Lacrosse

[PantherRob82]

Any Lacrosse guys on the board?

I just went out for our lax team and last night was the first practice. I don't get all the rules yet, but already love the game.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Yes. I've played lax since I was six years old. It's in the family blood. I can help with the rules.

[Franks Tanks]

I always wanted to play Lacrosse, but nobody in central Pa was playing the game in the 90's. Now i'm old and my knee and back hurt!

[techstate]

Yes. Cal Poly is ranked in the top 15 in the MCLA. Fall ball is almost done and we leave for a tournament in Las Vegas friday.

[PantherRob82]

Cool to see some guys on here who are familiar. I've seen it before on TV. I have some matches set to DVR so I can study.

Looks like I'm going to be getting familiar with a d-pole. First time wasn't too bad. I throw pretty well, and catch well when the ball is actually thrown to me. When the ball gets way outside my body, well that'll take some adjustment.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Cool to see some guys on here who are familiar. I've seen it before on TV. I have some matches set to DVR so I can study.

Looks like I'm going to be getting familiar with a d-pole. First time wasn't too bad. I throw pretty well, and catch well when the ball is actually thrown to me. When the ball gets way outside my body, well that'll take some adjustment.

An important skill to develop early on is to throw and catch equally well with your right and left hand. Most coaches will hold "lefty" practices for that purpose - everyone has to play left handed (or right handed if you're a natural lefty). Learn how to string your own head and how to season the laces. Find a spot with pavement and a masonry wall (preferably without windows) and bounce the ball to yourself until you are up to 500 reps each day, equally right and left handed.

Lafayette is proud to have had a team that was ranked as high as #8 in the nation in Division I last season. Try to catch a Patriot League game in the spring. It's some of the best lacrosse played anywhere.

Lafayette played in the Yale fall ball tournament a couple of weeks ago. Here's the ESPN/Inside Lacrosse Lafayette vs Yale highlights from fall ball:

http://video.insidelacrosse.com/video/view/21729011/lafayette-fall-ball-highlights?page=59&searchTxt=the+play

Be sure to catch the behind-the-back goal by #19.

[PantherRob82]

I've been checking the guide for college or MLL games on TV. I've got a BYU game set to record right now, but that's it.

I was supposed to throw with a guy tonight, but he skipped out. I've been alternating throwing left and right. In practice we do a triangle passing drill and alternate directions.

Is stringing your own head a lot better than buying prestrung? What is seasoning the laces?

[ngineer]

LAX is a great sport. Unfortunately back in the '60s when I was in high school, it was only a girls sport in PA public schools. The only lax players came from private schools. At Lehigh, I got watch my fraternity brothers play, but I was playing football. My son, though, got to play for Easton (PA) High and loved the sport. I loved to watch it. We even went to Rutgers and Philly to see the NCAA Championships. The Patriot League is turning into a pretty good lax power. Lehigh is on the verge of becoming a very good program, with an excellent young coach and nice complex. I think plans are under way to have some 'big' games played in Goodman Stadium.

[Bogus Megapardus]

I've been checking the guide for college or MLL games on TV. I've got a BYU game set to record right now, but that's it.

I was supposed to throw with a guy tonight, but he skipped out. I've been alternating throwing left and right. In practice we do a triangle passing drill and alternate directions.

Is stringing your own head a lot better than buying prestrung? What is seasoning the laces?

Throwing to the left and to the right is one thing, but you actually have to switch positions on your hands as well. This is as important for a defensive longpole making a clear in traffic as it is for an attack taking a shot from the left crease.

All DI lacrosse players and most experience H.S. players (in the northeast, at least) either string their own crosse or have a skilled teammate string it for them, to suit their particular style. Lateral "Shooting Strings" can be added but now there's a limit on the number you can have - I believe it's two strings. Of course we are fortunate in the northeast because most places have independent lacrosse specialty stores with all kinds of the best equipment and staff who are more than willing to share knowledge.

Seasoning the pocket of the crosse means keeping a lacrosse ball in the pocket, held in by a butter knife below the walls of the head. Remember that a legal stick cannot have the top of the ball below the lower wall of the head when held horizontally. Officials will check several sticks during a game for this as well as for sticks that are too short.

