How to properly clean and dry a lacrosse stick after use. What are the best practices for maintaining pocket shape and consistency. Why is regular maintenance crucial for optimal stick performance.
The Importance of Proper Lacrosse Stick Care
In the world of lacrosse, your stick is your most essential piece of equipment. It’s not just a tool; it’s an extension of your body on the field. To ensure peak performance and longevity, proper care and maintenance are crucial. Let’s delve into the intricacies of lacrosse stick care and explore why it’s so important for players at all levels.
Why is regular maintenance so critical? A well-maintained lacrosse stick offers consistent performance, improved ball control, and a longer lifespan. Neglecting your stick can lead to warped heads, inconsistent pockets, and diminished playing ability. By implementing a proper care routine, you’ll not only protect your investment but also enhance your game.
Post-Game Cleaning: Removing Dirt and Debris
After a grueling game or practice, especially in wet or muddy conditions, your lacrosse stick requires immediate attention. The first step in proper care is thorough cleaning.
Steps for Effective Cleaning:
- Remove loose dirt and debris by gently tapping the stick.
- Rinse the head and pocket under hot water to remove remaining dirt.
- Avoid using soap, as it can damage the materials.
- Pay special attention to the pocket, ensuring all grass, mud, and turf particles are removed.
How often should you clean your stick? Ideally, after every use, but it’s especially crucial after playing in adverse weather conditions. Regular cleaning prevents the buildup of dirt and grime that can affect your stick’s performance and longevity.
The Art of Drying: Preserving Pocket Shape and Integrity
Proper drying is essential to maintain your lacrosse stick’s shape and performance. A wet stick left to dry improperly can lead to a misshapen pocket and reduced effectiveness on the field.
Effective Drying Techniques:
- Use paper towels to absorb excess moisture from the head and strings.
- Stuff the pocket with crumpled newspaper to maintain its shape while drying.
- Avoid placing a ball in the pocket while drying, as it can create an uneven stretch.
- Allow the stick to air dry in a well-ventilated area, away from direct heat sources.
How long does it take for a lacrosse stick to dry properly? While it varies based on humidity and temperature, allowing 12-24 hours for thorough drying is generally recommended. This patience ensures your stick maintains its optimal shape and performance characteristics.
Pocket Maintenance: Ensuring Consistent Performance
The pocket is the heart of your lacrosse stick, responsible for ball control and accuracy. Maintaining its shape and consistency is crucial for optimal performance on the field.
Tips for Pocket Maintenance:
- After drying, use a wooden or plastic ball to re-form the pocket.
- Work the ball up and down the pocket to restore flexibility and shape.
- Regularly check and adjust strings to maintain desired pocket depth.
- Consider using a pocket pounder to maintain consistency in pocket shape.
How often should you perform pocket maintenance? For serious players, a quick check and adjustment before each practice or game is ideal. At minimum, perform a thorough pocket maintenance session weekly to ensure consistent performance.
Advanced Care Techniques: Maximizing Stick Longevity
Beyond basic cleaning and drying, there are advanced techniques that can significantly extend the life of your lacrosse stick and maintain its performance over time.
Long-term Care Strategies:
- Use a FlexForce device to prevent head pinching and maintain shape.
- Regularly inspect and replace worn strings or mesh.
- Store your stick in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
- Consider using a stick bag for protection during transport.
What is the average lifespan of a well-maintained lacrosse stick? With proper care, a high-quality stick can last several seasons. However, individual components like strings and mesh may need more frequent replacement depending on use intensity.
Understanding Stick Materials: Tailoring Your Care Routine
Different lacrosse stick materials require specific care approaches. Understanding the composition of your stick allows you to tailor your maintenance routine for optimal results.
Care Tips for Different Materials:
- Plastic Heads: Clean with warm water, avoid extreme temperatures.
- Mesh Pockets: Allow thorough drying to prevent shrinkage, reshape when dry.
- Traditional Pockets: Require more frequent maintenance, careful drying to prevent warping.
- Carbon Fiber Shafts: Wipe clean, inspect for cracks or damage regularly.
How do different materials affect stick performance and maintenance needs? Plastic heads are durable but can warp in extreme heat. Mesh pockets are low-maintenance but may need reshaping after getting wet. Traditional pockets offer excellent feel but require more frequent adjustments. Understanding these characteristics helps you adapt your care routine accordingly.
The Impact of Weather on Lacrosse Sticks
Weather conditions can significantly affect your lacrosse stick’s performance and longevity. Understanding these impacts helps you prepare and adapt your care routine accordingly.
Weather-Specific Care Tips:
- Hot Weather: Store sticks in a cool place to prevent warping.
- Cold Weather: Allow sticks to warm up gradually before use to prevent cracking.
- Wet Conditions: Dry thoroughly after use to prevent mold and material degradation.
- Humid Environments: Use silica gel packets in storage to control moisture.
How does extreme weather affect lacrosse stick performance? High heat can cause head warping and string loosening, while cold can make plastic brittle. Moisture from rain or humidity can alter pocket shape and consistency. By understanding these effects, you can take proactive measures to protect your equipment.
