Lax Jam

Hello Lax Nation,

Well, I think today's jamboree didn't quite go the way anyone had hoped.  But that's ok, it was a good test for us to see where we need to improve.  Please tell your kids that it wasn't that the other teams were that much better than us, it was that we broke down defensively.  Also, the other team had a bunch of 13 year olds and honestly we were lucky if we qualified as a U-11 team.  Unfortunately, size and speed make a big deal.  I am very proud of our boys.  We will keep working on our weaknesses and building on our strengths.

Remember, regardless of the outcome of the game we want to redefine what a winner is to our kids.  Winners are not defined by the score board like every kid thinks.  Winners are those who walk off the field exhausted from giving it their all.  Winners are those who learned from the competition of sport and are ready to tackle the new challenge of the next game.

The score might of said we lost, but the boys are winners in my eyes!

No practice on Sunday & I will not be here next week.  Coach Joe will be in charge of the practice on Wednesday at 6 on the Vineyards field.

Game schedule for White and Gold Braves

Here is a link to the U-13 game schedule for 2012. 

2012 U-13 Game Schedule for White and Gold Braves - click here

STX clinic tonight at Naples High

For those planning on attending the STX clinic tonight, just a reminder it is at Naples High on the main football field. The clinic starts at 6 so be ready to go by 5:45. Please do your best to get there a little early to put pads and gear on.

A cup, not just a suggestion

Below is a great snippet I swiped from the fine people at laxallstars.com.  Author Ryan Powll really brings home the message of protecting  ALL of our son's body parts!  Keep it in mind the next time your kids steps on the field!

Enjoy....

An athletic cup simply needs to be used at all times when playing lacrosse. If not, the results can be disastrous, and incredibly painful. I’ve got a quick story to share from earlier this year, and if you weren’t wearing a cup in practice and games before, you definitely will now!

Yeah, ouch.

I’m going to share a note from a parent in the Pacific NW lacrosse community, who shall remain anonymous. Who they are isn’t that important. But the message they are sending surely is! It’s simple. They want to spread the word about the importance of wearing a cup while playing the sport of lacrosse.

Dear Lacrosse Family:
I was at the gym this morning, and a customer of the gym was working out talking about her weekend. Deborah X is a nurse, and she had an adolescent lacrosse-playing boy as a patient this weekend. He is having one of his testicles removed because he did not wear a cup during practice. The ball hit him so fast and hard that he was knocked out and sent to the hospital. Apparently, his testicle expanded to larger than the size of a grapefruit and he now has to have it surgically removed.

I just hope we can all pass this along to our sons and sons’ friends, so that no one else gets injured like this, and that they try their best to protect themselves.

Ouch! I just wanted to share this note with all of LAS readers out there so that we can ALL spread the word about the importance of wearing a cup while playing the game we love.
Make sure to share this post if you want your teammates and friends to be safe out there!!!!
And as funny as it is to watch Justin Timberlake take a shot in the business, in reality it’s just painful. And dangerous. So take a note from JT and RP, and wear a cup out there!

Just a little humor to go along with a serious topic!

Practice tonight. 6 pm at Vineyards

Practice tonight at Vineyards.  Some of you might of been included on an email to the Community School team about a practice time change, disregard.  Uniforms will be handed out tonight so come a little early if you can. 

Tonight's practice is going to be focused on playing offense and defense as a team.  We are going to work on passing the ball around the goal and looking for a good shot, not just any shot on offense.  On defense we are going to work on understanding their positions in a zone defense and what to do if a guy gets beat and an offensive guy make a break for the cage.  Again, we'll teach in the beginning and if we have enough time try to play a few minutes at the end.

Don't forget the jamboree this Saturday at Three Oaks Park.  Both U13 teams play at 8:30.  Its a double elimination tournament so in the unlikely event that your son's team loses in the first game, don't pack up and head home.  Please check the tournament game schedule board to see when the next game is.  As I know more I'll let you guys know.

A great short motivational video.

Although I'm an STX guy, this is truly a great video produced by Maverik lacrosse.  Watch with your kids and explain to them what it means to you.

Team have been formed

Hello Lax Nation,

I wanted to let everyone know that the teams have been split. Here is the list of kids with their team mates. Joe's team will be the Gold Braves and my team will be the White Braves. I didn't pick the names.

