For the Good and Welfare of......Lacrosse

Firstly, I would like to apologize to the readers of this blog concerning the ridiculous amount of time that has passed since my last posting.
As many of you know in late spring of 2014 I was elected President of the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation, the largest chapter of US Lacrosse in the country. So much for a voluntary, part time position. We are busily planning yearly activities that truly involve thousands of kids in the L I Metro region. For more information go to limetrolax.org


On a much sadder note, I lost brother, my partner and my best friend on Thursday. Jeff was in his favorite place, Hilton Head Island and the good Lord and Jeff decided it was his time.
He will be missed by many in the Lacrosse community, the many volunteer organizations he was part of over the years. But most of all the family will miss him tremendously. If we learned anything from his physical struggles these last three years it was his incredible courage and sense of humor that impressed us the most.

When you have your next cocktail raise a glass in memory of a class act...Jeff Ketcham.

Respectfully submitted,
Russ Ketcham

For the Good and Welfare of ...Lacrosse

First and foremost I would like to appologize to the ten people that read this blog for not posting this entry in a timely fashion. That being said, the following are comments about the past two weeks'
Congratulations to Lyle and Miles Thompson and Taylor Cummings for winning the prestigious Tewaaraton Award. The Thompsons are a breath of fresh air, playing the game the way it was meant to be played. Yes, creativity has a place in this sport that we love. As my brother has said, " This act is something I'd pay to see!!!". Taylor Cummings, a true two way midfielder and we get to watch her for at least two more years of collegiate competition.

Kudos to Coach Danowski and the Blue Devils for a repeat performance. Notre Dame has alot to be proud of showing their character through the tournament. Folks we are witnessing the future of lacrosse with the stellar performances of Myles Jones and Sergio Perkovic. Two yound men, through countless hours of training have made themselves into players to be reconded with in the near future. Both the size of NFL tight ends and the athleticism of much smaller athletes.

Congratulations to Limestone and Tufts. Both showing the lacrosse world that the best of D2 and D3 can play with anyone. We knew that Tufts was remarkable when they beat RIT in the semi finals by a lopsided score and in the finals without their top offensive player. The D2 RAC committee must find a way to have the best two teams have a fighting chance to reach the finals. Kudos to LIU-Post, Adelphi, and NYIT for having super seasons.

At long last Maryland is back on top of D1 lacrosse, it's good for the game for you to be in the mix every year. Adelphi reigns supreme at the D2 level, but, again the semi final game was of championship caliber ( is the D2 theme coming through?) Last, but, not least are the women of Salisbury with a great tournament run, hustle, tenacity and team quickness triumphs again. Just remember there were two NESCAC teams in the semi finals. Will it be their future to be standing on the victory stand.

It's the start of the endless summer for College Lacrosse coaches, recruiting season has arrived. Get the travel chair, wide brimed hat, water and sun screen ready; it's a long June and July.
See you out there on the trail.

Respectfully submitted,
Russ Ketcham

For the Good and Welare of ...Lacrosse

A few musings and thoughts concerning the NCAA Tournament games going on now through Memorial Day.
1. Men’s Division I: Is it me or does the Ivy League get entirely too much respect from the NCAA RAC Committee. Penn, Cornell and Harvard don’t make it through the first round and Hofstra is left out in the cold. However, how about the Thompsons and the Albany Great Danes? As my brother said,” I’d pay good money to see that act!” Lacrosse the way it’s supposed to be played, having fun and experimenting with the talent that is inside of every lacrosse player. Mike Pressler’s game plan was a thing of beauty, and ‘Cuse is wondering when the shot clock is going to be implemented. Duke keeps getting better as the season continues. Notre Dame’s defense has their work cut out for them this week. How many of you would have predicted even 4 years ago that the Lacrosse Elite Eight would include Drexel, Denver and Bryant. Ain’t the growth wonderful!
2. Men’s Division II & III: Adelphi and LIU-Post get to settle it on the field and Tampa adds new blood to the equation. D3: Hey folks, Ithaca is a good lacrosse team, how good is RIT? Some tremendous match ups in the D3 quarter finals, most intriguing to me is the Denison/Salisbury match up.
3. Women’s Division I: Can MD continue their march past Duke? Is this the year that UF dethrones a Past champion in Northwestern? #3 UNC taking on #6 UVA a match up made in heaven, and “Cuse vs.BC, Revisiting the Big East, Women’s Lax style!
4. Division II & III: So glad the women get to travel to play the LIU-Post/Adelphi game. It gives the match up the prestige it deserves and Lockhaven and Lindenwood get a piece of that spotlight also. D3: My picks are Cortland, Salisbury, Trinity and TCNJ in the final four, Is there another team that will get that breakthrough win York? Amherst? Or will Gettysburg get a home game?

