Second Coaches Clinic Welcome www guilfordlax com Coaches

Second Coaches Clinic Welcome www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 1

Coaching Technique & Drills John Ireland www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 2

Teach more than Lacrosse • Teach – – – Teamwork Discipline Respect Leadership Sportsmanship • It’s NOT all about winning • It has to be fun • But it is more fun if you win a few • A coach owes the players a balance of FUN and Success www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 3

Player management • Set expectations for the kids – Clear concise and predictable – Kids will rise to the expectations – Good Ideas to implement • Players should get to practice 15 minutes early • Get their gear on before the official start of practice • Give them a warm-up activity to begin as soon as they get there – Passing left and right – Working off the wall – Etc. . . WITH GEAR ON • Coaches need to adhere to the rules too – If players are expected to be on time so should the coaches – Players shouldn’t be allowed to demean other players, . . . Neither should coaches – Etc. . . www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 4

Player management • Kids are people too – Treat them like you want to be treated – But don’t forget you’re dealing with kids • No matter how smart they are they’re still not as smart as you – That’s what makes them fun • When you have something important to say communicate at eye level – Big guys are intimidating www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 5

Plan your Practice • No long-winded speeches • Allow time for: – Warm-ups/stretching – Conditioning – Cool-downs • Keep practices moving – “an idle child is a recipe for disruption” • Drills – Short lines so kids are moving – Don’t overcomplicate your drills • Attempting too much “realism” can defeat the coaching points of the drill • Fundamentals are important even for the professionals – Don’t assume the fundamentals are too basic or boring www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 6

Plan your Practice • Start the practice with: – A review of previous game’s or practice’s strengths and weaknesses – An indication of what you want to accomplish in the current practice – NO LONG WINDED SPEECHES – Be straight with the kids • Firm criticism is ok but keep it upbeat • End the practice with: – – An assessment of the practice What’s coming next NO LONG WINDED SPEECHES Be straight with the kids • Firm criticism is ok but keep it upbeat www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 7

Plan your Practice • Give kids an opportunity to “strut their stuff” – Let them try things in practice they’re afraid to try in games – Soon enough you’ll be amazed by what they can do – They’ll be more creative when it counts • Scrimmaging is NOT very instructional – Generally results in a decrease in skill development – It’s more of a reward than an opportunity for coaching/teaching • Focus on TEAM PLAY www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 8

Coaching Technique • Amplify every positive thing that anyone does and make sure the other kids hear your praise; it is a tremendous confidence builder • It’s also appropriate to point out the negatives in the same fashion but MAKE SURE that you package it with something positive to keep the self-esteem up – Also keep your criticism even handed • A good player that makes a mistake is often more at fault than the bad player that makes the same mistake • Stay cool, because it is too easy to get frustrated with the youngsters; their maturity? • No matter how hard you try, some kids just will not get it; some will continue to goof around, not appear to be interested, etc… Allow then a little time to goof around and bond as teammates • www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 9

Be Prepared • Prepare for Practice – Communicate what will be covered – Set a schedule and keep to it • Have a set of drills prepared • Make sure the kids know it • 10 Minute for each drill – Get the assistant involved – Work Hard/ Play Hard • Reward with cool drills – Shooting, face off, fast break – Keep everyone moving – No Child Left Behind! www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 10

Practice Basics • 15 -30 min – Warm-up – Fundamentals • 20 -30 min – Agilities – Endurance – Strength • 20 -30 Min – Skills Individual – Skills Field • 20 -30 min – Situations • 15 -30 min – Specialties www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 11

Starting a Practice • Warm Up – Laps - jogging – Stretching • Jumping Jacks, Hamstrings, Quads, Groin, Calves, Back, Shoulders, Neck, Push ups, Jumping Jacks • Fundamentals – Line Drills • Ground Balls to and away, Flip Drill, Pass right and left (inside and out), Over the shoulder, Face Dodge, Roll Dodge www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 12

