How to improve your lacrosse catching skills. What are the key elements of a successful catch in lacrosse. Why is proper catching technique crucial for player development. How can beginners practice catching effectively. What are some advanced catching variations in lacrosse.
The Fundamentals of Lacrosse Catching
Catching is a cornerstone skill in lacrosse that every player must master. It’s not just about snagging the ball out of the air; proper technique is essential for maintaining possession and setting up successful plays. Let’s dive into the core elements of effective lacrosse catching.
Proper Hand Positioning
One of the first things to focus on is hand placement. Your dominant hand should be positioned near the top of the stick, close to the head. This gives you maximum control over the catch. Your non-dominant hand should grip the base of the stick firmly. This two-point control system allows for quick adjustments and smooth transitions into other actions like passing or shooting.
Creating a Clear Target
To make it easier for your teammates to pass accurately, present a clear target. Hold your stick with slightly bent elbows, positioning the head close to your body in the “box” area—the space between your ear and shoulder. This not only makes you an easier target but also puts you in a better position to receive the ball safely.
- Keep elbows bent for flexibility
- Position stick head in the “box” area
- Present a consistent target for teammates
Perfecting the Catch: Technique and Timing
The moment of the catch is crucial. As the ball approaches, prepare to absorb its impact rather than fighting against it. This “give” in your catch helps prevent rebounds and fumbles.
The Triple Threat Position
As you catch the ball, allow the head of your stick to move behind your head. This motion acts as a shock absorber and smoothly transitions you into the “triple threat” position. From here, you’re ready to pass, shoot, or cradle—keeping your options open and your opponents guessing.
Why is the triple threat position important? It allows you to quickly transition from catching to your next move, giving you a significant advantage in fast-paced game situations.
Soft Hands and Close Catches
Aim to make catches as close to your body as possible. This reduces the chance of an opponent intercepting or dislodging the ball. Imagine you’re catching a water balloon—this mental image encourages “soft hands,” which are essential for secure catches.
- Keep your hands relaxed
- Catch close to your body
- Avoid snatching at the ball
Common Catching Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced players can fall into bad habits. Being aware of common mistakes can help you refine your technique and become a more reliable catcher.
Overreaching and Snatching
One frequent error is attempting to snatch the ball out of the air. This aggressive motion often leads to fumbles and lost possession. Instead, focus on receiving the ball smoothly and absorbing its momentum.
Catching Too Far from the Body
Extending your arms too far to catch puts you at risk of interceptions. It also makes it harder to transition quickly into your next move. Practice keeping your catches close to maintain better control and protect the ball from defenders.
Developing Hand-Eye Coordination for Better Catches
Hand-eye coordination is the foundation of good catching. This skill improves with practice, but there are specific drills and exercises you can use to accelerate your progress.
Wall Ball Drills
Wall ball is a classic training method for a reason. It allows you to practice both throwing and catching in rapid succession, improving your reaction time and accuracy. Vary the distance and angle to challenge yourself and simulate game-like situations.
Tennis Ball Exercises
For beginners who might be intimidated by the hard lacrosse ball, starting with tennis balls can build confidence. The softer ball allows players to focus on technique without fear of injury, gradually working up to regulation lacrosse balls.
Advanced Catching Techniques for Skilled Players
As players advance, they need to master more complex catching techniques to handle a variety of game situations.
Cross-Handed Catching
Cross-handed or cross-body catching involves moving your stick across your body to catch balls on your non-dominant side without switching hands. This technique allows for quicker transitions and maintains your dominant hand’s position for immediate follow-up actions.
One-Handed Catches
While not ideal, there are times when a one-handed catch is necessary. Practicing this skill can help you make difficult catches in clutch moments, potentially saving possession for your team.
Practicing Catching with Partners and Drills
Solo practice is valuable, but partner drills can take your catching skills to the next level by introducing variability and game-like pressure.
Stationary Partner Drills
Begin with basic passing and catching exercises, focusing on proper technique. As you improve, incorporate catches with both your dominant and non-dominant hands to build versatility.
Dynamic Catching Drills
Progress to more challenging drills that involve movement. Run parallel to a partner, passing back and forth while maintaining your pace. This simulates game conditions and improves your ability to catch on the move.
Incorporating Catching into Team Strategies
Understanding how catching fits into broader team strategies can elevate your game and make you a more valuable player.
Catching Goalie Clears
Practice catching long passes from your goalie, simulating clear situations. This skill is crucial for transitioning quickly from defense to offense and can lead to fast-break opportunities.
Adapting to Imperfect Passes
In real games, not every pass will be perfect. Train to catch high, low, and wide passes. This adaptability will make you a reliable target for your teammates, even under pressure.
How can catching skills impact a team’s overall performance? Reliable catchers reduce turnovers, maintain possession, and create more scoring opportunities, significantly influencing the game’s outcome.
Equipment Considerations for Optimal Catching
While technique is paramount, the right equipment can enhance your catching abilities.
Choosing the Right Stick
Select a stick with a head shape and pocket depth that suits your playing style and position. Attackmen might prefer a deeper pocket for ball control, while midfielders might opt for a shallower pocket for quicker releases.
Glove Selection
Proper-fitting gloves are essential for maintaining stick feel and control. Ensure your gloves allow for enough dexterity to manipulate the stick while still providing protection.
What impact does stick choice have on catching ability? The right stick can enhance your catching by providing better feel, control, and consistency, especially when paired with proper technique.
Mastering the art of catching in lacrosse is a continuous process that requires dedication and practice. By focusing on proper technique, avoiding common mistakes, and consistently challenging yourself with varied drills, you can become a reliable and skilled catcher. Remember, every catch is an opportunity to maintain possession and create scoring chances for your team. As you develop your skills, you’ll find that good catching not only improves your individual performance but also elevates the entire team’s play. Keep practicing, stay focused, and watch as your catching abilities transform your game.
Learning Lacrosse: Catching | PRO TIPS by DICK’S Sporting Goods
Catching in lacrosse is a straightforward process, but there is a right way to do it. Learning the correct way is crucial in the development of any player. It all begins with your hand-eye coordination, which will develop the more you practice. From there, you can follow several steps to help get ready to come up with a game-changing catch.
GETTING INTO POSITION
First, you will need to have your hands in the right position to make a catch. Your dominant hand should be near the top of stick at the head while your other hand is placed firmly at the base. Keeping your hands in this positon should allow you to control the catch.
MAKE YOURSELF A TARGET
You will want to give your teammate a clear target to throw to. With your elbows bent, hold the stick’s head close to your body so it occupies the area known as the box, which is the area from your ear down to your shoulder.
READY FOR IMPACT
When the ball arrives to you, make sure to give with the reception so that the head of the stick goes behind your head. This acts as a shock absorber to avoid rebounds and sets you up your next move: passing, shooting or cradling. This is also called the triple threat position.
Make the catch as close to your body as you can. A catch too far in front of you can allow an opponent to make an attempt for a steal.
Be sure not to snag the ball out of the air. Doing so can often times lead to you losing possession.