Have fun cheering for your favorite!!!

Respectfully submitted,
Russ Ketcham

For The Good and Welfare of...Lacrosse

1. Congratulations to the newly inducted members of the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation, Hall of Fame.

Tom Campolettano

Kevin Cassese

Ernie Olsen

Doug Shanahan

Judy Stamatis

Rich Wehman

All extremely derserving and representative of the talent that has been a part of the Lacrosse tradition here on Long Island and the Metropolitan New York area. All in attendance were inspired by their comments, as well as, those of Ron Chamerland, the receipient of the Whitey Hendrickson Life Time Achievement Award. All are extremely involved in furthering the growth of Lacrosse not only in the New York Metropolitan area, but also around the country and the world. It was truly my pleasure to be the Master of Ceremonies for this gala affair.

2. The weather here in the northeast has not been very conducive for the start of the college lacrosse season, especially if there is no indoor facility available for practices. Snow fall isn't helpful either. I was remindied by some of our veteran Hall of Fame members about " parking lot practices" in Cortland, Amherst, Hempstead, and all over the Island. I was reminded that there was one thing that rarely happened out those "long ago practices". Wooden sticks rarely were frozen so solid as to break in temperatures below freezing, and at $100 a head it becomes quite expensive.

3. For all of us at the commencement of a new season, lets remember why we're involved in this game. It is a gift given to us to enjoy the excitement of sharing an experience with others who also love this game. Let us all do our best to make that experience an enjoyable one for all those involved.

( I do appologize for the Typos, trying to get used to a new format of publishing these blogs.)

For the Good and Welfare of ...Lacrosse

From All of Us to All of You

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

For the Good and Welfare of ...Lacrosse

                                    An Open Letter to Parents, Players and Coaches

At times the two words, Skill Development, become a "Dirty Phrase". All too often coaches, on all levels, disregard this fundamental element of the game. " You'll never get any better unless you play the game!" is the mantra.

What is the game? It is a series of skills, demonstrated, at a competent level; to enhance your team's abilities to achieve a predetermined set of goals. Winning being one of them.

As Coach Herman Edwards has said, " You play to win the game!" That certainly is true, for all the platitudes given for participation and being the best that you can be; winning is pretty darn important. How do you win?

How many hours are spent in the batting cage, in the weight room, serving in tennis and volleyball, shooting on the court and at the range and " on the wall"? To achieve the highest level of any sport, fundamental training and skill development are still the keys to greatness and success. Lacrosse is one sport that continuously teaches us that a more skilled player may very well be more of an asset to his/her team then the super athlete lacking in basic skills.

Spending the past 50 years playing, coaching and observing live action, film, videotape, DVD, TV and on line, the one constant of good lacrosse is the skill competence of those who exhibit them at the highest competitive level. Passing, catching, shooting, scooping, dodging and body positioning are the keys to achievement in Lacrosse. God given talent, size, speed, and athleticism makes the skilled player the best in the game. As we have been shown in myriad commercials, Paul Rabil, arguably one of the best to ever play, spends countless hours on skill development and fundamental training.

Coaches have improved the team aspect of the game with offenses, defenses, rides, clears, special situation scenarios, however, those schemes can not be implemented without skill at passing, catching, shooting, scooping, and proper body positioning .

