Delaware and Michigan videos hit the internet Saturday. One’s longer than the other, by a lot, but it’s 2012 lacrosse on tape and we’re not going to whine. Some Nike and Indiana trinkets as well.

Apparently, the NCAA D1 season is underway.

How fun is Delaware to watch? We’re particularly excited to watch Grant Kaleikau play again this season after bursting onto the scene in last year’s playoff game against Duke. Delaware probably knew about him last year. Maybe he’ll be a household name in 2012.

Great job by Zima Gear on Delaware’s white helmets. Congratulations to Coach Shillinglaw for win #300.

Not as much action from Ann Arbor. Just a small, small taste.

Click here for photos from the scrimmage. Comments on Michigan’s FB page are rather comical. If you enjoy people saying things like, “Gotta have winged helmets….somebody wasn’t thinking.”

Denison in white Warrior helmets with red chrome masks and white/red Maverik Rome gloves raised some eyebrows in the 412 office.

Who wants to discuss the ramifications of a former MCLA team turned D1 team beating a high end D3 team in a scrimmage?

The infamous Nike Elite socks, the football version, worn by most teams during this year’s bowl season, become available to the public in July.

When does the volt version come out?

Big win for the Hoosiers last night at Purdue. They probably won because we found this logo on the IU FB wall.

Someone is using it as their profile picture.

Lead in photo: Where is the cool?

Cascade’s Ryan Demorest came through Bloomington to make sure the Hoosiers were wearing their helmets properly in 2012.

Wednesday our new lids arrived from Liverpool, New York.

Perfect timing.

It would be safe to assume that Cascade helmets aren’t adjustable beyond the interchangeable foam pads. Wrong. Wrong. Cascade took the Hoosiers through the paces yesterday on how to tinker with the star wheels on the temples and how to make chin strap adjustments to avoid the dreaded second bar syndrome which is both unsafe or unsightly. We also learned about angel clips on the face mask that allow for easy removal in the event of a concussion on the field. Nothing wrong with a little attention to detail when it comes to head safety.

Ryan brought his Motor City club team helmet featuring a beautiful orange chrome face mask and decals from Zima Gear.

Maybe Cascade will offer crimson/cardinal/maroon chrome masks in the near future. We were so enamored with the visit that we spent the rest of the evening designing CPX-Rs for IU.

And here’s two possible American Revolution lids.

(Probably going to ramp up the decal game for AR. Crimson helmets coming soon for IU.)

Following the fitting, we spent some time with Ryan talking about Michigan high school lacrosse, the MCLA, and of course helmets. The main things that we took away from the conversation is that Cascade spends an inexhaustible amount of money on research and development and if they wanted to make an indestructible helmet they could. However, their goal is to protect your head not create an invincible helmet. Given the number of people who wear Cascade helmets, it’s safe to say they’ve found the right balance between safety and performance. Did the helmet break on impact? Maybe, but how’s your head? That’s what they care about which is the absolute right thing to care about as the sport features more and more athletes of various sizes and strengths.

This.

Cascade and recruits visiting Bloomington this Super Bowl Weekend. And a funny thing happened on the way to the STX glove designer.

By the time, you’re reading this we will have already finished with our first recruit meeting of the day. We have a goalie in town from Loyola Academy (IL) and a middie from Whitefish Bay (WI). Has anyone heard of Dirty Lax before? They ranked the Wisconsin middie at #25. We don’t need to trust Dirty Lax or a highlight tape because we’ve seen both play in person. It’s amazing how different of an experience you can have as an evaluator watching tape compared to real life.

Fast forward to 5pm and the current crop of Hoosiers has a helmet fitting with Cascade. Our new shipment of lids arrived Wednesday. That’s what we in the biz like to call…perfect timing.

As Cascade told me this week, it doesn’t matter what kind of helmet you’re wearing, if it doesn’t fit properly you’ve got no chance. The entire roster will be in Pro 7s for the second year in a row. We went from 4 concussions in fall ball down to 1. Not everyone had a Pro 7 last fall. Then again not every freshmen had a Pro 7 either. HOWEVER, everyone was wearing a Cascade brand lid. Something’s working.

