The popularity of lacrosse has significantly increased over the decades, both in numbers of schools and players, as well as geographically. Stephen Varanko III mentions that currently, it is among the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. high schools and colleges. Stephen himself used to play lacrosse in high school, along with basketball. In addition to sports, he also was involved in organizational leadership in high school. He is an alumnus of Randolph Macon Academy where he made both the dean’s and president’s list.
Lacrosse is a very athletic and active game that is characterized by intense action, strategy, and finesse. Stephen Varanko III mentions that almost any young, energetic individual can play lacrosse; they need not be extraordinarily tall or have a large frame to be good at this game. It universal appeal is one of the key factors due to which lacrosse enjoys a high level of popularity among high school students. This game provides a good opportunity for exercise and healthy competition, and help boost the endurance capacity of the players.
Here are a few tips underlined by Stephen Varanko III that can significantly help beginner lacrosse players to get better at the game:
- Catch the ball as if catching an egg: While catching the ball in the lacrosse stick head, one should let the stick give as it receives the pass. This basically means that one must try dropping the head back with the ball to prevent the ball from popping out. The manner of doing so shall be similar to one would ideally catch a thrown egg while preventing it from breaking.
- Always face the passer when receiving a pass: A player must make sure they are always aware of the location of the ball, and subsequently face the passer at all times. By doing so they shall have a better view of the path taken by the lacrosse ball to head towards their stick. Newbie lacrosse players shall get into the habit of turning to face the direction the ball is coming from when it has been passed to them.
- Practice cradling the ball: The practice of keeping the ball in the pocket of the lacrosse stick is known as cradling, and is among the most important qualities to master in this game. One must ensure to practice this step till they no longer have to look at the ball to know that it is still there. This shall invariably free up the eyes of the player so that they can scan the field and look for a chance to pass or shoot.
- Don’t face the receiver directly when passing: Whenever passing the ball, one should not directly face the receiver, and turn slightly sideways to keep their body between any defender attempting to get to the ball while passing.
These few simple, but useful tips can be quite helpful in enabling a person to become a better lacrosse player.