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Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
ITSALLNEWNOW
The first two practices have been just like I might have wanted them to be, with pace, extremely competitive scrimmaging, and guys doing extra work on their own well after I have blown the last
whistle of the day.
Sometimes when I ponder this new season and this new team, I get the actual physical sensation of excitement. All I can think is that we really have a chance to be a truly together bunch. We
have the potential to play at a very fast pace as a team. We have some speed. We have several good, solid players, and if we do have stars, they are in strange positions and roles. We will likely
not have the two top scorers in the league this year. Our loss of scorers from the last two graduations should scare me. Instead, I can't wait to see what we can do with a whole new approach
to offensive lacrosse, and perhaps the game in general.
The team is huge, but for now I think I can handle it. When we go full-field scrimmage I look at the sidelines. Each "team" has about 15 subs. That adds up to 50 real quick. As long as I don't
feel overwhelmed, "it's all good", I guess.
Right now we are spending the first fifteen minutes of practice each day with me giving a "dry erase" talk or demonstrating some technique. This is working great as my solution for "slacker
syndrome", a problem that has afflicted many of the teams I have coached in the past. I want to "immunize" us from this horrible disease as best I can. Now, if they straggle in, they just might
miss some of my rantings, and who knows, there could be something important in there that they might want to know. We won't be able to do this quite as well when the temperature begins to dip.
Now is the time for everyone to begin to understand the big picture anyway.
For the past few years I have started by teaching team defensive concepts based on preparing us to defend against the one-on-one style of offensive lacrosse. I have always wanted to keep individuals
on other teams we play from really hurting us or worse, taking over a game by themselves, as Steve Austin for BYU did against us in Durango two years ago. I try to prepare the whole team to
help one another. The theory is that you will have to be a good team playing well in order to beat us. You won't be able to just "hit" on our "weak link" with your stud, or whatever. I never
just look, offensively or defensively, for individual match-ups. However, if we do spot one during the action that might be good for us, I want us to exploit it.
I never have a design that puts all the responsibility for our success on any one player's shoulders. I do, however, look for ways that those capable of more are given opportunity for same,
but always in subtle rather than obvious ways. Far be it from me to stifle someone's stardom.
We have a player who is a star. A small problem is that right now he tries to do too much all the time. He forgets at times what WE are trying to do. This is because he is busy trying to do
everything for us. With all that talent and confidence, I see why he might have a hard time controlling himself. I admire both his talent and his fearlessness. At times, this player has "carried"
us. However, I believe that if he grabs on tighter to a few of our basic team concepts, then eventually his star will shine its brightest. The bonus would be that down the road everyone around
him becomes better, too.
I am hopeful that this is my "Joe Namath" team, the one that gets better looking every day. (60's reference; the 1960's, that is)
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