).
Denver University Elite is coached by Denver University Assistant coach Matt Brown. Brown, a former DU star grew up playing Box Lacrosse in Canada and also enjoyed a lengthy 6 year career in the National Lacrosse League. Brown also has 2 Minto Cup Championships from his days with the Burnaby Lakers Jr ‘A’ program in British Columbia. Brown is also the coach, along with 7 x MLL Defensive player of the year Brodie Merrill, of Team Canada U19.
The Cali*Lax ALL-STARS are directed by 12 year NLL pro, World Champion and former Stealth captain Shaydon Santos, a Canadian Box player who relocated to California when the Albany Attack moved west to become the San Jose Stealth.
Santos’ Cali*Lax ALL-STARS, America’s first youth Box program, have been traveling to Canadian Box tourneys for the last 3 years and are comprised of 7 travel teams ranging in age groups from Novice (U10) to Midget (U16). The Cali*Lax ALL-STARS now compete in the Canadian ‘A’ level and have faced off against Box Lacrosse powerhouses Whitby Bantam 1 (Mark Matthews/Denver University, Zack Palmer/JHU, Zack Greer/Duke/Bryant), and New Westminster Pee Wee A (Kevin Crowley/Stoney Brook).
Both Denver Elite and Cali*Lax ALL-STARS have been attending the same Box Tournament in Calgary over the past 2 years but have never faced off.
The California Invitational is a four game Developmental Series over two days taking place in San Jose, CA.
The Cali*Lax ALL-STARS Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget and HS Elite travel to Washington in both January and February to face off against the Junior Stealth. The Junior Stealth and the Stealth Academy are directed by NLL superstar, LMX Pro Lewis Ratcliff and coached by the world’s top Box players – the Washington Stealth.
Denver University Elite, the Jr Stealth and the Cali*Lax ALL-STARS are bringing a combined 15 teams to Canada this summer to battle Canadians at youth Box Lacrosse tournaments.
More information can be found at:
www.calilax.com
www.usboxla.com
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
A players thoughts on why to wear a mouth guard.
Young lacrosse players do not really understand why the refs and coaches are always on them about their mouth guards. Yes teeth are important but really concussions are the important issue. I misplaced a great picture I saw a day or so ago showing a play that was more chewing on his mouth guard -- it was clearly in his mouth but not between his teeth.
Read what this player has to say: http://indiana.laxallstars.com/?p=4324&preview=true
His text:
If You Don’t Mind, I Will Begin at the Beginning
Well I saw this whole blog thing take off last year and thought to myself, hey this looks like fun might as well give it a try. I’ll spare you all the long introduction since hopefully you’ve all read my masterpiece of a Meet the Hoosiers article, but to make a small reintroduction or for those who missed out, I’m Josh, I’m a senior, and I am from the paradise that is Los Angeles Ca.
This beautiful piece of scenery is a mere 15 minutes away from my humble abode. I know you’re jealous.
Now that the pleasantries have been exchanged, I’m going to get a little bit serious for the rest of this post. This Fall Ball has been frustrating for me personally to say the least. But I learned a great lesson and I hope to pass it on to the rest you laxers out there. I know Tref touched on the subject of concussions last year, and now I’m going to add to that with my very own first concussion experience.
Before I came out to IU, I coached a couple different programs and always harped on my players to strap up their helmets and wear mouth guards. What I think a lot of young players don’t know is what a mouth guard actually does. Yes it protects your beautiful pearly whites that Mom and Dad spent a fortune on, but it also helps to prevent concussions. I’m no doctor, but the way it’s always been explained to me is that basically if you’re hit hard, the movement of your jaw has something to do with the cause of a concussion. Thus, when wearing a mouth guard, the jaw can’t move and a concussion can be avoided or less damaging.
Anyway, a few weeks back we were going through our regular routine at practice and I had my helmet strapped since were doing contact drills, but I wasn’t wearing my mouth guard. Its fall ball right?? What could possible happen??? Well my man (Tref) got the ball and I ran out to play some wicked D on him. He winds up to shoot. Now those of you don’t know, Tref has a wicked shot, so I turned my body to get out the way since I really didn’t feel like getting pegged. Well the next thing you know, I have this loud ringing in my ear and I felt like I was on a boat. I’m pretty sure you all can put 2 and 2 together on what happened. Needless to say, I spent the rest of fall ball watching from the sidelines.