Some people prefer leather lacing and some prefer nylon mesh. As to nylon mesh, there are many different styles, but generally there's "light" mesh and "heavy" mesh. It's all a matter of preference. When seasoning leather strings, some people soak the leather in water as it's seasoned. Most players have several heads to interchange on different pole/head combinations (and always carry a phillip's head screwdriver in your bag). Also, the poles come in different materials - aluminum, titanium, graphite and several unique alloys. Personally, I still own at least a dozen different sticks.

Get used to laxpower.com (http://www.laxpower.com/). Everything you ever wanted to know about lacrosse, players, teams, rules, coaches, equipment, etc. can my found there. It's a daily visit for most players.

[PantherRob82]

Wow. A lot going on in that post. I bookmarked the site.

[PantherRob82]

Now they're talking about trying me at goalie. Any thoughts there?

[ngineer]

Duck!!!xsmiley_wix

[PantherRob82]

I watched some highlights from the Duke-ND championship and Syracuse-John Hopkins. Seemed like the goalies had no idea what was going on and barely moved.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Goalie is a difficult position. You have to have the nerve (and stones) to put yourself in front of a 120 mph projectile coming from all angles, and have the fastest reflexes on the team.

Unlike hockey, the projectile can come from any angle and any level. You have to remain focused and you cannot commit your motion early to any point, or you'll get burned.

The Goalie usually acts as the play-caller for the defense. He reads the formations and defenses and the constantly has to be calling out the locations and positions to the defenders and midfielders. He has to make them aware of shifts, slides and new patterns instantly.

A number of college coaches (including Lafayette's) were goalies.

[PantherRob82]

Thanks for the heads up.

[techstate]

Have you felt a lacrosse ball? you seriously have to be an idiot to be a lacrosse goalie.

[Dane96]

I've been checking the guide for college or MLL games on TV. I've got a BYU game set to record right now, but that's it.

I was supposed to throw with a guy tonight, but he skipped out. I've been alternating throwing left and right. In practice we do a triangle passing drill and alternate directions.

Is stringing your own head a lot better than buying prestrung? What is seasoning the laces?

To give you a short answer; yes, stringing it yourself is much better. However, at your early stage, this is not important. ESPNU shows a ton of lax games...so watch them.

Teams, other than Lafayette and the Patriot League who is loaded with good teams such as Army and Navy, to watch are:

John Hopkins- pure clinicians

Syracuse- personally, I think they have been slightly off the past 4 seasons...but when they are on...wow...they just attack in waves.
Duke- very good all around squad with Danowski at the helm

Albany- Ratea #2 in the Country a few years ago...had a down season; but if you want to watch ridiculously creative offense and the proper way to dodge....watch Albany. Scott Marr is just a great offensive mind.

Stony Brook- has very good long poles...something you are going to play.

Virginia- just absolutely throttles people when they are on their A game.

UMBC- has the combo of d and o from Albany and Stony Brook; tough as balls.

Hofstra- now that football is gone, this program should ascend back to their former lofty status.

Princeton and Cornell- pure defensive tacticians. If you are playing long-pole...these are great teams to watch and learn from.

...and plenty more...

[Dane96]

Oh...and bogus is correct; lateral strings are limited to two.

And I second laxpower...awesome site and forum.

[Dane96]

Now they're talking about trying me at goalie. Any thoughts there?

Oh hell no! But...if you want to watch what a crazy, insanely talented, and off the wall goalie can be for a team...check out Brett Queener in the MLL. He played for Albany in college and is a force at the MLL level. He has insane stick skills and wreaks havoc with his aggressive attacking play once has the ball.

I am sure there are a ton of youtube videos on him.

Other than that...screw goalie.

Oh...and insidelacrosse is a great magazine and website.

[superman7515]

February 22 at 6:00, Delaware vs Johns Hopkins at Delaware Stadium. Be there for a great lacrosse match. If you can't make that one, you can always come see the CAA conference matchup between Delaware and Penn State at Delaware Stadium in April.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Inside Lacrosse will publish a complete television schedule sometime in January. The games are on ESPNU and CBS College Sports. There will be at least 60 or so games to choose, plus the conference tournament and NCAA playoff games. You can never go wrong watching Johns Hopkins, Princeton or Navy is you want to see excellent, technically correct play.

