Is it difficult to learn lacrosse? 5 Steps to know
Is it difficult to learn lacrosse?
When young athletes are drawn to the concept of a new activity, one of the first concerns that comes to mind is how difficult it is. It is only reasonable for kids to inquire about how challenging lacrosse is to learn because they all want to take the easiest route to the top. Of course, I can recall a younger myself posing the exact same query.
Lacrosse is an easy sport to pick up. It takes some time to become used to playing a lacrosse cue, but you can quickly master this technique by practicing on your own. When they fully hone their racket skills, a lot of players who switch from other sports succeed.
Any sport’s learning phase is always challenging, but after you grasp the fundamentals, it becomes less challenging. After going through this novice stage, I will be completely open and honest about what I found to be the easiest and most challenging aspects of learning lacrosse.
You will have a thorough understanding of the sport’s difficulty level at the end of this essay, enabling you to decide whether lacrosse is right for you or not.
The simple things about learning lacrosse
It’s just that they’re not used to using a device instead of their hands to contact the ball, many athletes find the idea of studying lacrosse intimidating. Lacrosse has a number of distinctive characteristics that make mastering the game more simpler than you initially thought.
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It’s simple to practice on your own time.
On the one hand, you can quickly pick up the fundamentals of lacrosse in your free time.
This was far more challenging in the early years of lacrosse because there were no helpful web resources available to educate newcomers the fundamentals. Since the internet has been available for a while, there are many tutorial videos for lacrosse that demonstrate the fundamental moves step-by-step so you can simply follow.
For instance, each player in lacrosse needs to grasp the fundamentals of throwing and catching. You can play wallball at a nearby park or school to put the fundamentals of these moves into practice after watching some YouTube videos to understand the basics.
Playing wall ball forces you to practice your pitching accuracy and consistency with both hands when picking up the ball, which is the ideal approach to improve your racket skills. In team sports like football or baseball, you must have a partner to play the ball; otherwise, you’re out of luck.
Lacrosse gives players the choice to train alone or with a friend while kicking the ball against a solid wall.
Keep in mind that this approach doesn’t just work for throwing and catching. Finding a public lacrosse cage will allow you to practice other fundamental abilities including weighting, dodging, and shooting as lacrosse objectives become more prevalent in theme parks.
Practice imaginary dodges that turn into shots as you run is one way to level up all three skills simultaneously. This form of training simulates real-world game situations, especially for offensively guided players.
I did it myself, therefore I can state with certainty that learning lacrosse shortens the learning curve. I practiced by myself nearly every day after joining the neighborhood lacrosse league, playing wallball or taking shots at the lacrosse goal at my school.
In those early days, I made a lot of poor passes and missed kicks, but my game quickly improved. You’d think that making these frequent errors would discourage me, but I actually enjoy practicing alone. That leads me to my next point.
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You become addicted to improving
Even though you will undoubtedly make a lot of blunders in the beginning, every little victory will seem huge. This sensation of achievement will increase your motivation and motivate you to take risks. For instance, swinging is one of lacrosse’s most essential actions. For those who are unaware, lacrosse players preserve possession by packing. To take use of the centripetal force that keeps the ball from dropping from the racket, players roll the racket back and forth.
Basically, this move consists of a wrist and arm curve. This is the simplest task in the world for seasoned lacrosse players. It can be challenging for beginners to comprehend the move.
Lacrosse newbies’ interest might be piqued by just mastering a basic technique like this. I recall that I developed an addiction when I first mastered the weigh-in. My curiosity piqued, I felt compelled to explore and get more knowledge. Every small step I took forward drove me even more.
There is little doubt that this is true to some extent even now. In lacrosse, there is always something to do. One of those activities that requires years to learn the fundamentals of but only a few weeks to truly master. Long after I first got up a lacrosse cue, continuing to make slight improvements to my game allowed me to keep my enthusiasm for the sport.
Welcome network of players ready to help
The lacrosse sport community is also one of the sport’s most beneficial networks. Everyone involved in the lacrosse community wants to see the game develop and flourish. Because of this, they are eager to help new players understand the game.
In order to play organized game of lacrosse, therefore, team up with a friend you are already familiar with. When you first start playing lacrosse, they can serve as your mentor, similar to a training partner. The process of gradually mastering the fundamentals is made considerably simpler when a friend is there.
Additionally, a lot of former lacrosse players are supporting the sport by running clinics and training camps. Your progress will be substantially accelerated by taking advantage of the classes that are offered to you. These camp directors have experience working in your position, so they are fully aware of the challenges you experience and how to point them out so you can improve as a lacrosse player.
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It is not uncommon for professional lacrosse players to hold clinics and camps that are solely focused on assisting young players in improving their skills. The photo below shows Matt Rambo, the Premiere League Lacrosse MVP 2019, coaching young lacrosse players.