It is important to remain relaxed through the catch as soft hands can lead to more effective catching. It can be helpful for beginners to imagine the ball is a water balloon. This way, you’ll want to be careful not to “pop it” when making a catch.
Catching is a fundamental aspect and basic skill in lacrosse, but it does take some time to master. With practice and focus, you can develop into a solid target for your teammates on the field.
Lacrosse Catching – Instructions – Beginner Lacrosse
Lacrosse Catching for Beginners
Catching is a basic lacrosse skill that all lacrosse beginners must master. Too often, you will see young players dropping an easy pass and allowing their opponents to regain possession. This is an easy way to drive your son’s lacrosse coach insane!! If your child can not catch and pass with ease, he will have a difficult time making a lacrosse travel team. Here are videos & catching tips that will teach your child or player to easily catch a lacrosse ball. Also visit our related page on Lacrosse Passing.
Beginner Lacrosse – Best Lacrosse Books
Lacrosse Catching Tips
- If your young son or player is having trouble catching because he afraid of being hit by a hard lacrosse ball, you can start off practicing catches with a tennis ball.
- Wall ball is a great way to practice catching & throwing especially if you do not have a partner.
Visit our Wall Ball Drills page for catching & throwing ideas. If you are lacking a free wall (i.e. school wall or garage wall), you can always buy a lacrosse rebounder to practice your catching. - Make sure your son or player has his top hand next to the head of the lacrosse stick (versus down at the middle of the shaft) as this makes catching much easier.
- Have your son or players practice switching hands so they can catch a ball thrown to their non-dominant side. Lacrosse tryouts are notorious for testing kids on their ability to shoot, pass and catch with their right AND left hands. If a player can not catch confidently with their non-dominant hand, they are unlikely to make it onto a skilled lacrosse team.
Visit our Wall Ball Drills page for catching & throwing ideas. If you are lacking a free wall (i.e. school wall or garage wall), you can always buy a lacrosse rebounder to practice your catching.Lacrosse Catching Variations
- Lacrosse Cross Handed or Cross Body Catching – Not every throw is perfectly thrown. Beyond being able to switch hands for a catch, a player should also catch by moving their stick across their body (i. e. holding a stick on their right side and moving its across their body to catch on the left side without switching their hands). The advantage of this type of catch is that they can catch with their dominate hand and thus are in a better position to shoot or pass. See the video below for more on cross handed catching.
e. holding a stick on their right side and moving its across their body to catch on the left side without switching their hands). The advantage of this type of catch is that they can catch with their dominate hand and thus are in a better position to shoot or pass. See the video below for more on cross handed catching.Lacrosse Catching Drills
- Basic passing & catching with a stationary partner – practice right and left hand passes & catches.
- Two kids running down the field in parallel passing back and forth. Running & catching with your non-dominant hand can be tough for beginners.
- Practice catching goalie clears. Act as a goalie and make your players break out left or right from the goal in order to catch a ball on the run.
- How often do young kids throw perfect passes? Almost never. Therefore, you need to practice “bad” passes. Throw passes to the left when the stick is in your player’s right hand, throw them too low, throw too wide, etc. Make your player practice moving his feet in order to make the catch easier. He should also practice switching hands or cross body catching in case the ball goes to the “wrong” side of his body (i.e. a pass going to his left side when his stick is on his right).
- Practice catching passes with one hand. Pass a ball that is almost too high or wide so the player must extend his stick (versus keeping his hand near the head of the stick). This will help him to intercept opponent passes or catch errant passes from his teammates. You can also make this into a wall ball drill.
- For other basic drills, please visit the main Beginner Lacrosse Drills section.
Make your player practice moving his feet in order to make the catch easier. He should also practice switching hands or cross body catching in case the ball goes to the “wrong” side of his body (i.e. a pass going to his left side when his stick is on his right).Instructional Videos on Lacrosse Catching
Lacrosse Recording Tips | Hudl Support
Use these tips to make sure you have the best vantage point, workflow and accessories to record the clearest video.
This will have a big impact on your post-game review and ability to create highlights, especially if you plan to tag stats afterwards or send your video to Hudl Assist.
Preseason Prep
Choose your favorite device to record — iPad, iPhone or camera.
Decide the ideal recording setup for your team. An iPad or iPhone gets video online faster because it can upload live with a WiFi connection. But a camera gives you better zoom and quality options. It also gives you more storage freedom since you can use multiple memory cards.
Style your setup.
Use a tripod to keep video stable and check out lenses and cases to help you get the best picture if you’re using an iPad or iPhone. Use a wide-angle lens when you record close the field and want to capture more in the picture. Or grab a telephoto lens if you’re recording farther away from the field.
Test it at a practice or scrimmage.
Before your first game, test your setup by recording an entire practice or scrimmage.
This is the ideal way to try out your hardware and train the person behind the camera on how to get the best video. Pro tip — send them this article.
Game Day Tips
Set up near the middle of the field.
The best vantage point is a high point near the center of the field. It can be a tight squeeze, but recording from this angle gives you an opportunity to better analyze positioning and see jersey numbers. Set up your device either far enough away to see both ends of the field, or high enough to get the full field in frame.
Get smooth video with a tripod.
No one wants to watch shaky video. Plus, the height of a tripod can help you reach that perfect vantage point.
Record the scoreboard.
Take quick scoreboard shots throughout the game — especially at the end of each scoring play and timeout. This will help both our analysts as they tag and you as you review.
Capture referee signals.
Keep the referee in the frame so you can record their signals throughout the game.
Go easy on the zoom.
Stay far enough away to get both teams without using the zoom too often — you’ll thank yourself during review.
Only pause at timeouts.
To keep up with the flow of the game, and catch all substitutions, only pause at timeouts or between halves. Even if there’s a call in question, keep recording so you (and our analysts) can catch the outcome.
Game Day Checklist
Record with an iPad or iPhone
Charge your device completely.
Clear storage space — you’ll need 2 – 3 GB free for a match.
Update your operating system and the Hudl app.
Grab the tripod and any additional hardware you need.
Bring a backup device — don’t risk missing the match because your iPad suddenly died, crashed or ran out of storage space.
Record with a camera
Make sure the battery is fully charged.
Check the memory card’s available space, and pack an extra to be on the safe side.
Grab the tripod and any additional hardware you need.
Bring an extra battery — if there are no outlets near your setup, an extra battery like this can be a lifesaver.
When recording
Don’t expect someone to hold the camera steady for an entire game.
Do use a tripod to keep video stable.
Don’t get dizzy zooming in and out.
Do record mid-field from a high vantage point.
Don’t stop recording at every dead ball.
Do pause at halftime.
Don’t lose your view of the field, athletes and referees.
Do capture jersey numbers and referee signals.
Don’t forget to get shots of the scoreboard.
How To Be a Better Attackmen
Five mental tips and one technical tip for the quarterback of the offense.
Number One Rule for Attackmen…Don’t Turn the Ball Over
Basic turnovers by an offensive player can be any of the following:
- Stick side high shot
- Stripped by a defender
- Air mailing a pass
- Jamming a ball to the crease to a teammate unwilling or incapable of catching a ball under pressure
Add these plays to an attackmen’s turnover list:
1. Not telling a teammate a double team is coming
2. Not walking a middie through a fast break 3. Allowing a play to begin when all players are not on the same page
4.
