“LETTING THE GAME COME TO YOU”

With college coaches looking on, junior prospects often play out of their element and force situations they usually would not- all in an effort to impress college coaches. Sometimes it works in their favor, often times it does not. College Hopefuls certainly need to do the right things in order to get noticed, but forcing the situation can sometimes turn coaches off. It can also lead to a lot of mistakes- mistakes a player can make when not sticking to his game. One thing I always stress to recruits (even to my players at the Division I level), “Let the game come to you.” Choosing the right moment and making that good decision will create better opportunities—better opportunities with less forced errors. Although making things happen to be seen by these coaches is a must, understanding “when” and “when not” is critical. Shooting the ball from fifteen yards out when your team has just played defense for three minutes is probably not the best option. Shooting the ball from fifteen yards out with two seconds left in the quarter, however, may be the right option. It comes down to knowing the situations, good field sense, playing smart, and most importantly having FUN with the game.

PLAYING TO YOUR STRENGTHS BUT WORKING ON YOUR WEAKNESSES

One of my old coaches always used to say, “Everybody contributes and does something well.” Know what you do well, but more importantly, understand what you need to work on. In other words, keep playing to your strengths but work on your weaknesses.

Offensively, if you’re a strong dodger who knows how and when to set up his defenseman but have trouble feeding, you need to continue to dodge, but also find ways to get better at finding the open man and making accurate feeds. If you are not a good off ball player, you need to work on moving without the ball in order to put yourself in a position to be a threat.

On the defensive side of things, if you are a good take-away defender, work on covering players without the ball and becoming a good team defenseman. Work on position as well as off-ball defense. The more qualities a recruit possesses, the better their chances are of getting noticed and going to the college of their choice. Through coaching, self-motivation, and hard work, all of these qualities, which are essential in making you a better lacrosse player, can be developed.

BEING FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND

I attend several recruiting and All Star camps across the country where I watch athletes of all ages, positions, and skill levels.  It always comes down to fundamentals.  Lacrosse players who are fundamentally sound seem to progress at a faster rate than those who are not as fine tuned. 

With a game as fast as lacrosse where things happen in split seconds, handling the ball becomes very important. While watching different drills, coaches can tell the players who have the best stickwork. At all of our camps, we constantly stress the importance of stickwork: getting on a wall, playing catch with a friend, having a stick in your hands… all these contribute to better stickwork.

Year after year I am able to see players who participate at the collegiate, high school and middle school level.  Each year, a lot of players simply amaze me with how much they have developed over a span of one year as a result of their hard work.  By the same token, it also amazes me that a lot of players remain at the same level throughout their career. Some players are great because of their athletic abilities but most become great through working hard and never being satisfied.

GAINING EXPOSURE WITHOUT BEING SEEN IN PERSON

With the rising number of lacrosse players across the country, it is becoming more and more difficult for coaches to see ALL of the many lacrosse prospects in person on the playing field.  Beside camps and tournaments, there are a number of ways to capture a coach’s attention.  As a lacrosse coach, we receive numerous game tapes, letters, and e-mails from prospective student-athletes conveying their interest in our lacrosse program.  These various types of correspondence allow us to get a better feel for each individual. 

The game tapes should be a full game or two, as opposed to a highlight reel.  No coach wants to see a player scoring twenty times in a row. Rather, we want to see what various qualities he or she demonstrates on a consistent basis that makes them a solid lacrosse player-not just one aspect of the game.  Along with a game tape, be sure to include a profile of yourself and make sure you let the coaches know the jersey number you are wearing in the game film.  I have received tapes throughout my coaching career in which I recruited another teammate because I wasn’t sure who to focus on.  Making the phone call or sending an e-mail asking if he was number 21 on the game film and the player responds No, I was number 10, can be uncomfortable for both parties.

WANT TO GET BETTER AND DOING THE LITTLE THINGS

Every coach in the country wants their kids to become better lacrosse players.  Listen to your coaches at all levels.  At each camp, we stress this is the best time to work on all your skills, including the ones you feel less comfortable with.  Most kids at camp are afraid to work on their weaknesses.  If you are a right hander, camp is a great opportunity to work on your left.  No one at camp is going to yell at you for dropping the ball with your weak hand.  Teaching fundamentals and increasing your overall lacrosse knowledge should be key components at any lacrosse camp.

