This will be a work in progress, one that hopefully grows with your input and questions. The Internet not only allows this to be a work in progress, but also seems to me that as it expands and grows it will truly be a living work. I will try to write as few words as possible, but I suspect from time to time I will ramble on. I love this game, and I love the potential that is inherent to the game. The game of lacrosse allows a team to accomplish things greater than you might at first think they are capable. The game allows for creativity. It is a game where co-operation and communication (mixed with a little bit of speed) creates extreme power. This is at least part of the reason that people become so fanatic about the game. The skills you nurture by learning how to be a team player are handy things to take with you in life.

We will start each chapter with what we consider to be the most basic kinds of information and focus, things that are important to learn at any level of lacrosse. As you read down in each chapter, we will get further into it. We hope this will encourage you to take as big or as small of a bite as you might need. As time goes on, we will add illustrations, but at first we will just put in the text.

You want players that you coach to be able to go and pick up a game any time in the future and be a positive impact on whatever team that may be, and all future coaches will be grateful. You also want them to go out immediately and begin working individually and collectively on basic concepts that will help your team improve every day. If every player gets a tiny bit better, then we all get a whole lot better, don't we?

We urge you to purchase the Bob Scott book, “Lacrosse, Technique and Tradition.” It is 25 years old, some of the pictures look a little dated and they are doing some things today that they weren't doing as much then, but as a basic bible for the game it remains sound, and there are very few coaches at any level that would not get something out of reading it.

Another great book is the David Urick “Sports Illustrated Series on Lacrosse.” With either of these coaches you can learn from a generation of greatness.

There are also other helpful tools you might want to get, like the video series put out by U.S.A. Lacrosse (410-235-6882) which has an instructional tape for each of the 4 positions.

Going to the coach's convention in January is another great way to get new and expert information about coaching techniques. If you can't get to Philadelphia for the event, not to worry, because you can now order videos of the coaching clinics and roundtables that take place. These tapes can also be ordered by calling the Lacrosse Foundation, which is now known as US Lacrosse.

We are trying to help you coach by just coaching you a little bit. There are a few concepts that we believe to be gospel and that you must do these things as a team to have the kind of true rewards and successes that everyone looks for whether they join a team or sign up to coach. The rest are things that evolve and define a team. We like to see a team define itself, but always within your system.

Let's go find that system. We have to do it together because team is the deal.