My son (grade school age) is on a pretty competitive club team. He has been playing defense for the past year and a half, but he's just been moved to long-stick middie (LSM). Everything I've read about the LSM position (I never played myself) is that, in general, it takes a very athletic player to play it well. I don't think he really stands out compared to the other players on the team (and there are certainly better players than him on the team), but can I safely assume that the coaches think highly of him if they put him in this position? Put differently, if you didn't think a kid was that good, is LSM a position at which you could "hide" a player? Thanks for any input anyone may have...
There are various reasons why a coach would implement an LSM in games, but I would say that it sounds as positive support for ur boys skillsets.
My $.02
I was not the fastest guy on the team but my positioning was what made me stand out, that is probably the nost important thing because you will be guarding faster guys and you operate in a lot more spac...
doqn low defenseman there is not as much room to move so usually your bigger defenseman play down low...
any other questions i will be happy to help
he is not going to play jist long stick middie he will be asked to play down low at times as well
he is not going to play jist long stick middie he will be asked to play down low at times as well
Agree with this. At that age more exposure to multiple positions on the field is good.
On a side note Joel White an 1st team NCAA allstar for Syracuse University Lacrosse was a star short stick midfielder in HS and was told his freshman year in college that if he wanted to see the field he had to switch to LSM.
You already have lots of great advice. But I will try to add to it. In my estimation, LSM is one of the most important positions you can play. Even though there’s more substitution at this position, a team has a physical, rangey LSM who is a vacuum on ground balls, that team can control transition (possession between D to O) in a game.
More importantly, on face-offs, if your son can contest every ground ball from the wing and win the 50/50s that his FOGO doesn’t win...he will own that LSM position!
As a coach, I was fortunate to have one of these “vacuums” in club and older youth ball. Possessions are key and control the game. If he buys into that logic as a player, he’s set!!!
Michael Erhardt (Chaminade, Maryland, Team USA)
Matt Bocklet (South Side, Johns Hopkins, Denver Outlaws)
John Sexton (Notre Dame)
Brian Karalunas (Villanova)
...many of these guys evolved to LSM from close defense, or vice-versa, but all have incredible dexterity as shut down men and open field defenders.
You already have lots of great advice. But I will try to add to it. In my estimation, LSM is one of the most important positions you can play. Even though there’s more substitution at this position, a team has a physical, rangey LSM who is a vacuum on ground balls, that team can control transition (possession between D to O) in a game.
More importantly, on face-offs, if your son can contest every ground ball from the wing and win the 50/50s that his FOGO doesn’t win...he will own that LSM position!
As a coach, I was fortunate to have one of these “vacuums” in club and older youth ball. Possessions are key and control the game. If he buys into that logic as a player, he’s set!!!
Thanks Pete! He plays for Team 91 on LI. Great club and fantastic coaches. He loves to play and is excited about the opportunity.
I have cousins who played LI Express for years. My son has played for John Grant Jr on Evolve out here in CO.
Like others here, i am always happy to talk about lacrosse!
I have cousins who played LI Express for years. My son has played for John Grant Jr on Evolve out here in CO.
Like others here, i am always happy to talk about lacrosse!
Spallina isnt the coach of my son’s team, but he is the director of coaching and designs the winter academy training program in which all of the teams participate. Yes, he does know his stuff...he’s built quite a program.
I tell you - I was never exposed to lacrosse as a kid, but if I had been I would have never stopped playing. Now I always find myself reading and watching and trying to learn more and more about it. It’s a great game.
On a side note Joel White an 1st team NCAA allstar for Syracuse University Lacrosse was a star short stick midfielder in HS and was told his freshman year in college that if he wanted to see the field he had to switch to LSM.
This is an excellent summary. My son's team went from having an excellent LSM to having a poor one last season to back to having an excellent one. It isn't a position to "hide" anyone. mushroom is correct - You can hide people at the third attack position much easier.
Lacrosse at the higher levels is all about gaining and maintaining possession. A good LSM will get ground balls on the faceoff and transition into the zone. He will defend the ball if the opposition gets a ground ball until possession is regained.
It is also a very good position to play if your son wants to be recruited since, numberswise, there are less LSM's. My son is a goalie - which is similar in that regard. Attackmen and defenders often get lost in a numbers game when looking to play later.
Good luck to him.
From my experience, I found two big reasons for this type of move.
1. A close defense player is not the best player to cover the other teams best player nor does he posses the best fit for the crease defense role. So you have someone who has good skills and there is a lot to like that can be used as a long stick middie. Or simply, getting your best players on the field.
