NS Coach Newsletter Vol 1(4) April, 2012

Volume: 1 Edition (4)

Posted: Monday, April 23^rd

“Players should expect the best - We can deliver”

News Flash: “Coaching Newsletter Online”

The monthly Coaching Newsletter is now available as a blog at http://laxcoachns.blogspot.ca/ . (Oh look, you're here) Starting the next month, videos and photos will be added to help coaches visualize drills and skills. Coaches can also add comments to the blog, providing valuable feedback.

News: “Register Now for Box Community Development & Competitive Introduction”

New coaches, register now so that you have time to create an online coaching account and complete the pre-clinic work for this Friday and Saturday’s “Comm Dev” Clinic (April 27^th & 28^th). The “Comp Intro” clinic is also coming up fast, May 11^th & 12^th, so don’t delay.

Remember, your association will pay the clinic fee, so invest a few hours for a very worthwhile cause. Full details can be found at www.lacrosens.ca website calendar by clicking on the date titles. If you have any questions, email lacrossetechdirector@sportnovascotia.ca .

News: “High Schools get great assistance from Alumni!”

The Rocky Lake Dome arena was rock’n April 11^th to 14^th as nine High Schools competed in the annual High School Box tournament –Two of which were all-women teams, a first! Teams were a mixture of registered MMLL players and new students. The action was very fast and many of the teams were led by active ECJLL players and ECJLL Alumni. Not sure we’ve seen the parking lot so busy at this tournament, which indicates the growing interest in lacrosse, particularly with the addition of the women’s teams. After the tournament, the MMLL received a wave of new women’s registrations.

News: “He Shoots, He……..Saves!”

The annual goalie clinic was well attended at Exhibition Park arena on April 21^st with 23 new and returning goalies working with some of the best goalies and sharp shooters in the Province. Great to see Nova Scotia’s youth giving back which included (Goalies) Frankie Martin, Jono Boutin, Harry Baker and Jacob Bragg and (Shooters) Chris Taylor, Josh Proulx, Josh Sampson, Paddy Quinn, Sam Martin and John MacDonald. Senior staff included Mike Hayes, Joe Swann and Dominic Nolasco.

Column: “Tips from the Crease”

“How’d I look coach?”

Even a regular mobile phone camera can add a lot to your goalie’s training by letting them see themselves. Take a baseline shot, then work with your goalie on positioning, then take a second shot. On the spot, you and your goalie can see the difference and the proof is in the picture.

A few tips in taking your photos, try positioning the camera in the “centre” of the net and walking back enough to make sure the goalies entire body is in the shot. To see what a stick “sees”, raise the camera behind a shooter with or without the stick in the camera frame.

The more photos or video footage you can show your goalies, the better they’ll help themselves become better goalies. Develop an archive of photos and the player can look at their development over the season and from year to year. They can then use their own images to help train new goalies.

“Getting More Goalies”

Want players bug’n you to play in net? Here’s how, or what seems to work. The next time you run a gym session, try lacrosse event or lax camp, try laying out a couple of full sets of goalie gear. At the last two LNSS lacrosse camps, players where almost fighting to get into the goalie gear that was provided at the camp. This has also happened at past field lacrosse sessions where if you have everything a player needs, they will line up to get a chance to play between the pipes.

Often clubs provide uppers, lowers, neck guards and sticks for the players, but add on pants, a hockey goal cup and gloves, and watch the players’ faces beam when they see all that gear. For younger players, oversized gear seems to be part of the fun and you don’t want any injuries on their first try out. From there, get them out regularly and start adjusting the gear to meet CLA regulations.

Teams follow great goalies and why not get them going at an early age during winter gym programs or free try lacrosse sessions.

If you have any tips you’d like to share, email them to lacrossetechdirector@sportnovascotia.ca

Column: “Provincial Scene”

The Provincial box teams were in full tryout mode over April with the final roster deadline looming. There was a huge leap in attendance after the SEDMHA tournament particularly for the Bantam men’s team, as well as a strong turnout for Peewee men. The three remaining teams had regular turnouts and both the men’s and women’s Midget teams need a few more players on their rosters.

As for the men’s U16 and U19 field teams, LNSS wishes to congratulate Brendon Smithson and Dominic Nolasco, respectively, for their appointments as Head Coach. Practices for these two teams will be run together and two tryouts are booked outside the HRM in Truro and East Hants. More details can be found on the “Provincial Teams” menu on LNSS’s website and the calendar.

Column: “Alumni News”

For a flash, or video clip, back to the past, take a look at Wayne Finck’s induction into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame on youtube. Just put “Wayne Finck, Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame” in the search window or try http://youtu.be/UoYBtWNCh6Q

News: “Next Month”

Keep track of up-coming events on LNSS’s website calendar by clicking on date titles for more information. 

