USA Lacrosse

If we want our players to be better equipped to attack, then we need to incorporate games that include purpose-driven directional play. We practice to prepare for competition and hope that the concepts we’re teaching transfer to the competition. Notice I used the term “concept” above and not skill. A concept is the idea of […]

Student-athletes must take ownership of their development and game. By blaming outside influences, what does that teach your child? I have been coaching for many years and the level of parental involvement has changed drastically. Today, coaches coach at the college level for the same reasons they have always coached: the love of the game, the […]

If a major foul by a defensive player occurs below the goal line extended, the player with the ball will go to the nearest dot. The penalty zone is not cleared when a foul is administered at a dot. In 2019 high school and youth girls’ lacrosse will implement several significant rule changes. One change […]

Exertional heat stroke is one of the top three causes of sport related death, however, it can be prevented with proper strategies in place. Summertime has become a prime season for youth lacrosse. Camps, clinics and club tournaments populate the calendar during these months and keep many players heavily engaged with the sport. Summer is, […]

There’s no question the event is bringing the sport huge exposure in the country, and they may have gained a few more players last night. The United States has yet to play a game in the 2018 Federation of International Lacrosse Men’s World Championship, but I think I’ve already seen the moment I’ll remember forever […]

“We’ll have to see whether the elevated risk remained when the girls began wearing the new protective headgear designed specifically for the women’s game in the spring 2018 season.” Findings from a recent research study on the effects of head protection on player safety in girls’ high school lacrosse indicate that there may be an […]

Looking forward, establish and communicate the key dates that everybody will need to know. This includes player registration, board meetings, facility reservations, clinics, etc. Virtually any blueprint for professional success, individual or corporate, includes a requirement for effective communication. Lacrosse leagues are no different. Making sure that all coaches, parents, and administrators are in sync, […]

“There always seems to be some issue — someone needs a ride, you don’t know when the game is going to be played, someone’s missing because they’re playing another sport. You have to find a way to make it work.” One of the hardest things about coaching is getting started. Everything seems new, and you’re […]

Coaches and officials need to work together for the benefit of the players, and the buck stops with the head coach when addressing problem behavior. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) boys’ lacrosse rulebook is 92 pages long — some of them containing language that would make an act of Congress comparably […]