Lacrosse & Coaches Kids

In youth lacrosse, parents often have to deal with the controversial issue of "coaches kids".

Many former lax players (and now doting fathers) volunteer their time to youth lacrosse and thus expect their kids to get preferential treatment when making the team. It is seen as "pay back" for volunteering and helping the entire lax community. Basically, for many of these dads, if their son doesn't make team, they are unwilling to find time to help with lacrosse. FYI - This is an issue mainly affecting elementary and some middle school grade teams (as things are usually more merit-based in the later middle school grades and in high school).

Of course, non- coaching parents are torn by this issue. Some accept this as the price for former lacrosse players freely coaching their kids. Others are upset because a weaker coach's kid will often be placed ahead of better players and thus hurt the team and overall player development.

Moreover, the growth and skill level of the coaches kids is often hampered. These kids often feel like they don't have to practice "above and beyond" because... no matter what... they will make the lax team due to dear old Dad. In the long-term, this is a giant negative because their future high school lax coach is going to say "I don't care who your Dad is. I get paid to have a winning team and your lax skills suck. Sorry, you didn't make the team".

What do you think? Does your youth lacrosse team face this issue?

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.beginnerlacrosse.com

Top Ranked High School Lacrosse Team in 2013

If you want to see a high school lacrosse team playing at an incredible high level (better than many college teams), you should watch videos of this year's Chaminade High School lacrosse team - http://www.msgvarsity.com/long-island/full-game-chaminade-10-manhasset-3-1.1451458

They are ranked # 1 in the tristate area (NY, NJ and CT) and are probably the top school in the country.

Hopefully this video link works for you (as it is from the local cable company). You will learn a lot by watching their team work and strong fundamentals.

Will
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

What is the best off-season training for lacrosse?

What do you think is the best off-season training for lacrosse? Summer lacrosse camps? Wall ball? Other sports? Lacrosse clinics? Please answer below.

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Lacrosse Wall Ball with Tennis Balls

For young kids, you can try using a tennis ball when practicing wall ball (especially if it is hot and they do not want to wear a helmet, etc.).

This type of ball hurts less if someone gets hit, teaches a beginner to throw harder (as a tennis ball is lighter than a regular lacrosse ball) and helps with catching (because it is lighter and can bounce out more easily... thus they have to focus more on their catching skills).

However, you need to make sure they are wearing their lacrosse gloves whenever they practice wall ball. Kids need to get used to wearing their gloves while handling a lacrosse stick (in order to prepare for real lacrosse games).

Visit our main Wall Ball page for more tips and instructional videos - http://www.beginnerlacrosse.com/lacrosse-wall-ball.asp

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Lacrosse Strength and Conditioning

We have just added a lacrosse strength training page - http://www.beginnerlacrosse.com/lacrosse-strength-training.asp

This page focuses on improving your shooting "power", defensive strength, speed & endurance and much more. Hope this helps.

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Box Lacrosse vs "Normal" Lacrosse

My eldest son took a box lacrosse program this winter. This is a Canadian version of lacrosse that is played indoors.

Pro - Box lacrosse teaches players to protect the stick (because the "field" is much smaller) and improves their shooting accuracy (as the goals are tiny). You also get more "touches" because there is no offsides.

Con - Box lacrosse is played with only 5 players on each side and only on a small "field" so you do not get "normal" spring lacrosse team training (i.e. spacing).

What are you thoughts about box lacrosse as a prep tool for the regular spring lacrosse season?

For more off-season practice ideas, please visit this page on our site - http://www.beginnerlacrosse.com/lacrosse-off-season.asp

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.beginnerlacrosse.com

Review of the Warrior Junior Vex Lacrosse Cleats

We have just added a review of the Warrior Junior Vex Lacrosse Cleats to our website - http://www.beginnerlacrosse.com/lacrosse-product-review-warrior-vex-junior.asp

These inexpensive lax cleats get a good review... so visit our website for more details!

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.beginnerlacrosse.com

Fun Lacrosse Drills for Kids

I just added a number of "fun" lacrosse drills that you can use to break up a long day of lacrosse practice. Young kids love these fun drills. They include things such as sharks & minnows, thunder dome, egg toss and score on the chicken. :)

Here is the page - http://www.beginnerlacrosse.com/lacrosse-drills-fun.asp

If you have any other favorite fun/silly lacrosse drills, please leave me a note and I will add them to the list.

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Like this article? You can also follow us on Facebook by clicking on the "like button" above.

Split Dodge for Beginners

Split dodges are one of the most important dodges to learn in lacrosse. This type of dodge allows players to dodge past an opponent at full speed (versus slowing down to do a roll dodge). It combines speed and deception in order to create space and thus the ability to shoot or pass.

Watch the video below in order to learn the basics of a split dodge.

For more lacrosse dodges (and many more split dodge instructional videos), you should visit our main Lacrosse Dodges page.



Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Like this article? You can also follow us on Facebook by clicking on the "like button" above.

Winter Wall Ball

We got two feet of snow this weekend. However, we still went to practice our wall ball and have some fun in the snow. Here are a few photos of this lacrosse wall ball "adventure".

First, we found a spot without too much snow.

Then to make it a little more fun, I made snow targets on the wall in order to improve my boys' accuracy (aim upper right... at the the snow ball!).

