new coach

[ex-lax]

im going to be coaching a middle school lacrosse team. this will be the first time i have coached and i was wondering if you guys had any tips.
thanks

[CoachK]

I guess I started as a college coach, but I still work on the fact that my team doesn't earn 6v6 until they've mastered 4v3, then 5v4, then 6v5. The offense is then is always looking to find the right man, and the defense is always sliding.

Other than that, you've got to kind of match the practice to the team and players... Have fun!

[Mark]

I guess I started as a college coach, but I still work on the fact that my team doesn't earn 6v6 until they've mastered 4v3, then 5v4, then 6v5. The offense is then is always looking to find the right man, and the defense is always sliding.

Just started coaching a HS team. Love the concept.

[ex-lax]

i like it too

[dislaxxic]

two things:

1) Be HARD on them regarding team discipline. Assuming there is a high school team these kids will go on to, you are doing THAT team a disservice by allowing the kids at this level to mess around in practice, NEVER use their off hands, never run hard, etc. MAKE them go off-hand a LOT, cause now is the time...catching and throwing off-hand is one thing, at LEAST have them able to cradle and pick the ball up off the ground QUICKLY with the off-hand.

2) Lots of praise. Some feel that being tough means yelling and screaming and such. Kids at this age have a real hard time paying attention and staying focused. Praising their small accomplishments and encouraging more work specifically where it is needed will go a lot farther than the tough guy approach.

Not saying you never should be tough or yell or shout. There will be some troublemakers in the group, a carry-over from inside the school setting...you can make an example now and then for certain bad behaviors to set limits, but always come back around to praise.

Just my 2-cents.

[lonestarlax]

Have a ton of patience. I'm assuming you played in HS and/or college. Make sure you break everything down to their level. With brand new players --- make them work the off hand as much or more than their strong hand. They will start out learning correctly. With returning players, insist they work the off hand.

We all work on passing and catching but don't neglect shooting drills. I have had kids who have played for a couple of years but never learned to shoot hard. GROUND BALLS, GROUND BALLS, GROUND BALLS!!!! At the youth level THE BALL HITS THE GROUND A LOT! Accept it and teach your guys to be ground ball machines.

Spend a lot of time working on fast breaks (running them and defending them). In games, younger teams spend less time in settled situations that fast breaks (from struggling to maintain control of the ball).

Teach them to play defense from the inside out. Demand that your middies get back on defense. Have a clearing play. Teach them to ride.

Work much scrimmaging into your practice plan. Work a progression from drills to 1 on 1's, to 2 on 2's, 3 on 3's etc, up to a half or full field scrimmage so they will see how what they have been working on in the drills applies to a game situation. I will do a "Freeze Scrimmage" where when I blow the whistle, everyone freezes. Then I can point out who should be where based on the situation.

Keep as many boys involved as possible at all times. Never run a drill where you have a bunch of guys standing around waiting for their turn. We don't run traditional "line drills" anymore. We have the boys get into lines of three and work on passing, catching, and ground balls... virtually no standing around.

Get the varsity players (from the program your boys will advance to) to help out at practice. They won't have a lot of time to give you. Not all of them will be into it, but the ones who do will be fantastic. My youth boys idolize the varsity players. If I can get them there for a practice or two every couple of weeks, it really pays off.

Don't shy away from conditioning. Expect the boys to push themselves but understand that different boys have different athletic abilities. Break it up so that you aren't killing them at the end of practice. We do half of the conditioning right after warms-ups and the other half at the end of practice.

If possible, benchmark the boys at the beginning of the season. How many times can they throw and catch off a wall with each hand for a minute? Jumping rope for a minute? 40 Yard dash, etc. If they are really working during the season, you will be able to measure their progress. This motivates them. Set individual goals for them during games. Not everyone will score. How about assists? Ground Balls? Clears? Rides? Even completing 3 passes or making 3 catches for brand new players?

I wish you the best of luck. I look at my job as a youth coach to prepare the boys for high school while keeping it fun. Never underestimate the long-lasting influence you have on the boys. I have been coaching boys for 12 years. It's the hardest job you'll ever have, but the rewards are great (and I'm not talking about the Win/Loss column).

[Newt]

Read "The Double Goal Coach" by Jim Thompson. I can't think of a better resource for a beginning coach.

[JackofAll]

First, congratulations on stepping into the realm of coaching. It can be a really fun ride.

That in mind, remember, this venture is supposed to be fun. Fun for everyone, yourself included. No question, winning is more fun than loosing, but if you can create a positive, productive, developmental, and fun environment, you’ll end up getting a lot more out of your players in the time you’ve got with them.

A key component of manufacturing that productive and fun environment, particularly at the youth level, is positive feedback. Lead with sugar. All these kids want to be better, they want to contribute, and it’s their developmental successes, not their failures, that motivate them. Find something positive to say to every player. It’s more challenging with some players to be sure. But find it! Reinforce to them that your on their side, and revel in their successes. Successes you’ll be honored to have cultivated. For example, instead of reprimanding a player for dropping the ball (recognize he/she knows they dropped it and are not proud of the fact) positively coach them on a more reliable way to cradle, or reinforce good ground ball fundamentals which will allow them to recover and maintain possession. Keep it positive.

Additionally, get organized. Sorry if that wasn’t clear. Get Organized! Have an outline for practice the same way you’ve got a plan for game day. Make it detailed. Know how much time you want to spend on your pre-practice meeting, how much time you’re spending on line drills, dodging drills, shooting drills, 1-on-1’s, 3-v-4, clearing, conditioning, and so forth. You can always flex the schedule, but write down what you intend to cover. The outline keeps you on track and also ensures that you’re progressing through a variety of activities which keeps them engaged and having… fun.

Obviously at the middle school level, there’s a lot of cultural identification, socialization, and heaven forbid I say it, motor programming going on. There’s significant responsibility on your part to thoroughly engrain the fundamentals of the sport, including game specific skills, good sportsmanship, and the traditions of lacrosse. While you’re keeping it fun, adopt a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior (smart mouthing, taunting, language, acting out their frustrations in a physical or disrespectful manner). You’ll be saving yourself and the community (lacrosse and otherwise) innumerous future headaches.

And last but not least, in case the point has been lost in the above… HAVE FUN. Your attitude on the field is exceptionally contagious. They’ll mirror what you give them, and in very little time they’ll be returning you what you’ve given them. So be positive, be organized, and have fun.

Enjoy the Ride.
~Jack of All

[ex-lax]

we have all sixth graders with no skill and like 5 eight graders who can play. has any one been in this situation and if so do u have any advice

[2grvy]

I'll be coaching the same age level time this season. The above posters have some great advice, but to add:

1) encourage the kids to play as much as they can outside of practice. Nothing beats playing against a wall for repetition and developing muscle memory.

2) keep all the kids involved as much as you can. At this age coordination, courage, and field awareness can all develop before your eyes. A kid who may be a weak sixth grader this year could come back next year as a great seventh grader- as long as he hasn't quit the sport because he didn't get enough playing time.

3) let the kids try different positions and teach them the game on both ends of the field.

4) have fun and don't forget why you signed up to coach

[Newt]

Ex-Lax, if you don't have time to read "The Double Goal Coach", just download the response from 2grvy and keep it in your pocket. It's coaching youth lacrosse at that age level in a nutshell. Bravo to the coach from Westchester.

[dreamcatcher]

did you have a big turnout?