It might be challenging to pinpoint underlying issues with your technique when you workout alone. You can prevent developing negative habits from the start by working with an experienced trainer who can point you in the correct way.
The hard things to learn lacrosse
Unfortunately, not all aspects of learning lacrosse are simple. There are a few things that are a little challenging to learn, and I struggled with them.
Playing with a lacrosse stick instead of your hands doesn’t seem natural at first
The main challenge to mastering lacrosse is getting used to the strange sensation of using a lacrosse stick instead of your hands.
The majority of other well-known sports, including football and basketball, require players to directly contact the ball with their hands. You use only your hands to complete every pass and toss; no other equipment is used.
Lacrosse is a completely different sport. Players must almost entirely utilise lacrosse sticks. The lacrosse stick, in the opinion of many players and coaches, should truly feel like an extension of the body. At first, it might seem impossible to develop this natural comfort with the lacrosse stick. If you’ve never used a lacrosse stick, it’s normal to feel uncomfortable carrying one.
Playing lacrosse for the very first few weeks will make simple actions like picking up the ball out of the ground and rocking it in the race feel weird. However, this discomfort lessens with time.
Just be aware that beginners will undoubtedly make some blunders. It can take weeks of persistent practice to get the hang of swinging a lacrosse cue. When this training time is through, though, you will be glad you put up with the hassle.
Learning the rules takes some time.
Additionally, learning the many lacrosse rules is a long and slow process. Few, if any, novice lacrosse players will actually take the time to read all the rules that govern the sport. It’s a really tedious chore, let’s face it.
New players must therefore rapidly pick up the rules, whether by intently watching games or by asking specific questions to their teammates and coaches.
It’s vital to remember that different players recall lacrosse regulations more quickly than others. Some players may be familiar with some lacrosse rules because of the overlap between lacrosse and a number of well-known sports.
For instance, the regulations governing substitutions in lacrosse are similar to those in hockey, in where players are free to enter and exit the field at their leisure without officially interrupting play. Hockey players transitioning to lacrosse are familiar with this kind of replacement process. Lacrosse players, on the other hand, might take a little longer to get the hang of this in a basketball transition.
Additionally, new players tend to overlook the strict regulations limiting the legitimacy of a lacrosse cue. The legality of a stick of lacrosse is determined by a number of significant rules. All of this makes it possible for rookie players to unintentionally disobey any of these regulations and end up costing their team a fine simply for not knowing any better.
For instance, there are regulations governing the depth of a pocket, the placement of firing lines, and the prohibited areas for applying duct tape on sticks. It can be challenging to get all the information required to understand why a lacrosse cue is prohibited in the very first place due to the complexity of these regulations.
It could seem a little scary to memories every single detail of the game’s regulations, but don’t worry. You gradually pick up these subtle nuances as you play more games, until you have seen practically every rule broken.
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Developing your lacrosse intelligence requires experience and dedication
Finally, while it may appear simple on paper to know where and when to move in a lacrosse game, it can be challenging to execute in the heat of battle.
Your very first lacrosse game will seem to move at a breakneck speed. Following the game is difficult both physically and cognitively since the ball is travelling so quickly.
Having too many players on the field at once can often make it difficult for beginners to grasp what to do.
In a planned offensive set, six offensive players face off against 6 defensive players (no goalkeeper). Without having a solid understanding of the foundations of lacrosse defending, it might be difficult to visualize where the other 11 players are on the field.
That explains why so many newcomers start off fighting. They are unsure of their exact position in the system. For instance, novice offensive players have a hard time judging when to dodge and when to kick, and they can’t tell the difference between a high-percentage kick and a low-percentage kick. All of these errors in judgement lead to hesitation on the field. Delays result in errors because the defense has a chance to score.
Similar issues also affect defensive players. They have to understand how to properly check ball carriers, know when to offer defensive help, and know what should do when the opposition offence loses the ball. The field also displays this ignorance through hesitancy. On the field of lacrosse, hesitation never serves the players well.
How long does it take to get through the difficulties that come with being a beginner?
As a result of the ups and downs of learning, new players usually ask how long it will take to go past the beginner stage.
It usually takes a beginner 3 to 6 months to reach the stage when he feels at ease holding a lacrosse cue and is aware of the fundamentals of the game.
This is equivalent to one to 2 lacrosse seasons. So I wouldn’t worry if you’re disheartened after a few weeks of taking up a stick you’re still having trouble with the fundamentals. You are on track to develop into a proficient lacrosse player, compared to the average lacrosse player.
This timetable will obviously change based on how much time you put into the sport. You’ll pick up the fundamentals substantially quicker than other players if you take the lead to practice on your own.
As a novice, I would refrain from evaluating my abilities in relation to those of other players. To reach your performance objectives, concentrate on the things you may control and work to get better every day. Before you got to know it, you and the best members of your squad are in the lead.