Gold Braves                                           White Braves

Joe's Team Billy's Team Jack Laterra Trace Davidson Sam Drew Jude Farley Alex Lykins Gavin Marshall Quinn Shepard Grant Hewin Sebastian Guzman Dylan Hewins Owen Gulliford Noel Kintz James Scanlon Jack Hammack Alexander Askar Adam Marshall Orion Beall Quentin Bahr Joseph Ceto Jacob Connor Levi Ceto Hunter Thornhill Jacob Davis Spencer Davis Daniel DeSantis Corbin Kukk Nickolas Early Sean Gibbons Jacob Godwin Aidan Hawkesworth Connon Jeppesen Marcello Musca Christopher Kastroll Elijah Maxson Trevor Klym James Leach Tyler Lawerence Ty O'Bryon Seamus O'Malley Micahel Lawler Jack Salerno Andrew McLendon Dean Nunziato Justin Pena James Poppor Everett Rowe Adam Suid Dylan Whelan Jack Welsh Matthew Zehnder Kent Van diver Ben Zyblut Emmett Gillen Astin Nicol

Stick Customizing

As many of you probably already know, you can customize your sticks to fit your personality. I just got in all my new shooting strings, mesh, sidewall string, etc so if any one is looking for those "cool" laces for you sons head let me know. The laces are $5.50 (tax included) for three laces. A complete restring kit is $26.50 (tax included) and that includes everything and you get to pick you custom colors and shooters.

Some pictures from last night's practice

Team Meeting

Perfect body check..head up, sholders square, hands to the center of the chest.  SWEET!

One of these guys has better form than the other.  On ground balls you need a good stance, head over the ball and to get your back hand low!

Encourage your kids to keep their back elbow up when throwing, it'll help a lot.

Thanks for the pics Sara! 

Practice this Sunday at Pine Ridge Middle School.  I are going to move the practice time up one hour, it is now 9-11.  The reason is that there is a lacrosse game at FGCU at noon.  The admission is free and it is some pretty good lax.  If you can, please take some folding chairs and go with your sons to check it out.  It's a lot easier for the kids to understand the game when they see it first hand. 

I wanted to remind all parents that if your child shows up without any piece of their protective gear they will not be allowed to step on the field.  This means they must have a helmet, gloves, arm protection, a mouth piece and I strongly encourage you to make them wear a cup.  Too many are showing up unprepared and instead of sending one to the hospital, I'm going to send them off the field.

Joe and I will be splitting the boys into teams and will have them divided by Sunday's practice.  Sorry it has taken so long.  As I'm sure you're aware of, we have a lot of kids...really a lot of new kids that we didn't already know.  So instead of just dividing and potentially having a stacked team we wanted to try to get to know the boys.  Hopefully they will be pretty equally divided in the end.  I know some of you requested to be grouped with a specific other kid.  Please email me again if you did as I get so many emails and I have 4 email accounts, there's no way I'm going to find the requests.  This is not a guarantee I can make it happen, but I'll take a look and TRY to accomodate.

Automatic subscribers alert

If you have trouble viewing any of the videos in the automatic updates, go directly to the blog. There seems to be an issue with watching videos in the automatic update emails.

Defense Drills

Hello Lax Nation,

This Wednesday we will be moving into offense and defense with a lot of emphasis on defense.  Most all of the kids have the desire to score, but no knowledge of how to defend the goal.  I wanted to share with you a few videos that you should watch with your kids so they can see, and hear what the proper technique is.

The short video explains perfectly what the goal is.

Here is a drill we will be doing to help teach the boys how to defend a person with the ball.

We will also start talking about offense with situational drills, but they are not as hard to explain to the kids on how to execute.  Like I said, everyone wants to score...  only a few want to defend.  Start telling your kids now "attack allows for victory, but defense gives you invincibility" (please don't think I'm smart enough to have come up with that, I read it somewhere)

For those who are interested, here is a link to a video on lax rules put out by US LACROSSE.  Not all of these rules apply to us, but its a good instructional tool anyway.  The more you know, the more you can help.

US Lacrosse Rules Video

Season Opener Jamboree

Good Morning Lax Nation,

Just wanted to say thank you for suffering through a cold Sunday morning with me on the lacrosse field.  The good news is the kids are starting to "get it." Joe and I were really happy to see them start putting into action all of the fundamentals we have been teaching in all the drills during the scrimmage.  On Wednesday we will spend the first part of the practice continuing to do the fundamentals, but the second half will be more focused on the game in total.  This means we'll start talking about playing defense as a team, playing offense as a team and transitioning down the field in between the two.  You can expect the practice to last 2 hours.  With the season opener only two weeks away, I really want to practice twice a week so this means a weekend practice.  At least for now.  Please email me your preference on either Sat or Sun. 

Here is the flyer for the jamboree on the 25th.  Its set up as an all day double elimination tournament.  Plan on going and staying.  When the officials sign off on the game schedule and I get the notification of events, I'll post it here.