Finally, as a reward, they got to play king of the mountain on a nearby snow pile!

Will

Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Like this article? You can also follow us on Facebook by clicking on the "like button" above.

Off-Season Training for Lacrosse Beginners

If you want your son to excel at lacrosse, you need to help him in the off-season. He needs to prep early so he is ahead of the other kids (especially, if you want him to make the travel team or at a minimum to avoid other kids from surpassing him).

Here is what my two boys did in the off-season in order to get ready for this year's lacrosse season.

They went to a lacrosse summer camp as well as a few fall/winter lacrosse clinics (which are held once per week and last for a couple of months).

My boys also participated in a couple of off-season sports (i.e. basketball and track). This has boosted their endurance significantly. Endurance/stamina is a vital "skill" needed for lacrosse.

Moreover, we practice once or twice on the weekends with 30 minutes of wall ball. Wall ball is a critical off-season training tool for beginners. For wall ball ideas, you should visit our Wall Ball page.

I also conduct my own lacrosse drills for the kids on the weekends... but I am nuts. :) For drill ideas, please visit our Lacrosse Drills page.

That in mind, I have created an Off-Season Lacrosse Training page that gives families a number of simple ideas in order to prep their son(s) in the off-season.

Hope this helps.

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Like this article? You can also follow us on Facebook by clicking on the "like button" above.

Lacrosse Practice in the Winter

Brrr!!! It is 20 degrees and we are still practicing lacrosse outside. Here are a few photos of my little lacrosse maniacs over at a local school. Lacrosse equipment over their cold weather gear. :)

Here is a link to our off-season practice page (good for winter training) - http://www.beginnerlacrosse.com/lacrosse-off-season.asp

And some cold weather wall ball :)

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Behind the Back Passes in Lacrosse

Behind the back passes & shots are advanced techniques for lacrosse players. You should focus on the basics first. However, if you have mastered EVERYTHING (Is your left hand as good as your right?) then try working on behind the back passes and shots in lacrosse.

Remember to visit our main Lacrosse Passing page for more passing videos and instruction. Or visit our Lacrosse Shooting page.

Watch this video to learn Paul Rabil's advice regarding behind the back passes. He recommends these types of passes as a way to quickly bypassing pressure defense.



Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Lacrosse Off-Season Risks

The "lacrosse downside" to off-season sports is potential injuries.

Last year, my son broke a finger playing rec basketball. These games look more like football games than NBA games. Luckily, the injury took place about a month and a half before lacrosse started so he had time to heal.

This week, he suffered jammed thumb when he was gang tackled by several kids diving for the ball. Maybe he should just stick to track in the few months before lacrosse season!!

For more positive lacrosse off-season tips :), please visit our main Lacrosse Off-Season page.

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Wall Ball Drills

Here are our favorite beginner lacrosse ball drills:

1. 25 right hand passes, right hand catches
2. 25 left hand passes, left hand catches
3. 25 right hand passes, left hand catches
4. 25 left hand passes, right hand catches
5. 25 fake & shoot - right & left
6. 25 passing & catching while running along side the wall 
7. For fun - 25 catches with one hand on the stick!

For more wall ball tips & videos, you should visit our main Lacrosse Wall Ball page.

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Change of Direction Dodge for Lacrosse Beginners

If you are speedy and agile, you should consider using a change of direction dodge in order to escape a lacrosse defender and put yourself into position to score.

Here is a video that shows the basics of a lacrosse change of direction dodge.



I have added other videos focused on change of direction dodges (and many more lacrosse dodges) to our dodging page -  http://beginnerlacrosse.com/lacrosse-dodges.asp

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Like this article? You can also follow us on Facebook by clicking on the "like button" above.

Lacrosse Passing Tips for Beginners

My eldest son (who is in the 5th grade) had to play in a mixed 5th thru 8th grade lacrosse clinic because most of the regular kids took off for the long Thanksgiving weekend (and they were forced to combine several classes). Unfortunately, he had to guard an 8th grader who was far larger than him (and even larger than me).

My son did a great job because he was able to use the skills developed by our "passing under pressure" drills in order to get the ball off to his teammates (despite being smothered by this huge kid). Since he could not out run this big kid, he would run into and then step back or move left/right in order to make space so he could get off his pass.

Moreover, I was proud that my boy did  not cry when he was leveled by the 8th grader who hit him once with a massive body check. My son just jumped back up (after being sent flying to the ground) and continued to play the game. Of course, I wanted to choke the 8th grader... until the coach yelled at him and I remembered that body checks are legal in 8th grade. :)

For more beginner lacrosse drills, you should visit our main Lacrosse Drills page. Also you should read our Passing Under Pressure blog post.

Will
Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com

Passing Under Pressure Drills in Lacrosse

The advantage of having two sons is having them play lacrosse against each other. 

For example, Andrew needs to work on his "passing under pressure" skills. Therefore, my younger son (Mark) is more than willing to whack at him in order to help perfect Andrew's skills. :)

I have Andrew work on various dodges, re-dodges and step backs in order to make space before passing the ball. Of course for the entire time, Mark is whacking away at poor eldest son!

For more beginner lacrosse drills, you should visit our main Lacrosse Drills page.

Will

Beginner Lacrosse.com
http://www.BeginnerLacrosse.com