Doing the little things correctly and consistently goes a long way.  Throwing the ball overhand, shooting the ball high to low, playing defense with your stick in front of you, getting low with two hands on the stick for ground balls, stepping to the ball if you are a goalie, anticipating the whistle if you are facing off, encouraging teammates and playing by the rules…these are a few of the little things that go a long way. 

Lacrosse is played at all ages and skill levels cross the country. I’ve been fortunate to witness this through recruiting, as well as the camps I run nationally. Good athletes and good lacrosse players are everywhere, but remember, coaches are always impressed with the player who possesses heart, hustle, discipline, and a solid understanding and execution of the fundamentals.  

He was in town coaching with the Van Arsdales-Marc, Guy and Max.  Marc is the offensive coordinator at the University of Virginia, Guy is the defensive coach/goalie specialist at Penn State and Max is an attackman at Penn State.  Coach Cav is the offensive coordinator at UPenn, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia.  It was a great camp and the kids were eager and willing to learn from three different DI coaches, certainly an exciting experience for all the kids. 

It's always difficult to figure out what coaches see when they look at athletes.  Some people see greatness and others don't.  Why did people pass up Michael Jordan or Ladainian Tomlinson in their respective drafts (neither were number one choices)?

So, what do coaches look for in their athletes?  Many coaches look at different things and after talking to these coaches, I will venture to say that one thing is paramount in a prospective athlete: industriousness.

Industriousness: (Excerpt from Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections)(McGraw-Hill)

"Industriousness? In plain language, I mean that you have to work - and work hard. There is no substitute for work. None. Worthwhile things come only from real work... I called it industriousness to make very clear it involves more than merely showing up and going through the motions. Many people who tell you they worked all day weren't really working very hard at all, certainly not to the fullest extent of their abilities.
You can work without being industrious, but you can not be industrious without work."

All the coaches over the weekend seemed to agree that continuing to work at something, repetition, was very important for the kids to understand.  At every mistake I heard coaches Marc and Guy Van Arsdale say something like "That's the right idea, it will come" or "I would rather have you make a mistake with your left hand..."  They were always encouraging and made sure the kids knew it was ok to make misakes as long as they were working at it.

Coach Cavallaro, who also runs All Star Lacrosse camps across the country, told the story about one of his recruits and how much he worked.  Coach Cav said it didn't matter what this players game stats were, whether he scored five goals or no goals, he would ask Coach Cav to go out on Sundays and shoot on goal.  Sundays were normally the day off.  He eventually became one of the best lacrosse midfielders in the world-A.J. Haugen.  Kyle Harrison cites A.J. Haugen as one of his influences from watching film.                                


You won't wake up one day and all of the sudden become a great shooter, dodger or defenseman.  Look at Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning, Lance Armstrong, Kyle Harrison.  They are all gifted athletes...What separates the gifted athlete from the great athlete?

What separates you...?

Coach Till:  What was the experience like for you and your team to make it to the National Championship game as underdogs?

Sean Morris: Playing for the national title game was unbelievable.  I grew up watching every final four and desperately wanted to play in it.  As captains, we harped on the teams potential and our goal was to be the first UMass team to make it to the Final Four and win a National title.  The underdog role was one we relished, but we knew we belonged there and proved it when on a national stage.

CT: You guys broke Syracuse's streak the year before (2005) - what was the biggest difference coming into the Championship run in 2006?

SM: I think the biggest difference between 2006 and 2005 was our ability to win face offs.  Jake Deane along with great wing play allowed us to dominate or win the majority of our draws.  When we played Hopkins after Syracuse, they dominated the X.  As an attackman, we never saw the ball.  We were more talented offensively, but without the ball, you can not play.  Therefore, the clear difference between the two teams was face-offs.

CT: What's coach Canella like?

