COACHING FROM THE SIDELINES...

I don't know about you but it is getting hard for lacrosse players to hear what the coaches are telling them to do when the parents are barking orders. I was at a game this weekend where a father (who by the way knows nothing about the rules) was telling the player what to do. Things like "take it and score"- which the ball was stripped from the player every time! Another phrase I hear  parents yelling is "Hit Him". First of all hitting is not the object of the game- maybe they are used to this in hockey or football. Lacrosse is a simple game of finesse- you pass, catch, scoop and check the stick. That's it. If players can do that the rest will fall into place. 

These are boys and young men we are talking about- they want to please their dads and will try and "hit" someone if the dad demands that they do. Yelling for a player that is not their son to hit someone is totally out of line.

Do you have any idea what can happen to a player who puts his head down and hits someone??? Just look at Travis Roy- he fell into the boards in hockey and the same result will happen if you run into another player. 

This "hit someone" attitude is not helping the team or the player. Most of the time the player over commits and the opposing team runs right by them. Watch the NCAA Final Four games, you may see a few hits, but most of the time you see great defense. Great defense means staying with the ball, your head on a swivel and your feet moving. Those players will be checking the stick the whole time- and by the way the arm is considered an extension of the stick!

Hopkins has some of the best defense in the country as they are coached by one of the all time great defenseman - Dave Pietramala. Believe me he is not yelling "hit someone" from the sidelines!

I propose that we give all parents a test on the rules of lacrosse. If they pass it with a 100% they are allowed to yell on the sidelines. If not, they should keep their trap closed. 

Don't get me started with referees and parents yelling- as far as I'm concerned coaches and other parents should be allowed to duct tape their mouths closed. But I guess that would be against their right to free speech!!!

Referees are trying their best and believe me they are not perfect. Many a game I have to bite my tongue not to mention walk away when I see terrible calls- on both sides! If you ever feel that a referee is making the game unsafe- talk to the coach. If you feel really strongly- take your player off of the field.  The coaches are doing their best to control the situation- but sometimes emotion gets the better of all of us. Most coaches are protecting their players - I wouldn't want it any other way. I would rather a coach take the whole team off of the field then to have a player get hurt or have the coach disciplined in any way.

So to wrap this up parents- KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT...especially those who have no idea what they are talking about. (You know who you are.)

Unless it is to say something like "good teamwork" or "good save goalie"!!!!

FINAL FOUR

Hey- I was at the Boston Cannons game the other night and started talking to another Mom about the upcoming Final Four in Foxboro. She thought she might go on Sunday and Monday instead of Saturday.

Bad idea I said. If you only want to go to one day- Saturday is it. This is the most exciting and over the years the best match ups ever seen. The final can be a snooze fest sometimes. Not to mention the tailgating and people watching is much better on Saturday.

I have been going to the Final Four for over 20 years (I started in the stroller-haha) and I absolutely love the fraternity of lacrosse people- players, parents, coaches etc.

Get to the parking lots when they open- have breakfast, lunch and possibly dinner food available. This is a great place to immerse your family in the lacrosse culture- kids throwing the ball around and meeting families from all around the country with a passion for the game. Make sure to talk a walk to see how the fans from Syracuse, Hopkins, Virginia and Duke do a tailgate. Look for the Mom's of those players with buttons with their sons names and photos on them. I'm sure if you ask them questions they would answer- like how to your son start playing lacrosse and any advice on how to survive the season!!!

The only reason to go to the games on Sunday is if you have some connection to one of the teams. Again- the games aren't as great on Sunday as Saturday. If the dad and kids want to go on Sunday and Monday- send them and spend the time doing what you want to do!!!

Let me know if you have any questions...