Not competing in the ride when a teammate turns the ball over
5. Not catching a poorly thrown ball by a teammate (If you’re an attackmen, you have to catch any ball thrown your way, because that’s what attackmen do.)
Unlike middies, attackmen have the advantage of being on the field the whole game and are standing still for a decent chunk of time. Attackmen don’t have to play defense, participate in the clear, run 40 yards, and then play offense. Attackmen are more dialed into the game then middies. Because attackmen are fresher physically and mentally, the mistakes listed above are unacceptable.
Don’t turn the ball over.
You’re in Control
Defenders may be bigger than you, they may be stronger than you, they may be meaner than you, and they certainly have a longer stick than you. But, you are in control. You have the ball. You know where you are going. He doesn’t. He’s covering you. He has no idea what you’re going to do next.
Do not let a goon defender speed you up. You’re in control when you have the ball.
Neutral Playmaking
Three things you can do on the field… You can be a positive, neutral, or negative. Being a neutral is better than being a negative. Passing the ball to a teammate so we can live to fight another day is much better than you corkscrew dodging at X and ultimately throwing the ball away.
Consider the last game you played. If just 25% of your negative plays were neutral plays, how much better would your individual performance have been and how much would 25% more neutral plays changed the outcome of the game?
Watch a full game and rate every player you made as either positive, neutral, or negative. Don’t be afraid of the results. You need that baseline to make changes in your play. Find ways to eliminate negative plays.
Don’t Fret the Defender
Looking through the on ball defender allows you to identify where the slide is coming from, what teammates should be open if you’ve correctly identified the slide, and where the pick is coming from.
Having tunnel vision with your defender prevents you from playing fast because you’re playing without anticipation.
Take Pride in Your Passing
Take one step back. If your pocket doesn’t allow you to throw a pass with a quick release, you have the wrong pocket.
Ever been in a shooting drill when a lower tier teammate threw the ball away and someone didn’t get a live rep? Behind every great shot is a great pass. You will not get a great shot without a great pass.
Take pride in being able to feed the ball on time and on target every time.
Everyone dreams of scoring the game winning goal but the ball has to get there. As the quarterback of the offense you have to be able to throw balls on time and on target to middies and
Technical Tip
Make first contact with the defender. As soon as you get into his body, he’s no longer a pole. He’s a short stick. Defenders are used to being the bully. Their composure level and positioning changes very quickly when you hit them first.
Tip for All
Don’t be the guy who says, “my bad” after a mistake in a game. Everyone knows you’re to blame. Silently accept responsibility and get back to work.
Advanced Lacrosse Tips for Attack
Attack is a position that requires quite a bit of practice to master. Once all the necessary skills are in place, though, the glory can come quickly. Pretty feeds in traffic, smooth dodges that leave defenders with their shorts on the ground, and precisely placed shots that make the goalie scream all will earn you tons of credibility on the field and in the locker room. Follow the advice below and you’ll be ballin’ in no time. Here are some great tips to master the position of attack:
Be Ambidextrous
Attackmen are expected to have the best stick skills on the team. The ability to play with your off-hand is very important. When a defender recognizes that you’re going to the left every time, he will force you to go right, where he can prey on an exposed stick and weak ball-handling skills.
Work hard to get the off-hand to the same level as the strong hand. Lacrosse is one of the only sports where players must have the ability to play with the non-dominant hand to be an effective player. Work on everything. Get the shooting, passing, and scooping up to speed, and it will make you twice the player you were before.
A quick way to improve your skills with your off-hand is to practice exclusively with that hand one day per week during the season. Do everything possible with that hand; practice shooting, feeding, dodging, and picking up ground balls. And during the off-season, make it a point to hit the wall as much as possible. Dedicate as much or more time to your off-hand as to the strong one.
Simpler is Better
Some players watch highlights of the pros all day and think that they have to play a super-fancy style to be a great player. Behind-the-back shots, bounce passes, ice pick checks and one-handed ground-ball pickups all look sweet when a professional pulls them off. The same can’t always be said when a high school player attempts those maneuvers in a game and gets chewed out by the coach.
When finishing around the cage, simpler is better. There’s no need to go faking three or four times. One fake and a shot to the opposite part of the cage should be enough movement to deceive the goalie.
The same should apply to dodges. When dodging from behind or on the wing, it should be one move and go! Use your dodge to create space to get your hands free and either pass or shoot. Doing more than one dodge really only gives the defender a chance to recover from the first one. Unless you’ve been taught how to use one move to immediately set up another, your best bet is to use one dodge and then make your move toward the cage.
Practice a Go – To Move
Everybody needs a bread-and-butter move. Have at least one move that you can go to in a tight spot when the coach or situation calls on you to make a big play for your team. Analyze your biggest strengths as an attackman and decide which dodge or move suits you best.
If you’re a speed guy, then a good split dodge should work well for you.
Here’s how to pull off a split dodge: Driving from X, take a hard run at your defender, engage his hips, and quickly change direction to move out into space where you can push to the cage or feed a cutting teammate.
Big, strong attackmen should have a couple of go-to moves at their disposal. First and foremost is the question-mark dodge.
Here’s how to pull off the question-mark dodge: Using strength and power to get to the five-and-five spot, quickly plant the outside foot and simultaneously roll to the outside. You should also be rising upward and turning toward the goal on the planted foot. This allows for vision of the cage over or around the defender; and assuming the move is executed quickly enough, it frees up the hands for a hard and accurate shot from five to seven yards out.
Accuracy > Power
Playing attack, there are not many opportunities for longer distance time and room shots. Since most attackmen handle the ball around goal-line extended or behind the cage, most of the shots they take will be from in close and sometimes at odd angles. This places a premium on being able to finish with accuracy around the goal.
Many attackmen who have yet to master the position will catch a feed five yards out from the goal and just wind up and rip as hard as they can. Missing the cage from that close is embarrassing, and you don’t want to be that guy. It is very hard for a goalie to find the ball coming out of the stick from so close to the goal, so concentrate on being accurate with shots from close range. Don’t drop the stick down lower than necessary just to alter a shooting angle. Finish from the box area over the shoulder, and the shot will likely find the spot in the cage where it was intended to go. The lower the shooting angle of the stick, the less accurate the shot will be.
Practice Really Does Make Perfect
With a good idea of how to step your game up to a higher level, your performances should get better each time out. Don’t slack on the practice field and get out and hone the skills necessary to be a go-to-guy on your team. Remember, the best players practice obsessively, and if you want to get to that level you better be prepared to do the same.
Put in the work With XCEL, and the results will come.
10 Lacrosse Fundamental Tips for Youth Players – Bowie Lacrosse
When enrolling your child in a youth sports program, here are 10 tips to remember to really help them develop and enjoy the sport.
Here are Dr. Ginsburg’s 10 tips for coaching youth lacrosse players, and youth athletes in general. For more on each of these principles, check back as we discuss one per day for the next two weeks.