Customization and Stringing: Personalized Care for Your Style
Many players customize their sticks through unique stringing patterns or pocket designs. These personalized elements often require specialized care to maintain their performance characteristics.
Care Tips for Customized Sticks:
- Document your stringing pattern for easy reference during maintenance.
- Use a pocket tension gauge to maintain consistent depth.
- Re-adjust custom pockets more frequently, especially after wet conditions.
- Consider learning basic stringing techniques for on-the-go adjustments.
How does customization affect stick maintenance requirements? Custom stringing often requires more frequent checks and adjustments to maintain desired performance. Understanding your specific setup allows you to address potential issues proactively, ensuring your stick performs consistently game after game.
By implementing these comprehensive care techniques, you’ll ensure your lacrosse stick remains in top condition, providing consistent performance and longevity. Remember, a well-maintained stick is not just equipment; it’s a reliable partner in your lacrosse journey, ready to help you perform at your best in every game and practice.
How to Treat Your Lacrosse Stick
Lacrosse is nothing without a stick.
There’s no piece of equipment more important. Taking good care of your lacrosse stick is an absolute must. Modern sticks are pretty amazing, and they’re more consistent and reliable than ever before. But even when your stick is perfect, a rainy game or practice in the mud can cause some serious pocket problems.
How do you make sure your stick treats you right the next time you play? By treating your lacrosse stick right!
How to Treat Your Lacrosse Stick
Wash Off the Dirt
The first thing is to remove pieces of turf, grass, and mud from the plastic and the pocket. If you’ve just played in a wet game, your stick is already wet or was wet at some point during the day, so there’s nothing wrong with running hot water over the head under a faucet or hose to wash off as much dirt, grime, or turf as possible.
Do not use soap. Hot water will do the job here.
Dry Your Lacrosse Stick
Now, you have a clean but very wet lacrosse head and pocket. Paper towels should be used to take as much moisture off the plastic, out of strings, and out of the mesh/leathers as possible. Spend a good couple of minutes trying to dry the head out with paper towels.
Leaving ur lacrosse stick outside when its wet and the mesh shrinks up #laxprobz
— Shawn Mather (@Smather___) February 9, 2013
Next is to set your pocket to truly dry out. A lot of people put a ball in the head and let it sit overnight, but this can create a weird stretch to a pocket where the ball sits, so another really good option is to crumble up newspaper and stuff it TIGHTLY into the pocket in the overall shape you want the pocket to hold. You may need a butter knife, chop sticks, or other thin, rigid piece of plastic or wood to keep the paper tight against the pocket.
The newspaper does two things. First, it allows you to put a full channel in a pocket (not just a dent where the ball sits), and second, it actively draws moisture out of the mesh, strings, or leathers. The dryness of the newspaper helps the entire pocket reform as it dries, and it helps it dry more evenly.
Keep in mind, some modern mesh is so advanced that you may not need to be so diligent with forcing a positive shape for your pocket. However, generic mesh that you may find in a new entry-level stick right off the rack at the store could still need the help, and if you’re worried about pocket shape or want to extra careful, you won’t hurt anything but giving these methods a shot.
The Next Morning
After everything is dried out, use a wooden ball or poll ball – something smooth and round – to run up and down the pocket, as if you were breaking it in for the first time. Push hard on the pocket a couple times to give it back a little stretch, and go hit the wall!
Take Care of Your Equipment
If you just throw your wet stick in your locker or leave it on the floor, the next time you pick it up, it might not treat you the same. So, after your stick serves you in nasty weather, you really need to serve your lacrosse stick right back.
A fantastic way to treat your stick is to use a FlexForce, which solves the problem of pinched heads and can ensure the durability and quality of your head. Lacrosse players have had to come up with different ways to take care of their heads for a while, but never before has there been something made specifically to solve their problem. But now there is, and your FlexForce can offer you guaranteed longevity that homemade remedies just can’t.
Master the Art of Stringing || How to String a Lacrosse Stick
Welcome to the “How to String a Lacrosse Stick” installment of our articles. Here, we try to present a straight-foward lesson in learning how to string a lacrosse stick. Learning to string is a highly rewarding experience and is very fun. When one learns the basics, then can you experiment with learning new styles and experimenting with different meshs meshs and string types. If you are an experienced player, share your knowledge and assist the sport grow further than you. We welcome submissions. Love the Game, Live your Passion, Share the Experience.
.This guide will teach you how to string a 10 diamond top string, sidewalls with double ups, bottom string, 2 straight shooting strings, and 1 U shooting string. It’s fundamentally about learning some techniques to string lacrosse heads of your own. Color overlays highlight important elements of each step. Follow along with arrows and bright colors to ensure that your first attempt will be fun, easy and successful. Follow along to each picture with a detailed description of the mechanics and the process. Understand how and where the string is entering the mesh and the holes to create a pocket that is your own.