You can see the ball mark; I don’t know how Peter Moore and Chucky Aikens do it on a daily basis.
Moral of the story, strap up at all times and wear a mouth guard. Would it have saved me from the concussion?? Who knows, but it definitely would not have hurt to have it in. For those of you still doing Fall Ball enjoy and have fun. Can’t wait to bring back the Cali Swagger to Btown. Here’s my Sunday banger for you all to enjoy.
Former lacrosse player Zach Heffner giving back to his sport .
An important aspect of lacrosse is giving back to the community. Here is a great video featuring Zach Heffner a former lacrosse player and his participation in supporting Native Vision a camp to help our Native American youth. Easton Lacrosse founded by more true fans, players and coaches of the sport clearly played a big role in making this happen.
Check out their great video:
Check out their great video:
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Interview with a star from the upcoming lacrosse movie -- Crooked Arrows
In April 2012 the movie Crooked Arrows is due -- get a feel for the movie in this nice interview:
Get a feel for boy nationally ranked lacrosse players
http://espn.go.com/high-school/lacrosse/stats-leaders/story/_/id/6961649/boys-national-career-leaders
Jimmy Hurlburt/ESPNHSESPNHS updates the record book as we recieve stats.Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Part of lacrosse is giving back to help others.
Check out the Maritime mens' lacrosse team -- a free youth clinic to help kids and to collect used equipment. http://laxunation.com/?p=10051
Another example is Easton Lacrosse's sponsorship of Play for Parkinson's Lacrosse Series. A company that is showing exciting new products and helping raise funds for a serious disease.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Great video to get you inspired to train!
This video features a football player, but the strength and agility training apply very well to lax. Ladders and cones. Work on short sprints, agility and strength. Laxers do not need to focus on long runs; middies might want to do longer sprints, but not miles.
The only thing I really disagree with here is about the comment about sleep -- especially for teens. Sleep is important. Period.
Overall the idea of really really wanting it is spot on!
Enjoy............
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Building excitement for the April 2012 Lacrosse Movie -- Crooked Arrows
A lot of us are cheering for this movie -- the producers have done a great job introducing the actors and giving us a taste of what this upcoming movie will be about.
Enjoy their behind the scenes video:
Saturday, October 15, 2011
A funny spoof on lacrosse interviews
Note -- even thought this is really silly there are some real thoughts about how to play well.
Get some ideas for training -- suited for women and men.
Here is a video from the Denver Women's Lacrosse team -- these workouts are great for both women and men. Many are suited well for youth at home, not just college players with a nice weight room. As winter starts in some parts of the country it will be hard to practice outdoors, but there is plenty one can do with strength conditioning and wall ball to get ready for spring.
Friday, October 14, 2011
The Easton Raptor -- A great chance to see how a lax helmet is made
The new Easton Lacrosse -- the Raptor is really light. It looks really great and the protection sounds very well tested.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Dynamic Speed Warm Up
Here are a couple of videos from a new training institute. This applies very well to lacrosse players -- I very much like the idea of dynamic stretching -- check out the video:
For those that live in the SF Bay Area you might want to drop by and see some of the training in action -- here is some video of one of their summer camps:
For those of you that live in Texas I like videos that I see from Rashad Deveo Human Performance. Rashad is really a lax focused coach but much of his basic ideas apply to other sports. He also has camps so he is great to check out for camps as well as his videos. Check out this link to get a feel for Rashad: http://www.laxmagazine.com/tips/players/2008-09/041409_low_box_training
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Great advice for improving your lacrosse.
Shooting on goal is great fun, but even the best players spend a few seconds per game shooting, a lot more time is spent passing and catching. Do a lot of wall ball and passing with your friends,
Watch and listen to this video:
Sunday, October 9, 2011
A super funny wall ball video from Easton Lacrosse
This video came out earlier in the year from Easton Lacrosse. Aside from some great humor watching some of lacrosse's best known pro players, one should look at this a great way to get some ideas about how easy it is easy to find places to have some fun and work on stick skills. Get creative -- just messing around with your crosse is how you will really progress.
