Recently in Lacrosse Category
For a lot of people, like me, lacrosse in the spring is too far away to wait and for those people there's fallball. According to October's Magazine article "Quint Kessenich's Fallball: what to watch for", this upcoming spring season of NCAA Men's Lacrosse should be nothing but unbelievable. The article talks about some of the teams to keep an eye on and to look out for. Some of the teams mentioned are Virginia, Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, and Maryland. For Virginia, the author of this article, Quint Kessenich, believes that as long as some of the older players step up, they should have little to no trouble making it to the Championship weekend. Syracuse lost some seniors but the coach hopes that won't have to much of an impact on the team. Of course they're going to be hard to replace but the team should be able to stay on the track they ended on. The author doesn't really say much about Johns Hopkins besides all the questions that have risen from last season. The author believes that this team will rise to all the challenges it may run across. Maryland's amazing freshman are now sophomores and everyone should expect great things from these guys- Ryan Young, Grant Catalino, Travis Reed.
I personally cannot wait for the spring season to start. After reading this article I learned how some of the teams are responding to the past season. Quint Kessenich did a very good job at giving us an early look at some of the teams and now we all know what to look out for. The 2009 NCAA Men's Lacrosse season should be nothing short of spectacular!
Lacrosse has been taking great steps forward in attracting more athletes and kids that are outside their normal target market. Lacrosse is naturally an expensive sport due to the purchase of equipment and a stick and this could be hard for inner city kids and families that aren't financially sound to get involved in lacrosse. This is why Lacrosse companies and corporations are sending out big time athletes to represent the sport of lacrosse all across the country. Clinics and tournaments are the easiest way to spread the name of lacrosse, and this is why STX sent Kyle Harrison to Northern California. It is here where Kyle was able to teach lacrosse to a bunch of kids who where truly there to learn.
"As I got out of the car, and walked over towards the field I wasn't sure what to expect. I was greeted by Johanna Thomashefski, Andrew was on the field with the kids already. I walked on to the field to see kids of all different races, boys and girls, some wearing jeans, some wearing football jersey's, and some dressed in athletic wear. As I walked up, some knew who I was, and some didn't. I looked around. For the first time in forever, kids weren't talking about their equipment, the best pocket, the best head, what cost more, whose shoes are better. They didn't care. They were out to learn a game, and that was the only important thing to them. I saw one kid with an STX head, brine pole, and one STX glove and a brine glove. He didn't know the difference, nor was he interested in learning. For the first time I was around kids who didn't think they knew everything about the game and were really inspired from my story, and wanted to learn. I taught them a few dodges, and we began to do a drill to practice them. As the kids grasped the dodges, and were performing them to perfection, it was one of the most gratifying experiences I've had to this point in my life."
As the growth of lacrosse is still widely debated across the country, here is one way that the lax community has started to take the necessary steps forward. 
"When the 10th Annual Las Vegas Lacrosse Tournament opens in Sin City on September 21, at least one team will be playing for something more than a few laughs and as many beers. It's Team Jesse, named after Staff Sergeant Jesse Williams, a decorated infantryman who died in Iraq last April and formed to raise money for the Amaya Elizabeth Williams Educational Fund.
This is a story of patriotism, friendship, honor and loyalty. It's Kevin's story. And Jesse's. But it's all about a little girl named Amaya. " Fund raisers similar to this one is a great way to get the good name of lacrosse out to the public. Although the lacrosse community doesn't like to use a tragic story like this to make gains off of it, it naturally does. Supporting the troops through tournaments has to be the most noble fund raiser out their. the soldiers that support our country need more fund raisers like this tournament and this hopefully is only the beginning stages to the growth of lacrosse and support of our troops.
"Growing up as a young boy lacrosse was a game I learned to play
which was new and exciting. I played the game out of pure love and
enjoyment. Not knowing lacrosse would become a major part of my life.
I was given an opportunity to play at the #4 ranked school in the
country, Towson University. I wasn't highly recruited but grateful for
the unbelievable opportunity. This opportunity turned into the best
possible thing that could have ever happened to me. I red-shirted as a
freshmen, and went on to be a four year starter. Here I was able to
become a two time captain, an All American and win three conference
championships. After graduating I was drafted 20th overall in th MLL
Draft to the Denver Outlaws, and once again I was in
unfamiliar waters. I had always wondered if I had the ability to make
it to the highest level and play professional lacrosse. Growing up it
was a distant dream but never thought the day would actually come.
So I packed my bags and drove across the country to live in Denver the
mile high city. I joined the Outlaws in week three of the season and
was immediately put to use. I played in every game making it to the
championship were we fell a little short losing to the Philadelphia
Barrage. Adjusting to the speed of the game I realized I could play
and was left wanting just more than playing. I wanted to win that
championship that I chased for four years in college. Soon after the
season ended I was picked up in the later rounds of the NLL Draft to
the Colorado Mammoth. Due to a sports-hernia and surgery I was put on
IR for the season. In my second season with the Outlaws we made it all
the way back to the playoffs losing to Philly in overtime once again.
Now that I knew I can play and survive in the MLL I would like to take
my game to the next level. You have to continually get better or some
one else will come in and take your spot. Playing professional
lacrosse in this country takes a lot of sacrifice for not alot of
money. Most of us work during the day and have to train at night and
travel on the weekends to play. It is a major commitment but also a
great accomplishment that I am proud of. Never trying to settle my
next goal is a MLL championship. (Casey Cittadino)" This is the true
story as a professional athlete, as a laxer and as Casey Cittadino.