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Tips to minimize the difficulty of learning lacrosse
Even though young lacrosse players are aware that every great player started out as a beginner, this does not lessen the frustration of the natural growing pains that come along with the learning process. Read the suggestions below and use them to improve your game to go history this stage as quickly as you can.
Become a sport student
Learning the game well is by far the best approach to improve as a lacrosse player. Why does that matter? The thought probably occurs to some of you.
Basically, learning lacrosse involves doing everything you can to learn the game’s strategy. The field could then benefit from this freshly learned information. Most players leave the field after a game and quickly return home, forgetting about lacrosse until the following contest. You must consider lacrosse both on and off the field if you want to truly stand out from the competitors.
This can be done in a number of effective ways. Keeping up with lacrosse at the college and professional levels is a simple method to achieve this. You can get a good idea of how your game should be structured by watching the finest lacrosse games.
You will also be exposed to a range of play styles if you pick a few players that fit your particular position and carefully examine their games.
Your lacrosse IQ will rise as a result of this special viewpoint, enabling you to borrow techniques from numerous of your favorite players to develop your own distinctive playing style.
You can watch the highlights of the games on YouTube if you don’t have time to see the entire game. The Premiere Lacrosse League (PLL) is currently in full swing as I write this. I tried my hardest to watch every game in the best way possible, but occasionally life interferes. Fortunately, they immediately put all of the game’s highlights to YouTube, so I don’t have to miss anything. So’s not the only method to improve your lacrosse IQ, but watching movies is an excellent way to do it.
Listening to lacrosse podcasts is an excellent method to improve your game knowledge. Starting a lacrosse podcast on your commute to work or school will change things up from simply listening to music. You can learn essential knowledge about different lacrosse strategies and tactics that may come in handy on the field.
Every day, perform at least 200 reps against the wall.
The next strategy is to create a rigid daily wallball schedule in order to hasten your player’s progress.
As was already mentioned, the lacrosse stick is essential to the game. Players that lack the essential abilities to use this equipment will, unfortunately, not fare well in this sport. You must be able to use a lacrosse stick to catch or throw in order to contribute to both attack and defense. You will be a liability in the field if not.
High repetitions are needed to perform at this level. Your lacrosse cue will get better the more practice you give it. Playing wall ball is the most effective way to gain the most repetitions.
Beginners are advised to complete at least two hundred repetitions every day to keep improving their stick-handling skills. Some of you may think it’s a lot, but with a lot of wallball practice, it ought to only take 15 or 20minutes at most.
You will be better able to maintain some sort of accountability if you stick to a strict routine. In the game of “wallball,” participants throw the ball wildly against the wall a few times before giving up. These athletes are unaware that winning the wallball is only half the battle. The other half of the fight is a vigorous fifteen to twenty minute hurling of the ball with both hands against the wall.
The beginning is the most difficult phase. You’ll initially have a tendency to misdirect passes and drop the balls. But after the first day, it gradually gets better. Even though you might not see them right away, improvements will ultimately occur.
So put on some headphones, look for a solid wall, and hit replay while enjoying your favorite music. Although these small efforts each day might not look like much, but they will make a huge difference in the long-term development of your athlete.
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Wherever you go, bring your lacrosse stick.
This final advice might seem a little out of the ordinary, but it works wonders. To improve your stick abilities, stick your lacrosse cue at the appropriate moments throughout the day, whether at home or on the way to practice.
It should come easy to you to hold a lacrosse stick when you enter a game. To use a lacrosse stick, you need to have spatial awareness wired into your subconscious mind. The only way to do that is to spend hundreds or even thousands of hours carrying a lacrosse stick.
Your mind-muscle connection will be strengthened as a result of having your lacrosse stick with you. You won’t use your lacrosse stick as carelessly as you might otherwise. You’ll appear considerably more fluid in your lacrosse moves.
This workout not only helps you mentally connect with your stick of lacrosse, but it also enhances several crucial abilities. For instance, developing the practice of swinging while you walk will significantly enhance your ball handling and racket defense abilities.
Weighing is necessary in order to function as a ball carrier. If not, the ball just drops to the ground and is available for capture. By using this advice, you can avoid having to engage in these awkward small talk. I swung my stick of lacrosse around the house when I first started playing the sport, much to my parents’ chagrin. Even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave my stick of lacrosse behind, I brought it on family vacation.
You don’t need to work as hard, of course, but any effort is better than none at all. Over time, even something as easy as packing a ball when travelling from the locker rooms to the training camps is harder.
The final result
Learning lacrosse is not difficult. There is an starting adjustment period when you will unavoidably run into difficulties, just like with any new hobby. In the face of all these difficulties, some of you might stumble while others might succeed.
The level of commitment each individual has to the sport ultimately determines how effective the learning period is. When the time for the game comes, those of you who are passionate and wish to play lacrosse will finishing up doing extremely well.