Overview:
10 Diamond Lacrosse Mesh
Lacrosse Head
Topstring: 33-36 inches in length
Sidestring: 22-24 inches in length
Bottom String: 10-14 inches in length
Shooting Strings: 3
Topstring: How to String a Lacrosse Stick
Take the row of diamonds and fold it over 2-3 rows so that there are 10 mesh diamonds across the top.
Continue to push the string up through the 1st diamond.
Next, pull the string back over the sidewall rail of the lacrosse head.
Push the string through the 2nd sidewall hole.
Continue to push the string up through the 1st mesh diamond.
Pull tight.
The 1st mesh diamond is now securely anchored to the 1st and 2nd sidewall hole.
Next, push the nylon string through the 2nd mesh diamond.
Continue to push the nylon under and up through the 1st large scoop hole.
Pull the string from the scoop and push the string back under itself.
Pull tight.
Next you will attach the 3rd mesh hole to the 1st scoop hole, similarly to the previous step.
Push the string through the 3rd mesh hole.
Continue to push the nylon under and up through the 1st scoop hole.
Next, pull the string down and through the extra slack as shown with the red ink
Pull tight.
Next push the string through the 4th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the nylon under and up through the 2nd large scoop hole.
The string should enter from underneath and be pushed up vertically.
Next pull the nylon from the scoop and push the string back under itself.
Pull tight.
Pull tight.
Next, push the string through the 5th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the string under and up through the 2nd large scoop hole.
Next, pull the string from the scoop and push the string back under itself.
Next, push the nylon through the 6th diamond.
Continue to push the string under and up through the 3rd large scoop hole.
Next, pull the nylon string from the sccop and push the string back under itself.
Next, push the string through the 7th mesh diamond.
Push the nylon under and up through the 3rd large scoop hole.
Pull the nylon string from the scoop and push the string back under it self.
Pull tight.
Next, push the nylon string through the 8th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the string under and up through the 4th large scoop hole.
Pull the nylon from the scoop and push the string back under itself.
Next push the string through the 9th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the nylon under and up through the 4th large scoop hole.
Pull the nylon from the scoop and push the string back under itself.
Pull tight.
The final step is to anchor the last mesh diamond to the 2 sidewall holes on the lacrosse head.
Push the string through the 10th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the string through the 2nd sidewall hole.
Next pull the nylon back over the rail of the lacrosse head.
Push the string through the mesh diamond.
Continue to push the nylon through the 2nd sidewall hole.
Next pull the nylon back over the rail.
Push the string through the mesh diamond.
COntinue to push the nylon through the 1st sidewall hole.
Pull tight.
Finish by tying a figure 8 knot.
Sidewall: How to String a Lacrosse Stick
Tie a figure 8 knot at one end of the string.
Insert the string into the 3rd sidewall hole.
Next push the string up and through the 1st mesh diamond.
The 1st mesh diamond is the diamond directly under those anchored by the topstring.
Then pull the string back over the sidewall rail and under the string itself.
Pull tight.
Next, push the string through the 3rd mesh diamond.
Continue to push the string through the 5th sidewall hole.
Once through the 3rd mesh diamond and 5th sidewall hole, push the string over the sidewall rail.
Push the string under its vertical body so that the mesh is securely attached.
Next, push the string through the 4th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the string through the 6th sidewall hole.
Pull the string back over the rail and under the strings vertical body.
The next step involves doubling up. Doubling up is used when players want to enlarge the pocket.
This process involves inserting the string through 2 diamonds before entering the sidewall hole.
Push the string through the 5th mesh diamond hole.
Next, pull the string over and above the mesh.
Insert the string into the 6th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the string through the 7th sidewall hole.
Push the string through the 7th sidewall hole.
Then pull the string under its vertical body.
Here, we will double up again.
Next pull the string over and above the mesh.
Insert the string into the 8th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the string through the 8th sidewall hole.
Pull the string over the rail and under its vertical body.
Pull tight.
Next push the string through the 9th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the string through the 9th sidewall hole
Pull the string over the rail and under its vertical body.
Pull tight.
Next, push the string through the 10th mesh diamond.
Continue to push the string through the 10th sidewall hole.
Finally, to end the sidewall, pull the string over the rail.
Insert the string into the 10th mesh hole.
Continue to push the string through the 11th sidewall hole.
Pull tight.
Tie a figure 8 knot at the end.
Bottom String: How to String a Lacrosse Stick
There are a number of different ways one can string the bottom string.
Shown here is a simple weave across 8 diamonds where the string enters each mesh diamond.
Follow the illustrations and experiment with what will work best for your needs and preference.
Shooters: How to String a Lacrosse Stick
This final step includes lacing the shooting strings to complete your lacrosse stick.
To begin, secure the shooter around the sidewall string or through an open sidewall hole.
Then simply weave the shooter between the mesh diamonds in the shape of a U.
Follow the illustrations carefully.
Next you will use the same method to string 2 shooters straight across the top.
Enjoy your new strung lacrosse stick!
