Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal

Wednesday, September 8, 2004

WHO AM I TO TELL THEM THEY CAN'T

I (more than we) have a major problem.  That situation involves having almost seventy players (close to sixty on any given day at practice), and most all of them think they can play or came here TO play, or both.

I am the no-cut coach, but something has to soon give.  15 or more attack men, 30 middies (including long sticks), 12 defensemen, and 8 goalies makes for a breakdown good enough to have almost 4 full teams.  I have already done three full teams in practice in sort of a round robin scrimmage.  We are running drills on 4 goals at times, and it keeps everyone busy, but I am running around like a clown at a four-ring circus, trying to keep MY hand on everything and everyone.  This is impossible, yet sometimes necessary as we have a bit of a coaching shortage at certain moments (is 70-1 a good coach/player ratio?)

DAWGS AND UNDERDAWGS

My next plan is to kind of make two "squads" next week, A and B, JV and Varsity, or as we do it here, Dawgs and Underdawgs.  My long-range immediate plan is to try and get a bunch of games with B level teams in our league this spring, and to try to develop a solid "JV" schedule.

YOU CANNOT "CUT" FAMILY MEMBERS

This splitting appeals to me more than cutting for now. My kingdom for two more assistants and another playing field.  In the spring we will not travel more than 35 players, and if the numbers stay anywhere near here, we need a full on JV coach, or we will have no choice but to cut.

In my mind, if they (kids) want to play that much, and they know the score (my job is to let them know said score, and it is not always easy), then I want them to be on the team. I will never (almost) be the one to tell them (anyone) that they aren't good enough.  Besides, if I cut five attack men, the fourteen I kept would no doubt all develop something that might change everything (lost passion, injured while snowboarding in South America, knocked up girl friend, parents lost jobs or declared bankruptcy, heard calling to go to Katmandu, etc.). 

Some might say I don't cut because I am weak or chicken.  All I have to say to those  folks is, "Sticks and stones…."

IT FEELS BRAND NEW

I have changed several of my coaching approaches this fall.  Perhaps the changes are subtle, but there are differences, and for the most part they are all in the pre-meditated category.  For one thing I am sort of putting in more complicated concepts to start with, and then "meshing" them into basics and breakdowns later on.  I usually start a season the other way around, with a certain defensive priority progression that I have used for a few years, but I feel the game has changed to the point where so must our approach.  Lacrosse is no longer simply a "match-up" game at the (our) college level. 

IN THE CLEARING STANDS A BOXER

They (players) need to understand punch, and counter punch concepts.  For example, if we do "this" and it doesn't work, then we will try "that".  If they (opponent) do "this" or have a tendency to do a certain "that", then we will always try to have everyone on our team know and understand the answer for how we try to deal with the "that" situation, and we know and trust that knowledge, no matter how daunting or confused things might be on the field at that moment.

CAN YOU SEE THE REAL ME?. 

I constantly simulate the final minute of a quarter (and other situations) in practice.  I want for our team to be under control at a crucial time when the game is tight and there is little time left.  If we don't practice that how can we possibly make it happen later?

WO THERE BIG FELLA

Usually I run a bunch of different fast break drills.  I am hardly doing any right now.  Instead of teaching with them (fast break drills) as I usually do, I almost feel like they (team) will have to earn the right to run fast breaks in practice, as if practicing them will do us no good (in my mind) right now.  Other stuff is more important, like having everyone understanding WHAT IS UP and why.  I am trying to expose them to as many real game situations as I can right now.  Why wait until it might be too late?

You might also say that I have put my own self into a learning mode.  I want them (players) to teach me.  I am ready to learn.  I feel that it is imperative that I learn and do new stuff, and that I not rely too heavily on the past to show me the way to the future just now.

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