Beginning Lacrosse Player? Keep These Tips in Mind

Trying something new can be incredibly exciting, a little unnerving, or both at the same time. And guess what? That’s completely normal! Even if you’ve thought through your decision to start playing lacrosse and feel good about it, you’ll probably still feel nervous the first time you step onto the field. There’s nothing wrong with that – it just means you’re human and you care.

Here’s the truth: you probably won’t be incredible at lacrosse the first time you pick up a stick. But it’s all about progression. As long as you get better each time you practice, you’ll be amazed at the progress you’ve made when you look back at your first day in a few months. With the right mindset, this process is going to be a lot of fun.

Starting a new sport is exciting because it makes your mind and body work in different ways. It’s also overwhelming for those exact same reasons. That’s why having a few essential tips in your back pocket can make all the difference as you navigate this introduction to such a great game.

Whether you’re picking up a stick for the first time or looking to strengthen your fundamentals, these tips will help you build a solid foundation in lacrosse and accelerate your development on the field.

Keep It Simple

The game of lacrosse itself seems like it can be a complicated one, and that can be true depending on how much strategy and effort you put into certain areas of the game. There’s a lot of strategy that goes into being successful on the lacrosse field, but at the end of the day, the goal is pretty simple. Don’t lose sight of that.

When you’re first starting out, don’t try and psych yourself out by making things too difficult. It’s not necessary to try and make things harder than they need to be, especially when you’re a beginner. There’s no reason for you to try and hit a teammate with a pass 50 yards downfield when there’s another one 10 feet or so away from you. While trying to hit a teammate with a perfectly-led pass about 50 feet away sounds good in your head, the likelihood of it not going well – especially since you’ve likely never done it before – is very high.

Keep it simple by playing short and sharp passes. As you continue getting confidence and building up your skills, maybe you can make that pass, but it’s not going to happen overnight.

Master the Art of Communication

You have a lot to learn in lacrosse as an individual, but one of those things is how to work within a team. You’re playing on a lacrosse team, which means that everyone needs to be on the same page more times than not to experience success on a cumulative basis. A key to being part of a good team is knowing how to communicate with one another.

The stream of communication should basically be constant throughout an entire game. There’s no reason to be shy – if you take some time to go and be a spectator for any lacrosse games, you’ll hear constant talking. By talking to each other, it’ll be easier to share who is shadowing who, which players are stepping into a particular position, and making clear calls for the ball when you’re available to do so. There will be certain occasions when you know your teammate well enough to know their next move before they make it, but that’s more of the exception than the rule.

Even if you already feel like you’re a great communicator with your teammates on and off the field, there is always room for improvement, even if it’s just being more consistent in certain situations. Your lacrosse team is depending on you to be on top of your game from a personal level, but let’s not forget that this is a team sport. The longer you all can work as a unit during a game, the better.

The old adage out there is that you practice how you play, and it rings true for this. Practice communicating a ton with your teammates throughout practice, and soon enough, it’ll just be second nature during games, and you won’t even have to think about it. Don’t be shy – players who don’t talk much aren’t what coaches and teammates are looking for.

Perfect the Art of Cradling the Ball

Cradling the ball in the pocket of your lacrosse stick is one of the most basic parts of lacrosse. That doesn’t mean it should come naturally the first time you do it, though. This is something you can practice as much as you want without it interfering with your everyday life.

Walk around the house and cradle the ball in your stick as long as necessary so you can get to the point where you don’t have to look and see if the ball is still in there. Getting this skill down will make it a lot easier to move with the ball and keep your eyes ahead of you on the field. The more comfortable you become with cradling, the more natural it will feel during actual gameplay.

Know the Four Basic Shots

When it comes to how shots or passes can take place on a lacrosse field, there are four basic kinds for a player to choose from: the overhand long shot, the underhand long shot, the sidearm long shot, and the backhand shot. Since there are a finite number of shots you can use during a game, it’s a good idea to practice faking shots at different angles and body positions so you can keep your opposition off balance.

Understanding and practicing these four fundamental shots will give you a solid foundation to build upon as you progress in the sport. Work on each one individually until you feel comfortable with the mechanics, then start incorporating them into game-like situations during practice.

Don’t Take Feedback Personally

While physical skills are important, the mental aspect of lacrosse is equally crucial for your development as a player. There are going to be times when your coach will either remind you of things or critique you in a way that might annoy you or feel harsh in the moment. This is a normal part of the learning process that every lacrosse player experiences.

Coaches always have to toe the line of being liked by the players, but not to the point where those players don’t see them as a voice of authority. Regardless of how much you like your coach, don’t forget that they have your best interests in mind and want to see you succeed just as much as anyone else. Take what they say in stride and don’t let it impact other parts of your relationship.

Remember that constructive criticism is how you grow as a player. Your coach’s feedback, even when it feels uncomfortable, is designed to help you improve and reach your potential. Learning to accept and apply this feedback without taking it personally is a skill that will serve you well both on and off the lacrosse field.

Moving Forward

Like most things in sports, it’s the small tweaks and details that end up making a huge difference. It’s easy to see and consider those things in the offseason, but it can also be difficult to keep an eye on those details in the middle of a lacrosse season, which can be a grind for just about anyone.

These simple tips can help anyone – whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced player – take their lacrosse game to the next level. Focus on mastering these fundamentals, stay patient with yourself, and remember that every great lacrosse player started exactly where you are now. With consistent practice and the right mindset, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you progress in this exciting sport.

Ready to take your lax game to the next level this summer? Find a GameBreaker Lacrosse Camp near you and register today!