1. Fun is essential.
Studies have shown a strong correlation between enjoyment of the activity and participation longevity. Kids remain active in a sport if they are having fun. Performance also improves when participants enjoy playing the game. (Tuesday, Sept. 23)
2. Teach sportsmanship early.
Coaches must seize the opportunity to impart good values (integrity, respect, compassion, etc.) and to model good behavior. (Wednesday, Sept. 24)
3. Remember that kids are not mini-adults.
Kids are a work in progress and must be treated and coached differently than adult participants. (Thursday, Sept. 25)
4. Design age-appropriate practices.
Coaches should consider the physical, psychological and cognitive abilities of youth players when developing practice plans. Drills and plays should use the appropriate complexity, based on the age of the players. Coaches should be organized in order to minimize the amount of time spent standing around during practice. (Friday, Sept. 26)
5. Define success appropriately for each age group.
For pre-kindergarten and kindergarten aged kids, the primary focus should be on having fun and safe activity that provides kids with joy of movement. Among elementary school aged youth, the emphasis should evolve into developing skill competencies and building friendships. With middle school and high school players, defining identity and recognizing their individual strengths and weaknesses becomes part of the equation. (Monday, Sept. 29)
6. Provide positive feedback.
Coaches are encouraged to give accurate praise. Research shows that a ratio of at least 5:1 between positive and negative feedback is needed. (Tuesday, Sept. 30)
7. Save specialization for older kids.
Research shows that 10,000 hours of activity are necessary to move a person’s skill set to a significantly upgraded level. Is that the kind of commitment a younger player should be making to the game? The motivation to participate must be intrinsic. (Wednesday, Oct. 1)
8. Avoid over-training.
Ginsburg stresses that youth play just one sport per season and have at least 1-2 days off per week. He also encourages that kids have extended time off; preferably a break of at least two or three months from the game. He also cautions against a dramatic increase in training levels to minimize the risk of injury from overuse. (Thursday, Oct. 2)
9. Use appropriate equipment.
Avoid ill-fitting hand-me-down equipment, primarily safety equipment like helmets and shoulder pads. Make sure it’s a good fit. (Friday, Oct. 3)
10. Avoid “playing up.”
The temptation is to move kids into older age groupings based on skill level or physical development. But Ginsburg says there is a benefit to being the best player on the team. It helps develop other abilities, like leadership skills and patience. There could also be injury risks and risks of social alienation for players who are moved up the chain. (Monday, Oct. 6)
No matter how you apply these principles, find a way to share your love of the game with your youth players. Remember to define success appropriately—whether it’s winning, having fun, skill improvement, learning sportsmanship, or something else.
These tips were originally published for US Lacrosse https://www.uslacrosse.org/blog/10-fundamental-tips-for-coaching-youth-lacrosse
Tips Beginners Lacrosse | Lacrosse Chronicle
Throwback to a couple of decades, Lacrosse was not as popular as it is right now. It is popular with high school and college students as a sport for recreation, of which many students may go on to pursue it on a professional level. It is an open secret that a plethora of students is introduced to the sport in high schools and colleges each year. Additionally, there are many youth leagues that provide opportunities for kids to come forward and take up the sport.
Certainly, lacrosse is a high impact game in the advanced levels. But, you can always take slow steps towards being a pro-lax player. When you are starting out, it is important to have patience and take time to understand the game. A greater understanding of the tricks and tips, followed by hardcore practice will drive you to shape your skills the best way possible.
But if you are a rookie into this game, there are a few tips that come handy. We have listed some of these tips and trips down below:
1. Practice Cradling the Ball
If you are a beginner, it is given that ‘cradling’ the ball will be one of the biggest challenges for you. While the tricks may come really naturally for some, others may need to take time to master nestling the ball in the net. Once you have mastered the art of cradling a lacrosse ball, you no longer will have to look into the head to see if it is there. Typically, cradling techniques vary with the depth of the pocket. Pro-laxers have the ability to cradle the ball using just one hand.
2. Throwing and Catching the Ball
Basically, you need to learn to throw and catch with both hands to be able to excel at the game. You can also come up with a great trick to confuse your opposition if you can throw and catch a ball using both your hands. This is also a versatile trick and you can use multiple versions of the trip in the later stages in the game. Ergo, it is important to practice throwing and catching the ball with both your hands from early on.
3. Catch the Ball like You’re Catching an Egg
The player must maintain proper posture and have proper mechanics while practicing a catch. You must take note of the positioning of your body before making a catch. Ensure that your shoulders are directed at the passer, and grip the top and the bottom of the lacrosse stick with your hands. Keep the shaft parallel to your body in a manner that the head is right next to your helmet.
Receiving a pass is really easy. All you have to do is practice it more often. When receiving a pass, you must drop the head of your lacrosse stick back to prevent the ball from popping out of the net.
4. Don’t Face The Receiver Directly When Passing The Ball
To be able to pass perfectly, you must be aware of the mechanics. For instance, while making a pass, you will need to push the stick towards the receiver with your top hand and snap your wrists simultaneously. You must immediately pull the stick with your bottom hand. Practice the same with your front foot towards the target. Rotate your hips in the process so that your back should is directed towards the target by the end.
Practicing these moves is taxing initially. Starting out, you shall not be able to pick up speed or pass the ball with accuracy. You must remember to take some extra time to practice the moves.
Learn to Communicate on the Field
Just like in any other game, you must communicate with your teammates in the field. Clear communication on the field is one of the contributing factors to the success of a team. You must keep talking to your teammates on the field. You can pass loud and clear instructions on whom to mark, what position must one take up and make calls for the ball. If you really want to be an asset to your team, do not shy away from being vocal on the field.
Make Sure You Have The Right Equipment
Beginners need not worry about lacrosse equipment. However, beginners must only invest in equipment certified by the NOCSAE in case they would want to use them in the long haul. Beginners are often confused about what sticks to buy, and whether they should buy complete sticks.
Honestly, if you are just starting out, you do not need to worry about buying a customizable stick. Just buy a complete stick; that should suffice for your game-play. When you progress to higher levels in the game, you might just want to go for a lacrosse stick that is personalized enough to suit your game play.
Please make note of the protective gear that you need and make sure that they come with quality padding to shield you from high checks and whips. Evaluate the products on the basis of quality, and safety before finalizing a purchase.
Try Mini-Lacrosse
Also known as soft lacrosse, the game is an inexpensive version of the original. The game does not involve any body contact or stick checking. This game was developed to make students familiar with lacrosse and to incorporate the best gaming habits right from the start. If you would like to get an insight into lacrosse, you can try playing mini-lacrosse before you take a full-swing into the game.
Keep it Simple
The beginner’s version of lacrosse is pretty simple as it does not involve any complicated steps. You shape your basic skills before moving a notch higher in the game. Ergo, you better keep the game simple. Learn to make short and crisp passes. If you are scooping up the ball, you must learn to pass it as there will be a defender near you waiting to pounce. Use only the basic shots unless for perfect them.
