So you want to play lax in college…?

I haven’t had much time recently to write any new/original stuff for the blog but when I see a great post elsewhere, I want you all to know about it!

Recently, my good friend, Connor Wilson over at Lacrosse Allstars (www.laxallstars.com) for whom I write occasionally put up a great article post about what it takes to play lacrosse in college.  I know my son, and the players that I am coaching this Spring (7th grade) are five years away from starting college, but it’s never too early to learn about what it takes.  Connor’s tongue-in-cheek post can be viewed by clicking this link: So You Want To Play Lacrosse in College.

Give it a read.

– B

Practice and Commitment Leads to Some SICK Stick Skills!

At the beginning of every lacrosse season – no matter what grade/age I’m coaching, we spend a great deal of time working on the fundamental skills: passing, catching, groundballs.  We then move on to shooting and dodging, defense, rides and clears, etc.  To master these skills takes a great deal of time and commitment and those who do commit are able to see the fruits of their labor as they develop.

We all know there are some great college and professional lacrosse players out there – both past and present.  Over the years I have seen players do things that are just mesmerizing.  The Gait brothers’ air dives, the Powell brothers’ crease dives, Kyle Hartzell’s rusty gate checks, etc.  This weekend I watched as Team USA lacrosse took on the University of Denver.  Now Team USA is comprised of professional lacrosse players.  Denver is a top-notch NCAA Division I COLLEGE team.  One would think that a team of professional superstars would rout a college team.  Not quite!  Denver took Team USA to overtime and lost in sudden death.  A lot to be said for both of these team.

Denver is led by All-American Attackman Mark Matthews, who has demonstrated some unbelievable lacrosse moves in the past.  He did not disappoint this weekend either.  Take a look at Mark Matthews (#22) “sock dodge” through the Team USA defense in the video below.  They never saw it coming!!  Very impressive!  I had to rewind the DVR at least a half a dozen times to watch it in amazement.

As effortless as Mark Matthews makes this look, I’m pretty confident that he put endless hours in practicing this dodge.  And so, the lesson – AGAIN – practice hard fellas.  If you commit to it, it will pay off for you.

2012 NCAA Lacrosse on TV – Watch it! (and learn!)

As we approach the start of our Spring season, I hope all Chiefs Lacrosse players are already getting in shape and getting their equipment ready, etc.  While nothing beats actually working on your lacrosse fundamentals, there is a lot players can learn from watching the best of the best play the game.  Once again the ESPN networks will be broadcasting a ton of top-notch Division I lacrosse this season.  Below is this season’s line-up.  All players should make an effort to watch some of these great games and pay attention to the way the players move on the field – those with the ball AND those without the ball.

ESPN 2012 Telecast Schedule (subject to change; all times Eastern)

Feb 17   5:00 p.m.         Towson at Johns Hopkins              ESPNU
Feb 18   1:00 p.m.         Duke at Notre Dame                   ESPN3
Feb 21   5:00 p.m.         Delaware at Johns Hopkins            ESPNU
Feb 24   7:00 p.m.         Maryland at Georgetown               ESPN3
Feb 25   12:00 p.m.        Stony Brook at Virginia              ESPN3
Feb 25   3:00 p.m.         Siena at Johns Hopkins               ESPNU

Mar 2    5:00 p.m.         Johns Hopkins at Princeton           ESPNU
Mar 3    1:00 p.m.         Duke at Maryland                     ESPN3
Mar 4    4:30 p.m.         Syracuse at Virginia                 ESPN/ESPN3
Mar 6    7:00 p.m.*        Manhattan at Johns Hopkins           ESPNU
Mar 7    5:00 p.m.         Towson at Johns Hopkins (women’s)    ESPNU
Mar 10   11:00 a.m.        Princeton vs. North Carolina         ESPNU
Mar 10   1:30 p.m.         Cornell vs. Virginia                 ESPNU
Mar 10   4:00 p.m.         UMBC vs. Johns Hopkins               ESPN3
Mar 16   5:00 p.m.         North Carolina at Duke               ESPNU
Mar 17   2:00 p.m.         Penn at Princeton                    ESPNU
Mar 17   4:00 p.m.         Syracuse at Johns Hopkins            ESPNU
Mar 18   1:00 p.m.         Denver at Notre Dame                 ESPNU
Mar 24   12:00 p.m.        Maryland at North Carolina           ESPNU
Mar 24   12:00 p.m.        Duke at Georgetown                   ESPN3
Mar 24   2:00 p.m.         Johns Hopkins at Virginia            ESPNU
Mar 31   12:00 p.m.        Virginia at Maryland                 ESPNU