SM: Coach Canella is the national coach of the year for a reason.  He is excellent at getting the most out of his players.  He is a lot like myself in the way we are both very intense and play (or coach) with a lot of passion.  Our practices are often harder then games because of the way he prepares us.  Off the field, coach was a father figure by always trying to aid me and my teammates the best he could when it came to academics, personal life and cracking jokes at each other.

CT: What's the best thing any coach/player has told/taught you?

SM: The best coaching advice I have ever received from someone was my youth football coach.  Not only did he teach me to compete, but he also instilled an attitude in me.  He would say "If you're better than me, then you will have to prove it this play, the next play and until the last whistle blows."  He would say the same in the reverse situation.

CT: As with all the great teams, you guys seemed like family, especially the seniors, and really depended on one another.  How did that help you guys in the tournament?

SM: Our senior class was small, but we all cared for each other.  Due to that closeness, no one wanted to let anyone down and was committed to the success of each other and our team.

CT: How do you like playing in the MLL?

SM: The MLL is great.  Being able to play with such talented players is something special.  The Chicago organization aided me in whatever I needed and the team was filled with great character.  Unfortunately, our record did not prove that, but I take that upon myself to change that next summer.

CT: Who's the toughest defender you've played against in college?  in the MLL?

SM: The toughest defender I played in college was Jack (Reid).  Fortunately, I had him on my team, but our practices and one on ones were a great challenge in preparing one another for our match ups.  In the MLL, the toughest defender, and I believe the most underrated, was Lee Zink.  His range and athleticism is what separates him from everyone else.

CT: How do you like playing with Mike Culver?  Is he your boss now? What would he say?

SM: Mike is a lot of fun to play with.  We both play the game with a lot of intensity and hate to lose.  We were roommates all summer and became good friends.  I look forward to him leading the front office in his GM role.  As for him being my boss, I would never give him that satisfaction. 

CT: You have a little UMass reunion going on in Chicago.  How does that help your transition to the MLL?

SM: Me, Jake (Deane), Kevin(Leveille) and Dan Paccione were all close friends of mine in college and to be reunited with them really made the transition easier on and off the field.  In this sport, you never stop learning and I would take a few things from each of their games and try to incorporate that into my own.

CT: How tough was it going 0-12?

SM: I hate to lose and going 0-12 did not make my life easy this summer.  We were in a lot of close games but never closed them out.  There are a lot of simple things we can work on to make us a better team and I feel with those changes the Machine's first victory will come out of it.

CT: When/if you ever play Rochester who would have the upper hand - you or Jack Reid?

SM: I left college with the upper hand on Jack.  Our last one on one I made him fall into the back of the net.  As for now, it would still be a toss up.  Hopefully, we can play against on another next season because I love the challenge.

CT: What's your day job?

SM: I have just taken a position at a wealth management group in downtown Boston called the Executive Compensation Group.  They are a branch off of Mass Mutual and Novak Charter Oak.  I help individuals and companies design, build and maintain their financial wants and needs.  So if you need my services, do not hesitate to call.

CT: What kind of offense did you guys run at UMass?  Offense you would like to run at Chicago?

SM: The offense I love to play in is the run and gun.  Coach Canella coaches that way and in the MLL you have to play that way because of the shot clock and the athleticism of the players.

CT:  Did you always play attack?  How did playing running back in high school help you at playing attack?

SM: I played attack in high school and then some midfield my first two years at UMass.  Being a running back in football allowed to me to use my speed and quickness to make moves in the open field.  I felt more like a running back when I played midfield.  On attack, I had to use angles and create my own space to utilize my strengths in dodging.

CT: What players have influenced how you play the game (from any sport)?

SM: I idolized Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders and "Rocket" Ismail growing up.  I wear the number 25 because of the "Rocket."  In lacrosse I would model my game after Mark Millon because we were so similar in build and athletic ability.  I also enjoy how Conor Gill QB's an offense, John Grant's creativity, AJ Haugen's ability the shoot so well with both hands and Kevin Leveille hands.

CT: Do you have any superstitions/pre-game rituals?