Cascade visited with Notre Dame yesterday and now they’re coming to Bloomington. Now how many MCLA teams are getting that treatment? Anticipate photos.

We noticed this last night while experimenting with the STX glove designer.

Fashion comes from fashion. What are you going to do?

We don’t even like blondes as of fall 2011, but the title of the lead in photo is “wife-material-right-here-yall” and we tend to agree.

Someone had to do it. Might as well be someone from Harvard.

Key moments:

0:47

0:51

1:03

1:12

1:33

1:40

1:45

A unique set of white and carolina blue gloves for the Jays.

This is the third glove Nike has whited out the Swoosh (Syracuse and Penn State.) These look leaps and bounds better with a white checkmark. Although this is glove number three, we’re still very surprised Nike allowed the glove to look so devoid of corporate art.

Make those in crimson and we’ll be in line for IU. “I was the first to want to be in line for those in crimson!”

Lacrosse Playground’s description of the new Nike gloves for Hopkins is award winning and spell binding.

“Best gloves of the season so far? Possibly. The glove’s colorway of White and Columbia Blue is just simply smooth. Minimalism is the goal here. Even the Blue Jay is micro compared to their past designs. By eliminating all non-essential forms the true essence and identity is exposed. Hopkins will be wearing at least two other pairs this season.”

No idea how to comment beyond we wanted to compare last year’s Nike gloves to see if LPG was right about the logo sizes changing.

 

 

The 2012 logo features more detail but looks to be the same size. What do you think? Fingers crossed for another black, blue, and white pair from Nike for Hopkins. When you’re receiving 5 pairs of gloves a season, chances are high Hopkins will sport one pair that gets us as excited as LPG.

Still wish Hopkins stuck with royal blue in their color scheme. Then Carolina wouldn’t have had to add navy. Then this blog probably doesn’t exist. Then IL doesn’t start the Gear Zone. And, the world is a better place.

Now for a song.

Over six minutes with the Gulls.

The Sea Gulls come out for their first practice of the 2012 season looking bigger (or smaller in a few select cases), faster, and stronger. Follow the Salisbury University Men’s Lacrosse team throughout the season as they look to improve upon last year!

Bigger, faster, stronger, indeed. First game in ten days. SHEESH.

It was a great thrill to play against Salisbury in the playoffs way back when. Take a look at our Gull man up videos from the coaches convention this December. We would do well to include an SU man up play in our arsenal.

Keeping with the CAC theme, St. Mary’s All American defender Ryder Henry posted this question to his Facebook wall, “would you rather A) Look like Skrillex or B) have to listen to his music all the time?”

Brutal question.

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Slightly less intimidating question, what do you think of Georgia Tech’s Champion uniforms? There’s a lot happening between the diamond/argyle numbers and the diamond fade inserts on the jersey and shorts. What does the court of public opinion say?

Losing to a D2 (KSU 9 GT 2) is the worst way to start your season. Long way back to even. We know.

Kennesaw State is talking about making the jump to D1. We’d be happy to play at that facility in front of that crowd. Three guesses as to where Kennesaw State is located. We thought Georgia. Then, we thought North Carolina. Then, we looked it up and realized they were actually located in Georgia. Wild times at 412 Lax.

Fresh practice video out of Scandinavia, a sneak preview of the Indiana Boathouse store, and probably more.

Throw in a little M83, brutal temperatures, and you’ve got the most recent Norway lax training video.

If we had a turf field to use, we’d be outside in those conditions too. Very jealous of the Norwegians. We will be in Norway in 2013, but they’re headed to Amsterdam this summer for the Euros. Best of luck, chaps.

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The Indiana Boathouse team store is set to open at any moment. Here’s a preview of what will be in the store along with something that most definitely won’t be made available to the public.

Just a warm Equinox Jacket in both men’s and women’s cut with the option to include your name and number assuming you’re a current member of the team.

Slight miscommunication produced the Indiana/Alabama shorts which we will not be selling. It’s not OUR pattern. It has NOTHING to do with our school. What choice do we have? None. Wait until you see the sublimated shirt they made for us. Now that will remind you of Indiana.

