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

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