SM: I have a few superstitions and a few pre game rituals.  I always put on my uniform the same way, try to eat the same things the night before, listen to the same music, warm up the same way, stretch the same way.  I had a lot more in college than in the MLL.

CT: When did you decide to play lacrosse seriously? Why did you choose lacrosse?

SM: I began to take lacrosse serious in 8th grade.  I started in the summer going into 8th grade because of a family friends kept harping on me and the rest of my friends were playing the sport.  I was a good baseball player, but I fell in love with the sport and focused on football and lacrosse in high school.

CT:  What are some things you need to work on to improve your game?  What are your strengths in the game right now?

SM: My game is always in need of improvement.  I can always work on the accuracy and speed of my shot.  I can always be more intelligent on the field.  Finally, I can never be too quick or too fast, so I will always try to get stronger at all the aspects of my game.

CT: What's worse: Your roommate eats your food or wears your clothes?

SM: I hated when my roommates use to eat my food, especially if it was a steak or something. 

CT: What CD is in your CD player?  OR What songs are you listening to on your IPOD?

SM: I am a big fan of the new Akon CD, but for games I love to listen to the Linkin Park Jay Z CD.

Kyle Harrison:  Honestly, there's not one that stands out. I love everything about that year. That was the closest team I've ever been a part of. Everyone on that team truly cared for one another, we did everything together and it was awesome. It's incredible what a bunch of guys who lose their egos, and work as hard as they possibly can to accomplish a common goal can do.

CT:  How nerve racking was that season with so many one goal games? After a while did it seem like you guys couldn't lose?

K18:  Strangely enough we kind of got used to it, and almost thrived in it. I wouldn't say we got to a point where we didn't think we could lose, but we definitely got to a point where we believed in our hearts that we worked harder than any team we played against, and because of our work and preparation, we believed we would win.

CT:  What other sports do you like to play besides lacrosse?

K18:  I love both Basketball and Soccer. I play indoor soccer right now, and I'm beginning to work out with my old basketball coach in January.

CT:  Who are some of the biggest influences on your style of play?

K18:  There are so many I don't know where to start. I watched so much film in college and took so much from so many guys. Guys like Adam Doneger, AJ Haugen, Kevin Boland, Jay Jalbert, Josh Sims, Jeff Sonke, Matt Striebel, Roy Colsey. I think there's so much you can learn from watching other players play. I also have a heavy influence of basketball in my style of play. All of my dodges, split, free, and swim just to name a few all come straight from different moves I would do on the basketball court.

CT:  Who are some of your individual/personal heroes and why?

K18:  For starters my parents. They are two incredible people who have done a great job raising our family. I love them both with all of my heart, and I am the person I am today because of them. As far as athletics go, guys like Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali. Jordan for obvious reasons. It doesn't get any better. The hardest worker, best leader, and the best player to ever lace up a pair of sneaks, it doesn't get any better than that. He is the ultimate role model for any athlete aspiring to be great. Ali, though very different from me as far as personality, is an incredible individual. I'm not sure there has ever been an athlete who was more cocky/confident and backed it up each and every time. I have these highlight tapes of his and I've never seen a boxer stand in there with his hands down, and simply dodge every punch thrown at him, it's amazing to watch.

CT:  Do you have any of your dad's old Morgan State stuff? What?

K18:  I don't have much of my dad's old Morgan stuff. I know we have his stick at my parents house, that things pretty beat up looking though! It's definitely seen better days, but it's awesome to have it and see what the guys back then played with.

CT:  What have you learned so far in your career with STX?

K18:  I've learned so much at STX. I've got a great manager in Jason Goger and a great team of people at the office who are bringing me along nicely. I'm slowly learning the ins and outs of the business and it's been very busy, but fun year.

CT:  What are some of your responsibilities at STX?

K18:  I think the biggest misconception with me at STX is that I'm just a promo player and they use me in advertisements. That's not the case, I actually work full time for STX. My responsibilities at STX for the past six months or so have centered heavily around preparing for the launch of the K18 equipment line and apparel. Anything from helping with the advertising and marketing, to working with the R & D guys to make sure the equipment is perfect, to planning the whole K18 promotional tour; it's been a lot of fun.

