Talking About Talk
10/29/2024 10:31 PM
Effective communication and talk on the lacrosse field fosters success. I'm not talking about smack talk, I'm talking about functional strategic talk.
Many coaches are not doing enough to teach effective communication. This is based on my experience working with coaches and players at the youth, high school, college and professional levels.
So let's talk about talk.
There is no formal template for talking and listening on the lacrosse field . It's a vital piece of championship lacrosse. Every team member needs to be on the same page with clear and concise commands, while using names.
Talking needs to be taught and practiced.
DEFENSE
Defense is played with your mouth, eyes, feet, hands and the stick. A defense that talks is connected and operating as one. Defending together requires constant over-communication. Talk should be done early, it should be loud and continuous. Sliding, rotating and recovering on defense happens fast and is rarely perfect. Talking through these unique movements will fortify your defense.
Every time the ball moves between offensive players or changes locations each defender should yell his assignment. A connected defense sounds like a bee hive, with constant noise emanating from all seven sources.
Clear cut verbiage is essential for defending two-man games. Be loud. Pick coming left. Get thru. Stay. Switch. Etc. Every team has its own specific calls – its own defensive language. Being precise with the defensive vocabulary is a non-negotiable. Flying solo doesn't cut it. Listen and benefit.
Typically the crease defender, the man the middle, is responsible for both deterrence and disruption should any opposing player dare venture into the dirt. Along with the goalie, he is usually also responsible for letting his teammates know what's happening. These defenders are the glue.
OFFENSE
What are we running? Identify the defense your opponent is utilzing. Echo calls from the bench. Use first names or nicknames to grab your teammates attention. "One more" calls will positively impact efficiency in transition.
Who's initiating the offense? What are offensive teammates talking about off the ball? Are we flip flopping and switching spots , or are we staying put? Who has the matchup? Who is setting the on-ball pick? Or the off-ball screen? How much time is left in the possession? Did we get a reset? Keep the offensive conversation going.
CLEARING
Ball carriers under duress benefit from the support of verbal commands. Be an extra set of eyes for your teammate. Does your teammate see the imminent danger? Does he know who's open? Does he know he has no time? Or plenty of time? "Cross-field!" or "High Opposite" or "You have time" or "I'm covered" all help.
GOALIE
Goalies are enlisted to organize and talk to the six defensive pieces.
- Where is the ball?
- How is your defender playing the ball carrier? Does providing a strong hand of the ball carrier add value? Sometimes yes.
- What's the slide / help package?
- Who's the help man? Who's hot? Don't ask. Tell them. Who's the #2? Don't ask. Assign a number two. Goalies should never say, "Who's hot or who's going?" We don't deal with questions. Our talk assigns the jobs. "Chico you're going!" "Greg you are the 2". Make a decision and live with it.
Goalies should empower d-men with an unshakeable voice. Don't talk too much. Edit to amplify. Use your vocal range to tell a story. Be calm and confident. A goalies talk should have octaves and should be a step ahead.
"Check!" "Ball down!"
It's about being ready for what happens next. Your voice aids defenders with their backs to the ball, those that can't clearly see the action. Good talk helps offensive midfielders who may have been trapped on the field playing defense. They need assistance. Talk ensures everyone is eating from the same menu.
Don't let the ebbs and flows of a bad performance impact your self-esteem and therefore your talk. Your defense needs you to be a rock. And when your defenders make a great play, be vocally positive.
When you are man down, bark out the opponents formation and how your defense is to play it. When the offense changes structure a smart talking goalie has his defense ready for the shift.
Tactical talkers verbalize shot clock and game clock scenarios. Open your mouth, you are in charge.
SIDELINE AND LOCKER ROOM
Talk in smaller positional unit groups and as an offense or defense during stoppages and halftime. Playing well as a team is about working with people. Working with people is about communication. It's your job to help your teammates. Each on-the-field crisis is an opportunity. Talk enables adjustments to be made more smoothly. Talk decreases the chances of making the same mistake twice. Talk allows a defense to be multiple and flexible – switching from a man scheme to a zone or from a crease slide to a near man. Exchanging nuggets provides answers. Conversations seed the revolution.
FACE-OFFS & GROUND BALLS
Communication can win a face-off loose ball or a 2 v. 1 grounder. It can win the scrum after a face-off. Be the third man in with your mouth loudly giving instructions to your teammate. "Man" "Ball" "Flip it" "Goose it". Listen to your opponents talk and react accordingly to dismantle their plans.
IT STARTS IN PRACTICE
You will never master the game, but if you embrace improving your talk, it will become a catalyst for improvement. Talk cultivates awareness, and is to be practiced and rehearsed daily in every single drill. Good talk keeps your actions in alignment with your squads operational code.
RECRUITING EVENTS
When young players are unsure, they don't talk. That gives evaluators the impression that the prospect lacks confidence. Coaches sit field level at club events for a reason. Evaluators want to listen and figure out which defenders are doing the talking.
ALL YOU DO IS TALK
Find your voice even when you're gassed. Talking is engagement. Talk loudly. The more consequential playoff games will have the loudest fans. Those arenas test your communications.
Without a doubt, elite level talk will lead to better results for the individual and for your team.
