Doing Things a Little Differently Presented by: Head Coach Curtis Gilbert and the New England College Staff

Concerns: 1.Money – We are a Division III program with a very limited budget and any way we can stretch the dollar, the better. Keep it unique without breaking the bank or adversely appearing cheap or frugal. 2.Intentions – Are we trying to look a part that we are not? What will this image/approach do to the underlying culture of the team? Cost:Benefit, SWOT, Brainstorming. 3.Continuity – While it is good to keep things fresh, it can sometimes disrupt the continuity of the program and the learning process. 4.Openness – Will the guys be open to this approach? 5.Stay Grounded – While striving for new and improved ways to keep a competitive advantage, do not forget about the roots of your philosophy and the basic fundamentals of the game and your coaching process.

Benefits: 1.Competitive Advantage – By constantly re-evaluating your approach to any given aspect of the team, it keeps things fresh and evolving. (“A rolling stone gathers no moss”) 2.Ownership – When constantly striving for new and improved ways to lead and operate, the players begin to realize how much you care about the program. Similarly, if the players are given opportunities to embrace change or champion it, they invest more time and energy in the process. (Sometimes the best voice, is a new voice…) 3.Keeps it Enjoyable – this is after all just a game. Stay grounded and realize that this games is supposed to be fun. Stay fresh, Stay fun. 4.Aces – If you have paid your due diligence and the ideas do work, then the other team will not know what hit them. Aces in the pocket are always tough to beat. Everyone can defend a deuces… 5.Change is free – You don’t need to buy new equipment, or launch a new website for change to work. (but you can…they are inexpensive ways too)

Study Hall / Academics All 1 st yr players and anyone below a 2.5 gpa have 8 hours of study hall/week. Study Hall in Library (Tutoring counts) Set your own hours between 8-4:30. – Typically have 6-10 players in Library btwn Be realistic, take ownership, the work needs to get done anyways. (Facebook and COD at night!) Get above a 2.5 and your out. Those below a 2.5 in the spring have “duties” – Duties determined by Seniority. Oldest have the WORST. Per semester gpa, not your cumulative. Get good grades, and you’ll be the boss.

Off-Season Conditioning Leadership Pyramid Encourage ownership and committed investment. Teach and develop leadership at a younger age. Everyone has a sense of empowerment. FreihofnerJacques PutneyFlynnCrozierCollins RiceTestorDiFalcoNicastroGillisDelamoreCostelloGoyette ParsonsRuzbasanMcMasterHebertMilesKemenaMaioranaHerzog BarnardAmourGagnonZellenShutePeckNaimieBarbati KitsonScullyGomesChenWeisbergHunter

Missing Practice Late to practice, you leave. Next practice you sit-out. (stand in corner) – Watch someone take your place. Then you may return, but you are at the bottom of the depth chart for your position. Why should you be in better conditioning than the player who is on time…? (LT) If you sit-out or serve your time on Pre-game, you will not play in the game. (no prac=no play)

Provide Incentives: High-Rollers Club – Usually takes place on Spring Break. – First off the bus. – First to get their room keys. – First in line to eat. – …basically 1 st for everything for the duration of the trip.

Practice Player of the Week PPOTW 17 Weeks = 17 Shirts Week 1: Coach’s Vote Everyday Week 2: Coaches everday, plus Week 1 winner. Week 3: Coaches everday, plus Week 1 and 2 winner. …..etc. Week 8: Coaches everyday, Week 1-7 winners end of week. Other Incentives:

Basic – Everyone desires appreciation for their efforts. – Creates Individual goals that benefit the whole. Simple – PPOTW shirts. (exclusive gear) – Extra Helmet sticker. (Looking back/Looking fwd) Deeper – “I Love You” (you must say it clearly and why) De La Salle Spartans of Concord, CA Football team – Has less to work with and draw from. – Had a 151 game winning streak between ‘92-’03! – Strengthening the unspoken bond of Athletics. – – "To all those who inquire about the secret of our success, I respond now with: Spend a Year with Us." Bob Ladouceur, Spartan Head Football Coach

Cooler Practice: When things get stale. Divide the teams accordingly. Fill up a Cooler with goodies and place at the midline opposite the sub-box. Winner gets the cooler. Do not say what is in there. (Capri-Sun, Chips, Candy bars, coconut water, Gatorade, Soda, t-shirts…etc.)

6.Hockey Inspiration Many cross-over athletes and similarities in the skills used. Body positioning for loose balls and using teammates in GB situations. (Goosing, Hockey slaps/taps… Odd man rush drills and Fast break freelancing. Cycling offense vs. traditional pick-play. Increasing shooting angles through top-side offense. Very similar to Box Lacrosse Inspiration…

5v3 into 2v2/3v3/5v5 -Drill begins by having to clear from the def zone 5v3. -2 low D stay behind and 2 new O enter the zone for a 2v2 one- time attempt. -Meanwhile 3v3 pushes the opposite zone. -2v2 rejoins the opposite end and play out a 5v5 situation. o x Ice Hockey Drills o o oo x x x x

