Building A High School Program US Lacrosse National Convention Philadelphia, January 10, 2004 Aaron Frank, CAA Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

2002 State Champions Career Goal to win State Championship.Career Goal to win State Championship. Career Goal to be ranked nationally – and appear in Lacrosse Magazines Top 25Career Goal to be ranked nationally – and appear in Lacrosse Magazines Top 25 Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Lacrosse as THE Sport Our school is considered a lacrosse schoolOur school is considered a lacrosse school Drive through Birmingham, and you are more likely to see a kid throwing a lacrosse ball than a baseball in the yardDrive through Birmingham, and you are more likely to see a kid throwing a lacrosse ball than a baseball in the yard Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

How Did We Get There How do you Build A Program? Starting Point… 1.Starting from infancy. 2.Rebuilding from mediocrity. Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Step 1 Assess the current state of your program.Assess the current state of your program. What is the culture at your Gatorade Cooler? Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Culture Test If you could be a fly on the wall in the locker room or at the water break, you would know the culture of the team. Here are some other ways…If you could be a fly on the wall in the locker room or at the water break, you would know the culture of the team. Here are some other ways… How many players are in the program?How many players are in the program? Is it growing, shrinking or stagnant?Is it growing, shrinking or stagnant? Do you lose players during the season?Do you lose players during the season? How many people come to your big games?How many people come to your big games? Do your alumni give back?Do your alumni give back? How many kids are out shooting on a cage on a nice day?How many kids are out shooting on a cage on a nice day? Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Winning Is A Process Of Doing The Right Things The Process of building a program leads to success. Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Winning Programs Attract Athletes Schedule for success, but challenge yourself. Schedule games you can win. Make the schedule tougher every year No longer than a 3 year process Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Athletes You must have AthletesYou must have Athletes It is not difficult to turn an athlete into a lacrosse player.It is not difficult to turn an athlete into a lacrosse player. It is extremely difficult to turn a lacrosse player into an athlete.It is extremely difficult to turn a lacrosse player into an athlete. Many programs begin or stagnate with the non-athletes in the school.Many programs begin or stagnate with the non-athletes in the school. Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Athletes Multiple-Sport Athletes.Multiple-Sport Athletes. Work with other coaches in the building.Work with other coaches in the building. Utilize current team to identify younger brothers and neighbors. Get the best Athletes into lacrosse.Utilize current team to identify younger brothers and neighbors. Get the best Athletes into lacrosse. Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Start Early In Your Community Kindergarten or 5 years old is not too early to begin.Kindergarten or 5 years old is not too early to begin. –Have Fun and Instill a Love for the Game. Community ProgramsCommunity Programs PE UnitsPE Units Utilize High School Players to CoachUtilize High School Players to Coach Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Spring Season Is Unique Dont Act Like a Football Coach – –March is not the same as August. – –The batteries are run down. Balance the discipline for success with the need for relief. Spring Break Dont Act Like a Football Coach – –March is not the same as August. – –The batteries are run down. Balance the discipline for success with the need for relief. Spring Break Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Captains and Leaders The Culture goal is set by the coach.The Culture goal is set by the coach. But it is controlled in this order:But it is controlled in this order: 1.Coach 2.Captains 3.Leaders 4.Seniors Interview and select your captains.Interview and select your captains. Empower your seniors to lead their team.Empower your seniors to lead their team. –Communicate with them every day. –Monitor the pulse of that Culture. Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

One Bad Apple Positive Leadership is Infectious.Positive Leadership is Infectious. One Bad Apple can destroy a team.One Bad Apple can destroy a team. Sink theory.Sink theory. Dont be afraid to cut.Dont be afraid to cut. Individual vs. Team Needs.Individual vs. Team Needs. Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Set The Standard Set the bar high for you and your staff.Set the bar high for you and your staff. PrioritiesPriorities –Family, Academics Teach and Require High SportsmanshipTeach and Require High Sportsmanship If you teach cheating, you create cheaters.If you teach cheating, you create cheaters. Alcohol, tobacco etc.Alcohol, tobacco etc. Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Talent vs. Desire Always reward hard work and attitude over raw talent.Always reward hard work and attitude over raw talent. Very tough for any coach to do.Very tough for any coach to do. I would rather lose a game with 10 players leaving their hearts on the field than win with super stars who feel that they are doing the team a favor.I would rather lose a game with 10 players leaving their hearts on the field than win with super stars who feel that they are doing the team a favor. Why is this so important?Why is this so important? Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Respect and Confidence Your team can not have a great culture if it is made up of the haves and the have nots.Your team can not have a great culture if it is made up of the haves and the have nots. You must instill confidence in every player by rewarding those who work the hardest.You must instill confidence in every player by rewarding those who work the hardest. One of the keys to great team culture is making every player believe that he is important to you and the team.One of the keys to great team culture is making every player believe that he is important to you and the team. Every player must feel that you believe in him.Every player must feel that you believe in him. Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Push From The Bottom Push your team from the bottom. Work the weakest players to push the team up the mountain.Push your team from the bottom. Work the weakest players to push the team up the mountain. We all have a tendency to pull from the top.We all have a tendency to pull from the top. –This creates the divide. –The culture is destroyed. Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Timing Is Everything The season is a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout destroys culture. Build your team up the curve, but dont let them get over the hump. Once youve passed the peak, it is not possible to go back. Pace Yourself Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Keep It Simple Lacrosse is not rocket science.Lacrosse is not rocket science. Dont overcomplicate the game while ignoring the culture of your team.Dont overcomplicate the game while ignoring the culture of your team. 1.Pass and Catch - Require kids to pass and catch on their own every day. 2.Ground Balls 3.Shoot 4.Body Position Defense 5.Transition, Transition, Transition Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Measure the Culture of Your Program How many of your players are out shooting on the cage?How many of your players are out shooting on the cage? Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com

Miscellaneous… What to do when the program gets too big.What to do when the program gets too big. –Raise the bar so candidates cut themselves pre- season. For more information, contact Aaron Frank at or visit Copyright Aaron Frank 2004www.championlacrosse.comwww.championlacrosse.com Require Varsity Candidates to inter- view with you (see questionnaire on web site).Require Varsity Candidates to inter- view with you (see questionnaire on web site). Camps, Indoor are critical.Camps, Indoor are critical.