Apr 1    1:00 p.m.         Notre Dame vs. St. John’s            ESPN3
Apr 1    4:00 p.m.         Duke vs. Syracuse                    ESPNU
Apr 1    6:30 p.m.         North Carolina vs. Johns Hopkins     ESPNU
Apr 6    6:00 p.m.*        Albany vs. Johns Hopkins             ESPNU
Apr 7    12:00 p.m.        Virginia at North Carolina           ESPN/ESPN3
Apr 11   5:30 p.m.         Virginia at Johns Hopkins (women’s)  ESPNU
Apr 13   6:00 p.m.         Duke at Virginia                     ESPNU
Apr 14   11:00 a.m.        Rutgers vs. Syracuse                 ESPNU
Apr 14   1:30 p.m.         Hofstra at North Carolina            ESPNU
Apr 14   6:00 p.m.         Maryland at Johns Hopkins            ESPNU
Apr 20   5:00 p.m.         ACC Men’s Semifinal #1               ESPNU
Apr 20   7:30 p.m.         ACC Men’s Semifinal #2               ESPNU
Apr 21   3:00 p.m.         Georgetown at Syracuse               ESPNU
Apr 21   5:30 p.m.         Notre Dame at Villanova              ESPNU
Apr 22   3:00 p.m.         ACC Men’s Championship               ESPNU
Apr 23   7:00 p.m.         ACC Women’s Championship             ESPNU
Apr 27   7:30 p.m.         Virginia vs. Penn                    ESPN3
Apr 27   10:00 p.m.        Duke at Denver                       ESPNU
Apr 28   5:00 p.m.         Syracuse at Notre Dame               ESPNU
Apr 28   7:00 p.m.         Cornell at Princeton                 ESPNU

May 3    4:30 p.m.         Big East Men’s Semifinal #1          ESPNU
May 3    7:00/10:30 p.m.   Big East Men’s Semifinal #2          ESPN3/ESPNU*
TBD      TBD               ECAC Men’s Championship              ESPN3
May 4    5:00 p.m.         Ivy League Men’s Semifinal #1        ESPN3
May 4    8:00 p.m.         Ivy League Men’s Semifinal #2        ESPN3
May 5    12:00 p.m.        Big East Men’s Championship          ESPNU
May 5    2:00 p.m.         Army at Johns Hopkins                ESPNU
May 6    10:00 a.m.        America East Men’s Championship      ESPNU
May 6    12:00 p.m.        Ivy League Men’s Championship        ESPNU

Additionally, for the sixth straight year, ESPN networks will provide exclusive coverage of all 15 games from the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship. Coverage will be in high definition across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU beginning Saturday, May 12 and concluding with the national title game on Monday, May 28. ESPN3 and ESPN Mobile will also feature select games.

Wall Ball – Great Deal

Those who know me know that I continuously push my players to keep a stick in their hands and practice throwing and catching.  Wall Ball is an essential part of developing the skills of throwing and catching.  On the top of my blog page is a really good Wall Ball routine for players to practice.  If you do not have a large wall near your home, SportStop.com has a great deal going on right now on a Maverik Bounce Back wall for your back yard.  Its their Deal of the Week and includes free shipping too!  This deal goes from 12/8 – 12/14 so if you have been wanting a lax wall in your yard, here’s a great deal for you!!  Click here: SportStop.com Deal of the Week

See you on the field!

– Coach B

 

After the tryouts are over….

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about the realities of summer elite lacrosse team tryouts.  The article was very well received and generated a great deal of discussion.  I just read a fantastic article from Trevor Tierney entitled “Surviving the Cut”. 

For those of you who don’t recognize the surname, Trevor is the son of Bill Tierney, one of the greatest collegiate lacrosse coaches ever.  Coach Tierney coached Princeton to 6 NCAA Div. I Championships in the 90s and 2001.  Trevor played goalie for his Dad at Princeton and was on two of the aforementioned National Championship teams.  Trevor was also a two-time Team USA goaltender for the World Lacrosse Championships and a former All-World goaltender.  He is a three-time MLL All-Star and won a MLL championship.  Since retiring he has served as a defensive assistant for his fathers University of Denver team. 

Trevor is also the founder of TIER Lacrosse and recently launched an awesome website for TIER lacrosse (Tier Lacrosse).  His latest post on Surviving the Cut is here:  Surviving The Cut. It’s a must-read for any lacrosse player (and his parents) currently going through the trials and tribulations of elite lacrosse team tryouts.

HONOR THE GAME!