1. Community Development Coaching Clinic, April 27^th -29^th, check LNSS website
2. Competitive Introduction Coaching Clinic, May 10^th-11^th, check LNSS website
3. Provincial Tryouts and roster selection by the end of April
4. High School Club Field Lacrosse
5. 1^st MMLL game May 1^st
6. Milk Sport Fair, Truro, May 2^nd-4^th
7. 1^st ECJLL game May 5^th
8. St. Margaret’s Bay 4x4 Box Tourney, May 18^th-20^th

* * *

NS Coach Newsletter Vol 1(3) March, 2012

Volume: 1 Edition (3)

Posted: Monday, March 26^th

“Players should expect the best - We can deliver”

News: “Get’n Around, Get’n Known!”

Lacrosse Nova Scotia’s try lacrosse school program has been hugely successful and slowly rapping up for 2012. To date some 22 schools (P-6 and Junior High) and close to 2,000 students have received instruction from the HRM to Pictou to the Eastern shore. With the aid of Sport Nova Scotia’s regional coordinators, next year’s program will focus on teaching PE teachers how to run two-week lacrosse sessions with the aide of the Lacrosse FITS program and gear.

Along with lacrosse instruction, students learned about their local clubs and associations and were invited to participate in the Free Try Lacrosse program. Hopefully clubs will see a bump in their registration from the school program.

News: “March Break Camp”

Players who participated in LNSS’s first March Break Camp had a great time and an unprecedented number of new players attended thanks to the school try lacrosse program.

Scrimmages remained the most enjoyed activity, but the players got to challenge themselves with fun warm-ups like the “under-hang mountain climb” and drills like the balloon bust challenge, cone skeet shooting and noodle popcorn.

Unlike other camps run this year, age groups where kept smaller (9-11 & 12-14), which greatly helped reduce unbalanced size/skill match-ups and minor bumps and bruises, and the all-girls day clearly showed the difference in social dynamics between coed and gender specific programs.

It’s always fun to shoot at a target and the March Break camp had a bumper crop of volunteers. The trick is to have several full sets of #3 sized goalie gear (throat guard, uppers and lowers, stick, pants and a cup system that can be worn over shorts) laid out and ready to go and the gals and guys will line up to try it between the pipes, even the smallest players. Using the soft red lacrosse balls helped and hopefully the players’ enthusiasm will translate to league goalies.

The week-long program’s success was attributed to the care and skill of its coaches, who included Nick McMullen, Dominic Nolasco, Danica Cooley, Chris Taylor, Frankie Martin and Harry Baker. These and the Province’s other young coaches are the future of lacrosse within Nova Scotia.

News: “Face-off with proper face-masks”

A reminder that as of January 1^st, 2012, CLA’s new face-mask rules took effect. The key point being that the Gait masks used by provincial players over the years are not approved for players sixteen and under (Midgets and below). Any mask, lacrosse or hockey, used for practices, games or other use must be CSA approved.

News: “Lacrosse Bust’n Parking Lots!”

Pictou County appears to be ready for lacrosse “The Daily” newspaper article concluded based on the number of cars parked outside the William M. Sobey’s indoor turf field Thursday, March 22^nd, and the number, almost seventy, excited youth inside.

Approximately 110 players have participated in two Free Try Lacrosse sessions in Pictou and Stellarton in March and a third is planned for Monday, March 26^th at Westville. Developed, promoted and run by Brendon Smithson with the support of the Westville Recreation Department, the success has Brendon think’n of new coaches.

This year a box lacrosse program will be held in the Westville and Area Miners Sports Centre for youth in grades 3 to 8 from April 30^th to June 22^nd at a cost of $95 per player. Through Nova Scotia Health and Wellness, grants have been secured to purchase goalie gear and all Brendon needs now are coaches. But like the players’ enthusiasm, parents are starting to step up and identify themselves as potential coaches.

The plan is that this new “recreational league” will be a regional program that won’t compete with MMLL teams. As the program grows and players become more experienced, “select” or “rep” teams will emerge and begin to participate in Provincial playoffs.

For more details see the newpaper links below.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2012-03-02/article-2914415/Lacrosse-lover-wants-to-promote-sport-in-area/1

http://www.ngnews.ca/Sports/2012-03-22/article-2937310/Learning-and-loving-lacrosse/1

Column: “Tips from the Crease”

“New Goalie Handbook”

Goalies now have two e-resources to help them with their game, which can be downloaded from LNSS’s website newslider article, “Goalies Get Ready”. The latest edition, “The Complete Box Lacrosse Goalie” was created by Laurent Gagnier, who is keen on feedback regarding his manual. The resource compliments the 2006 handbook produced by Don "Hoss" Watson, “The Lacrosse Goalie”. If you have problems downloading the files, contact LNSS Technical Director.