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College Lacrosse 2012 Video Game Announced for Xbox LIVE

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, February 8, 12 – Carlo Sunseri (Crosse Studio, LLC) announced today the world wide release of COLLEGE LACROSSE 2012. COLLEGE LACROSSE 2012 will arrive on the Xbox 360 in time for Memorial Day Weekend as the original lacrosse video game series, delivering true-to-life lacrosse gameplay, online multiplayer, and incredible lacrosse action not found in any other sports video game.

“The College Lacrosse franchise has been recognized as one of the top indie sports games in realism, gameplay, and graphics. We’re looking to stay at the forefront by continuing to push College Lacrosse through 2012 as an indie game and then onto Playstation 3, Wii, iOS, and Android in 2013 as a full retail title,” said Carlo Sunseri, Founder of Crosse Studio and Assistant Coach at Robert
Morris University.  “With enhanced online multiplayer, player movement, and more attention to controls than ever before, College Lacrosse 2012 is prepared to deliver an amazing lacrosse experience for only $5.”

College Lacrosse continues to push the game of lacrosse out to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. College Lacrosse 2012 has added several new features which play a huge role in bringing the lacrosse experience to life. Improved player detail and animations, re-coded online multiplayer, better shooting control, new dodging, and defensive controls help immerse players in a newly updated lacrosse video game.

“College Lacrosse 2012 is a great improvement over last years video game. Lacrosse fans deserve to have an updated video game in 2012 and we have done everything in our power to make it happen for them,” said Carlo Sunseri. “Furthermore, we have started development of College Lacrosse video games for 2013 through 2016. We’re going to continue to put in the time and invest everything necessary to get a lacrosse video game to the level of the other sports titles.”

College Lacrosse 2012 will be available in time for Memorial Day Weekend featuring major updates to online multi-player, player movement, controls, and gameplay for only $5 on Xbox LIVE.

About Carlo Sunseri and Crosse Studio, LLC.
Carlo Sunseri owns and operates Crosse Studio, LLC.  Mr. Sunseri has extensive experience as a lacrosse player, coach, and instructor.  He founded Crosse Studio in 2009, and developed the industry’s first field lacrosse video game.  Through Crosse Studio, Mr. Sunseri also produced NLL Lacrosse 2010 and 2011, two indoor professional lacrosse games fully sponsored by the National Lacrosse League.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management from Robert Morris University and currently is an Assistant Coach for their Division I lacrosse program.

Just when you thought Memorial Day Weekend couldn’t get any better…Thrilled to see a former high school teammate making such a big impression in the lacrosse community.

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We’re a touch behind today because last night’s practice finally caught up with us physically. We had to take care of some pressing issues preblogging, like where to eat lunch, since we have recently put Dagwood’s Sandwiches on waivers. Butch’s “Jersey Turnpike,” a Buffalo Chicken sandwich didn’t do the job either. The hunt continues.

@FakeCoachWilson tweeted a stunning picture of an Indiana football helmet prompting us to ask the question, what if the lacrosse team went with this lid?

Slightly more aggressive than the 2011 editions. Maybe in 2012. Maybe in 2013. Maybe never. We found the source of the image at Lost Letterman. LL had this to say about Indiana’s mock up:

This might be the craziest concept. Check out the famed candy-striped look from Indiana’s warm-up pants being donned on the helmet. We’re a little skeptical of this helmet but hey, it’s Indiana football. You might as well try and get attention however you can get it.

(Thanks for linking to 412 Lax, chaps.) And now for the some of the more interesting dome protecting units which may or may not inspire your team in 2013.

Politically incorrect yet fantastic.

Much better than the current lacrosse team helmet.

Did they change anything?

Spread it on.

Burnt orange chrome? Burnt orange chrome? Burnt orange chrome? Burnt orange chrome. Burnt orange chrome. Burnt orange chrome. Burnt orange chrome. Burnt orange chrome. Burnt orange chrome. Burnt orange chrome. Burnt orange chrome. Burnt orange chrome.

Wild helmets are the new black.

Are yinz thinking about 2013 gear yet? Remember last spring when Mankato showed off their 2012 lids before the current season was over?