Tips to Get Recruited for College Lacrosse – LRT Sports – College Athletic News and Exclusive Coach Ratings
By Sean Fosse
As is the case with all sports, thousands of high school hopefuls around the country play lacrosse with the dream of one day playing at the next level. The sad truth is that only a small percentage of those players are recruited to fill the increasingly limited spots on college rosters. As someone who made it to the college level by the skin of his teeth, and who has the experience of currently aiding my two younger brothers through the same recruiting process, I’d like to share my five tips to hopefully give young(er) players the extra edge to stand out from the countless others striving for the same goal.
Know Yourself and Your Skill-set
While coaches are always looking for talented players that can do it all, these unicorns are few and far between. However, everyone else has one or two skills at which they excel. Use these skills to your advantage. Showcase them. If you happen to be six feet and four inches tall, and shoot the ball at the speed of sound, first, good for you, and second, let it rip. Show coaches, fans, and other players that you’re the one who will score goals and the one who is not afraid to take shots. If, on the other hand, you like to grind and fight for ground balls, but perhaps are not the most gifted shooter, don’t shoot every chance you get while recruiters are watching. Instead put your nose down, lay body, fight, and scrap for the ball. Show coaches who you are. You may excel at the exact skill-set a coach is searching for, a skill-set that said coach is currently lacking on their roster.
With that said, don’t forget to hone your other skills, or better yet don’t be afraid to attain completely new ones. As much as players are pigeonholed, there are plenty of college coaches that turn one type of lacrosse player into a completely different animal. I played offense my entire life, ever since I was nine years old. After my freshman year of college, I played defense for the rest of my career. Perhaps, I wasn’t as good of a dodger as I thought. It might have helped to have a left hand. Who knows? Either way, in order to continue playing I had to change my game. Staying ahead of this curve, and knowing how to play both sides of the ball, offense and defense, LSM and close D, X attack-man and north/south dodging midfielder, even face offs, will make you that much deeper of a player, grant you more time on the field, and during recruitment, make you that much more attractive to college coaches. So know your skill-set, but don’t lock yourself in a niche. Leave that to the coach after you already have a spot on his team.
Be Proactive
It is a fact that college coaches will notice you if you actively show interest in their program. At the very least they will write down your name. At that point you’ve already won the first half of the battle. You’ve stood apart from the others. Actively showing interest can be demonstrated in a few ways. Personally calling coaches and sending them emails are two great ways to open lines of communication and showcase your interest.
When communicating with coaches simply, be yourself. Make sure to put your best foot forward and classify yourself not only as someone interested in the program but as a quality human being. Remember, you are going to be representing the coach’s program for four years. A coach will be more inclined to consider you seriously if he/she believes that you will contribute positively to the program’s reputation, both on and off the field. Speaking from experience, lacrosse teams in particular carry a negative connotation on a lot of college campuses. Some, including administrative officials, think of us as a large, loud, even arrogant, entitled group of jocks. I can’t speak for every player of every team, but for the most part, these claims are exaggerated. So, if a prospective college coach sees a player who is not only talented, but an embodiment of a positive stereotype, instead of the aforementioned negative stereotypes, the coach would be mistaken to pass on a sincere consideration.
Put Yourself on the Map
I mean this figuratively and literally. While communicating with coaches is very helpful it does not demonstrate your abilities as a lacrosse player, which I believe to a lacrosse coach is pretty important. Obviously playing throughout the high school season is an amazing experience, but the exposure is limited, particularly at schools without a national Top 50 ranking. The solution; play summer ball and go to recruiting showcases. Find a local summer team, or a well-known not so local team and try out. If you don’t make the first team, try out for another one. There are endless teams looking for good players and college coaches come to see these teams play. Some of the teams I can think of off the top of my head are Long Island Express, Baltimore Crabs, NESLL Black U19, Top Gun Lax, Madlax Super Select, CT Bulldogs, Duke’s LC, West Coast Stars, and the list goes on and on. There is no shortage of teams all around the nation and therefore no shortage of opportunities to be seen.
However, where exposure is concerned, your best bet is to sign up for recruiting showcases. There are dozens of showcases around the country. New England Top 150, Texas Top 99, Philly Showcase, Maverick Showtime National Recruiting Spotlight, Elite 180, Nike Blue Chip, are only a handful of the camps that college coaches attend each summer. These camps are designed to put you in front of hundreds of coaches.
Now, once you have signed up for these camps, call (or email) the coaches of programs that interest you and let them know exactly where and when you will be playing. Put yourself on their map and give coaches an opportunity to see live, you playing the game you love.
The Ever Infamous Recruit-Me-Video
Sending coaches a well-made, concise video highlighting your abilities on the lacrosse field can be an extremely useful tool in the search for recruitment…when done correctly. It’s an opportunity to give coaches a sense of what you are made of, coaches that might not have been able to catch you at a live recruiting camp. A great highlight tape is a simple highlight tape. It’s a one to two minute long compilation of your best moments ON the field. Put your best clips first; don’t save the best for last. There’s no guarantee that coaches will watch the entire video. In fact they rarely do. So again, I stress the length your video. Coaches will be more inclined to dismiss your video if it’s a thirteen-minute Tarantino wannabe, dedicated to your swim move and sick celebrations.
This brings me to my next point. It should be a clean video. Spotlights, slow motion, your statistics from 7th grade, are all unnecessary fluff. Hire a professional service to construct your clean, fluff-less highlight tape. Coaches will appreciate the simplicity.
And music. Some argue that no music is good music, but I’m a firm believer in the fact that a quality music choice will make the video… just better. We could debate what is considered good music for days. I only beg you to use some adult like judgment in your choice and also choose something without copious curse words. Other than that, go nuts. Use the music to showcase just another part of who you are.
Do Your Homework and Be Smart
Do your research. Remember, while a professional career is a viable option via sports like baseball, basketball, football, and others, it is less of an option in the sport of lacrosse. The sport still has room to grow. So, target programs where the school can support your desired career path. Your parents might tell you that a great career is the entire reason you’re even going to college. They’re not wrong, but the research continues. Find schools that you think you will simply enjoy, institutions of learning where you will have a ton of fun. Of course, every school has its pros and cons, but if you don’t like the snow, don’t go to school in upstate New York.
When tackling this process with my younger brother, I found that a school’s reputation already had an immense influence despite the fact that he had never even visited the school. When we visited Dartmouth, our first stop, the head coach told him something that certainly resonated. He told him to pay his dues and not to commit to any program or place without seeing what other options are available. He was right. Too many kids commit to the first program that offers them a spot. It might not be a place you end up liking or have even been before. Considering every school is different, it pays to visit these places and discover for yourself exactly how the lacrosse program will coincide with the rest of your curriculum and how you respond to the other players currently on the team. Don’t get me wrong, I’d be willing to bet that any program you decide to become a part of, those players will end up being your best friends in the entire world, but sometimes we’d fit better in a different place and there’s no way to know if you don’t see those other places. All of this is part of doing your homework and knowing your options.
