Thoughts on Defense

This summer I want to help with thoughts about practice -- camps are a great way to get better, but sometimes one has some free time alone. So free time is a great to just noddle around with stick tricks, wall ball etc.

Another thing to do is think about areas that often get less attention by younger players. After all everyone likes to shoot at a goal, but some times no mater if one plays attack, middie or defense one should think about how to stop the opponent when he has the ball.

For defense, no mater what position you play, your foot position is the most important. This is true both for a d-pole protecting his goalie or an attack trying to ensure the ball stays in the opponents half. So, here is a nice video talking about the athletic stance as applied to lacrosse.

Coaches will prefer players focus on the basics, but in games sometimes a special move works. Don't use this often, but if your opponent gets sloppy you can use a special rarely used move to great effect. Additionally, from then on they will be much more hesitant around you -- which is what you want. Take their mind off their game. As a treat I will then show a great Rusty Gate Checks including a really great one by pro-player Kyle Hartzell. http://youtu.be/eua3KjmRFgE

Here is another nice Rusty Gate http://youtu.be/Qe5rWU9XPQE

During the summer one has the chance to experiment as well as work on fundamentals. It is a great time to try new things that one can not do during a busy school year and then need follow what your coach is saying during practice.

Wall ball is a great way to work on fundamentals and yet make it fun. Another great thing is if your buddies are somewhere else you can do this alone. Doing wall ball with a buddy and making different games out of it is also a way to keep it fresh. Wall ball helps improve both women and men's lacrosse.

BIG NOTE -- In your games (boys) you will be wearing gloves -- so be sure to wear gloves when practicing. It is summer after all and you need to have fun; you might want to lug less gear around, but make sure there are times when you do your wall ball with gloves.

I will be collecting different videos and posting them:

from YouTube
http://youtu.be/LPCYfHE-4oE

from YouTube we have Joe Walters
http://youtu.be/okKN-lhksCw

from Play Sports TV
http://www.playsportstv.com/boys-lacrosse/playlists/23/how-to-play-lacrosse_essential-skills#lacrosse-drills_wall-drills&p=23


Another great option is to find the extremely funny videos that Easton Lacrosse used for their advert called "Find Their Wall" This was a contest encouraging players to submit their own videos to their Easton Face Book page. Here is a link to the Lacrosse Playground page showing the Easton adds. On the Easton Facebook page you can find many "Find Your Wall" videos that were submitted to Easton for the contest.

http://www.lacrosseplayground.com/post/easton-lacrosse-wall-ball-commercial/22506/
and here is a YouTube link
http://youtu.be/XoYzibwUHOc

A site with a lot of video is from 3DLacrosse, with a nice video showing Jimmy Beardmore doing some wall ball. Not only is there a friendly dog at the start. Jimmy really stresses the role of moving the feet and it is very clear how much he twists his torso. This is a really great one!

From Shelburn Youth Lacrosse here are some nice thoughts as text about wall ball:
http://shelburnelacrosse.org.uslaxteams.com/Page.asp?n=41101&org=shelburnelacrosse.org

BIG NOTE for the girls -- wall ball is for you also. Most videos show guys but here is one showing women's lacrosse wall ball.
http://youtu.be/Ty6r441_V0k

Another thought for those that do not have brick homes -- sometimes just going to the backyard is a great option. If you have some one to pass with that is great or one can buy a "rebounder" which is basically a sideways trampoline one uses instead of a wall.

Lastly for now -- a fun interview from Lacrosse.tv with pro player and Easton rep. Brett Queener speaking with other really great players about what they like about wall ball (even more than rebounders).
http://demo.dev.vmix.com/video/view/35897941/hawaii-20for20---wall-ball

Summer time not only means lacrosse camps, but a lot of fun practicing with friends or yourself. Wall ball is a great way to get better.

I would love to get as many good links to wall ball as possible. My other goal is to post links to great videos demonstrating some aspect of lax skills.

To start I will put a a video from a really great guy and lax player. This video was from Lacrosse Playground and features Kyle Harrison who is as nice here as in person.

Check him out doing Time and Room Shooting:

http://www.lacrosseplayground.com/post/kyle-harrison-time-and-room-shooting/26785/

Any thoughts on lacrosse camps from last summer?

Give your feed back to lacrosse camps you have participated in the past. Give us the good and bad. Did you learn a lot? Good swag? Play better the following season?

We are trying to put out info on local camps so help out your friends and let us know about camps you have tried and then come back and update us on camps you take this summer.

Summer is almost here for most kids -- That means lacrosse fun.

In California as well as nationally the lacrosse season is over after another fun year. So time for a short break and then time to figure out how to get ready for next year, but doing so in a fun way such that one is eager for next season and not burned-out by the time it arrives.

Making fun games out of wall ball, getting a buddy and passing, practicing moves are all fun and important. Even stick tricks will help every player have fun but improve "feel" for the ball.

During this past weekend tournament learned about additional summer camps and have added them to www.lacrossecampfinder.com

Especially for those in California this site will help you find a more formal way to improve your skills -- there are so many good camps and opportunities for private lessons.

Give the site a look to find camps that are in your area and during weeks you have not already booked up.

Best wishes for have lacrosse fun this summer!