Types Of Lacrosse Sticks
The lacrosse stick in lacrosse is the piece of equipment that a player uses to catch and throw the ball. A lacrosse stick is composed of a shaft, a head, and a mesh pocket. The Shaft is the long piece of metal that a player holds on to while playing the game. The shaft connects to the head, where the ball is held. The head of a lacrosse stick is made of plastic and comes in many different shapes.
Stick Heads
The head is where the ball is caught and thrown from, and where the ball rests in when a player has possession. Within the head, is a mesh pocket that is used to cradle the ball. The pocket of a lacrosse stick can be woven with many different materials and can be made to hold the ball in different ways. The pocket is generally strung based on the player’s preference of where they like the ball to sit in the head of their stick. Although every player is required to have the same generic stick, each player has a lot of flexibility in the size, color, shape, and design of their own stick depending on their position and preference.
Stick Sizes
There are several different sizes of lacrosse stick that are specific to certain field positions. The majority of players, including attackmen, all women’s field players and all indoor players, use a stick approximately 40 inches in length that is made of a wooden, metal or composite material shaft. A goaltender is allowed to have a stick with a shaft up to 52″ in length. In men’s field lacrosse, a team is allowed to field four players using a long crosse. The long crosse is between 52-72 inches in length.
The shaft is attached to a head made from plastic side walls fitted with a netted pocket.
Composite Stick vs. Wood Stick
In lacrosse, there are two types of sticks that a player can play with. The first stick choice is the composite stick and this means that the shaft of the stick is made of different composite metals. Each shaft contains different metals, that change the weight, strength and durability of the stick. The second stick choice is the wood stick, and this is a more rare option for a player. Wooden sticks are modeled off of the traditional Native American lacrosse sticks and are created with strong wood such as oak and sometimes bamboo. Wooden lacrosse sticks are very heavy but are extremely strong and hard to break.
Defense Sticks and Offensive Sticks
In lacrosse, there is an offensive stick and a defensive stick. The offensive stick is small, light and used for quick mobility. The offensive stick is required to be between 40-42 inches in height. Offensive sticks tend to have a tighter head and lighter shaft, to allow for the fastest and most accurate throwing and catching. The defensive stick is much larger and heavier and used for power and attacking. The defensive stick is required to be between 40-72 inches and is almost always the full 72 inches in length. Defensive sticks are much heavier and have wider heads, to allow for quick catching and throwing.
For 57 years, this man has crafted wooden lacrosse sticks by hand
As steam formed inside a rusty oil tank, Alfie Jacques crafted wooden lacrosse sticks at a barn down a dirt driveway on the Onondaga Nation reservation a few miles south of Syracuse University.
The tank in question measures a few feet wide and about 8 feet long. Its temperature was set so high that steam shot out of the 1,000-liter drum filled with water. Jacques, 69, stuck a piece of wood into the tank, pulled it out and bent it.
“This boil starts steaming like hell,” he said. “The wood doesn’t just bend. You have to muscle it.”
A few dozen logs sat under a tarp on the grass behind Jacques. About 15 yards away is his barn, home to what he believes is the best stickmaking in the world. The air smelled of wood. There is no plastic, no music, no TVs, no signs of assembly-line production. There’s just Jacques, his wood, his equipment and his devotion to a technique — a way of life — that has lasted nearly six decades. It has spanned the United States and Canada, and created more than 100,000 one-piece wooden lacrosse sticks, each made by hand.
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Seven days a week, 40-something weeks a year, Jacques wakes up at his Fayetteville home and drives his red van to a spot on the Onondaga Nation reservation that doesn’t show up on Google Maps. He opens up shop, crafts some sticks and locks up in the evening. It’s a no-frills operation that begins with selecting the best shagbark hickory trees and ends by fusing a message onto the stick, along with a trademark stamp. The inscription is often custom, especially if the stick serves as an award or gift. A stick he recently made reads: “Leader, friend.”
“This is the Creator’s Game,” he said. “It’s a lot more than people think. People think of the Native American as a savage, godless creature that’s out to kill people. They say we’re poor, uneducated, on a reservation, totally controlled by the white people. That’s how they like their Indian. We’re always fighting against that kind of prejudice. So we embrace one another and the game of lacrosse.”
Because of an extensive drying process, each stick takes 10 months to make and sells for about $350. Yet he maintains a drive for his craft because for Native Americans, lacrosse is sacred. Men are put to rest in a casket with a lacrosse stick.
Many of his sticks are made for people living on the Onondaga Nation reservation, where lacrosse is used to heal and lift the spirits of community members.
“Lacrosse is who we are as a people,” Jacques said. “And this is the mecca of lacrosse. People come from all over to watch the old Indian guy make lacrosse sticks.”
His shoulders, fingers, wrists and back hurt after he logs six- to 10-hour days. Jacques said he makes about 200 sticks per year now, down from about 11,000 in 1972. In the 1960s and 1970s, he made sticks for many Syracuse, Cornell, Siena and Cortland men’s lacrosse players. He learns more about the stick creation process every time, and often tells people who buy his sticks that they’re “the best stick I’ve ever made.”
