D-Pole with NO Pole?

[jmsaway]

I have an inexperienced massive 8th grader who wants to play D put his skill level forces him to use a shortie. Should I let him use the shortie or have him bite the bullet and learn to stick?

[goalie1500]

hes in 8th grade already just let him learn now while he still has some years ahead of him-

[laxkid891]

Give him the longstick and let him learn to do use that. Being in 8th grade and picking up a long pole is probably about the ideal time to start learning to use it. Its gonna do him no good to give him a shortstick to use if he wants to play defense. That will only set him back and force him to learn a to use a longstick in high school which will be tough on him because he will have to push himself to learn it very quickly. All in all, bite the bullet and give him the longstick. You will be doing him a favor.

[MainLax28]

I'd say tell him to use both, and just hit the wall all of the time. The more he has A stick in his hands, the better off he will be. You may want to have him split time with them, like if you are playing a weaker or smaller team, put him in on d for either intimidation, or to get him some practice time.

[spenny]

8th grade? hes a big boy, its time to use big boy tools.

if you have a spare al shaft, you could cut 8 inches (or so) off, particularly if hes a shorter kid.

[Chas]

He needs to learn to use the longer stick. Just have him practice with it more, he will learn. Better sooner then later.

[takin me down]

just cut an alloy a bit for him to use so it has length but he will be able to have control

[sammyduelist]

Actually, to actually help him learn to have good footwork, let him practice playing defense with the short stick for a while.
Stick skills he can practice with a long pole. If he's good at defending with a short stick, Imagine how good he'll be with a long stick.

[CSlax06]

I got a full length D-Pole in 7th grade and never had a problem handling it. In fact, that was the 2nd stick I ever owned. Id say let him use the pole. Hes a big kid, let him use a big stick.

$.02

[CalJVCoach]

Three things:

1. Wall work
2. Wall work
3. Wall work.............

Just twenty minutes a day, every day, and he'll improve by leaps and bounds. I've seen it before......

If you leave him with the short stick, he'll just have to learn all over again. Kills the confidence.

[gripitandripit]

I'm kind of torn on this. On one hand I feel that the absolute best way to learn great body position defense is by removing the "safety net" kids think a pole gives them. This is something my highschool coach had us practice on a very regular basis and it was huge part of why I was able to play at the next level. On the other hand, he's not going to get comfortable with a pole unless he practices with one. I don't think I can weigh in on this definitely either way, so, if at all possible, have him practice with both and stress the concept of a pole being his advantage over an offensive player, not a catch up tool.

[kingwolf]

make him practice as a D pole or maybe he could run Short stick d middie