CT:  What's your favorite face-off move and why?

K18:  Any quick move that gets the ball out in open space works for me. Usually the laser or reverse clamp gets it done.

CT:  Who's the toughest person you've played defense on in the MLL?

K18:  The toughest person I've played defense on...that's a tough question. I don't mind playing fast guys or one move and go guys. It's the quick guys that are unpredictable, guys like Stephen Berger, Justin Smith, Matt Striebel, Mike Law. All those guys have so many different moves they do it makes it difficult to play defense on them. I know when I'm dodging, a lot of the time I don't figure out what I'm doing until I'm actually doing it, I'd bet these guys are the same way.

CT:  What's it like playing with Jesse Hubbard?

K18:  Well, playing with a legend is pretty darn cool. From his presence on the field to his presence in the locker room, it's an honor to play on the same team as him. Jesse could easily shoot the ball more, or dodge more, but he sacrifices his points for the better of the team and he controls our entire offense, its fun to watch.

CT:  How do you balance your playing career with your professional career?

K18:  During the summer, STX is very understanding in my busy playing schedule, so it makes things a little easier. It's not too difficult because in a way, they work with each other (my playing career and professional career).

CT:  I heard Quint Kessenich call you "Michael Vick with a lacrosse stick."  What do you think of that moniker?

K18:  That's quite the compliment to be called "Michael Vick with a lacrosse stick." I think he probably made the comment because similar to Vick, though I do have the skills, I rely heavily on my athleticism to make plays. One day that won't be the case, which is why it's extremely important to develop all your skills, but for the next five years or so, it'll be all instincts baby!

CT:  What are some fundamentals you always keep in mind when playing middie defense?

K18:  I think the biggest thing I keep in the back of my head is to not give up the middle of the field. IT definitely comes from playing for Coach Pietramala and Dwan for 4 years. If I can keep my man down the side, the defense knows where they'll need to slide to if necessary.

CT:  How much fun was it playing on the US team?

K18:  Whenever you're representing your country it's an honor. To be considered one of the best players in your country was something I never expected growing up. It really shows you that anything you want can be yours if your willing to work for it.

CT:  How was the loss to Canada difficult for you?

K18:  The loss to Canada was hard. It was a very difficult situation, coming in as the heavy favorite and not being able to bring it back home. IF I'm fortunate enough in 4 years, I will have another opportunity to play for my country and try and bring it back to the USA.

CT:  How do you like playing in the MLL?  For the Pride?

K18:  My first year and a half in the MLL has been quite educational. It's a completely different game than the college game, and I'm still in the learning process. I think I could be great at it, and I will work as hard as I possibly can to achieve greatness in this league.

CT:  How often do you keep in contact with some of your fellow Hopkins mates?  Who?

K18:  I keep in contact with the majority of my buddies from that team. For starters I live with Benson Erwin, and Tom Garvey lives a few blocks away. For the most part I talk to all the guys from that team. I still talk to a lot of the current guys on the team like Jesse, Rabil, and Stanwick.

CT:  Who are some influential coaches in your career and why?

K18:  Coach Pietramala, Tierny, Dwan, Allan, and Jay were by far the most influential coaches in my career. They taught me how to play hard, work hard, and that the sky is truly the limit if you are willing to work as hard as you possibly can to achieve your goals. They taught me how to be a man. I will forever be indebted to those guys, and they're some of my good friends now.

CT:  What's your favorite junk food?

K18:  Hm, I actually don't eat too much junk food these days, but I do love Jelly Belly's when I can get my hands on them.

CT:  Do you still do your McFlurry ritual before games?

K18:  I don't, but I do have a new ritual. Me and my boy Brett Hughes that plays on New Jersey with me blast a few songs and rap all the words on our way to the game. Unfortunately, we get all pumped up, but we get there two hours before the game. Maybe we should start our ritual a little close to game time...

CT:  What did you like about being a Writing Seminars major?  Who are some your favorite writers?

