Christian Cook, YouthLacrosseUSA.com contributing columnist

“How the players should view participating in and developing their “A” game in lacrosse.” January 28, 2002

[Editor's Note: In my opinion this column could be the best advice anyone can receive. Christian shares a real pearl of wisdom, a treasure; one of the keys to how he developed "the eyes of a tiger".]

This week I’d like to address the following topic: “How the players should view participating in and developing their “A” game in lacrosse.”
I’ve been fortunate enough to coach clinics in many places around the country and the world. I’ve found that students of the game in different locations approach the game in different ways. Unfortunately, in some states where the game is just beginning to catch on, the players are developing somewhat of a football mentality on the lacrosse field. In fact, in several clinics I’ve required the standard answer to the following question, “lacrosse is NOT what sport . . . . FOOTBALL.” Now, just to clarify, I love football and think it is an outstanding sport.

However, Lacrosse is not football, nor should it be coached in the same way. Many kids who are coached in this fashion ask me the best way to put a big hit on another player. That is not the question they should be asking, it is far more important for a defenseman to break down with his stick in front as he moves to play an offensive player.

Furthermore, more and more young players are looking at professional sports and the trash talking as the appropriate way to approach the game and competition. Young players should not be encouraged to trash talk, they should be respectful of their opponent and prove their mettle with the scoreboard, not through fancy dancing or talking.

Along these lines, I think players should view participating in lacrosse as a privilege. Additionally, developing one’s “A” game only comes after a great deal of work. I think young (and old) players should be confident yet humble, competitive yet respectful. Nothing comes easily and players are increasingly expecting the game to be handed to them. Great skills and success comes after a great deal of work. My favorite quote is the following:
“The will to prepare to win is far more important than the will to win.”

There is no truer sentiment in sports. The Princeton teams on which I played were extremely successful and I think in no small part due to the preparation of our coaching staff first and our players second. Players must realize that consistent performance comes not as a result of luck, but of hard work and preparation. They must prepare themselves to succeed, for if they do not, the blame lies squarely on their shoulders.

With this is mind, coaches need to communicate to their players how fortunate they are to be exposed to great lacrosse on TV and in some of the clinics around the country. The sport is growing and today’s young athletes are going to be the superstars of tomorrow. There are defensive players I’ve seen in camps that are going to be far better than I will ever be and I can’t wait to see them step on the field at the highest levels. But I don’t want to see them talking trash.

There is nothing better than a quiet player who does his talking not with his mouth but with his stick. The best players I’ve had the privilege to play against were also the most respectful.
I would say this to today’s youth who want to be tomorrow’s lacrosse stars: “Word hard, be determined, persistent, confident, humble and respectful. Play for the love of the game and put yourself in a position to succeed. You alone have the power to control your destiny on the lacrosse field.”