Today I found myself reflecting on scoring—and it brought me back to my very first breakaway in box lacrosse.
I was 20 years old and it was my first REAL BOX lacrosse game. I was playing junior for the legendary Clarington Green Gaels.
2010 at Garnet B. Rickard
I remember sprinting past my defender, hearing the Canadian “ehs” and the sticks banging against the boards from the bench while I was getting closer to the goal.
I did everything right or at least I thought I did and as I ran right at the net I saw what felt like the biggest goalie I’d ever seen. So, under pressure, I shot the ball… straight into his chest.
No one said a word on the bench, but that moment stuck with me.
I realized I did something wrong. In field lacrosse, I would have been fine—but in box… well, not so much
THE PATH TO SUCCESS
In my 20’s I spent a lot of time traveling with Shaydon Santos Co-Founder of United States Box Lacrosse Association. We spent a lot of time teaching American players box and we constantly talked about The Path To Success.
The Path To Success is a conceptual approach to scoring in which we layer skills, iq and theory together to create higher percentage scoring chances. This Path works in both field and box and it’s something I constantly talk about.
START FROM THE GROUND UP
In order for the Path To Success theory to work you first need to get on THE PATH.
In field lacrosse, with its big 6x6 nets, you can often get away with fading away from the net while finishing. But in box, especially on the old 4x4 nets, it becomes critical to make the goalie move post to post.
If you want to improve your scoring in either field or box you need too get on the Path To Success:
Create contact to gain leverage - S dodge and try to get your defender on your back so you can get arose the face of the net with your stick to the inside.
Make the goalie move post to post- when goalies feet are set they can react at their best, when they are moving they have to fight to keep balance and defend the backside post
Play fast - don’t slow down when approached the goal, keep your speed, the goalie will have to move at that pace too.
Here’s a great example of current NLL player Challen Rogers getting on the path to success.
Elite players use PATH TO SUCCESS and this is just the first part of the path! If you want to learn more about how get a more GRITTE game check out my training options below.
Stay Gritte,
Coach Elliott