Building A High School Program US Lacrosse National Convention Philadelphia, January 10, 2004 Aaron...

Building A High School ProgramBuilding A High School Program

US Lacrosse National ConventionUS Lacrosse National Convention

Philadelphia, January 10, 2004Philadelphia, January 10, 2004

Aaron Frank, CAAAaron Frank, CAA

Copyright Aaron Frank 2004 www.championlacrosse.com

http://www.championlacrosse.com/

2002 State Champions2002 State Champions

• Career Goal to win Career Goal to win State Championship.State Championship.

• Career Goal to be Career Goal to be ranked nationally – ranked nationally – and appear in Lacrosse and appear in Lacrosse Magazine’s Top 25Magazine’s Top 25



Lacrosse as THE SportLacrosse as THE Sport

• Our school is considered Our school is considered a “lacrosse school”a “lacrosse school”

• Drive through Drive through Birmingham, and you are Birmingham, and you are more likely to see a kid more likely to see a kid throwing a lacrosse ball throwing a lacrosse ball than a baseball in the yardthan a baseball in the yard



How Did We Get ThereHow Did We Get There

• How do you Build A Program?How do you Build A Program?

• Starting Point…Starting Point…

1.1. Starting from infancy.Starting from infancy.

2.2. Rebuilding from mediocrity.Rebuilding from mediocrity.



Step 1Step 1

• Assess the current state of your program.Assess the current state of your program.

What is the culture at What is the culture at your Gatorade Cooler?your Gatorade Cooler?



Culture TestCulture Test

• If you could be a fly on the wall in the locker room or If you could be a fly on the wall in the locker room or at the water break, you would know the culture of the at the water break, you would know the culture of the team. Here are some other ways…team. Here are some other ways…

• How many players are in the program?How many players are in the program?• Is it growing, shrinking or stagnant?Is it growing, shrinking or stagnant?• Do you lose players during the season?Do you lose players during the season?• How many people come to your big games?How many people come to your big games?• Do your alumni give back?Do your alumni give back?• How many kids are out shooting on a cage on a nice How many kids are out shooting on a cage on a nice

day?day?



Winning Is A Process Of Doing Winning Is A Process Of Doing The Right ThingsThe Right Things

The The ProcessProcess of building a program leads to success. of building a program leads to success.



Winning Programs Attract AthletesWinning Programs Attract Athletes

• Schedule for success, but challenge yourself.Schedule for success, but challenge yourself.• Schedule games you can win.Schedule games you can win.• Make the schedule tougher every yearMake the schedule tougher every year• No longer than a 3 year processNo longer than a 3 year process



AthletesAthletes

• You must have You must have AthletesAthletes

• It is not difficult to turn an athlete into a It is not difficult to turn an athlete into a lacrosse player.lacrosse player.

• It is extremely difficult to turn a lacrosse It is extremely difficult to turn a lacrosse player into an athlete.player into an athlete.

• Many programs begin or stagnate with the Many programs begin or stagnate with the non-athletes in the school.non-athletes in the school.



AthletesAthletes

• Multiple-Sport Athletes.Multiple-Sport Athletes.

• Work with other coaches in the building.Work with other coaches in the building.

• Utilize current team to identify younger Utilize current team to identify younger brothers and neighbors. Get the best brothers and neighbors. Get the best AthletesAthletes into lacrosse. into lacrosse.



Start Early In Your CommunityStart Early In Your Community• Kindergarten or 5 years old is not too early to begin.Kindergarten or 5 years old is not too early to begin.

– Have Fun and Instill a Love for the Game.Have Fun and Instill a Love for the Game.

• Community ProgramsCommunity Programs• PE UnitsPE Units• Utilize High School Players to CoachUtilize High School Players to Coach



Spring Season Is UniqueSpring Season Is Unique• Don’t Act Like a Football Coach

– March is not the same as August. – The batteries are run down.

• Balance the discipline for success with the need for relief.• Spring Break

• Don’t Act Like a Football Coach– March is not the same as August. – The batteries are run down.

