You still need to communicate

The hot July sun beats down on the grass field. Rows of corn line one side of the field while rows of sunflowers go out beyond the other. Hot sticky humid weather combined with glaring sun make breathing difficult for some. We’re a long way from the ice, but I am seeing how important communication between players is whether on the ice playing hockey or on the field playing lacrosse. During hockey practice we set up various situations and work on how to move the puck. Players need to know what to do based on where the puck is going, how the other team is playing, and what coaches expect them to do. They still need to communicate in some way whether vocally, with looks, or hand signals. The other half of the equation comes from learning how to play off of and with their teammates. I’ve worked on this with both hockey players and lacrosse players. The practice you get in working as a unit – together, improves the way you move the ball/puck, cycle, fore-check, back-check efficiently and effectively. This helps eliminate bad passes, turnovers, players hanging out of position, and also can result in an advantage against less organized teams. Talk, work together, and keep your eyes open. Listen to your coach, pay attention during practice, ask questions if you are unsure of something, and work on your timing as you work with your team. Communication can make a major difference between a good game, and a not so good game. These are team sports. You need to work as a team. It’s great to be unpredictable to your opponent, but it’s not a great idea to be unpredictable to your teammates. Watch some of the pros, and notice how they communicate with each other during the game and in between whistles. It’s all part of the game.