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
