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.

For The Good And Welfare Of... Lacrosse

SOME TOURNAMENT THOUGHTS

1. Cornell has found it's "Mojo", Parnell and Mock are seemingly impossible to stop, but, the defense was the story of the win over a very good Maryland squad.

2. My oh my, did Detroit Mercy give the Irish a scare. NCAA must be happy or Lucas Oil Stadium would have been full of crickets next weekend!

3. Yale showed great character, the shoot out at "mile high" was a pleasure to watch, UNC's offense looks unstoppable, Danowski's boys seem to find a way, OSU better then many thought, and Syracuse withstood a face off clinic.

4. Adelphi vs Le Moyne again so soon!, Mercyhurst vs Limestone, should be a nail biter.

5. Cortland shows their muscle, Aurora deserves kudos for a job well done. Dickinson is the real deal and, obviously so is RIT! WNEC surprises and Tufts rallies vs a very good Stevens team. Stevenson and Lynchburg are doing what they have to do and Salisbury showing off their pedigree.

6. Women's side on the D1 level is holding form. Will we see the final most want to see with the 1st and 2nd seeds meeting? Kudos to the Stonybrook women for a great season, they will be heard from in the future.

7. D2 Adelphi vs LIU Post, I guess there's a little talent on the Island! Limestone vs Rollins, great to see a new face in the mix.

8. NECAC with two in the semi's, Cortland and Salisbury beware of the New England connection.

For the Good and Welfare of ... Lacrosse

At times, skill development seems to be looked upon as a dirty phrase. All too often coaches, on all levels, disregard this need, for the fun of playing the game.” You’ll never get any better unless you play the game” is the mantra.

What is the game? A series of skills demonstrated, at a competent level, to enhance an individual and teams’ abilities to achieve a predetermined set of goals.

But, as Herman Edwards states, “You play to win the game!” That is true, for all the platitudes given for participation, effort, and “being the best that you can be”; winning is pretty darn important to most adults involved in the game. However, how many hours are spent in the batting cage, at the foul line, in the weight room, serving in tennis, volleyball, squash, and table tennis, shooting at the range, and the time spent “on the wall”. To achieve at the highest level of any sport, fundamental training and skill development are still the keys to success.

Lacrosse is one sport that 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 those same skills.

I have spent the past 40 plus years observing live action, film, video tape, DVD, and on-line, the one constant of elite lacrosse is the skill competence of those who exhibit their skills and abilities at the highest level. Passing, catching, scooping, dodging, and positioning are the keys to achievement in lacrosse. God given talent, size, speed, athleticism makes a skilled player the best in the game. But, as we have learned from myriad commercial spots, Paul Rabil (arguably the best to ever play this game) spends an incredible amount of time on skill development and fundamental training.

Coaches have improved the team aspects of the game with offenses, defenses, clears, rides, special situations; however, all these schemes cannot be implemented without passing, catching, scooping and body positioning. Coaches love to win, at all levels. It’s a huge motivation for all of us, but, are we short changing the players by not spending the required time on the fundamentals of the game?

The Crux of the Matter

I have been a coach at all levels of lacrosse and can speak with some expertise about what I am about to impart to you.

Over the past 10 years the young men I have had the privilege to coach on the college level, by and large, have lacked the basic skills necessary to achieve at the highest level. We have been recruiting players recently that can understand this fact. Just because they played on the “Ultra Super Elite” tournament travel team, that Mom and dad invested in with their time and hard earned dollars; does not mean they are ready to make the next step. In this amazing national growth period of lacrosse college coaches are seeking those high school programs that are noted for graduating players with skills that will allow them to contribute to their programs immediately. College coaches’ look for certain qualities in those whom they choose to recruit. In the vast majority of cases for the vast majority of players academic achievement is paramount. Size, speed and athleticism are factors, but, but not the “be all, end all”. In order for those players to become viable, contributing members of their college teams they must be fundamentally sound and show an above average level of skill development to play at the college level.

Russ Ketcham

Executive Director

For The Good and Welfare of ... Lacrosse

New Rules, New Schools, an Old Friend

New Rules for the Men’s Game

…A Faster Game

… Elimination of five (5) second count to allow goalie to return to net

…A great effort to eliminate stalling

…Initiates a return to two way midfielders

…More emphasis by officials to control hits to the head and head area

These are all positive for improving the Men’s game that we love!

Growth of the Game

…Continued growth of collegiate varsity, on both the men’s and women’s side in all three divisions

…More official state recognition of high school programs

…International growth both in numbers and ability

Good bye to an old friend

Jim Garvey (US Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Class of 2001) passed away while awaiting a heart transplant at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Born in Mineola, New York, three sport letter winner in high school, Varsity Athlete at Adelphi University, Director of Athletics, Hofstra University 1987-1997, three sport NCAA official (Lacrosse, Basketball, Football), Father of “ wide triangle” style of officiating( Lacrosse and Basketball). Jim lived in Callaroassie, South Carolina with his wife Gwen. A scholarship fund has been created at Hofstra in Jim’s name for a lacrosse player.

James V. Garvey Memorial Scholarship

c/o Tim McMahon

Associate Director of Athletics

207 Mack Sports Complex

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY 11549

Lacrosse has lost a pioneer, innovator and educator and I have lost a friend of 65 years.

Thoughts and Musings

…I have witnessed three (3) Women’s collegiate games this year and two (2) things are apparent: 1. the officials seem to have not been brought up to speed on the 2012-13 Rulebook. In one game, a team had four (4) yellow cards and was not forced to play down a person. 2. In all three games at least one player was suspected of receiving a concussion, something, obviously needs to be done. Is it enforcement of present rules, stricter rules, addition of head gear or additional medical triage? What are your thoughts?

Respectfully submitted,

Jeff Ketcham- CFO Old School Lax. Org

(My brother has graciously taken over some of these responsibilities during the 2013 season, a new perspective, Russ K.)