Duck Pond Splashings: Coaching and Playing by the Numbers
Goals. Shots. Assists.
These are the staples of stat tracking in our sport. And they are important for checking out offensive power in any given situation. Goals. Shots. Assists.
In yet another way that Lacrosse mirrors real life, I have found that coaching by the numbers is an effective way of creating the change that you want to see, just as in life if you were the owner of a business, you would manage by the numbers of your financials.
So what are some stats that coaches can keep track of that will give them a better picture of what to work on? At Oregon I’ve started to track a few categories that don’t make it onto the stat pages, but that are just as important as the big 3 stats in terms of making coaching decisions. I would invite you all you consider tracking the following stats:
1) Turnovers: Pretty Basic, but how many times do you sit down and see just how many times you turn the ball over? If it’s a lot, its time to work on sticks and change some schemes to adapt.
2) Offense initiated against a pole: Do you have any sets that initiate dodges from midfield? If so, see how many times that occurs against a shorty vs a long stick. It will give you a good feeling on the decisions that your midfield is making
3) Take Aways: Who is causing turnovers for the other team? Put those guys on the fields for riding
4) Missed assignments: How many times do you have a ride or defense where the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd slide are not accounted for? It will account for about 70% of the goals to allow. This shows you that your defense needs to talk more
5) Ground balls lost on offense: how many times do you lose the ball on offense in a groundball situation? Gives you an indication of how your team attacks groundballs.
Of course the list could go on forever. The point is that we as coaches, players, and fans should try to dig deeper into our stat books to get a better feel for what type of team we really have.
We are all capable of being effective leaders. The key is getting the information you need in order to make the right decisions.
Oregon Coach John Wright enjoys playing music, playing guitar hero on expert, and eating Southern Brunswick Stew. His motto is “Some people make things. I make things happen”. Check out Oregon Lacrosse at www.OregonLacrosse.org