“Each stick is a work of art,” said Jacques’ sister, Freid. “He never hurried up so he could make more and make a lot of them, so he could make more money. That’s never the purpose. It’s to make an excellent stick.”
Since many traditional stickmakers have died or retired, Jacques is running one of the last old-school stick-production joints in the country. He works in a shed with a few lights, alongside cats named Obama and Michelle, on a wooden bench he built with his father in 1969. His father, Louis, introduced lacrosse to him, setting him on a path to become a star at nearby LaFayette High School.
In the decades since, when traveling to games and conventions, he’s had a front-row seat to the rise in the game, which he correlates with the rise in plastic heads. He maintains an appreciation for the innovations that drove a stark decline in demand for wooden sticks. He has no hard feelings, because he said it’s what brought lacrosse across the country and world.
“If we had relied on Indians making wooden sticks,” Jacques said, “the game wouldn’t have grown as big, as fast.”
The Syracuse men’s lacrosse team has not visited Jacques’ workshop, he said, but visiting teams sometimes do on their trips to play the Orange. Notre Dame and Virginia have watched him make sticks. Last year, UVA head coach Lars Tiffany looked back to his time growing up on a ranch in LaFayette — near Onondaga Nation — by busing his entire team to Jacques’ barn. Players packed into a back room.
“The Onondaga Reservation reminds us all of the beauty of this game,” Tiffany said. “Alfie’s stick-making is at the core of lacrosse.”
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
The foundation for the best-quality lacrosse stick begins about a year before it’s even used in a game. Tree selection is not paramount — Jacques said all steps are integral — but finding the right tree is make-or-break. The living nature of the tree is believed to transfer into the lacrosse stick and the person using the stick. A bad tree makes it impossible to construct a stick, said Jacques, who surveys forests in the LaFayette, Cortland, Cazenovia, Ithaca and Oswego areas.
There can be no knots or limbs for the first 3 meters. The tree must be at least 100 years old. Each log costs about $50. Sometimes, he’ll pick five hickory trees out of 200. He cuts them down himself, and he brings seeds and plants new trees.
Then Jacques splits the tree into eighths using a wooden mallet, axes and wooden wedges. He uses a knife — made in 1832 and passed down to him by his father — to remove bark and to carve the stick to its final form. He straightens the handle, balances the piece and puts final trims on.
There is no playbook or measuring tools, just his own estimation that comes from 57 years of experience. The drying process alone is about six months. He completes each stick by sanding it, burning his logo, dating and stamping.
As a large green belt-sander hummed last week, Jacques sat on an old wooden bench and carved a stick. He paid special attention to how the knife traveled. He explained that you don’t just pull the knife along the wood. A defining characteristic of a good stick lies in the handle. Don’t minimize the handle.
“It’s therapeutic,” Jacques said. “You have a wood stove on, pot of coffee, just make chips all day. When you’re done, the floors are covered with chips. It’s a relaxing thing to do. Everything you do in this work has purpose to the end product. There’s no gravy. You don’t just cut for cutting sake. You cut with purpose. You saw with purpose, carve with purpose, drill holes with purpose.”
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
He’s crafted wooden sticks for nearly six decades, factoring in his introduction to stick-making. Back in 1960, his family couldn’t afford a stick, which went for $5, so he and his father cut down a hickory tree in the backyard and made a stick without much background knowledge.
Since then, a lot has changed. The game of lacrosse has blossomed. Many fellow stickmakers have died. Lacrosse fans have come from far beyond the edges of Onondaga Nation for his sticks. As the internet boomed, he never felt the urge to have social media or advertise on a website. There may even be a few thousand more sticks in his future, though he looks forward to scaling back in retirement.
His sticks, at that workshop at the bottom of the hill, have remained a constant through it all.
“This is what I live for,” he said. “This is what I can do all of the time, every day. This is my life.”
Published on April 15, 2018 at 10:45 pm
Contact Matthew: [email protected] | @MatthewGut21
Atlanta is becoming a lacrosse hotbed. Maryland is capitalizing.
Lacrosse is synonymous with the state of Maryland. The sport is intertwined with the state’s culture, leading kids to pick up a lacrosse stick before they ever swing a baseball bat or kick a soccer ball.
It should be no surprise that its flagship university is a powerhouse in both men’s and women’s lacrosse. The men’s team has reached 25 NCAA tournament semifinals since 1971, and the women’s team has won 14 national championships — the most for a women’s lacrosse program in NCAA history.
“It’s the state sport for a reason,” long stick midfielder Justin Sherrer said. “Everybody cares so much about it, and that’s the great thing about repping Maryland every weekend.”
Because of their track records and the region’s lacrosse culture, neither program typically has to do much searching for top-level talent — it comes to them.
But the game is expanding and talent is being found in more places. This new reality presents a recruiting opportunity for men’s coach John Tillman, which he’s embraced with open arms.
