New England Lacrosse Journal‘s Chasing The Goal

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. 

The guest is new Taft School Coach Max Rosner. He was a head coach for NXT Lacrosse Club (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), assistant coach of the 2017 Under Armor Underclass Tournament team (Towson, Maryland), and assistant coach for the 2021s, 2027s and 2030s Next Level Lacrosse teams (Bethesda, Maryland).

Tyrone Croom is the Associate Director of Student Affairs at Cushing Academy and owner of CroART Inc., a "one stop shop for adult leagues." CroART offers adult players a chance to play Lacrosse or Flag Football at a competitive level. Youth players can attend clinics, participate on travel teams, or learn how to play.  More at https://www.croartsports.com/

In 2021 Mark Champagne lost the mother to his son Quinton after a long battle with dementia. Quinton and Mark dealt with a very difficult and very real disease that turned their world upside down. Quinton experienced depression and suicidal ideations at a young age, and his father Mark struggled with the task of taking care of his sick wife. They join the show to discuss their experiences and hardships to try and inspire others to talk about theirs. 

Peter Milliman is in his fourth season as the head coach at Johns Hopkins.  Taking the helm at JH in 2020, Milliman previiously coached at Cornell for three seasons. He guided the Blue Jays to a 12-6 record, a share of the Big Ten regular season title and a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2023.  Johns Hopkins finished the season ranked fifth nationally.

The guest is Nazareth Coach Rob Randall. For more than two decades, Randall has been able to keep the Golden Flyers competitive with the elite teams in Division III.

Christopher Newport lacrosse coach Mikey Thompson has taken his team to new levels of success. After spending four seasons as an assistant coach with the Captains beginning in 2011, Thompson was elevated to head coach in 2016. He has helped CNU earn five NCAA Tournament berths and climb to the top of the USILA National Coaches Poll.

Brad Jorgensen was hired as the first head coach of the Saint Leo University lacrosse program in January 2005. In 2018, he was named the SSC Coach of the Year after he led Saint Leo to its first SSC regular season championship.

Liam Gleason was named the 10th head coach in Siena Lacrosse history in 2018. In 2023 as he successfully guided the Saints to the MAAC Championship Game for the first time since 2014 and earned its most victories (nine) since the team last won the MAAC title that same season.

Mike Perry of Skill Of Strength joins the show to talk about a host of topics around fitness and training specifically for the sport of lacrosse. More at https://www.skillofstrength.com

Happy New Year! Enjoy this special episode featuring the best of the podcast.

Pingree School Coach Kevin Tersolo joins the show. Kevin has been a personal trainer for over 14 years and has developed players to play at the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins and Division II national champion Lemoyne College. He is a former EIL and Eastern New England Prep Coach of the Year