“Balloons and Paint Rollers”

Some really cheap aids to help players with their overhand shot are balloons, paint rollers and a length of rope, which you can use as a pre-season refresher or introduction drill.

First review the mechanics of the overhand shot/pass (not quick sticks) with the players without a ball. If possible have coaches walk between the players to check body, hand and stick positions. Once you are happy with their performance, bring them over to the paint roller set-up.

Many players don’t play baseball or football and have poor overhand throwing skills. Set up a long piece of rope that can be tied at both ends to two anchor points. The ends should be separated by at least the width of a soccer net and should be about eye level to players. The paint rollers should be threaded through the rope before its anchored. Walk to the mid-point of the rope and pull it away from the anchors until the line is taut, making a V-shape. Have two players move the paint rollers to the anchor point ends. They are to hold onto the rollers as though they are a baseball pitcher and throw it over their shoulder towards yourself. The more skilled players throw the roller in a straighter line with more speed. Side-arm throws will result in a spiral or wobbly course for the roller. Four players can work the roller system at a time throwing to each other then moving off to the balloon target wall.

Balloons are cheap and a great incentive to hit and break. For longer life, blow up the balloons until they are full and then let some air out. This will make it almost impossible to break them and give them life. Tape a series of balloons at eye level and another set close to the floor. Players form lines and take a single shot each, then let the next player shoot. Nice thing about the balloons is that you can leave them up and players can return when they have a free moment.

The roller-balloon system can be run in three stations with coaches reviewing technique at one wall, a coach at the rope/roller station and another at the balloon target wall. Minimum will be two coaches or a parent to help hold the rope. Younger players will really like the challenge.

If you have any tips you’d like to share, email them to lacrossetechdirector@sportnovascotia.ca

Column: “Provincial Scene”

Box keeps roll’n and field begins to ramp up.

Provincial box teams finished up at Exhibition Park Sunday, March 25^th and will now move on to Rocky Lake Dome facility in Bedford. Crunch time is approaching and team selection should rap up by the end of April. For times and locations, make sure players check LNSS’s website calendar and the individual Provincial team pages.

Now confirmed, the women’s Provincial Midget team will be heading to Victoria, BC, to participate in this year’s National program. Potential players are being sought from across the Province, both new and experienced players. The women’s program has been very successful in getting new players up-to-speed for Nationals and should be encouraged. For more information contact Julie Finck via LNSS’s website, link to “Provincial Teams”.

As of March 19^th, coaches interested in leading either the men’s U16 or U19 field Provincial teams can now apply. Applications forms will be accepted for two weeks and can be downloaded from LNSS’s newslider article, “Now Accepting Provincial Field Coach Applications”. This will be a first for U16 players and the second year for U19 players. Once coaches have been selected, more details regarding ID and tryouts will be posted on the individual Provincial team webpages.

 

Column: “Alumni News”

On August 11, 2012, in Cornwall, Ontario, Don “Twig” McElhone will be inducted into the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame for his prowess as box goalie and player beginning in the 50's. A long-time residence of Dartmouth, Twig has coached alongside many successful Bandit’s teams and remains an active Bandit’s Executive Member as Coach/Player Development.

Born and raised in Cornwall, Twig couldn’t have known back then that he would be playing into his sixth decade which occurred on August 6^th, 2006, when he played in the Lobster Trap’s Master's game. Lacrosse Nova Scotia congratulates Twig and wishes him the very best on his induction day, which puts him in great company alongside Wayne Finck, who was Nova Scotia’s first lacrosse member inducted into the Province’s Sport Hall of Fame in October, 2008.

Read more about Twig’s lifelong lacrosse experience at the Dartmouth Bandit’s website.

News: “Next Month”

Keep track of up-coming events on LNSS’s website calendar by clicking on date titles for more information.

1. 2011 Coach online workbooks deadline, March 31^st
2. April Coaching clinics will be posted soon, check LNSS website
3. Provincial Tryouts and roster selection by the end of April
4. Rink availability
5. Goalie Clinic
6. High School Box Lacrosse Tournament
7. 19^th Annual Aleš Hřebeský Memorial
8. High School Club Field Lacrosse

“Must Take Action!”

For those coaches who have not yet forwarded the following details to lacrossetechdirector@sportnovascotia.ca , please do so as soon as possible. For those who have replied, thanks so much.