• Balance the discipline for success with the need for relief.• Spring Break



Captains and LeadersCaptains and Leaders• The Culture goal is set by the coach.The Culture goal is set by the coach.• But it is controlled in this order:But it is controlled in this order:

1.1. CoachCoach2.2. CaptainsCaptains3.3. LeadersLeaders4.4. SeniorsSeniors

• Interview and select your captains.Interview and select your captains.• Empower your seniors to lead their team.Empower your seniors to lead their team.

– Communicate with them Communicate with them everyevery day. day.– Monitor the pulse of that Culture.Monitor the pulse of that Culture.



One Bad AppleOne Bad Apple

• Positive Leadership is Infectious.Positive Leadership is Infectious.• One Bad Apple can destroy a team.One Bad Apple can destroy a team.• Sink theory.Sink theory.• Don’t be afraid to cut.Don’t be afraid to cut.

• Individual vs. Team Needs.Individual vs. Team Needs.



Set The StandardSet The Standard• Set the bar high for you and Set the bar high for you and

your staff.your staff.• PrioritiesPriorities

– Family, AcademicsFamily, Academics

• Teach and Require High Teach and Require High SportsmanshipSportsmanship

• If you teach cheating, you If you teach cheating, you create cheaters.create cheaters.

• Alcohol, tobacco etc.Alcohol, tobacco etc.



Talent vs. DesireTalent vs. Desire

• Always reward hard work and attitude over Always reward hard work and attitude over raw talent.raw talent.

• Very tough for any coach to do.Very tough for any coach to do.• I would rather lose a game with 10 players I would rather lose a game with 10 players

leaving their hearts on the field than win leaving their hearts on the field than win with “super stars” who feel that they are with “super stars” who feel that they are doing the team a favor.doing the team a favor.

• Why is this so important?Why is this so important?


Respect and ConfidenceRespect and Confidence

• Your team can not have a great culture if it Your team can not have a great culture if it is made up of the haves and the have nots.is made up of the haves and the have nots.

• You must instill confidence in every player You must instill confidence in every player by rewarding those who work the hardest.by rewarding those who work the hardest.

• One of the keys to great team culture is One of the keys to great team culture is making every player believe that he is making every player believe that he is important to you and the team.important to you and the team.

• Every player must feel that you believe in Every player must feel that you believe in him.him.


Push From The BottomPush From The Bottom

• Push your team from the Push your team from the bottom. Work the weakest bottom. Work the weakest players to push the team up the players to push the team up the mountain.mountain.

• We all have a tendency to pull We all have a tendency to pull from the top.from the top.– This creates the divide.This creates the divide.– The culture is destroyed.The culture is destroyed.


Timing Is EverythingTiming Is Everything

• The season is a marathon, not a The season is a marathon, not a sprint.sprint.

• Burnout destroys culture.Burnout destroys culture.• Build your team up the curve, but Build your team up the curve, but

don’t let them get over the hump.don’t let them get over the hump.• Once you’ve passed the peak, it is Once you’ve passed the peak, it is

not possible to go back.not possible to go back.• Pace YourselfPace Yourself


Keep It SimpleKeep It Simple

• Lacrosse is not rocket science.Lacrosse is not rocket science.• Don’t overcomplicate the game while ignoring the Don’t overcomplicate the game while ignoring the

culture of your team.culture of your team.1.1. Pass and CatchPass and Catch

- Require kids to pass and catch on their own every day.- Require kids to pass and catch on their own every day.

2.2. Ground BallsGround Balls3.3. ShootShoot4.4. Body Position DefenseBody Position Defense5.5. Transition, Transition, TransitionTransition, Transition, Transition


Measure the Culture of Your ProgramMeasure the Culture of Your Program

• How many of your players are out shooting on the cage?How many of your players are out shooting on the cage?


Miscellaneous…Miscellaneous…

• What to do when What to do when the program gets the program gets too big.too big.– Raise the bar so Raise the bar so

candidates cut candidates cut themselves pre-themselves pre-season.season.

For more information, contact Aaron Frank For more information, contact Aaron Frank at [email protected] or visit at [email protected] or visit

www.championlacrosse.com www.championlacrosse.com


• Require Varsity Require Varsity Candidates to inter-Candidates to inter-view with you (see view with you (see questionnaire on web questionnaire on web site).site).

• Camps, Indoor are Camps, Indoor are critical.critical.

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