5v3 into 2v2/3v3/5v5 -Drill begins by having to clear from the def zone 5v3. -2 low D stay behind and 2 new O enter the zone for a 2v2 one-time attempt. -Meanwhile 3v3 pushes the opposite zone. -2v2 rejoins the opposite end and play out a 5v5 situation. o x Ice Hockey Drills o o o o x x x x

5v3 into 2v2/3v3/5v5 -Drill begins by having to clear from the def zone 5v3. -2 low D stay behind and 2 new O enter the zone for a 2v2 one- time attempt. -Meanwhile 3v3 pushes the opposite zone. -2v2 rejoins the opposite end and play out a 5v5 situation. o x Ice Hockey Drills oo o o x x x x

2v4 into a 2v2 -The drill begins 2v2 with 2 more O players on the corners as outlets. -The O on corners can be either outlets or dump/shoot. -Once the D recovers, they push transition against the 2 O players on the corner. Ice Hockey Drills oo o o x x Outlet/shooter

2v4 into a 2v2 -The drill begins 2v2 with 2 more O players on the corners as outlets. -The O on corners can be either outlets or dump/shoot. -Once the D recovers, they push transition against the 2 O players on the corner. Ice Hockey Drills o o o o x x

DOG FIGHT GB’s Great for Indoors and confined spaces. Find a wall or sideline, and players arc around the boundaries. The two players cannot pick up the ball until the second whistle. They can use their feet and stick to bat the ball to free space. (but cannot pick up w/ stick yet) Outside players kick or stick the ball to free space if it comes to them or dies… The entire arc is making NOISE the whole time!

4 v 4 Box Lacrosse Great for confined spaces and in basketball gyms. Gets players up and down, and teaches everyone basic transitional positioning. Encourages both basketball picks and hockey cycling in the freelance game. Everyone must handle the ball. Short shifts determined by Coach opposite the sub box second shifts determined by pace of play and by the quality of decisions being made within that pace of play. Player cannot enter field, until other is in the box. (Quick off / Quick on)

4 v 4 Box Lax 1. Let them Play 2. Encourage Freelance 3. Talk Players through 4. Stay Neutral 5. Stay Positive 6. Coach of fly or ¼’s 7. Always keep score! 8. Basketball v. Hockey o o o o o o o o o o o x x x x x x x x x x x x C C C o o o o o x x x x B

Box Lax Variation -Add a player below GLE -All time X-Man. -No Defender -X man cannot score -W/ Defender -X man can score -Encourage Backside looks. -At the least pass and pick. C x x x x o o o o x o

7.Full-Field Drills Naz Drill – 3 attack on each end. – 4 defenders. (2bottom, 2top in a box) – 2 lines behind the cage. – Top 2 break out and push 5 v 4. – After offense, ride hard to the mid-line and off. – Must clear the ball on Goalies half of mid-line. – Cannot cross mid-line to get open. – Coaches need to have balls ready for restart!

x o oo oo o o oooooo xx xx x x xxxxxx Naz Drill Emphasis: 1.5 v 4 Basics 2.Ride Hard! 3.Cover deep man 4.“First Stick”

SUPERFREAK Full-Field 5 v 5 progression drill Two zones to cover: The ‘a’ and The ‘b’ The Progression is: – Exit box and stop transition ( ½ Def.) – Get to the ‘a’ and push transition. (Off.) – Get to the ‘a’ and STOP transition. (Def.) – Get to the ‘b’ and hunt the ball and pass to ‘a’. (Off.) – Stop the man in ‘b’ and ride to mid-line. ( ½ Def.) – ½ Field D, 1 FF O, 1 FF D, 1 FF O, ½ Field D. – ½ Field, 3 Full Fields, ½ Field and off.

a b b x o o o x x Sup er Fre ak

a b b x o o o x x xo o o x x xx o o 1.Stop Transition 2.Push the ‘a’ 3.Defend the ‘a’ 4.Hunt in ‘b’ 5.Defend ‘b’/Midline Super Freak

a b b x o o x x xo o o x x xx o o 1.Stop Transition 2.Push the ‘a’ 3.Defend the ‘a’ 4.Hunt in ‘b’ 5.Defend ‘b’/Midline Super Freak

a b b x o o x x xo o o x x xx o o 1.Stop Transition 2.Push the ‘a’ 3.Defend the ‘a’ 4.Hunt in ‘b’ 5.Defend ‘b’/Midline Defend the ‘a’ Super Freak

a b x o o x x xo o o x x xx o o 1.Stop Transition 2.Push the ‘a’ 3.Defend the ‘a’ 4.Hunt in ‘b’ 5.Defend ‘b’/Midline Hunt -Head-Man -Trailing Mid -Make a play

a b x o o x x xo o o x x xx o o 1.Stop Transition 2.Push the ‘a’ 3.Defend the ‘a’ 4.Hunt in ‘b’ 5.Defend ‘b’/Midline RIDE!

Substitution Progressions Let your LSM linger in the crease. Open up the middle of the field. Ball/feeder in the corners of box. Sub your new Super Freak on first. Over the top pick sweeps – Pick and roll, fake pick, slips…etc. Bluff subs and backdoors. Advantage begins at the box.(Sprint!) Good pass to the Adv. and draw/dump.

Questions? Please feel free to /call anytime: Thanks Everyone and Best of Luck this Season!