New England Lacrosse Journal‘s Chasing The Goal

The guest is Ethan McDonnell, the head coach of Choate's lacrosse team. He shares insights on building a lacrosse program, balancing academics and athletics, and navigating the college recruitment process for student-athletes. The discussion covers the unique aspects of Choate, including its academic rigor and innovative approach to education, as well as the importance of finding the right fit for athletes at both the prep school and college levels. McDonnell also reflects on his journey from a student-athlete at Choate to becoming the head coach and how his experience informs his coaching and mentoring approach. The episode emphasizes the value of preparation, community, and matching one's athletic aspirations with educational goals. Chasing the Goal podcast from New England Lacrosse Journal is a Seamans Media production. Find more daily lacrosse news at New England Lacrosse Journal: https://www.laxjournal.com/
Topics
00:34 Guest Introduction: Ethan McDonnell's Journey
01:37 Season Recap and Team Dynamics
05:05 Balancing Postgrads and Developing Young Talent
09:59 Recruitment Insights for Aspiring Prep School Athletes
14:08 Coach's Personal Journey and Lacrosse in Montreal
21:50 Finding the Right Fit: College and Career Choices
22:25 Life Lessons from the Field: Preparing for Success and Failure
23:24 The Role of a Coach: Beyond the Game
24:25 Navigating the College Recruitment Process
26:03 The Importance of Experience Over Winning
34:41 Choate's Unique Approach to Education and Athletics
40:27 The Personal Touch: Coaching at Your Alma Mater
42:22 Wrapping Up: The Right Fit and Upcoming Challenges

The guest is Loomis Chaffee lacrosse coach Bill Ball, who covers a wide array of topics related to prep school lacrosse. Discussions include the anticipation of the NCAA lacrosse tournament, Cornell's prospects, the importance of early season performances, and coach Ball's experiences and coaching philosophy at Loomis Chaffee. Insights into player development, the impact of mentors, the team's playing style, and managing high-performing athletes' expectations are shared. Additionally, they touch on the importance of multi-sport participation, the changing landscape of recruiting, and the unique benefits and challenges of coaching at a boarding school like Loomis Chaffee. The conversation also delves into the competitive nature of the Founders League, the advantages of a Loomis education, and the complex dynamics of coaching different age groups. Topics
00:21 The Road to the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament
00:53 Special Guest: Insights from Loomis Chaffee's Bill Ball
04:30 Adapting to Early Offense: Loomis's Strategy
05:34 Facing Challenges and Celebrating Wins
08:07 Navigating Team Dynamics Without a Key Player
11:44 Building a Strong Team Culture at Loomis
15:32 The Unique Loomis Experience: Academics and Athletics
20:38 Advice for Aspiring Prep School Athletes
21:59 Looking Ahead: The Founders League Championship
22:51 The Thrill of Post-Season Play and School Rivalries
23:55 The Importance of Multi-Sport Participation
24:30 Building Relationships with Club Teams
26:08 The Evolution of Lacrosse and Coaching
31:15 Recruiting and Evaluating Young Talent
35:57 The Unique Challenges of Coaching at Prep Schools
37:15 Loomis Chaffee's Distinctive Approach to Education and Athletics
41:19 The Future of Prep Lacrosse and Closing Thoughts
Chasing the Goal podcast from New England Lacrosse Journal is a Seamans Media production. Find more daily lacrosse news at New England Lacrosse Journal: https://www.laxjournal.com/