K18:  I absolutely love telling stories. It's my favorite style of writing. As strange as this sounds, any great story tellers work for me. I don't' necessarily have a favorite. There are definitely a few books I love. Right now I'm pretty big on Sun Tzu, For Success by Gerald Michaelson (Sun Tzu -author of The Art of War).

Coach Till:  What's it like going from the college game to the professional game?  How fast is the professional game?

Mike Culver:  The transition from the college game to the professional game can be a little intimidating at first because every player on the field is so talented but it happened so quickly for me- really in about four days- that it just felt like a natural progression within my lacrosse career.  The professional game is fast and the players are faster, it’s a fun challenge keeping up.   

CT:  What do you like about the pro game?

MC:  The speed, innovation, competition and overall caliber of talent particularly stick out in the MLL.  As a member of an expansion West Coast team- Chicago- it’s also very exciting to realize that you are helping spread the game we love. 

CT:  What do you miss about the college game?

MC:  Being able to practice everyday with my friends.  You develop a camaraderie in college, with your teammates and coaches, as result of spending every day with guys for four years.  You live with teammates, hang out together, eat together, take classes together.  It’s a big family.

CT:  What are some of your responsibilities now as assistant GM for the club? 

MC:  Grow lacrosse in Chicago!  I hope to expose as many people in the Chicago region to lacrosse as possible.  Chicago is a great sports city and I think there is truly great potential for people to embrace lacrosse here.

CT:  Are you going to continue to play or devote your time to front office work?

MC:  I will continue to play in addition to working as assistant GM.  The dual positions pose a challenge but I think it will be a fun job and it will certainly keep me involved in the sport.

CT:  Everybody talked about how great the Wahoo's offense was this past year.  I think the defense was underrated - how good was that group of defensemen w/Turner at goal?  Did you guys ever have friendly rivalries with the offensive unit?

MC:  It’s funny, but I almost consider our defensive group from last year part of the offense.  We played a very aggressive brand of defense last year and it sparked a ton of transition scoring.  Ricky “Biscuit” Smith (a fellow defenseman) probably spent as much time on the offensive end of the field as the defensive end.  We may have been a little underrated- most defenses are- but you don’t pick up a d-pole to pick up girls and see your name in the paper.  We win games at our end. 
There was a lot of competition that took place in practice, especially when it was first defense versus our first offense.  We realized that we were all helping to make the other squad better but I can guarantee you that no one enjoyed being on the losing end of a scrimmage.

CT:  How important was it for that group to work together as a team from week to week?

MC:  Practice, practice, practice.  That’s what my mom always said.  Playing together every week develops chemistry and timing, which are so crucial during the season.  We are starting to grow a nice core of Chicago Machine players in Chicago so hopefully we will be able to run off season practices in the future.

CT:  How did they contribute to you being a great shutdown defenseman?

MC:  Shutdown defenseman, I’m not sure if I have earned that title quite yet...playing lacrosse against the best players day in and day out obviously helps tremendously, especially when those players happen to be Tewaaraton award winners, All-Americans and All-World players.  But I also firmly believe that, especially on defense, it’s all about being the best athlete you can be.  I play basketball, soccer, tennis and squash to get in the best shape possible. I’m terrible at all of those sports but they help.  A lot of young kids are starting to specialize in just lacrosse, I would encourage them to play as many sports as possible until college.

CT:  Who are some players you like to emulate in your play? 

MC:  Dennis Sullivan, a Ridgewood High School alumn and Brown All-American.  Dennis coached me during high school and I had the chance to watch him when he was younger and then play with him during club tournaments.  He is an ultra competitive guy who always pushes the players around him to be better. 

CT:  Who do you consider to be some great defenseman and why?  Contemporary and old school? 

MC:  Right now, I think Brodie Merrill may be the best lacrosse player in the world, he has completely separated himself from other players at the position. Old school, Dave Petramala.  He was nasty and you have to love that.

CT:  What's more important: team defense or a great shutdown pole? 

MC:  If you play great team defense I think everyone in the unit has the potential to be a great shutdown pole.     

CT:  What kind of team concept did you have at UVA? 