(For emails that include several family members, please include all names in one email response)

Name:

Preferred email address:

Club Association Name:

Level of NCCP certification:

Possible Teams you may coach in 2012:

* * *

NS Coach Newsletter Vol 1(2) February, 2012

Volume: 1 Edition (2)

Posted: Monday, February 27^th

“Players should expect the best - We can deliver”

News: “Get’n Around, Get’n Known!”

Lacrosse Nova Scotia has been very busy delivering just over 40 hours of school lacrosse instruction to about 1,500 students in the HRM area since the New Year. Coaches like Julie and Wayne Finck, Brendon Smithson, Dominic Nolasco, Craig Moore and Sean Harrison have also added many extra hours to all-female programs and sessions between Truro to New Glasgow. Two schools started their own in-school lacrosse programs using the new FITS program (http://www.lacrossefits.ca).

With each school visit we’ve been teaching the basics and giving the students and teachers contact information to your clubs, so be ready to meet our newest players and make sure your NCCP qualifications are up-to-date.

News: “School First”

The up-coming high school field lacrosse program is going great guns with its six coach executive (Commissioner: Dominic Nolasco; Directors: Brendon Smithson, Scott McMullen, Tom Hunt, Bryan MacEachern and Nick Mulligan). The executive is looking for more coaches to work with the schools so if you’re interested, contact Dominic (dominic.nolasco@gmail.com).

The plan is to run a four team program in April-May, where each team will play each other once and then go to a playoff tournament –leaving the players wanting more. This initiative can only help but enhance the MMLL, the High School box tournament and give Junior High school students something to look forwards to after their Jr. High Interlax experience.

News: “Girls Rock”

The girls’ MMLL program just keeps on growing and news from MMLL’s Female Coordinator, Julie Finck, is that “there will be Novice, Peewee and Bantam age divisions (CLA age groups) this year. This will eliminate the former "Jr. Girls" age group. "Sr. Girls" will be midget plus one year (1997, 1996, 1995), and a new age division for the girls program will be Junior, which will be (1994-1991) similar to the co-ed program.”

The girls’ program just keeps on Rock’n!

Column: “Tips from the Crease”

“Not so dodgy a move”

Find younger players have a hard time figuring out their right from their left? Here’s a simple way to teach a roll dodge, a great boxla offensive tool, without having to use these two key words.

First, review the stick/ball defensive stance with players, where they keep their stick and hands “tucked” behind their body creating a “shield” with their leading shoulder and upper arm down to the elbow. With a ball in their stick, remind them to keep cradling and get them to walk in this defensive stance.

Next, get them set up in lines with an instructor about ten paces from the first player. Instruct the players that they are going walk towards the instructor (instructor must mirror their stick to the player’s) and bump shoulder-to-shoulder. The shoulder being bumped should be the one connected to the hand that is holding the butt of the stick. The player then rolls back-to-back with the instructor using their back as a shield. Presto, a rolling dodge without using the words left and right.

As the players become comfortable with the drill, get them to increase their pace and make sure they know how to tuck their stick towards their shoulder as they move away from the instructor. This means that the instructor can poke at the head of the player’s stick as they approach, and try to check the head of the stick as the player moves away.

“Rolling with those picks”

Picks and rolls are fundamental to initiating strong offensive motion: a skill players should master by the time they graduate from peewee (LTAD Standard). Try this and see if it helps establish a strong pick and roll offense for your team, whether they are learning it for the first time or brushing up during early season practices.

Put a strong passer (coach, assistant or parent) at both crease positions (low pick) or shot position (high pick). Do one or the other and then have lefts and right go to the opposite offensive position, shot or crease, respectively. The players should have a ball each and one by one they will pass down to the crease, head to the net with stick up, cut towards the passer, set a pick, then roll to the net and receive the pass immediately and take a shot.

For younger players, it may take some practice to catch these little flip passes. Key also is to go over foot positioning at the time of the pick and stick positioning when picking (a vertical stick protects against cross-checks and is ready to catch). Next, make sure they pivot on the correct foot and face the passer as they roll away. Take the time at first to establish these elements, then work on speed.

Once everyone has the hang of it, replace the coach with a players (divide the lefts and rights in half). After the player has been picked, and passed the ball, make sure they roll out in the correct direction.

You step up this drill by providing one, then two defenders. You can also move from low picks to high, or high picks to low depending on which you started with. The key is to make sure the picker rolls, whether they receive the ball or not. Finish on a short scrimmage where the ball can’t be passed until a pick and roll is delivered.

