Plays won't replace skills

Yesterday our family took time out from our crazy lifestyle to watch the playoffs. The Maryland game, and the Ohio State games were great, but the last game of the night was the most exciting to watch. I have been a big North Carolina fan, and had hoped they could move past Navy. It was a close game, but NC made too many bad clears, and had trouble making quick zone passes. Friday I had gone to see my youngest boy’s team get crushed. The difference between the two teams was clearly skills. Passing and moving the ball is huge at any level. You can’t shoot on net if you never get the ball. A couple of years ago in Rochester it was the biggest topic that USA Hockey was putting across to all the master coaches. It was not a new philosophy to me, but it was impressive to see how hard they were pushing skills and wanted us to avoid making our coaches rely on systems. For lacrosse I believe the same is true. I see it at every game at all levels. You need the skills to make the plays work. Yesterday’s NC game highlighted the importance of good passing. Younger players should work on some basic passing drills at practice and at home if possible. With new players who are just learning to use a stick we’ll have a partner throw a ball with their hands to avoid starting off with low near the ground passes. As players move on to a little more advanced beginner drills your players pass and catch with the stick. You can even have them pass and catch with one hand, switching from top hand to top hand. Pass and catch left then right. Make straight-line passes. Big arch passes that look like a pop fly don’t cut it and show a lack of control that a defender will take advantage of in a game. Make the passes crisp and on target. Develop the ability to switch sides early. It’s a hard habit to break later on especially for hockey players who cross over to lacrosse. Pass and catch about six feet apart then start widening the gap out to twelve, then fifteen feet. Work your way out then work your way in again. Start introducing a couple fakes on the passer’s part. Fakes should start out right when you first get the hang of controlling the ball in the pocket. This means stick handle, don’t just carry the ball without momentum holding it in. There are a lot of simple drills that work at any age. Line drills are pretty standard, but “hot potato” passes (this is like one touch passing in hockey) and “monkey in the middle (good for defenders later on) work very well. Now you start passing on the move. Approach these like 2 on 0s going down the ice – you’re just running instead of skating. Make sure you move the ball forward. Baseball passing drills work well in hockey on half a sheet of ice, and work equally well on half a lacrosse field. For younger players use the box and move the points in so players can at least keep in sync with the ball. Players need to keep the ball up and focused on the receiver’s target (lacrosse head). Receivers need to give the passer a target. Hamster drills keep the ball moving and will slowly increase the temple as players become more comfortable with the drill. Start working in outlet passes and over the shoulder receiving on the run. This doesn’t mean you avoid ground ball work. That’s a whole topic in itself and just as important. You should work these into your line drills along with simple dodges. Don’t force drills that are too far above a player’s skill level. Work them up to each level by building confidence through repetition. New skills don’t come overnight. Focus on skills and your players will benefit in the long run. If you avoid this and just quickly gloss over things to move on to plays then your team will suffer when they go up against skilled players. There is no magic play that can replace skilled players.