MC:  The UVA coaching staff really lets the players manage the game, an unfortunately rare occurrence in the sport today.  We are always aggressive and always look to push the ball when possible.  I still think the most exciting game of the year was UVA vs. Syracuse because both teams play the game the way it was intended to be played. 

CT:  What kind of team concept do you think will help the Machine? 

MC:  If we keep things simple, work together as a team, communicate and only worry about ourselves then success will follow.

CT:  What kinds of things would you guys do to foster team chemistry at UVA? 

MC:  Bowling on Friday nights before games, Miyako dinners, holiday events, 10 k fundraiser for Special Olympics…Our team was really close last year and I think it was because we all hung out together. 

CT:  We hear so much how this particular team was a "family." Was it?

MC:  Ha, a very weird family, but a family all the same.  Mike Keegan from Inside Lacrosse captured it well when he spent time with us during the final four weekend.  We always rallied around Wizzy the Cat.  As you can tell there were some classic nicknames on the team- Snackpack, King Kong, Bratwerst, Jman, Goat- and I think they show how much we all enjoyed each other.

CT:  You've become a leader for the Chicago club - what kinds of things do you see the team doing to foster team chemistry? 

MC:  Recently we hosted a team dinner and awards banquet and in the future I hope to arrange some similar events in Chicago.  Cubs games, all of the music festivals, Lake Michigan excursions; Chicago is a great spot during the summer and I want to share that with all of the players, new and old.

CT:  What do you think the Machine need to work on to get better next year? 

MC:  From a player’s standpoint, I think we need to go back to playing team lacrosse, offensively and defensively.  Philadelphia played as a team last year and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they won the championship.

CT:  Who was the toughest person you ever covered in college?  In the MLL? 

MC:  In college it was probably Morris.  MLL, Ryan Powell.

CT:  So far, what's your favorite Chicago food? Dogs? Pizza? Gyros? 

MC:  I will admit to hitting up Weiner Circle twice this past weekend but I was entertaining friends and had to show them a local Chicago staple.

CT:  What's the talent level like in the MLL compared to college? 

MC:  I think players in the MLL have a better opportunity to display their talent because the game is so wide open.  The college game can probably boast to be a better team game but I think the MLL is evolving in that direction.  The athletes in the MLL are pretty amazing and only getting better.

CT:  Do you have a mantra?  If not, what would it be? 

MC:  To paraphrase a great Roosevelt quote: it’s not the critic who counts but the man of action.  

CT:  What places would you like to travel to? How's your Spanish? 

MC:  A good friend of mine, Charles Glazer, was recently named the ambassador to El Salvador so I think that may be number one on the list at the moment.  Argentina would be great as well.  My Spanish is pretty rusty at the moment but nothing some good old fashioned immersion couldn’t cure.

CT:  Name a few of your favorite writers and why?

MC:  Jim Harrison.  He wrote a series of poems entitled Letters to Yessenin that I read during one of my first English courses at UVA that really fascinated me.  It was that class that pushed me to become an English major.  William Carlos Williams, Hemingway, Shakespeare.  You can’t go wrong with the classics.     

CT:  Your birthday's just before mine - how do you like having it come just after Christmas and before New Years?  Did you ever get the b-day presents that were going to be returns or was it just me? (I remember one year I got 3 wallets). 

MC:  It can be a bummer but I never had to go to school on my birthday, which was great.  One time when I was little I had my birthday party on the 27^th- the day of my birthday- and everyone forgot to show up because they were so burnt out from Christmas, etc.  or at least that’s what they said…I was a pretty unruly little kid.

CT:  Ever been to the Grand Canyon?  Spring training/Cactus League baseball in AZ?  Want to?

MC:  Not yet…fly me out and I’m there!

I emailed him with some questions and he sent me the answers.  Continue to check out his blog on Inside Lacrosse.

He answers questions about Canada winning the World Championships, youth lacrosse, selfish/unselfish play and a little bit about his 1987 National Championship Hopkins team with greats Brian Wood and Dave Pietramala.

Coach Till: What priorities should youth, high school, college and pro coaches be teaching lacrosse players?