Jake, Jesse and Jared Bernhardt are three of the most successful players since 2011, the start of the Tillman era. They hail from the state of Florida, a nontraditional stop on Maryland recruiting trips, but they brought many accolades home to College Park during their time as Terps.
More recently, Tillman has discovered another southern destination in his pursuit of future stars: Atlanta.
The program has ushered in three players from in and around Atlanta in the past couple years, and another one is on the way. Lacrosse is booming in Georgia, and Maryland men’s lacrosse is paying attention.
“Atlanta has become a great place to recruit,” Tillman said. “There’s just a lot of really good players down there, and you’re seeing that on a lot of rosters at a really high level.”
[Maryland men’s lacrosse’s Jared Bernhardt wins 2021 Tewaaraton Award]
Sherrer and fellow 2019 recruit Ryan Siracusa weren’t the first Maryland players to come out of Georgia — but their commitments to Tillman’s program were different from those of previous southern players.
Tillman knew he was getting pure talents who received the highest level of coaching based on the quality club and high school programs that were established in Georgia in recent years.
And after having Sherrer and Siracusa on the team, Tillman never had a second thought about signing their former club teammate Eric Malever. He was the No. 7 overall recruit in the 2020 class, according to Inside Lacrosse.
“There are some really good clubs down there, but there’s also some really good coaching going on there,” Tillman said. “You could see that in the three guys that we have.”
There are a few people Tillman and college coaches everywhere can thank for the shift that’s taken place in the area.
New York native and former Syracuse lacrosse player Liam Banks moved to Atlanta and founded the LB3 Lacrosse club in 2005, which merged with another leading Atlanta-based lacrosse club to form Thunder LB3 Lacrosse in 2017.
As he built the organization, Banks convinced great lacrosse minds such as Syracuse legend John Zulberti to join him, breaking ground on a lacrosse community in the heart of football country.
“When I got down here, the number one thing I did was I invested in coaching,” Banks said.
And Georgia natives haven’t only landed in College Park, either. All-Americans have sprung up all over the map, such as Nate and Nicky Solomon who play for Syracuse and North Carolina, respectively.
“We have a tight knit group of the lacrosse community in Georgia,” Nate Solomon said. “We all know each other. We’re all friends — whether we’re 28, whether we’re 17.”
In 2017, the merger between LB3 Lacrosse and Thunder Lacrosse, another prominent club program in Georgia, gave young players better access to top-notch coaches and greater exposure to college programs.
Banks has since left the organization, but everything he assembled remains.
Professional lacrosse player Scott Ratliff was one of the most prominent players to come out of Atlanta before the most recent wave of talent. Ratliff, now a coach for Thunder LB3, won the 2012 national championship at Loyola Maryland.
Those are the type of mentors Maryland counts on to develop and train its Georgian recruits.
“There’s a certain style for playing attack that maybe everyone doesn’t teach,” Banks said. “I think Coach Tillman is one of the guys who identified that.”
[Despite championship heartbreak, Maryland men’s lacrosse turned out a near-perfect season]
The signature style of attack Siracusa and Malever learned didn’t necessarily apply to Sherrer, a long stick midfielder. When Maryland extended an offer to the Woodstock, Georgia, native, he was like other southern players of the past: a raw talent who hadn’t received much coaching.
In Sherrer’s case, he didn’t receive as much coaching because he spent so much of his time playing football. He was actually first introduced to lacrosse by his former football coach.
“We just loved what he could do once he fully committed to lacrosse,” Tillman said.
The gamble of signing Sherrer paid off, as he’s played in all 22 games since arriving in College Park. He tallied seven groundballs and caused eight turnovers during the Terps’ run to the national title game this past season.
Siracusa and Malever took a more traditional path to elite college lacrosse. Although neither of their parents played lacrosse, both of them started playing competitively and training with coaches such as Banks and Zulberti at a young age.
They spent many weekends participating in tournaments out of state, learning what it was like to play lacrosse in its traditional hotbeds. They grew up as Georgia lacrosse grew up.
“We’d go up north, and we’d lose every game,” Siracusa said. “We just kept gaining more confidence. By the time we were seniors, we were in the championships of tournaments.”
After not seeing action during the shortened 2020 season, Siracusa made eight appearances as a reserve midfielder in 2021.
As for Malever, he dazzled in his first season as a Terp. The Atlanta native was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times and tallied 20 points in 16 games on Maryland’s second midfield line.
Malever was everything Tillman expected and more, proving to be a huge addition to the crop of existing players from the Atlanta area.
“You kind of look at the coaching that those guys are getting, and it’s transferred well to us,” Tillman said. “For two guys to be playing a lot and Ryan to be right on the cusp just goes to show how much this game is spreading.”
In the fall of 2019, Tillman made yet another dip into the Atlanta talent pool, getting four-star recruit Braden Erksa to commit to the 2021 class. Erksa has since reclassified as a 2022 recruit.
With the talent already moving through Tillman’s program, Erksa likely won’t be the last Georgian to trek north to College Park for lacrosse.
