Know the Game
Grow the Game
As the game of lacrosse continues its rapid growth, many newcomers are eager to learn more about the sport. Here are our thoughts regarding what is out there:
We believe the best opportunity for young players to see and learn the game the way it was meant to be played is by watching the game's best teams play. These include the LA Riptide, a professional team playing home games all summer at the Home Depot Center in Carson, and Division I colleges in the East. Traditional powers include Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Syracuse, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Navy.
Los Angeles Riptide
The best lacrosse players in the world play MLL lacrosse. The LA Riptide competes in the MLL (Major League Lacrosse) during the summer months. Games are usually every other Saturday evening throughout the summer.
Televised Lacrosse
The NCAA college lacrosse season is March - May. Each spring, there are more opportunities to watch the top colleges play on television in that time period. You may want to contact your local cable or satellite provider to be sure you have access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox Sports Net, and CSTV to ensure you can see most games.
ESPN / ESPN 2 / ESPNU
ESPN carries the national championship "Final Four" on Saturday and Monday of Memorial Day Weekend - semi-final games on Saturday and the championship on Monday. The best of the best. A must see for any lacrosse player/fan.
ESPN recently (Spring '05) launched a new all-college 24 hour network called ESPN U. The "U" carries a number of men's and women's college lacrosse games from early March until mid-May.
CSTV
College Sports Television is a cable network. It is usually a part of a "premium package." They carry a college lacrosse game of the week beginning in late February/early March and running through the NCAA tournament in May.
Periodicals
Inside Lacrosse
Best publication in the game right now. Monthly issues during lacrosse season. Good stories, instructional sections, and great photos.
Lacrosse Magazine
Lacrosse magazine is one of the benefits of joining US Lacrosse. You can join or add additional issues at:
Books
There are many books out there. They are all available on the US Lacrosse website. Have your US Lacrosse membership number handy and be sure to click the member button at the bottom of the page when selecting an item to receive your 10% member's discount.
"The Spirit in the Stick"
Written by Neil Duffy, a former standout at Navy. Neil is currently a teacher and coach at Norfolk Academy in Norfolk, VA. This one is great for the kids, but a very good, and relatively quick read for adults.
"Fourteen-year-old Robbie Jones receives a 200 year-old lacrosse stick, which has been passed down through several generations, from Hall-of-Famer Jimmy Lewis. He has no idea what he is about to learn from Lewis...or the stick."
Price: $14.95
Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition
An older, yet very important, review of all aspects of the game. Written by one of the finest men in the game, former Johns Hopkins coach and US Lacrosse Hall of Fame member Bob Scott.
Price: $18.95
Lacrosse: Fundamentals for Winning
Published by Sports Illustrated, but compiled by legendary Hobart (and now Georgetown) head coach Dave Urick. This book includes some history, but mostly reviews the fundamentals and some game strategy.
Price: $13.00
Coaching Youth Lacrosse, 2nd Edition
A good book for beginning coaches at youth levels.
Price: $16.95
Parents' Guide to the Sport of Lacrosse: 10th Edition
Price: $3.50
Videos and DVD's
While there are a variety of instructional and highlight DVD's available on the US Lacrosse website, we still believe the best opportunity to learn the game is from watching the best play it live on or tape/DVD.