Conditioning • Agilities – – – – Cone Drills Foot Work Stick Checks Dodging Shuttle Runs Back Peddling Shuffle Drill • Strength – – Push-ups/Sit-ups Lunges-shuffle Man on back off-ball Nail in foot • Endurance – Field runs – Defense Shuffle – 5 @ 1 ground balls www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 13

Individual Skills – Left and Right • Offense – Attack and Mids – – – Four Corners Meat Loaf 3 Man Weave Alley Drill G-Balls 1 st moves - off G-balls & off dodge – Cuts/Feeds • • Middies – – Face Offs Playing both sides Open Field Dodging Looking for the open man – Stick Checks • Poke, slap, wrap, back, overhead (not recommended) – Positioning – – • Pass and Pick Away – 1 -4 Pass to shots – Finishing – 1 on 1 & 2 on 1 – Shooting Drills Defense • • In front of cage • Goal Line Extended • Behind Cage Long Passes D-Holds D-Sides 1 on 1 Goalies – Stepping to the ball – Stick Position – Loud Mouth www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 14

Field Skills –Team Skills • Field Skills – 2 on 1 Ground Balls; Man/Ball – 3 man weave – 2 on 1 Four Corners – ½ Field Box Clearing – Full Field Passing – Shooting • • Team Skills – – – Talk Positioning 2 on 2 & 3 on 3 Unsettled Skills Off Ball Positioning Sweeps and Rolls Give and Go Pick and Shoot Scoop and Shoot Dodge and Shoot thru screens – Breakout clears www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 15

Situations • Man-up/down • Fast Breaks • 2 on 1, 3 on 2, 4 on 3, 5 on 4 • "Low ball” • Transitions • Slow to 6 on 6 • Dice drill • Quick clears • Rides & clears • • Pressure Defense Shut off Zone Defense Man to Man www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 16

Specialties • Offense – – – Settled Offense Settle O O looks 2 minute drills Slide packs Man with and w/out Pressure Zone Man Up Plays Tempo Boost Full field transition Middies- Figure 8 • Defense – – www. guilfordlax. com Zone Defense Team D's Man Down Plays Defense- scoop, dodge, pass, checking Coaches Clinic Page 17

End of Practice • More Conditioning – 4 th quarter energy – Get them home a little tired but feeling that they did a lot – Sometimes the end of practices do involve everyone, this brings everyone back together • Sprints, Distance, timed competition – Warm Down - Stretch www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 18

Practice - Emphasis Bantams Juniors Seniors March Stress the Fundamentals Stick Skills Cradling Catching; Throwing Ground Balls Moving with the ball Defensive position Agility/Endurance/Strength Left and Right Hand Catching on the run Offense Defense; Stick checks Clear the Ball Running a play; simple Fast Break Agility/Endurance/Strength Stick Skills - All Offense; Simple Plays Dodging Defense Full Field Transition Agility/Endurance/Strength Man up – Man down April Left and Right Hand Catching on the run Offense Defense; Stick checks Clear the Ball Running a play; simple Fast Break Agility/Endurance/Strength Stick Skills; Dodging Offense; Running Plays Defense; Talking, Forcing the play Full Field Transition Man up – Man down Agility/Endurance/Strength Stick Skills Offense; Complex Plays Defense Full Field Transition Face off techniques Man up – Man down; Plays Agility/Endurance/Strength May/June Stick Skills Dodging Offense; move without the ball Defense; Full Field Transition Agility/Endurance/Strength Stick Skills Offense Defense Full Field Transition Face Off Techniques Agility/Endurance/Strength Stick Skills Offense Defense Full Field Transition Agility/Endurance/Strength www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 19

Coaching Technique • Practices can be great provided the players have the proper attitude and motivation • This is the job of the coach and the team • Have them encourage each other and help each other. This is about being part of a team. The better everyone gets the better the team. The more fun. www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 20

Go Guilford www. guilfordlax. com Coaches Clinic Page 21