Note - Patriot League lacrosse, both regular season and all PL tournament games, is exclusively on CBS College Sports!

[PantherRob82]

Worked at goalie today. Pretty sweet.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Worked at goalie today. Pretty sweet.

Your cup will be your friend, trust me.

[PantherRob82]

Your cup will be your friend, trust me.

I'm sure. One thing I've wondered...are shin guards allowed?

[Bogus Megapardus]

I'm sure. One thing I've wondered...are shin guards allowed?

You have to wear a chest protector. I suppose you could wear shin guards too, but I've never seen anyone wear them. Most goalies wear long sweat pants instead of (or with) uniform shorts. Sweats for goalies are always allowed. There are also special goalie gloves that have a plate in them to keep you from breaking your thumb.

[PantherRob82]

You have to wear a chest protector. I suppose you could wear shin guards too, but I've never seen anyone wear them. Most goalies wear long sweat pants instead of (or with) uniform shorts. Sweats for goalies are always allowed. There are also special goalie gloves that have a plate in them to keep you from breaking your thumb.

I was given a pair of goalie gloves to use.

Will probably spend some time experimenting with what to wear. I already had padded shorts and shinguards from previous sports.

Right now just trying to get used to the stick and giant pocket. My passing got a lot better very quick in drills the other night.

[ngineer]

I've seen some goalies wear some kind of padded shin guard much like you see on soccer players, but they have been in the minority (unless those wearing sweat pants wear them too...may be a 'macho' thing).

[PantherRob82]

I've seen some goalies wear some kind of padded shin guard much like you see on soccer players, but they have been in the minority (unless those wearing sweat pants wear them too...may be a 'macho' thing).

The other goalie gave me a hard time for wanting to wear padded shorts.

Not as hard of a time as I'll give him when I take his job. :p lol

[SO ILLmatic]

I watched some highlights from the Duke-ND championship and Syracuse-John Hopkins. Seemed like the goalies had no idea what was going on and barely moved.

I thought the ND goalie, cant remember his name, was the best goalie in D1 last year. He is probably the reason why they advanced far in the playoffs and had a legitmate chance to win the championship.

He had a large frame, didn't bite on fakes, and was willing to step up to take on As & Ms whenever they were in the slot.

[PantherRob82]

I thought the ND goalie, cant remember his name, was the best goalie in D1 last year. He is probably the reason why they advanced far in the playoffs and had a legitmate chance to win the championship.

He had a large frame, didn't bite on fakes, and was willing to step up to take on As & Ms whenever they were in the slot.

Thanks for the heads up. I know you can appreciate my desire to play d-pole against Creighton and smash some of those guys. Man, I hate Creighton.

[Dane96]

I thought the ND goalie, cant remember his name, was the best goalie in D1 last year. He is probably the reason why they advanced far in the playoffs and had a legitmate chance to win the championship.

He had a large frame, didn't bite on fakes, and was willing to step up to take on As & Ms whenever they were in the slot.

All due respect...he isnt even in the Top 3. I believe you are talking about Scott Rodgers?!

IMHO, I would go with Fiorito of Princeton, followed by Galloway of Syracuse and then Ghitleman of UVA...though I liked him better than Galloway, however Galloway had a better statistical year.

[Bogus Megapardus]

All due respect...he isnt even in the Top 3. I believe you are talking about Scott Rodgers?!

IMHO, I would go with Fiorito of Princeton, followed by Galloway of Syracuse and then Ghitleman of UVA...though I liked him better than Galloway, however Galloway had a better statistical year.

And the guy from Drexel was a beast IIRC.

[PantherRob82]

Got in goal for a bit last night. It was fun. Unfortunately we were just running 5 on 5, and I couldn't tell who was on what team. I also didn't have a chest protector, so they didn't shoot very hard. Good first taste though.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Got in goal for a bit last night. It was fun. Unfortunately we were just running 5 on 5, and I couldn't tell who was on what team. I also didn't have a chest protector, so they didn't shoot very hard. Good first taste though.

Chest guard and throad guard are pretty essential for a goalie. I'd look into it. Is this a club team? Rec team? Fall league?