2012 JAMBOREE

Saturday, February 25^th

Three Oakes Park

First game kicks off at 8:00am

Vendors – please arrive by 7:00am

joeD’s Drinks & Dogs

Hot dogs, chips, drinks and more (cash only)

Naples Team Sports – Bill Davidson

The most popular lines of the STX products (Cell II, K18, and Assault pads and gloves) and some of the new heads out (the Stallion, Surgeon, Proton Power, X-10U, Super Power).  They will have the Combat lacrosse line of composite handles.  Anyone wanting to buy or order can use cash checks or credit cards.  We should have lots to show.

The Joey Project – Help support with your donations

Joey Powers were a brother lacrosse player that was well known and loved through out the Bradenton-Sarasota area. In seventh grade, Joey's parents took him kicking and screaming to a Lacrosse practice for the Lakewood Ranch Lightning. While Joey loved to play football, he quickly developed a passion for Lacrosse from that first practice till the day he passed away.  A Lacrosse penny was part of his daily wardrobe.  Joey was a certified Lacrosse referee, played Lacrosse on the varsity team at Cardinal Mooney High school and a member of the Lakewood Ranch Kings LAX Travel team when he was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia). 5 short months after his diagnoses Joey passed away.  His utmost wish for his legacy was to help other families that are affected by pediatric leukemia.  This is the mission of the Joey Powers Leukemia Project.  All proceeds from the LAX tournament will go towards helping Florida families fighting this devastating disease.

Play It Again Sports

Carries new and used equipment

10% discount to all lacrosse members

Estero EMS/Fire Dept.

With informative papers on safety

Provide all of your players with plenty of fluid to keep hydrated

Popup tents are permitted at the field, suggested for the players and parents

Parks and Recreation ask that we comply with their regulations, these apply at all league fields:

NO SMOKING, NO PETS, PARK IN DESIGNATED PARKING AREA AND PLEASE USE THE SUPPLIED GARBAGE RECEPTACLES AND RECYCLE BINS

(the players are responsible for their equipment and transporting from field to field, if item is found please bring to concession stand)

SWFYLL Sponsors:  Play It Again, Beacon Solar, Orthopedic Center of Florida, Gindele Chiropractic, Sam Galloway Ford and Lincoln, Dicks Sporting Goods, Cape Coral Boat Rentals, Surround Technology

Not the right way to play Defense

I was reading an online Lax mag and saw this picture.  

Here, let me help you with a little boost? (caption by Billy)

What is important to notice is the use of the trailing defender's stick, not exactly legal.  Also notice the flex in the oncoming defender's stick!  He's about to land a serious stick check.  I didn't say a "legal" stick check.

Practice tomorrow at Pine Ridge Middle School 10-12.  I will have all of the latest STX gear with me at the field for an after practice gear demo.  If you are interested, please don't leave immediately after practice.  It will take me a few minutes to round up all of my stuff and I'll me you at my Blue Yukon.

Lastly, if anyone takes any great pics of their kids or other kids...send them to me.  Kids love seeing themselves online!

Coach Billy

FGCU Lacrosse

Here is the FGCU home schedule.  Go show your kids what the game looks like in full speed!

Practice schedule for U-13

CCLA U-13 parents, don't forget practice this Sunday at Pine Ridge Middle School from 10-12.  There is a small bleacher, but I'd bring a chair to sit on.  It is supposed to be a little cooler this weekend so it should be perfect lax weather.  Please remember to bring lots of water, we are going to be running.  I'm going to park at North Naples United Methodist church in the southeast part of the parking lot.  There is a sidewalk to get to the field. 

We are going to move into more of a full field scenario with the drills covering clearing, moving the ball down the field quickly and shooting.  If the boys do well and hustle, I'll let them spend the last part of practice scrimmaging each other. 

I know we are all eager to see who is on what team.  Coach Joe and myself should have the teams separated this week. 


Practice schedule through the remaining part of the month............

Sunday Feb 12 at Pine Ridge Middle 10-12
Wednesday Feb 15 at Vineyards Park 6-8
Thursday Feb 16 where ever you can , wall ball for 30 min
Sunday Feb 19 at Pine Ridge Middle 10-12
Wednesday Feb 22 at Vineyards Park 6-8

Sat Feb 25 is the FLY-LAX jamboree at 3 Oaks Park in San Carlos.  A flyer will be coming out.

*****just a heads up, I'm not going to be in town the week of Feb 26 - March 4.  The league is aware of this and we will make arrangements to have a sub coach for practices and any games.********


Coach Billy

Welcom Parents

Hello FlyLax Nation,

I started this blog so everyone will have a central clearing house of information to go to regarding what's happening.  Please look here for all of the latest practice information: times, information, and places.  I will be posting drill sheets and associated teaching stuff to help all of us teach our players how to be better lax'ers.

Thanks,

Billy