Not lacrosse -- but a super time-lapse!
At Lacrosse Camp Finder we will focus mostly on lacrosse camps and skills often with some fast paced video, but here is a simply beautiful time-lapse view of landscapes.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Lacrosse -- how to fake.
A nice video on how to fake -- this skill becomes more important as you get older.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Fall is a great time to work on basic lacrosse skills.
Here is a solid video for d-poles Joe Cinosky demonstrates how to do a wrap check.
Attack and middies -- you should watch and think about how you would respond.
Friday, August 5, 2011
The start of a new movie Crooked Arrows
What a treat for lacrosse players -- a mainstream movie featuring lacrosse. Checkout their Facebook Page to see pictures of the filming. One can also follow them on Twitter @crookedarrows
The video below introduces you to some of the actors and one quickly realizes that there is really lacrosse talent here -- just read and you will quickly see what I mean about these guys have stick.
Read this article from Lacrosse Magazine:
The movie "Crooked Arrows," is in production as we speak in the Boston area, and the movie's producers have released a teaser video featuring the members of the film's title team, the Crooked Arrows.
You may be familiar with some of the players, notably Ty, Miles and Lyle Thompson, a trio that this season will likely comprise the starting attack unit of the Albany men's lacrosse team. Lyle, the younger brother of Miles and cousin of Ty, arrives as a freshman at Albany this fall. Miles and Ty are in their second year.
I caught up with Lyle earlier this summer in Baltimore, and we talked about his college future and his family's lacrosse legacy.
"Miles and Ty are the other attackman and they're off-ball players," Lyle said of his older brother and cousin, both returning sophomore attackman at Albany. "I can help out by being a feeder, drawing a lot of attention, drawing some doubles and hitting the open man."
The Danes need somebody to do that in the absence of Brian Caufield, the team's go-to offensive creator as a senior last year (9g, 22a while missing some time due to injury).
"My job is going to be to fill his spot," the 6-foot, 175-pound Lyle Thompson said. "I'm excited to get on the team, start playing and see what I can do. I think I'll be a big part of the team as a freshman."
Of being the latest Thompson to play collegiate lacrosse — oldest brother Jerome was a JUCO Player of the Year, Jeremy Thompson went to Syracuse and is with the MLL's Hamilton Nationals, and Miles will be with him at Albany — Lyle said with a smile, "I don't think of it as pressure. They push me to do better than them. I think my dad expects the most out of me because I'm the youngest."
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Summer Lax Practice Dodges
# Lacrosse @kyleharrison18 @Easton Summer Lax Practice -- Dodges
Summer is winding down and there are only a few more weeks of lax camps. In Nor Cal check out www.lacrossecampfinder.com
There is plenty of time before Fall Ball to work on your own.
A great idea is to work on your dodges — you do not need to be in a formal practice to work on this. Alone or with a buddy is perfect for practicing your different dodges. In fact, the more you work on this alone without the need to beat a d-pole the more control you can gain — muscle memory will help you in the long run if you let it develop.
Just as we have been suggesting doing your shooting practice at game speed and practicing with your gloves on — do the same for practicing dodging.
Watch the video below by Kyle Harrison. Listen to what he says about selling the fake. A very key concept is taking a big step and using the compression in the quads to make your speedy next step. The most important message, however, is using the first encounter with the opponent to set-up future dodges.
Sean Morris gave the best answer I have ever heard to the question of “What is your favorite dodge?” Sean replied “Variety!” This great reply underscores even if you are best at one or two dodges use them with a mix of other dodges or your opponent will know what to expect and you will not be very effective.
Here is a video of Sean that is more about shooting, but for this article look how he is practicing his dodging while working on shooting; the two should go hand in hand. Standing still and shooting does very little for you. Running and shooting is a much better way to practice, but adding in your dodges will be even more game- like.