As Sherrer, Siracusa and Malever have gone from leaving northern club tournaments winless to gunning for national titles, they never forget where it all began.
“I’ve known them for a very long time now … and I just think it’s really cool that some Atlanta guys can rep the Maryland uniform,” Malever said.
Panel approves rules changes to make women’s lacrosse more efficient
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The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Wednesday approved a package of rules changes with the goal of making women’s lacrosse more efficient, beginning with the 2021-22 academic year.
Shortening the duration of the game without taking away the 60 minutes on the game clock dominated the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Committee’s discussion last month. Rules committee members also wanted to maintain the freedom-of-movement principles that were established in the summer of 2017.
2021 CHAMPIONSHIP: Boston College wins first women’s title | Charlotte North wins Tewaaraton
Members of the rules committee think fewer stoppages during games can be achieved through these modifications:
- The game clock will continue running, while the possession clock would stop or reset, during the following:
- Fouls committed below goal line extended.
- Fouls committed above goal line extended more than 8 meters from the goal circle.
- Alternate possession.
- The possession clock will reset to 60 seconds if 59 or fewer seconds remain on the possession clock if the offense retains possession of the ball after a save by the goalkeeper and rebound or if a shot hits the piping on the goal. If more than 59 seconds remain on the possession clock, no reset is necessary.
- The game will be played in four 15-minute quarters instead of two 30-minute halves. Play will resume after two minutes, and teams would switch directions after each quarter.
- Pregame stick checks will be eliminated.
- Coaches will no longer be able to request stick checks during their team’s timeout.
- Coaches can request stick checks at any point during halftime; during the five-minute or three-minute rest time before an overtime period; before the start of the draw before the official’s hands are on the drawers’ sticks; and in between quarters.
- If the first stick check request is unsuccessful, the team will lose possession of the ball. If a second stick check request is unsuccessful, the team will lose a timeout. A team would have to have a timeout remaining to request a second stick check if the first stick check resulted in a legal ruling.
- Teams will be allowed up to 12 eligible players on the field at the start of the draw. Once the official’s hands are on the drawers’ sticks, no substitutions will be allowed until a team gains possession of the ball, even if a team has fewer than 12 players on the field. Previously, teams were required to have 12 eligible players on the field before the administration of the draw. This change would eliminate any delay associated with that requirement.
- If a delay is caused in administering the draw and fault cannot be determined, alternate possession will be administered in lieu of resetting the draw or administering a redraw. The team awarded possession will be permitted to self-start. Dangerous contact cards The panel approved a mandatory card when a player’s stick makes contact with another player’s neck. Also, when a player is behind an opponent, cross-checking to the shoulders and back also would be punishable with a card.
Dangerous contact cards
The panel approved a mandatory card when a player’s stick makes contact with another player’s neck. Also, when a player is behind an opponent, cross-checking to the shoulders and back also would be punishable with a card.
Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee looks to make game more efficient through new proposals for fewer stoppages
The NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee proposed a package of rules changes with the goal of making the game more efficient, beginning with the 2021-22 academic year.
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Charlotte North and Jared Bernhardt win 2021 Tewaaraton Award
Boston College attacker Charlotte North and University of Maryland attackman Jared Bernhardt are the women’s and men’s winners of the 2021 Tewaaraton Award, given annually to the top female and top male college lacrosse players in the United States.
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2021 NCAA DII women’s lacrosse championship selections
The NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse Committee has selected the teams that will compete in the 2021 NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse championship.
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90,000 How to Wrap a Lacrosse Shaft – Other 2021
Like hockey sticks and baseball bats, lacrosse can be difficult to grab.This is due in large part to the thin, sleek shaft that holds the lacrosse sticks in both hands of the player. Many lacrosse players use tape to facilitate handling and control of the stick, as much of the skill of the game involves handling the lacrosse ball correctly with the lacrosse stick. This tape can also dull the impact of the lacrosse stick on the player’s body, depending on the thickness of the tape.
Clean the lacrosse stick.Dust, dirt and other deposits will weaken the tape-to-stick bond. If you are using a damp cloth, make sure the pen is dry before you tape it.
Unfold a few inches of tape, but do not remove it from the roll. Place your tape to wrap around the base of the stick – the end opposite the head where the ball is held. Make a full loop around the base, then continue in a steep spiral 8 to 12 inches up the shaft, making sure the shaft completely covers that distance.How far you go depends on personal preference and generally depends on where you hold the stick. Once done, tear the tape and stick it onto the shaft.
Tear off a piece of tape 2 to 3 inches long and slide it over the end cap of the handle, attaching it to the tight spiral of tape you just installed. This will hold the plug in place.
Starting from where the head meets the shaft, screw a tight spiral down to the middle of the shaft.Run the same length as the first spiral tape from the base and then tear the tape off the roll and place it on the shaft.