Coaches love to win, at all levels, it's a huge motivation for us all, but, considerable time spent on skill development is truly need to achieve that goal.

                                               The Crux of the Matter

I have been a coach of this game that I love at all levels, youth, middle school, high school, and college; and can speak with some expertise about the following:

Over the past decade+, the young men that I have had the privilege to coach on the college level, by and large, have lacked the basic fundamental skills necessary to achieve at the highest level. We have had to take the time, within our practice schedules to, to address this problem. In this amazing growth period in the game of lacrosse, college coaches are seeking those high school programs that are noted for graduating players with the skills that will allow them to contribute to their programs immediately.

 In the past five years we have contiously recruited players that have the determination and lacrosse IQ to understand the following: Just because they played on the " Ultra Super" tornament travel team, that Mom and Dad invested their time, sweat, tears and hard earned dollars in, does not guarantee they will succeed at the next level.

College coaches look for certain qualities in those who they choose to recruit. Academic ability, speed, size and athleticism are factors, but, increasingly we are looking for players who will be contributing members of our teams immediately. These athletes must be fundamentally sound and exhibit above average skill development.

The younger they learn the skills the more time they will have to hone those skills in game situations. Coaches and parents, give them the opportunity to gain the tools necessary to achieve success. If this can happen we all are winners.

Respectfully submitted,
Russ Ketcham

For The Good and Welfare of ...Lacrosse

In going through my “Inspirational” file I came across this missive. It applies to all of us. Enjoy! Civil Matters By Otto Sorts | Feb.14.11 | A Curmudgeon's Perspective, Communicating, Daily Dispatch, Management. As I entered my firm’s building the other day, I held the outer door open for several of our young attorneys. When a young woman then turned to hold the inside door open for us, one of the men made a bit of a scene (partly for my benefit, no doubt) by making her go ahead while he took over the manly door-holding duty. He seemed more than a little pleased with himself. She seemed somewhat irritated—and I thought it revealed a lack of manners. With All Due Respect Proper etiquette is more than saying please and thank you and observing the old-fashioned rules. It is a matter of showing genuine respect for people. Goodness knows, I wouldn’t want to see anyone lay down their cloak across a puddle these days, but it sure is nice when someone makes room for me in the elevator, or offers to share a cab on a rainy day. Why was the young woman irritated when the young man wouldn’t let her hold the door? Instead of showing her respect, his actions implied that she was less capable. It probably felt to her as if he was saying “you are too weak”—or even “that’s man’s work!” One of the youngsters I work with just could not accept a compliment. I repeatedly acknowledged his accomplishments, and he consistently blew me off. “Nah, it’s no big deal,” he would say. He wouldn’t accept the gift of my appreciation, and that upset me because it implied my opinion had no value. In fact, I finally chewed him out for making me feel like a schmutz. He was shocked and apologetic, and I can tell you that he now accepts compliments from me and others with some grace. (There’s something to be said for training.) So, what does it take to be nice these days? First, pay attention to those around you. While you are indeed the most important person you know and very, very, very busy, it’s vital to stay in touch with those around you. Second, it’s easy to notice and recognize the grand gestures, but it’s just as important—if not more so —to acknowledge the little ones: the held door, the early morning greeting, the thoughtful touches, the offhand compliment, and the everyday things. Say thank you! Third, every employee survey ever conducted shows that the single most important factor in retaining good staff is not money or perks or status, but the nature of the people with whom we work. So, feed that hunger, up and down the ladder. If you’re nice it encourages others to be so as well, and ultimately it will turn your firm into a nicer place to work. Civil matters! Otto Sorts has been reading law since before Martindale met Hubbell. Of Counsel at a large corporate firm that prefers to remain anonymous, Otto is a respected attorney and champion of the grand tradition of the law. He is, however, suspicious of “new-fangled” management ideas and anyone who calls the profession the legal “industry.” When he gets really cranky about something he blogs at HeyYouKidsGetOffMyLaw.