The Scoop
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The Scoop / Spring '17 13
out of a time out etc. If we aren’t ending on that, we will end on another type of “high energy” drill.
SCOOP: What is your favorite drill?
EC: A new one I brought in for this season is a different way to approach 4 v 3. The 3 defensive players line up on GLE (spread out), with the middle defensive a player with a ball. The goalie is the in cage and involved with the drill. The offense is in four corners (one line at top right of the box, one at top left of the box, one line bottom right of the box and the last line is bottom left). On the whistle the three defensive players will start a three-man-weave (similar to basketball), on the second whistle the defensive player with the ball will roll to one of the corners. The offensive players at each cone then enter the drill to start the 4 v 3. The offensive player who scoops up the ball must “move it off the ground.” We play out the 4 v 3 until a goal is scored, shot, out of bounds or the defense gets a stop (clearing the ball to the 50).
I like this drill because:
• It’s high energy
• The defense passing and moving
• The offense is getting involved through
transition
• The defense has to get back into the hole,
quickly recognize point/left/right
SCOOP: How do you approach coaching on game day?
EC: Like practice I have a plan for what we are going to do. I keep a sheet with me with our starters, midfield lines, who is on man up and who is on man down. I’ll have a couple items for the guys to focus on throughout the game. I’ll also keep a couple plays/adjustments with me and use them as the game flows.
SCOOP: What non-athletic skill or characteristic do you try to instill in your players?
EC: I talk to my guys a lot about having a “high lacrosse IQ.” What that means is that when our guys are on the field they are thinking about the situation and thinking not only in the moment but a step ahead.
SCOOP: What's your favorite memory from coaching youth lacrosse?
EC: This past spring we had a great practice leading into a game versus a very good northeast MBYLL team. Everything we worked on at practice flowed right into the game. We held that team to under five goals and produced very well on offense. It was a coach’s dream.
SCOOP: What is something you've learned from the kids you've coached?
EC: I’ve learned from my guys the past couple of seasons that they have thoughts on how to make things work on the field. When we are introducing something new in practice I wasn’t asking if guys had done the drill or run a play this way…until someone spoke up and added a wrinkle for us. It 100% worked. From the point forward I made sure I asked my players for feedback, it became less about a coach telling you what to do and more of a conversation about how we are going to be successful. I encourage all coaches to try having that dialogue with your players, they will surprise you (and sometimes make you laugh).
SCOOP: What is your favorite thing about being a coach in Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League?
EC: There are so many resources for us to be successful and thus making our players successful. The other night I had the chance to hear from Ryan Boyle of Trilogy Lacrosse and spend some extra time with him 1:1. How often do youth coaches get to say they had experiences having 1:1 time with the best players in the game?
SCOOP: Tell us about your experience coaching the All-Stars in 2015 & 2016
EC: The experience to coach in the last two MBYLL Select All Star games has been awesome and it’s been an honor to be selected along with the other coaches. The talent that is in the select program is deep and it’s exciting to watch these young men display their skills. You just give the guys a loose structure to work off of and just make sure your rotate players. Sit back and watch the game like the parents and families are doing in the stands.
The venues for the last two all-star games have been unreal. In 2015 we were at Gillette Stadium and last year we were at Harvard Stadium. The guys also get a huge kick out of interacting with the Cannons players as well.