However, doing one’s homework goes both ways. Coaches will do their homework on you. Hopefully you already know this but a great way to get scratched from a coach’s list is to have pictures of you chugging beers with your high school friends all over Facebook. While I never drank in high school because underage drinking is illegal (cough), I’m not trying to stop anyone from having fun, but I am warning you about what you post in public places. It says a lot about your caliber. So, if you’re serious about playing college lacrosse, just be careful what you post. Coaches don’t kid around when it comes to social media.
While not the most concise list of tips, I truly hope that these points can provide some guidance to anyone who is starting their recruitment process for college lacrosse. It’s a game I still play and still love, and hope that it continues to grow every day.
90,000 Just starting to work from home? Here are some tips for organizing professional conferences
Esther yoon
March 9, 2020 9 minutes to read
With many organizations today encouraging – and sometimes obliging them – to work from home in the face of international tension over the coronavirus pandemic, millions of people could face a fundamental change in their day-to-day work processes.But not everyone is accustomed to working from home, and the transition to work in a new environment can require a lot of effort from a person.
The positives of working from home – You can save time on the road, spend more time with your family, and possibly do more household chores. However, the difficulties associated with this mode, including loneliness, the need to keep in touch, and an increased susceptibility to distractions, can significantly affect your mood and productivity.Therefore, we will be happy to help you!
Whether you’re working in a spare bedroom, coffee shop, library or tenement lobby, we’ve prepared tips for you to tune in, eliminate distractions, ensure data privacy, and hold a professional conference.
Obtain the required license and download the software
Step 1. Create a Zoom Account – It’s Free! A professional version is also available, but if you need a quick video conferencing solution, the free version, which contains all the necessary features and capabilities, will do.Regardless, it will take about 30 seconds to sign up for a Zoom account. Their main differences are summarized below:
- Basic version Zoom: free version. Great for unlimited 1-on-1 video calls and group calls (if you are the conference organizer, the conference will be limited to 40 minutes). Plus, you get unlimited direct and team communication options in Zoom Chat.
- Zoom Professional: for $ 14.99US / month, you get all the basic features plus advanced conference management and cloud recording functionality. Compare plans and rates to find out which one works best for you.
Step 2. Download Zoom Meetings software to your PC and mobile device. Our download center is located here. Then just sign in and get started!
Let’s Talk About Setting Up Your Workplace
Your laptop (Mac or PC) is most likely equipped with a built-in camera and audio system, but the quality of the conference for you and other users depends very much on how high-quality webcam and microphone you use.
To look your best in front of the camera, I recommend getting a Logitech Brio webcam and Airpods (or Plantronics Focus UC or Logitech Zone wireless headset) if you’re ready to make a financial investment. Even a pair of wired headphones with a microphone can play an important role. Take a look at this test. In it, you can see a short demonstration of audio and video produced with common hardware combinations.
Good lighting also plays an important role.Try to keep your face lit by the nearest window or purchase a webcam lamp.
And don’t forget about the internet. Usually, the home Internet is not as reliable as the office network. This means that if other members of your family are watching streaming videos or playing games, you may experience a lack of bandwidth. Rest assured, Zoom is optimized to work efficiently from home, coffee shop and mobile. In cases of bandwidth shortages, Zoom will prioritize audio so everyone can hear you with confidence.
When you’re done setting up your software, internet, and workspace, go to www.zoom.us/test to test your audio and video. You will join with a small test conference that will tidy up all the communication parameters.
Host conferences and work as a team!
Here are some helpful tips to keep your Zoom meetings running smoothly and productively.
Virtual backgrounds (image or video) to hide clutter
Upload a cute background image or video to hide clutter and other visual clutter.This will be especially useful for those who work from a spare bedroom, who have a dog that follows their owner, or those who sometimes work at the kitchen table with relatives.
Hold the space on the keyboard to temporarily turn on the sound
I prefer to mute my volume in large conferences in case my dog starts barking or someone rings the doorbell. To make a short comment, I just need to press and hold the spacebar.It is very easy to control the sound in this way. Again, these features are included in all Zoom Meeting plans.
Screen Sharing
Zoom makes it easy to collaborate and share your device’s screen. Our platform also supports simultaneous screen sharing by multiple users. This feature is great for highly collaborative teams such as engineers.
Message Board Exchange
Zoom supports real-time collaboration with message board functionality! While the message board can be tricky to use on non-touchscreen devices, try joining the meeting using your iPad and then sharing / using the message board on your iPad.
Calendar Integration
I use Gmail, so I’ll walk through this workflow, but you can find other calendar integrations here if you’re using Office 365 or Exchange.
- Go to the Zoom Admin Portal and connect your calendar. (Takes about 1 minute)
- Install the Zoom for G-Suite plugin to easily add Zoom Meeting links to all calendar events.
Watch this short video to learn about calendar integration (demo with Gmail).
Commenting on demonstrated materials
Making edits to a project or documentation will become much easier if you can comment on or edit materials with other users. Make sure you use co-commenting capabilities to make collaboration easier.
Using conference chat to share files and resources
I use chat as a means of exchanging links or resources that can be discussed in a conference.For example, group members will exchange Google Docs, URLs, or just short comments (so as not to interfere with ongoing conversations).
Turn on Touch Up My Appearance to make small adjustments to the video image
This function can be enabled in the Zoom settings. It helps to remove bags under the eyes and small imperfections in the skin, providing a fresher appearance.
Conference Security
An office environment is usually well protected, but a remote workstation may need additional protection.Zoom offers many great features for meeting security and privacy. Zoom allows:
- Block conferences and require a password to enter
- Enable the Lounge feature and allow / deny users to join the conference when you are ready
- Allow only authorized users with the same domain to participate in the conference
- Watermark audio or video if conference materials are confidential
- Limit screen sharing to only the content of a specific application, rather than the entire desktop, so participants don’t accidentally see what they shouldn’t.
Other tips for working from home
Your day at the office is usually diluted with trips to the coffee maker, water cooler, or personal meetings, so it is important to do the same at home. Our main recommendation is to keep your workflow in the same state as in the office. Doing whatever you normally do in the morning – brush your teeth, shower, eat breakfast, and more – will help you embrace the change and focus.
Below you will find other tips for working from home contributed by fellow Zoom users.
- Clothing: Dress fully. Put on the shirt or suit you usually wear in the office, not the old, leaky T-shirt you wear when cleaning the garage.
- Take regular breaks: Take self-initiated breaks every hour, just like in the office, to avoid burnout. Take another walk with the dog (the dog will love it!), Run the wash, or spend 15 minutes outside with the children (they will love it!).
- Stretch! Turn off the video and do a little stretch every hour. Take a run in the kitchen between calls, or use a lacrosse ball or massager to relieve tension in your back. Or try some fun – put on a virtual background with a sports video and start your classes right during the conference!
- Report your busyness: Publish your calendar so others can view it and quickly see your busy hours.You can set aside time to work on projects, set notifications for important tasks, and even reserve time to start lunch. In addition, you can set the status to Busy in Zoom Chat when you need to focus on a project.
- Eliminate Distractions: Close the door for privacy, especially when working from home. You can also hang a curtain to divide the space. Plus, it’s best to close unnecessary tabs and turn off notifications to avoid the temptation to constantly check your social media accounts.Even if you set one or more 10-minute breaks to check social media throughout the day, you will have time to relax and a reason to distract yourself.