If you have any tips you’d like to share, email them to lacrossetechdirector@sportnovascotia.ca

Column: “Provincial Scene”

It’s official, this year’s Provincial coaches have been chosen. In the women’s box program, Julie and Wayne Finck. In the men’s box program: Peewees - Ryan Brewer, Bantams – Tyler James, Midgets – Sean Kent and Founders – Glenn Dunbar and Rod Humphreys. Provincial Team ID sessions began in January at Exhibition Park arena and will continue through to March. Check LNSS website calendar for updates.

Column: “Sport Nova Scotia”

“SNS teams up with Health and Wellness”

On Friday, February 24^th, Mark Smith, SNS Director of Coaches, and Mike Hudson, Health and Wellness, presented their work plan for supporting coaches across Nova Scotia in every discipline. Early this spring www.coachesns.ca will go online and focus on two key streams, Participation and Excellence. The former dealing with community sports like the MMLL and NSFLL and the later regarding Provincial and National programs, Canada Games and the Olympics. As about 90% of the province’s coaches fall within the community development or competitive introductory level, these individuals will be the primary target.

For PSOs like LNSS, a strong take-home message was that block funding provided by Health and Wellness/SNS will include the submission of an active coach list every year as part of funding requirements, therefore, it is vitally important that LNSS knows all active coaches.

Friday’s meeting was also an eye-opener in understanding how far lacrosse coaching initiatives have come within Nova Scotia and Nationally like NCCP training, LTAD, 55 Links, FITS, coaching clinics, the coach database and LNSS’s grass-roots initiatives like the school and club try lacrosse sessions.

Column: “Alumni News”

Looking for a Champion to help develop and grow the Alumni community into an active social group of ex-MMLL and NSFLL players, coaches and officials. Strength and vitality comes from those who have been there and give back their special qualities and insights to the minor community. If interested, please contact lacrossetechdirector@sportnovascotia.ca .

News: “Next Month”

Keep track of up-coming events on LNSS’s website calendar. Click on date titles for more information.

1. Box officials clinics
2. Coaching clinics, March & April
3. 2011 Coach online workbooks deadline, March 31^st
4. Provincial ID sessions continued at Exhibition Park
5. Seniors, Masters and Privateer’s continued at Exhibition Park

“Must Take Action!”

For those coaches who have not yet forwarded the following details to lacrossetechdirector@sportnovascotia.ca , please do so as soon as possible. For those who have replied, thanks so much.

(For emails that include several family members, please include all names in one email response)

Name:

Preferred email address:

Club Association Name:

Level of NCCP certification:

Possible Teams you may coach in 2012:

Resources worth taking a look at:

Watch NLL box games online or TV

http://new.livestream.com/nll

Watch NCAA field games online

http://insidelacrosse.com/news/2012/02/16/where-watch-lacrosse-games-tv-online-week

Free Try Lacrosse for players and schools

http://www.trylacrosse.ca/

CLA minimum coaching requirements

http://cla.pointstreaksites.com/view/cla/coaching-3/certification

Practice planning resource at FITS

http://www.lacrossefits.ca/

Nova Scotia lacrosse updates on homepage newslider and calendar

http://www.lacrossens.ca/

* * *

First Coach Newsletter

NS Coach Newsletter 2012(1)

Tuesday, January 24^th, 2012

Greetings from Lacrosse Nova Scotia

With the box season just around the corner, you are receiving this email because you have or are presently been an active box lacrosse coach in Nova Scotia. This year LNSS is working to increase communication between its coaches, whether you’re an active or Alumni coach.

For those of you who remember the 100B forms, this form was extremely valuable in determining the number of active coaches and their certification credentials. Unfortunately the 100B forms were not distributed over the past two years, which has had an impact on the master coach database. The plan this year is to at least produce one “newsletter” per month to keep coaches up to date on league, clinic and tournament activities, including the availability of new resources.

For this first “Newsletter”, please return the following information as soon as possible:

(For emails that include several family members, please include all names in one email response)

Name:

Preferred email address:

Club Association Name:

Level of NCCP certification:

Possible Teams you may coach in 2012:

The CLA has updated the minimum required certification per age group and we highly recommend that you take a look at the following link.

http://cla.pointstreaksites.com/view/cla/coaching-3/certification

A great practice planning resource is the new FITS program, which has downloadable drills:

http://www.lacrossefits.ca/

The lacrosse season has started with a bang with the Exhibition Park Provincial ID activity and clubs are starting to plan their Try Lacrosse sessions. Regularly check the LNSS website calendar for events and dates, then check the newslider on the homepage.

http://www.lacrossens.ca/

Look forward to your response.

Regards,

Lawrence Taylor, LNSS Technical Director

Kent Hayley, LNSS Technical Development Director