To play like a champ and athlete must learn to eat like one. Eating healthy can be the breaking point for athletes all over the world. Food although may be not important to some is the basic necessity to having a healthy working athletic body. Like all athletes lacrosse players especially need to eat correctly. Intese practices with extreme running and sports play, healthy food could be an important aspect of survival. Sports specific nutrition is usually one of the most neglected aspects of an athlete's training program. What an athlete eats immediately before, during and after practice/competition can be critical to how the athlete performs not only that day, but in the weeks and months to come. Does this sound familiar? You go to practice on an empty stomach. You skip meals during the day. You do not take a water bottle with you to practice and if you do you rarely drink from it. You eat out often, usually at fast food restaurants. These are all important issues for an athlete to regularly address in order to stay on top of his/her nutrition game. Here is an example of a young athlete we recently encountered.
As the game of lacrosse rapidly grows the fans demand more speed harder hitting and an increase of excitement. Like all sports evolution occurs, the basic rules of the game have been altered in a way to increase the speed of the game. Lacrosse is know as the fastest sport on two feet and with these drastic new rules lax is only gonna get faster. The first step to increasing the games speed is to make players less able to cheat, and like all lax players if your not cheating your not trying. From faceoff men especially to midfielders to attackman and even defensemen, the packets in all these stick are typically illegal. the first major rule that was recently added was the random stick check rule and you won't believe what this entails. "It's the opening face off of your first game. The midfield gets you the ball left of the goal behind. You work it to the plane of the goal; get by your man, shoot and score. Amidst the celebration, you hear the goal official call your number and ask for your stick. You think "WHAT'S THIS? IT'S 25 SECONDS INTO THE GAME! IT'S NOT TIME FOR A STICK CHECK! THE REFS DON'T CHECK STICKS UNTIL THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER!" You reflexively pull the strings of your stick. The official throws his flag and you've earned a trip to the penalty box for a full minute, your goal is wiped off the scoreboard and your opponent gets the ball. " Now as you might think that this will only slow the fastest game on two feet down, with new clearing rules and less time to get the ball into the box, along with these stick check rules fans will only get to see what the want....the fastest game to ever get played.
For all of those who were concerned that the NLL close out would continue, its all over. "There will be a 2008 NLL season, league commissioner Jim Jennings officially announced to members of the media via teleconference on Thursday evening. Which teams will be participating during the season, when it will begin, when it will end, and how many games will comprise the regular season schedule, however, has yet to be determined, leaving perhaps more questions than answers about what fans of the league can expect to see this year". This years NLL season although being played short of many teams, will still be fun and exciting like always. With the big hits, goals being scored, staggering defense and the obvious fights, whats there not to love. In order for this sport to continue its growth as a league teams and players will have to make many player agreements and hopefully money wont be an issue like it is in other sports.
Along with all other sports, the Natioanl Lacrosse League (NLL) also faces negotiation problems among their collective bargaining agreements. "The 2008 National Lacrosse League (NLL) has been cancelled according to sources close to the situation, as the NLL and PLPA could not come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement before the league-imposed deadline of October 15." Negotiations are still on the up and coming and hopefully this '08 season will have the chance to be played, but like all athletes and owners, money is a main factor. Its a dissapointment that this is what sports all over the world has come down too; money, money, money apparently is the most important thing to everyone everywhere, and its a shame that the lacrosse world would jump on this vicious Ban-wagon. As a current lacrosse player the growth of the sport just excites me, and for someone who has family that plays for a major league team, it makes me sick to hear that lacrosse has involved itself with this nonsence. But yet again good for my brother, and good for the athletes standing up to these financial powerhouses, and he fact that they unite shows another step foward for the players association.
Like most lacrosse spectators were excited to see teams like Johns Hokpins and Syracuse University faceoff in their fall-ball debut, teams like Michigan have finally hit the maps. Yes thats right, Ann Arbor Michigan has finally got into the lacrosse mix of things and hosted their first ever fall-ball tournament. At Elbel Field the University of Michigan got their chance to host the very prestigious Johns Hopkins University and Army of West Point, with a stunning attendance of 2,134. Although Michigan didnt match up well against either team it was a great learning experience, and their coach appreciated every minute of competition. "I was expecting to see their top guys for a run or two, but they played their starters a lot. I was thankful for that. Our guys got a chance to line up across from some of the nation's top players for some time. It was a little tough to get a good impression on how we played because there is a clear difference, but it was still a great opportunity for our guys." With the developing of this lacrosse program, Michigan has finally set the standards for other big time schools to get involved in lacrosse. Now schools like Florida and Florida State, and hopfully the west coast will be able to get involved and join the growth of lacrosse. Along with these schools football programs they all have the necessary resources that they need to take their programs to the top. Along with money and attendance, the name and reputation alone should do just fine in helping out teams like Wolverines for recruiting. I dont know about you lacroose fans but I would love to play a friday night games in Ann Arbor followed but a saturday morning in the Big House with 100,000 other screaming Wolverine fans.
As many people might expect the sport of lacrosse has been drastically growing and now it has finally stormed Europe with authority. National teams all over the world have recently developed teams, including Spain, Italy, Amsterdam, and Germany. "We made plans to hit Spain the last week of August to open tryouts for the national team and hold clinics to introduce and grow the game" said by Nolan Godfrey. What was one time a spring college sport, with the summers for the majors has become a world loved sport that brought Godfrey around the lax world in 21 days.