2. The player has great intelligence for the game.
-Yes, he is required to still be a defender of midfielders. He also understands the conceptual difference of defending in a inverted situation (midfielder attacking from behind) from playing defense. Some can be lost sheep in that role.
-He can be a offensive threat. Throughout a game, many fast break opportunities are created. Think in terms of a point guard on a break. You want someone who possesses the skills and SMARTS leading it. Do I shoot it? Who do I pass to and should I cut for a return feed or head to the sideline for a short stick? Does he have the ability to shoot? Does he understand the angles and has the ability to get open to create the break in the first place? I think many of these things are kind of gifted to certain people and others not so much.
Getting experience like this at his age is a good thing. He is young....there is a lot to be learned in the game so I see no negative in this. Who knows by time he attends college he may be a star goalie! Good luck.
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is invaluable on a lacrosse team. He must understand both offense and defense and as others have said be tenacious and a ground ball vacuum . I would look on it as a great opportunity for your son. The coach must see that he is a hard working,smart selfless player. When I coached the young players we tended to "hide" players as the third attackman.
On a side note Joel White an 1st team NCAA allstar for Syracuse University Lacrosse was a star short stick midfielder in HS and was told his freshman year in college that if he wanted to see the field he had to switch to LSM.
This is an excellent summary. My son's team went from having an excellent LSM to having a poor one last season to back to having an excellent one. It isn't a position to "hide" anyone. mushroom is correct - You can hide people at the third attack position much easier.
Lacrosse at the higher levels is all about gaining and maintaining possession. A good LSM will get ground balls on the faceoff and transition into the zone. He will defend the ball if the opposition gets a ground ball until possession is regained.
It is also a very good position to play if your son wants to be recruited since, numberswise, there are less LSM's. My son is a goalie - which is similar in that regard. Attackmen and defenders often get lost in a numbers game when looking to play later.
Good luck to him.
Thanks FMiC
From my experience, I found two big reasons for this type of move.
1. A close defense player is not the best player to cover the other teams best player nor does he posses the best fit for the crease defense role. So you have someone who has good skills and there is a lot to like that can be used as a long stick middie. Or simply, getting your best players on the field.
2. The player has great intelligence for the game.
-Yes, he is required to still be a defender of midfielders. He also understands the conceptual difference of defending in a inverted situation (midfielder attacking from behind) from playing defense. Some can be lost sheep in that role.
-He can be a offensive threat. Throughout a game, many fast break opportunities are created. Think in terms of a point guard on a break. You want someone who possesses the skills and SMARTS leading it. Do I shoot it? Who do I pass to and should I cut for a return feed or head to the sideline for a short stick? Does he have the ability to shoot? Does he understand the angles and has the ability to get open to create the break in the first place? I think many of these things are kind of gifted to certain people and others not so much.
Getting experience like this at his age is a good thing. He is young....there is a lot to be learned in the game so I see no negative in this. Who knows by time he attends college he may be a star goalie! Good luck.
Thank you - great post
And thanks to everyone else - very informative thread. Just proves again that you don't need google or wikipedia when you have BBI
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...is Spallina his coach? That dude knows his stuff.
I have cousins who played LI Express for years. My son has played for John Grant Jr on Evolve out here in CO.
Like others here, i am always happy to talk about lacrosse!
Spallina isnt the coach of my son’s team, but he is the director of coaching and designs the winter academy training program in which all of the teams participate. Yes, he does know his stuff...he’s built quite a program.
I tell you - I was never exposed to lacrosse as a kid, but if I had been I would have never stopped playing. Now I always find myself reading and watching and trying to learn more and more about it. It’s a great game.
Small world, my brother-in-law has known Joe Spallina (Brian's brother) for years. They taught at the same high school.
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In comment 14389468 Pete in CO said:
Quote:
...is Spallina his coach? That dude knows his stuff.
I have cousins who played LI Express for years. My son has played for John Grant Jr on Evolve out here in CO.
Like others here, i am always happy to talk about lacrosse!
Spallina isnt the coach of my son’s team, but he is the director of coaching and designs the winter academy training program in which all of the teams participate. Yes, he does know his stuff...he’s built quite a program.
I tell you - I was never exposed to lacrosse as a kid, but if I had been I would have never stopped playing. Now I always find myself reading and watching and trying to learn more and more about it. It’s a great game.
Small world, my brother-in-law has known Joe Spallina (Brian's brother) for years. They taught at the same high school.
I don't think there's anything Joe Spallina doesn't coach - Lizards, Stony Brook women, boys and girls club...