Q: The most important skills youth level coaches can teach lacrosse players are the basic individual skills. Passing, shooting, dodging, defense, cutting, faceoffs and basic goaltending. Too many young coaches focus on team schemes and not individual skills. Once a certain level has been achieved coaches can introduce more complicated scenarios - 1 v. 1's, 2 v.1's, 3 v. 2's, 4 v 3's, 4 on 4's, and 5 on 4's.

CT: What would be some questions you would put on a lacrosse IQ test?

Q: Lacrosse IQ has nothing to do with a written test. It's a players understanding of "in game" scenarios. Where do I go? Where is the open man? Who has onside responsibility? Who has the back-up? Who's hot? Who's the second slide?

CT: How can coaches teach lacrosse to impress the idea of unselfish play?

Q: This is the catch 22 facing youth lacrosse - give the ball to your stud middie and let him run through 5 or 6 defenders and score...or ask him to pass the ball to kids who can't catch a cold...I don't think youth teams should be playing formal full field games until age 12. I'm a big believer in 'pick up' sports. Nobody plays freelance pick up anymore.

CT: What can players do to learn unselfish play outside of practice?

Q: Selfish athletes are some of the most successful in the world. I practiced for hours against the wall.

CT: What kinds of things have you seen, that people do, to encourage creativity in lacrosse? Team chemistry?

Q: Chemistry is built off the field, away from actual practice. Creativity is fostered by playing against a wall, playing pick up in the yard, practice is not the time to experiment with creativity.

CT: Finish this sentence: Good teams have great players, great teams have...

Q: Players that make their teammates better.

CT: What are some of your favorite, unselfish, teams?

Q: UVA 2006, Bay Hawks 2005, Denver Outlaws 2006.

CT: How good was your '87 Championship team?

Q: Wood, Bubier and Morrill attack all played for Team USA. The greatest long pole middie ever in Steve Mitchell (another USA team member), the best defender in the games history (Dave Pietramala), and then role players who would have been stars at other programs - Greg Lilly, James Detommaso, Bruce Chanenchuck, Damon Stewart, Larry Ledoyen, John Wilkens, Greg Kelly, Jeff Ihm, Greg Gunning, Steve and John Ciccarone.

CT: How good was Brian Wood?

Q: He had a balanced game - there was nothing he couldn't do. He was unflappable, very even keeled, and a threat to score from anywhere in the offensive zone.

CT: How soon do you see a D1 college getting a lacrosse team on the West Coast?

Q: Gender equity is killing  DI men's lacrosse growth. I wish football were taken out of the current equation. The Duke scandal doesn't help potential growth.

CT: What did you think of Canada winning the World Lacrosse Championships?

Q: I'm a huge fan of those guys - from the older players like Gary Gait and Tom Marechek to the new faces like Gavin Prout, Brodie Merrill and Geoff Snider. They respect the game. They love the sport, and they have a sense of pride associated with wearing the red jersey. Canada's win over the US is the best thing that's ever happened in international lacrosse. There goal all along was to beat Team USA and they knew they had to gel as a unit - meanwhile the US guys goal is to MAKE Team USA, not to beat Canada.

CT: It was a great team effort in my opinion and you put yourself in a position to win when you get so many faceoff's.  I remember you were critical of Shannahan on the US team, looks like you were right.  Don't know if I should be critical of the players or the coaching for the US team?

In contrast, the Chicago Machine(0-7) is having growing pains.  They have talent in attackmen Kevin Leveille and Sean Morris(both UMASS grads) but no one to pass the ball to them and give them scoring opportunities.  I’m sure that will change with time and experience.  Don't get me wrong, they're great players, but no one player can carry a whole team...in any team sport.

Another familiar team also had a team first attitude:

"It was a team effort. Dom Starsia spoke about the development of the Virginia lacrosse program. "It's no longer a star system. When I got here we had self-proclaimed 'gamers'; now we have 'practicers'. The country club image is long gone. We changed the culture for good in 1999 with players like Ryan Curtis, Tucker Radebaugh and Peter Ragosa. They were committed to the program first and the individual second."

If you try to make your teammate look better, everyone looks good.