Secure the remaining center of the shaft. You can do this in several different ways, depending on your personal preference. Many lacrosse players wrap this part of the stick twice to make it thicker. This difference in thickness helps them know where their hands are on the stick without looking at them constantly. It also helps them hold their hand more securely when passing or shooting.Wrap a tight spiral of tape across the remaining open area of the shaft and slide back to form two layers, or select criss-cross. Using this pattern, you will create very wide, wide spirals that leave some surfaces exposed, and then bend back as you came, winding a second layer of spirals over the first layer to create a lattice shell. This type of wrapper is also rougher for those who prefer it.
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Feel free to play with the different types of tapes and find out what works for you.Many professional lacrosse players have special custom wrappers to suit their own feel and play style. There is no right or wrong way to tape your lacrosse stick if you feel comfortable with it and think it benefits your playing.
3 ways to hold the lacrosse stick
Learning to hold the ball with your lacrosse club can be challenging but fun. Correct badling is a critical technique that you will need to master in order to play your best.The two basic methods of holding, either with one or two hands, require you to move the stick with your hand or hands while rotating your head with your wrists. This movement of the club holds the ball securely in the head of the club. Start practicing today and learn how to hold your lacrosse club.
Steps
Method one of 3: Press down with one hand
one Grasp the stick correctly. Using the correct grip technique is critical to the one-handed hold technique.Start by practicing with your dominant hand, holding the stick under your head. Avoid grabbing the stick below or above this location to gain maximum control of movement as a support.
2 Move your hand to the desired position. Once you have the correct grip on the lacrosse club, you can move your hand to the desired position. Raise your hand so that your stick is upright and the head of the stick is about the same level as your own head.Your elbow must be bent at a 90 degree angle for correct position.
3 Practice the rocking motion. When moving with one hand, the shoulder and wrist are primarily used as support. The goal is to move the club in a crescent motion, rotating the head and the net so that the ball stays in the cradle.
- Move the stick towards your chest by rotating it from the elbow. Bend your wrist inward at the same time.
- Move the stick away from your chest, turning your arm outward at the elbow.Turn the wrist out and away from the body as you move your hand.
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Method 2 of 3: Pressing with two hands
one Take your hands in the desired position. Correct hand position is part of proper handling of the lacrosse club and correct holding technique. By placing your dominant and non-dominant hands where they should be, you can get the most out of your practice and effectively hold the lacrosse club.
- Place your dominant hand a few inches below the club head.
- Place your non-dominant hand on the other end of the stick.
2 Keep your arms relaxed. Although you don’t want to drop your lacrosse club, grip that is too tight will prevent you from holding the golf club properly. Both the grip and the wrists should be free enough to perform the movement correctly and hold the stick in your hands.
- The wand should turn slightly under your grip.
- When holding the stick, your wrists should move with it by turning the head.
3 Move the stick up and down. When using the two-handed method, you will need to move the stick from waist to head level. During this movement, you will need to use your wrists to rotate the head of the club to keep the ball from falling out of the net. Follow these steps to learn the correct rocking motion:
- Start with a stick at hip level.The open side of the net should be facing up.
- Place the ball in the net.
- Raise the head of the putter to head level as if you were bending a dumbbell.
- When you tilt your head up, your wrist and head should rotate so that the open surface of the net points downward at the top of the movement.
- Return the head to its original position to complete the movement.
4 Practice swinging while running. A good exercise in teaching bodybuilding is to incorporate this technique into your running rhythm. Since you will need to maintain quality while moving, practicing holding techniques in conjunction with running will allow you to move naturally and make you a more effective lacrosse player.
- Raise the club at the same time as the dominant foot on the dominant side.
- Bring the club down while the opposite foot leads.
- Continue working until this movement is natural and the ball stays securely in your net.
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Method 3 of 3: Improving Your Technique
One Your movements should be fluid. If you tighten the stick or move your arms firmly while holding, the movement will be less effective. Learning to maintain a fluid and intuitive hand-hold technique takes practice. A smooth hold will allow you to focus on other aspects of the game as you play, instead of over-focusing on how you hold the lacrosse club.
- Try to keep your grip and muscles relaxed.
- When holding the ball, always keep the club moving.
2 Practice your technique. The only way to improve your waking technique is through practice. Regular practice has been shown to develop skills and keep them fresh and strong. Try to practice swinging as often as possible to improve your skills quickly and efficiently.
- Keep a stick close at hand so you can practice easily in your spare time.
- Try to practice at least once a day to keep your skills fresh.
- You can still practice the movements even if you don’t have a stick nearby.
3 Hold it with both hands. While it may be tempting to use your dominant and hold hands exclusively, using both hands can make you a more versatile and experienced lacrosse player. There may be times when playing lacrosse where using a non-dominant hand can even give you an edge.During practice sessions, be sure to practice holding both hands.
- Your left hand will likely require a lot more practice than your dominant hand.
- By looking in the mirror and watching you use your dominant hand, you will be able to figure out how to move your non-dominant hand.
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- Make sure you have enough practice.
- Both hands pass the ball.
- Keep the stick moving.
- Movements should be smooth.
- The one-handed hold leaves your other hand free for defense.
- Rotate the stick with a support movement.
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