Player Development

360º Player Development Methodology™ - Our mission is to develop complete athletes through the sport of lacrosse. The 360º Player Development Methodology™ (“360” or “360 Methodology”) focuses on 6 Core Components that make up player development: athletics, stick skills, edge, game IQ, team concepts and conduct. 360 is more comprehensive than traditional lacrosse training. It ensures a balanced approach to training players and provides a high degree of transferability. That means what a player learns with 360 also works to enhance other sports experiences. It is much more than just an investment into lacrosse. Below is a list of the specific elements that make up the 6 Core Components of the 360 Methodology.

01

Athletics

  • Acceleration
  • Top speed
  • Lateral movement
  • Stop and go ability
  • Change of direction
  • Backwards movement
  • Conditioning
  • Footspeed
  • Physical toughness
  • Mental toughness

02

Stick Skills

  • Passing
  • Catching
  • Cradling
  • Shooting
  • Ground Balls
  • Throwing Checks
  • Proficiency with BOTH hands

03

Lacrosse IQ

  • Position play
  • Game strategy
  • Ability to adapt
  • Plays
  • Offensive sets
  • Man up, man down

04

Team Concepts

  • Leadership
  • Family
  • Identity
  • Focus
  • Consistency
  • Positive attitude
  • Work habits
  • The journey versus the goal

05

Edge

  • Putting in extra work off the field when nobody is watching

06

Conduct

  • “Do the right thing”
  • “Leave the place better than you found it”
  • Applying conduct to BOTH on- and off-field activities

Player Development In Action

The application of the 6 Core Components for different age levels is managed through the 360 Curriculum. The specific application of the 360 Curriculum at practices and games is conducted via Practice Plans, which in turn are made up of Drills.

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Development Ladder

01

2nd/3rd Grade

  • Game rules
  • Lines on the field
  • Positions (Defense, Midfield, Attack)
  • Passing, catching, cradling and ground balls
  • How to play a face-off
  • Matching up
  • Man defense
  • Spacing

02

4th/5th Grade

Review material from 2nd/3rd plus:

  • Using the off-hand
  • Time and room shooting (shooting form)
  • Shooting on the run
  • Introduction of D pole and basic defensive skills
  • Transition offense and defense
  • Set offense and defense
  • Basic clear and ride
  • Man up and man down

03

6th Grade

Review material from 2nd/3rd and 4th/5th plus:

  • Improve off-hand skills
  • Understanding of offense and offensive sets
  • Slide packages
  • Specialty positions (Goalie, D-mid, LSM, Faceoff)
  • Understanding and remembering plays
  • Situational offense and defense
  • Substitutions

04

7th Grade

Review material from 2nd/3rd, 4th/5th and 6th, plus:

  • Set ride
  • Set clear
  • Set man up and man down
  • Understanding the importance of spacing

05

8th Grade

Review material from 2nd/3rd, 4th/5th, 6th and 7th plus:

  • Reinforcing stick skills
  • Preparation for HS

06

High School

Review material from 2nd/3rd, 4th/5th, 6th, 7th and 8th plus:

  • Understand the game from top to bottom
  • Refresh stick skills to be comfortable executing any play coaches design