– Coach B

More from Coach B in the press – Lacrosse Recruiting Combines

There is a great opportunity now for lacrosse players to undergo a “lacrosse combine” and be tested in a number of different skills areas and receive a valuable report that provides rankings and assessments that can help a lacrosse player in understanding where his strengths exist and where his weaknesses are and thus where he can focus his work on improving.  The awesome website of LacrosseAllstars (www.laxallstars.com) has posted about these new lacrosse recruiting combines.

The first such lacrosse combine will take place this Sunday out in Long Island but the plan is to begin offering these combines in all geographic areas very soon.  Here’s the article:  Lacrosse Recruiting Combines

It’s important to realize that the purpose of the combine is to provide information to assist the lacrosse player in assessing where his strengths and weaknesses lie.  It is not providing information as to the likelihood of obtaining a college scholarship.  If you are intent on a college lacrosse scholarship the best advice I can give you is focus on your lacrosse game but focus even harder on your schoolwork!

Honor the Game.

– Coach B

Face-Off Clinic – 10/9

2Knights Lacrosse is holding a Face-Off clinic on October 9 from 9am-11am at Bridgewater-Raritan H.S.  Details here: 2Knights Face-Off Clinic

What a treat! 3 Top Lax Pros in Summit, NJ

The rain held off yesterday (Sat. 9/24) and 20 New Jersey lacrosse players were treated to a great clinic by lacrosse greats Brendan Mundorf, Drew Westervelt and New Jersey’s own John Lade on the turf at Oratory Prep in Summit, NJ.  With such a small number of attendees all the players got to work very closely with these top pros and really learn how to play better lacrosse.  Each of the boys in attendance got an awesome NIKE Dry Fit Mundorf Lacrosse shirt and the pros gave away a bunch of brand new lax equipment.  We are hoping to bring Brendan, Drew and John back again in the Spring!

ONE MORE AWESOME NJ LAX CLINIC THIS SATURDAY – Mundorf/Westervelt/Lade

Last  Sunday (September 18) a group of about 30 lacrosse players from NJ in grades 7-11 participated in an outstanding clinic run by top lacrosse pros Brendan Mundorf (UMBC All-American, Team USA, Denver Outlaws, Philadelphia Wings) and John Lade (Syracuse All-American, Boston Cannons).  These boys all came away MUCH better lacrosse players.  We are holding another clinic this Saturday from 2-5pm on the turf at Oratory Prep in Summit (Rain or Shine). Brendan Mundorf and John Lade will be returning AND will be joined by Drew Westervelt (UMBC All-American, Team USA Lax, Denver Outlaws, Philadelphia Wings).

The clinic is a great opportunity for players to tune up for Fall league play and upcoming Summer team tryouts.  Info about the clinic and registration info can be accessed here: http://mundorflacrosse.com/clinics/clinic-on-september-24th-in-summit-new-jersey

If you are serious about your lacrosse, this is is a clinic not to be missed!

– Coach B

Now TWO great lax clinics coming to NJ This Month!

TWO HUGE LACROSSE CLINICS IN NEW JERSEY

Clinic 1: Mundorf Lacrosse Clinic – September 18th, Long Valley, New Jersey

Come join MLL All-Star and team USAattackman Brendan Mundorf and 2011 DI Defenseman of the Year John Lade for a Sunday of Lacrosse.  This clinic will include position specific drills focusing on fundamentals as well as offensive vs defensive competition.  Clinic limited to 50 players!!

Date: September 18
Time: 10am-1pm
Location: Califon Road Grass Field, Long Valley, NJ.
Age: 7th-11th Grade
Cost: $140.00

Clinic 2: Mundorf Lacrosse Clinic – September 24th, Summit, New Jersey

Come join MLL All-Star and team USA attackmen Brendan Mundorf and Drew Westervelt along with 2011 DI Defenseman of the Year John Lade for a Saturday of Lacrosse.  This clinic will focus on the Ins and Outs of Offense Vs. Defense.  Starting with 1v1 we will build towards 6v6, honing in on position specific tactics along the way.  The goal is for each player to become a more experienced and talented dodger or defender by teaching them what has made us as successful coaches and professional lacrosse players..  Clinic limited to 50 players!!

Date: September 24th
Location: Oratory Prep Turf Field, One Beverly Road, Summit,NJ
Time: 2-5pm
Age: 7th-11th grade
Cost: $140.00*

*Players registering for BOTH clinics receive a $25 discount on the Sept. 24^th clinic. 

All registrants will receive a ML2 Nike Dry-Fit shooting shirt and opportunities to win STX merchandise.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW AT: WWW.MUNDORFLACROSSE.COM (on website click link for: “Upcoming camps and clinics”)