Sonny Side Up: Defense ain’t what it used to be
By Sonny Pieper
So I’ve been officiating a boys high school and middle school indoor lacrosse league all winter long here in Atlanta. Today was the final day for indoor lacrosse as the high school outdoor practices begin in about two weeks.
It was only 65 degrees here today. We should have been outdoors. But we will be soon enough. We actually have outdoor high school officials field training session tomorrow afternoon, following our college officials annual meeting.
When you are doing U-13 age group, there is a lot disparity among players with regard to size, speed, and skill level. You have some kids approaching 6 feet tall and some kids couldn’t reach 5 feet if they stood on a chair. I find it humorous and amazing to see the littlest guys on the floor always initiating contact with other players that are twice as big as them. It’s an interesting age group to work with.
Some players seem to improve their stick skills while playing indoor lacrosse. Wish I could say the same about defensive skills improving. I don’t know what it is today, but so many kids display horrible defensive tendencies. I think the defensive skills are getting worse as more brand new kids are exposed to the sport.
Too many kids play poor body position. And they fall for the worst stick fakes and/or try the worst stick checks. I wish I could rip the stick out of their hands and force them to run around for awhile without a crosse in their hands.
I had one novice lacrosse parent/coach repeatedly yell to his team – “Play the Stick!, Play the Stick!” I wanted to stop the game right there and tell him how much of an idiot he was. He should have told his players to “Play the Body, Play the Body!”
If I was coaching, I would instruct kids to play defense without their sticks. Especially if they were just starting out with lacrosse. And they would all spend a lot more time at the “wall” then they do now.
Although it’s a nice diversion until the spring season starts, frankly I don’t think indoor lacrosse gets kids ready to play field lacrosse outdoors.
Odds and Ends – As tax time is almost here for most Americans, I thought this link was mighty interesting and relevant… Hat tip to AJ Stevens for finding this one. The NCAA has published a NCAA Lacrosse Statisticians Guide for 2009. (Link in PDF format here). I know it’s a man power issue for non-varsity lacrosse clubs, but accurate stats is one area that many MCLA Teams need to take far more seriously… MCLA action continues out in California as the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference is underway.
CollegeLAX Founder Sonny Pieper is entering his 15th year of lacrosse officiating in 2009. He will try to run with the Big Dogs, but readily admits he has lost a step or two.