- Avoid Isolation and Loneliness: Many people need personal contact with the team, so it can be helpful to have daily five-minute meetings and roll calls. You can even host a group lunch with colleagues at Zoom. Chat in real time, or mute and chat with the group 1 on 1 to have the conversation or dialogue you want.
Additional Resources
There are many excellent resources for tips on working from home and organizing digital processes. Some of them are:
Start working from home
Just remember – everyone on your team is in the same position. A dog barking or a doorbell ringing during a conference is not the end of the world. Do your best to prepare your workplace, adapt to new processes and work environments, and ignore the little things.You’re doing great!
Get started with Zoom today with a free base license, or contact a Zoom Product Specialist to get started using Zoom in your organization.
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90,000 Film “American Pie” (1999) | HAYK Obninsk
American Pie is a 1999 American youth comedy directed by Paul and Chris Weitz, based on a script by Adam Hertz.For the Weitz brothers, the film was the directorial debut.
Name:
The title of the tape comes from one of the film’s jokes: when one of the main characters asks: “How does the ‘third base’ feel to the touch?” (another version of the translation: “How does the bench feel to the touch?”), he is answered: “Like a warm apple pie.” Under the “third base” in American slang, they usually mean the “third” stage of sexual relations – direct contact with the partner’s genitals with hands (the previous, first and second “bases” are kissing and contact with the naked body or erogenous zones through clothing, respectively).One of the heroes of the film sticks his fingers into a freshly baked cake, and then masturbates with it, which is why the film got its name.
Plot:
Four high school students from East Great Falls High School in western Michigan are good friends: Jim, an awkward and sexually naive nerd whose father offers him pornography and unnecessary sexual advice; Oz from the high school lacrosse team; Kevin, the calm leader of the group, eager to lose his virginity with his girlfriend Vicki; and Finch, the intellectual and nerd who drinks mochachino.Local loser Sherman claims to have lost his virginity at a party hosted by Stifler, a popular boy from high school who throws wild parties at his house when his mother is absent. Kevin prompts Oz, Finch, Jim and Kevin to promise to lose their virginity before prom.
Vicki accuses Kevin of only wanting her for sex, and he needs to rebuild the relationship before prom, which is the deadline for the four to lose their virginity.Oz enrolls in a school jazz choir to find a girl, and learns about the sensitivity: you need to ask the girls questions and listen to what they are talking about. He soon attracts the attention of Heather, the girl in the choir. Heather learns of Oz’s reputation, breaks up with him, but then learns to trust him when Oz leaves an important lacrosse game to play a duet with her.
Jim has his eye on Nadia, an exchange student from the former Czechoslovakia. Oz tells Jim that third base feels like “warm apple pie.”When Jim is having sex with pie, he is caught by his father. Jim persuades his father not to tell his mother about it. Stifler persuades Jim to install a webcam in his room so that they can all watch Nadia change clothes (before going to ballet class). Nadia finds Jim’s collection of pornography and starts masturbating while sitting half naked on the bed. Jim is persuaded to return to his room, where he joins Nadia, unaware that he has sent a webcast link to the entire school. With Nadia, he experiences premature ejaculation – twice.Nadia’s trip organizers watch the video and send her home, leaving Jim alone for prom.
Jim thinks Michelle’s eccentric school orchestra girl doesn’t know about the camera incident, so he invites her to prom. Finch pays Vicki’s friend Jessica $ 200 to spread rumors of his sexual prowess, hoping it will increase his chances of success. Stifler was turned down by a girl because she wants Finch to pursue her; Stifler spices Finch’s mochacino with laxatives.Stifler knows Finch is misophobic so he can force him to use the ladies’ room. Finch has diarrhea and is humiliated in front of a crowd of students.
Vicki questions Sherman’s words. Everyone learns that this is a lie, and as a result, Sherman wet himself in front of everyone at the prom.
The guys plan to fulfill their promise at Stifler’s after prom. Kevin and Vicki have sex in the upstairs bedroom. Vicki breaks up with Kevin afterwards, since they will split up anyway when they go to college.Oz confesses to Heather’s deal and declines the bet, saying that just being together makes him a winner. They reconcile and have sex. Oz, respecting his perceived sensitivity, never divulges what they did.
Michelle accepted Jim’s offer to be his prom girlfriend because she saw The Nadia Incident and thought he was “the right choice”. Michelle is sexually aggressive in bed. When Jim wakes up, Michelle has already left, and he finds out that it was only for one night, but puts up with it.
Finch meets Stifler’s mom in the basement break room, where they have sex on the pool table. Stifler finds them sleeping on the pool table and faints. In the morning after prom, the guys have breakfast at their favorite cafe, where they raise a toast to “the next step.”
Nadia watches Jim undress on webcam. Jim doesn’t notice his father walk in. Noah leaves the room and starts dancing.
90,000 16 great career tips from successful people that you should definitely try in 2016
The New Year is over and 2016 is ahead of us, which opens up new horizons for us – a year with many blank pages for new stories and accomplishments.You have every chance to make it the best in your life.
Of course, the next 12 months will not be without some troubles and failures of various sizes. However, they will be accompanied by many new opportunities, victories, achievements and new experiences. We have prepared for you 16 interesting tips from successful people that will help you make the most of your plans in the new year, give you thought and spur you on to new successes.
Richard Branson: Don’t waste your energy on so-called “failures”
Richard’s mother taught him that regret is wasted time and energy.As the conglomerate founder and CEO of the Virgin Group notes, he was always amazed at the amount of time people devote to thinking about their failure, rather than putting their energy and energy into a new project.
“It gives me pleasure to do all kinds of business in the company, and failure for me is just a falling curve on the general chart, but not a bad experience,” the founder of the Virgin Group told The Good Entrepreneur
Mark Cuban: Learn to Listen
One of Mark’s early mentors taught him that the most important human skill is listening.
He advised Cuban to write the word “LISTEN” at the very top of his notebook before each meeting, and to use it as a reminder of the most important things during the event. This advice does not mean just silently waiting for your turn to speak. The mentor meant maximum concentration and the desire to really understand what the interlocutor is saying.
Soulmates Founder Becca Brown: Act “Everything is good, no matter what”
Becca Brown worked for Goldman Sachs, a bank renowned for its tough selection criteria, before launching her startup selling women’s shoe accessories.Her company now supplies more than 3,000 stores.
The best advice of her life came from her high school lacrosse coach, who told her to act in a “all is well, no matter what” style. As Brown herself explains, this is a state of mind, a way of thinking, a vision of the world. “Not always everything goes the way you planned, be it your own business, career or personal life. Failures and disappointments happen, and then the temptation is great to start feeling sorry for yourself or engage in self-flagellation, ”says Becca.“But you have to act as if everything is fine with you, and nothing bad has happened. As if nothing bothers you, and everything is going as you intended. ”
Emily Hughes: Connect with a lot of people
When Emily was still in high school, she managed to get into the US Olympic figure skating team and go to the 2006 Tokyo Olympics. She currently provides business consulting for Google Fiber.