The guest is Andrew Kirkaldy, the head coach at Trinity-Pawling. Kirkaldy discusses the challenges and responsibilities of coaching at this level, including player development, mentoring, and recruitment. He emphasizes the importance of teaching life skills alongside lacrosse, reflecting on the pressure to compete for student-athletes and how prep schools provide a nurturing environment for young men to grow both on and off the field. The conversation also touches on Kirkaldy's personal journey through lacrosse, from his playing days in Canada and the NLL draft to transitioning into coaching. Additionally, the episode delves into the competitive landscape of the Founders League, strategies for player utilization and development, and the cultural shift towards incorporating box lacrosse techniques into the field game. Kirkaldy also highlights the accomplishments of his players, the majority of whom continue their lacrosse careers in college, underscoring the program's success in preparing them for the next level. The episode concludes with insights into the unique benefits and challenges of the prep school lacrosse scene.
Topics:
01:29 The Challenges and Triumphs of Coaching Lacrosse 03:47 Coach Kirkaldy's Unique Journey to Lacrosse Coaching 05:27 The Evolution of a Lacrosse Player: From Box to Field 20:20 The Importance of Control and Instinct in Lacrosse 24:52 Analyzing Defensive Strategies in Lacrosse 25:09 The Importance of Aggression and Confidence 25:29 Reflecting on Past Performances and Adjustments 25:50 The Challenge of Coaching at High Levels 26:56 Success Stories: From High School to College Lacrosse 27:27 The Role of Athleticism and Team Dynamics 28:46 Coaching Philosophy: Developing Players and Roles 32:02 Balancing Instructional and Situational Coaching 33:36 Building Character and Life Skills Through Lacrosse 38:32 Personal Journey: From Player to Coach 40:50 Recruitment and the Founders League Dynamics 43:14 Choosing Trinity Pauling: A Focus on Authentic Growth 45:12 The Prep School Advantage and Coaching Perspectives 47:21 Concluding Thoughts and the Impact of Coaching
Chasing the Goal podcast from New England Lacrosse Journal is a Seamans Media production. Find more daily lacrosse news at New England Lacrosse Journal: https://www.laxjournal.com/

The guest is Nashoba head lacrosse coach Matt Biggs, who delves into coaching philosophies, the growth of lacrosse in New England, and the impact of positive youth programs. Discussions highlight the balance between instructional and positive feedback in coaching, the evolution of player skills and mindset, and the necessity for challenging traditional play styles. Coach Biggs shares his personal journey from a player to a coach, his role in building a strong lacrosse culture at Nashoba, and the importance of adapting coaching strategies to player strengths. The conversation also touches on the challenges and benefits of divisional realignments and power rankings in Massachusetts lacrosse, aiming to enhance the competitiveness and integration of teams across regions.
Topics:
00:14 Coaching Styles and Communication on the Field
01:22 Introducing Coach Matt Biggs: A Lacrosse Legacy
02:29 Building a Program: The Nashoba Lacrosse Story
05:42 The Impact of Mentors in Lacrosse Coaching 06:15 The Challenge of Refereeing in Lacrosse
11:47 Cultivating Talent and Team Culture at Nashoba
12:29 The Evolution of a Coach: Offensive Strategy and Team Dynamics
19:40 The Importance of Practice and Developing Young Talent
26:18 Exploring Team Dynamics and Coaching Philosophy
26:35 The Importance of Fun and Culture in Team Sports
28:48 Adapting Coaching Strategies for Youth and High School Sports
31:11 Encouraging Creativity and Individuality in Players
41:23 Navigating Divisional Realignment and Its Impact on Teams
Chasing the Goal podcast from New England Lacrosse Journal is a Seamans Media production.
Find more daily lacrosse news at New England Lacrosse Journal: https://www.laxjournal.com/

Lacrosse legend Corey Bulken, an assistant coach at Severn School, shares insights on his playing career, coaching philosophy, and transition to coaching high school and college levels. He delves into the evolution of lacrosse, mentoring relationships, recruiting strategies, and the fulfilling experience of impacting players beyond the field.

Aaron Verardi is in his 10th season as head coach of the Harford Community College lacrosse program. In 2023, Verardi led the Fighting Owls to the Program's first NJCAA national championship. The team also finished the season undefeated for the first time with a 12-0 record.

Bishop Feehan High lacrosse coach Tom Sheerin is the guest. Sheerin has been on the coaching staff since the school introduced the game as a varsity sport in 2005. Sheerin also has 21 years of coaching experience with the Attleboro Titans youth lacrosse program.

Thayer Coach Bill Daye, who played collegiately at the University of North Carolina, took over the program in 2023.

Mike Zhe joins Kyle and Jack to preview the upcoming ISL season.

New Attleboro High School lacrosse coach Jim Black joins the show to talk about topics including strategies, coaching philosophies, and team dynamics. Coach Black discusses the challenges of taking on a coaching role in a competitive league like the Hockomock, emphasizing the importance of building a strong team culture and focusing on skill development.
Jim also covers the significance of establishing connections with players and families in the community, acknowledging the historical prominence of football in Attleboro and the need to cultivate lacrosse talent. Coach Black outlines his approach to coaching, drawing on experiences from his own playing days and mentorship from influential figures in his life.
The conversation also delves into specific drills and training methods, with Coach Black and the hosts sharing their favorite drills for improving skills such as ground balls, passing, and shooting.