DHS LACROSSE 2009

Moving to the Next Level

Introduction: Your New Coach

• Coached high school team in Texas before moving to Damascus in 1997.

• Started DSA Lacrosse in 1998, serving as first Commissioner from 1998-1999.

• Coached DSA lacrosse through 2004; also coached Cougar football 1999 and 2000.

• Damascus Lacrosse has been both a passion and a springboard.

What Damascus Lacrosse Has Done For Me

• Chosen to be DSA President 1999-2000 based on positive lacrosse experience.

• Served as Head Lacrosse Coach at Montgomery College 2005-2008.

• Now on U.S. Lacrosse Board of Directors for both Youth and Men’s Lacrosse; Speaker at National Coaches Convention.

• Articles published in Lacrosse Magazine, Coaching Lax Newsletter, etc.

Time To Give Back

• Coaching Damascus High School’s Lacrosse team is something I’ve always wanted to do, but it had to be the right time. Now it is.

• The program has had some tough times, but we must put them behind us. Let’s focus on moving ahead and achieving the greatness that you and DHS deserve.

Situational Assessment

• We’ve always had the best athletes, and we’ve always had excellent lacrosse skills – why hasn’t the team done better?

• Our talent is a double-edged sword, because we’ve relied too heavily on it.

• To get to the next level, we have to play smarter – talent by itself is not enough.

What Playing Smarter Means

• Lacrosse is a far more complicated game than people think. It’s become like football, because lacrosse coaches now spend as much time watching film, analyzing opponents, and developing strategies as football coaches do.

• No matter how good a team may be, it will under-achieve if it doesn’t play smart.

• This means planning AND executing.

Playing Smart (cont.)

• It’s up to the coaches to prepare their players, and it’s up to the players to do what they’ve been prepared to do.

• Very simply, this is what will take DHS Lacrosse to the next level – it’s on both of us to step up and make this happen.

Our Code of Honor

• As coaches and players, we must honor the game of lacrosse and each other. The team cannot succeed unless both of us do our jobs with mutual respect.

• A good way to think of this is what we’ll refer to as “The Four T’s”. You must know them, understand them, and embrace them.

The Four T’s

• The Four T’s are as follows:

TEACH

TRUST

THINK

TALK

Teach

• It is our job as coaches to teach you the finer points of lacrosse. You all know the basics, so you’re ready to learn more and we are confident that you can handle it.

• Great coaches are great teachers. We owe you this.

Trust

• As coaches, we have to trust our players (and vice-versa). We have to believe in you and your ability to handle what we ask you to do. We do.

• We need you to trust that we will always do what’s best for the team. We will also try to do what’s best for each and every player, but we all know that this is almost impossible. We’ll try.

Think

• This is where your piece comes in. When you’re on the field, use your brain as well as your body. There is no such thing as a great lacrosse player who is stupid – you can be good if you have lots of talent, but you cannot be great unless you think.

• Just look at the top D1 lax programs in the country; they’re also top schools academically. That’s not a coincidence.

Talk

• This is also on you guys, and there is nothing more important. Every college lacrosse player at a top-tier program talks constantly to his teammates during a game – you’ve all seen and heard this if you’ve been to a D1 game.

• We’ll have one very simple rule on our team: You don’t talk, you don’t play.

Keys to Success

• Off-season workouts (running and lifting).

• 20-30 minutes every day until March 1 practicing with your weak hand.

• Wanting to become a smarter lacrosse player.

• Honoring and loving this game.

Summary and Conclusions

• Damascus High School Lacrosse has the talent to move to the next level; let’s do it now. We can create life-long memories.

• If we follow the Four T’s (both coaches and players), there is almost no limit to how well we can do.

• Count on this: I will personally be your biggest fan.