But during the intermediate stage, from an athlete’s career to choosing a new professional path of development, Hughes felt somewhat lost.“I didn’t have a resume, and I had no idea what consulting was,” says Emily. So she just started talking to completely different people.
“I started a conversation with people in order to learn as much as possible about work areas, specialties. I wanted to understand what this or that person is doing for a particular company, – explains the current consultant. “It was an opportunity for me to define my own skills, as well as the skills that I would like to learn in order to do what I like.”
Pat Wadors: Put potential experience ahead of a beautiful job
LinkedIn is a well-known Silicon Valley company that helps users create their resume and find a job. The project is also famous for good salaries and various “goodies” for employees.
Senior Vice President of Recruiting at LinkedIn gave this advice to people just starting out. However, these words will be useful to each of us at any stage of our career.
“Throughout your professional development, you will move not only forward, but also to the sides,” says Pat. – You will probably change your area of work. Look not for a beautiful position, but for the experience and skills that a new job will give you. Do not get attached to the effective title of your position, do not get hung up on the stable advancement of the career ladder. ”
Jerry Seinfeld: Focus on delivering quality work, not self-promotion
A short time ago, renowned comedian Jerry hosted an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session on Reddit, offering readers some great career advice.
According to Jerry Seinfield, one of the wrong pieces of advice you can give to a new comedian or any other young professional is “you should try harder to promote yourself”. This is the worst advice. The best advice is to just do your job well, and then you don’t have to worry about anything else. ”
Google for Work President Amit Singh: Sometimes you need to flank on the way to success
About six years ago, Amit Singh left a promising job at Oracle to help Google build a new, then-unknown service called Google Apps for Work.
Then Amit deliberately took this risky step, and moved with his family from Boston to the famous San Francisco Bay Area. In hindsight, he can give others great career advice: “When you get a great chance, take it. Of course, some may say that this by no means meant some grandiose changes in my life, but in fact they are wrong. I had a great career at Oracle and the offer from Google made a huge difference for me. ”Thus, the current president of Google for work realized that sometimes “on the way to something important, you need to go from the other side, although this does not seem to be something obvious at that time.”
Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst: Strive to maintain the right work-play balance throughout your career
Jim Whitehurst can boast of several turns of his successful career at once. He rose from a management consultant at the Boston Consulting Group to an executive director at Delta Arilines and CEO at Red Hat.
Jim says that each of us should not view our careers as a kind of sprint race, during which you need to give your best and work a huge number of hours until the moment when work knocks you off your feet, and then repeat it over and over again. …
“Of course, your career will be hard times full of stress – as it was with me when Delta Airlines was preparing to file for bankruptcy, or, for example, during the first 100 days at Red Hat, – says Jim Whitehurst, – but in in general, you must find that rhythm for work and everyday life that you can maintain constantly.Find a balance that gives you enough time for family and friends, and learn to be emotionally happy and at the same time excel at your work. This is very important because building a great career is like a marathon, not a sprint. ”
Yale School of Management Professor Amy Wrzesniewski: Try to make your work more meaningful
Amy Wrzesniewski is well known for her research on how people find meaning in their work.
In her opinion, the happiest workers make their jobs more meaningful by doing “worker crafting.” So she calls the process in which employees, on their own initiative, find some significant tasks and add them to the work routine. Instead of waiting for your boss to give you new projects or to promote you, they ask themselves, “What can I do about my job right now to make it more meaningful?”
To do this, you can, for example, set aside part of the day to help other people, or try to find tasks that allow you to use your best, favorite skills.The point is to just make things like this part of your job.
Pop Country Taylor Swift: Know Yourself First
Taylor Swift is one of the most successful pop music performers in recent years, and she is also known for her judicious attitude towards her career.
The singer said in an interview with GQ magazine that she managed to comprehend the nature of failure as a child. According to Taylor, she literally raved about the TV show Behind The Music, which talked about the ups and downs of famous musical artists: ambition, skill.Therefore, the desire to comprehend myself has always been among the main tasks that I set myself on a daily basis. This is much less related to reputation management, to strategy and vanity, the main thing is to try to preserve your identity at all costs, since it is it that is easiest to lose when fame comes to you. ”
Investor and Entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk: Compile Your Career
Gary Vaynerchuk, co-founder and CEO of VaynerMedia, is also known as an advisor and investor in the technology field.During his career, he has had a hand in creating and developing more than 50 startups, including Twitter, Tumblr, Medium, Birchbox, Uber and Venmo. Vaynerchuk became a millionaire by the age of 35. “If I had to pick one habit that really changed everything for me, I would call decompiling the last stage of my career in real time,” says Gary. – When I talk about decompilation, I mean analyzing events – step by step, from my big dream to the present moment.I try to go over each step in detail. ”
According to Vaynerchuk, you cannot just copy what someone else has done: you should only do what is right for you.
Journalist Katie Couric: Say yes to new opportunities
In her book The Best Advice I Ever Got, Katie recounts a message from Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who once told her, “Learn to say yes »In response to the opportunities that are presented to you in life.Agree to an invitation to a new country, to a meeting with future friends, to an offer to learn something new. It is the word “yes” that gives you your first job, and a new job, and your spouse, and even your children. ”
Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: Learn to interrupt if necessary
As an American diplomat at the time, Madeleine Albright gives unusual advice. This parting word is relevant for every person, but it will be especially difficult for women to fulfill: learn to feel the right moment to speak when you are listening to another person.Interrupt your interlocutor if circumstances require it.
“It was an important lesson even for myself, although I had previously held different views,” says Ms. Albright. – As a member of the Security Council, I doubted the correctness of this approach and thought: “Maybe I should still wait and not speak from the very beginning?” However, if you raise your hand, and your opinion is not asked at the right moment, later all that you wanted to say will no longer matter. “
Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs: Ask for Help
When Steve was 12 years old, he called legendary engineer William Hewlett and asked if he had spare parts for the computer. It all ended with the co-founder of the Hewlett Packard corporation offering Steve a job.
In one of his interviews back in 1994, Steve Jobs said that he learned then one important lesson: most people are not given such opportunities just because they “do not ask others.”Therefore, the key to success, according to Jobs, is very simple: ask for help: “I have never met people who would not want to help me if I asked for help.”
Marc Andreessen: Focus on helping others, not “doing what you love”
Marc Andreessen’s successful career began at Netscape. Subsequently, he launched and successfully sold other projects, and now Andreessen is known as one of the most influential venture capitalists in Silicon Valley.
His career advice is in two parts. First, he says that the idea of “following your passion” is “dangerous and destructive” because it can only be supported by those who have succeeded in doing what they love. But the world also knows many entrepreneurs who have failed to achieve success following their passions.
Thus, according to Andreessen, it is better to focus on creating benefits for other people that make them happy.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg: Don’t Let Fear Stop You
Sharyl Sandberg has many successful projects to her name, from serving as Chief of Staff to the US Treasury Secretary to helping Google grow the company as a phenomenon in the contextual advertising industry.