One last thing to work on — notice how Sean is really focusing on where his feet are relative to the back of the goal, GLE and goal face. Think about this when you are alone so it becomes second nature in a game.
One last thought. There is an important reason to practice at full speed A point about dodging from Easton Lacrosse’s Doug Appleton is that you do not want to dodge too late. If you wait too long to dodge then the opponent will have a much better chance. If you practice a low speed you will have a hard time in games knowing how to time your moves. Practice at speed.
For more thoughts on how to practice during the end of summer please checkwww.lacrossecampfinder.blogspot.com
Sunday, July 24, 2011
There is still a lot of time for lacrosse practice and fun this summer.
End of summer fun lacrosse practice.
There have been a lot of great lacrosse camps this summer — still a few weeks more to checkout www.lacrossecampfinder.com to find the last camps of summer. Another very important way to improve your lax skills is to practice by yourself or best of all with a buddy.
We have posted some ideas/videos on shooting and the need to practice while moving.
Another important ability to work on is learning to feel where the ball is in your stick. Stick tricks will help with this ability as well as hand & eye coordination. Most importantly this is a fun thing to do. You can practice your stick tricks when you have a few minutes here or there.
One important point to get maximum benefit —- USE YOUR GLOVES!
Stick tricks are both fun and practical, but just like practicing shooting on goal while standing still you will benefit but much less than if you put yourself in a more game-like situation. So you will benefit much more if you do your STICK TRICKS WITH GLOVES!
Also read these ideas from lacrosse-information.com:
The Indian Pickup: This is a really fun one to learn, and almost everyone knows what it is. With the ball on the ground, you want to hit the ball with one side of the lacrosse head, while flipping your stick over, and catching the ball.
I remember when I was younger, and stupider, I tried this in a game. I was unsuccessful. The next practice, I had to run a mile and do 100 push ups. Needless to say, I never did that again…Ever.
Baton Twirl:
Note that this is called many different things. This lacrosse trick is very easy to do. Just put the ball in the crosse, and spin the lacrosse stick as you throw it into the air. It looks pretty hard, but it is actually really easy.
As the sticks comes down, try to catch it with one hand, and with the ball still in your stick. You can either look cool while you do this, or like a complete chump.
Backside shaft hit:
OK, I’ll admit, I have no clue what this trick is called. But it is pretty cool, and semi difficult.
Using one hand on the stick, throw the ball out of your pocket, hit it with the back side of your shaft, and then make it land back in the pocket.
I personally never liked doing this one, because when ever I hit it with the shaft, I either broke something, or hit someone. Use with caution.
Sidewall Balance:
This one is fairly simple for lacrosse players of all ages to do. Using two hands (or one when you get good) toss the ball out of your pocket and make it balance on the sidewall of your stick.
I have always really liked this lacrosse trick because you can you both hands, one hand, toss the ball from sidewall to sidewall, etc.
Sidewall Juggle:
Similar to the Sidewall Balance, the Sidewall Juggle occurs when you toss the ball out of your stick, and keep hitting it on the sidewall.
Do this for as long as you can to try to break my record: 107 (yeah, I have no life). You can do this with one hand or two hands, and either one of the sidewalls.
Beware of running balls. HAHA.
Most of the things you see here are for practice, and fun time only. NEVER do these things in a game. You will probably get made fun of, and your coach will definitely scream at you.
The Upside-down Sidewall Spin:
Start by balancing the ball on your sidewall. Then, place your right hand on the butt of the stick. Your right hand should be palms up, and the thumb should be pointing away from the head.
Raise your hand and spin in a circle. As you spin faster, the centrifugal force will take over, and keep the ball on the sidewall.
*Note: A pinched head works better for this trick.
Check out some of the following links. Some are funnier than others, but use all of them to get ideas. Some are better for beginners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3nxd94MSck&feature=fvw
Note this video has some young ladies — note girls that sticks tricks are for you too! No gloves needed for the ladies. Boys — if no time don’t worry, but gloves will really help. Boys and girls the more you switch hands the better!
http://www.schooltube.com/video/e02613a7e2b5fa44ba3e/PE-Lacrosse-Stick-Tricks
Below are some of the videos from the links above:
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