New England Lacrosse Journal

26 NEW ENGLAND LACROSSE JOURNAL January-February 2020 Subscribe today at laxjournal.com/subscribe H appy New Year! I thought I'd kick off 2020 with some simple, yet extremely effective techniques that apply to all positions to create more separation when dodging. Understanding SAQ (Speed–Agility–Quickness) Lacrosse players are unique in that they require speed, agility and quickness in order to be successful. Mid- fielders do more north-south dodging and transition be- tween the lines, and tend to exhibit greater speed. Attackmen like Will Manny, for example, have great change of direction, or quickness. Oth- ers like Rob Pannell and Ryder Garnsey can dance, change di- rection, and move quickly through a com- bination of multiple planes of movement, demonstrating excellent agility. Dynamic LSMs like Joel White and Mi- chael Earhardt, two-way middies like Josh Bernhardt and Brent Adams play very athletic games combining extreme profi- ciency in all three areas. Rules to be successful n Assume you'll win. Trust your prep- aration and believe you can run by anyone. You must look through your defender and see the area of the field you want to end up on. Also, read the slides, be ready to feed or shoot quickly, and make sure you don't get creamed. n Have a plan. Being able to play free- ly and react to the play in front of you is essential. However, you should have a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C, and always be ready for whatever the situation requires. n Mechanics. Low center of gravity, power leg and de- ception (eyes, stick, language, teammates, context) The concepts mentioned above are best applied to the separation step of a single dodge: split, hitch, face dodge; or to the second step of any multiple dodges. Wherever you want to truly create separation, apply better mechanics. Malcolm Chase is the owner and head trainer at RPM Ath- lete Performance in Natick, Mass. In 2003, he founded Long Stick Middie, producing the first specialized instructional clinics and DVD devoted to the position. He is the national director of programming for RPM Lacrosse and has worked with youth, college and professional athletes across the country. Chase currently lives in Boston. @malcolmchaseiii feedback@laxjournal.com It was at that moment both Jamieson and Lisk knew the goaltender was ready for more. "You don't really know. It's such a com- petitive league. You don't know how good you can be," Jamieson said. "That game, I realized I can be a difference maker. I can win games. I'm capable. It was such a great team win." Jamieson played the majority of min- utes that season, posting career bests in goals against average (12.28) and save percentage (.784). Going into the offsea- son, New England had a choice to make when it came to the protected roster go- ing into the expansion draft; the team decided to protect Jamieson and leave Buque unprotected. Lisk was hopeful Buque would go unselected and return to New England to back up Jamieson, but he was selected by the Riptide. The move paid off. Through three games to begin the 2020 season, Jamieson has a 9.20 goals against average and a .818 save percentage. New defender Creighton Reid, in his 11th NLL season, is impressed with Jamieson. "Our first two games, I think he's been our best player," Reid said. "He's got a great personality for a goaltender, really composed at all times. He reads the play really well. He's been absolutely outstand- ing. On the shots we try to give up, he's been eating them up. When there's been breakdowns, he's made big saves for us, too." Jamieson said the trust the Black Wolves players, coaches, and manage- ment has put in him has helped him be successful. "It was Rich and Coach Clark showing belief (in me) and really backing up what they said, that I was the future," he said. "They could've just as easily let me slide. I think I held up my end of the bargain when it came time. I was happy to get to stay here. It's all I know. I don't know what I'd do if I had to play for someone else. … It's been awesome here." @PShore15 feedback@laxjournal.com Wolves Continued from Page 24 GET REPS GET REPS CHASE MALCOLM Mechanics mean more separation When it comes to success on the field during a game, trust in the work you've done before it, both in practice and in the weight room. That, plus proper planning and strong mechanics, rarely fail to deliver.

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