No more Keith Euker. No more Lindenwood. After a tumultuous off season, the GRLC emerges younger than ever.

If we told you the coaches of the four top programs in the GRLC were all currently 26 or younger would you believe it? Believe it.

Phil Dodson’s playing career at Illinois ended in 2009. He began coaching in 2010 becoming the head coach in 2011. After playing at Wooster and coaching at the high school level in Pittsburgh, my Pitt playing days wrapped in 2010. I began coaching at IU in 2011. Jaron Klopstein finished at Wisconsin in 2010 after transferring from Fontbonne. He took over as head coach in the fall of 2010. Klopstein isn’t even the youngest head coach in the GRLC. That honor goes to Eric Chole who graduated from Missouri this spring and has replaced Euker on an interim basis.

Let’s look at some numbers:

4 years college coaching experience combined

3 years college coaching experience combined as head coaches

2 years high school coaching experience combined

1 rookie head coach

4 coaches have been involved with summer camps or travel teams in some capacity.

2 coaches are former D3 players

4 coaches are former MCLA players

3 coaches are leading their alma mater

Coaching changes, scheduling, and general talent level have led to the GRLC being one of the lesser conferences since the inception of the MCLA. (Has a GRLC team won a first round game at the national tournament? Someone find that out.) Hopefully, these programs find a way to keep the young coaches around long enough for progress to be made.

Scheduling has greatly improved in 2012, perhaps in an effort to prepare for the national tournament. Missouri visits Virginia Tech and Clemson. Wisconsin meets BYU in Minnesota. Illinois travels west to tangle with Oregon and Simon Fraser. Indiana goes south to play Florida State and Virginia Tech.

Coach Chole gave his thoughts on being a young coach and a freshman to watch:

The expansion and speed at which lacrosse is growing across the nation is lending itself to more and more head coach openings. There are more opportunities out there for a younger coach to step in and fill those positions. Being a young head coach does pose some potential problems. What it really boils down to is, will your players respect you as head coach? It’s crucial that players feel they are being coached by someone who knows the game and comes to practice and games prepared and deserving of their respect. I am very proud of how my players at Missouri have handled me taking over as head coach. Everyone is on board one hundred precent and we are making great strides everyday at practice. I am really looking forward to finding out how our season turns out.

Matt Ward is a freshmen midfielder from St. Louis. He joined the team this past fall and has shown that he can step in and be an asset to the team. He has great athletic ability. He has some of the best stick skills on the team and has a high lacrosse IQ. I love his work ethic and how other freshmen look to him for leadership. I expect him to do some great things this year and throughout his career here at Mizzou.

Preseason poll

1. Illinois
2. Mizzou
3. Wisconsin
4. Indiana
5. Miami
6. Iowa
7. Kansas
8. Illinois State
9. Purdue
10. Nebraska
11. Memphis
12. Arkansas
13. Kansas State

(This preseason poll was conducted prior to Euker’s dismissal.)

More GRLC chatter coming throughout the year.

Carc’s wall ball routine from his No Limit Lacrosse Camp website.

“Wall Ball” is the single most effective training technique that was implemented in my game, and the one that I preach first and foremost to any aspiring player I come in contact with. “WALL BALL” is the one aspect of training that can help an individual develop and be the sure handed ball control player, regardless of position, that every team needs.
-Paul Carcaterra

Paul Carcaterra is widely regarded as one of the top youth lacrosse teachers in the USA. He is a former captain, National Champion, and All-American at Syracuse. He also played for the MLL New Jersey Pride in 2001 & 2002. Carcaterra also is an analyst for ESPN.

As this wonderful sport evolves, both from an equipment and training standpoint, we are all exposed to new ideas about how to become better coaches and players. I have been involved with the sport of lacrosse for 26 years, at the youth/high school (Yorktown), college (Syracuse), international (Team England), and professional levels (NJ Pride). There were many innovative ideas that helped me become a strong player, and coach in Westchester County, NY. However, the single most effective training technique that was implemented in my game, and the one that I preach first and foremost to my players as a coach, is one of the oldest. “WALL BALL” is the one aspect of training that can help a player develop and be the sure handed ball control player, regardless of position, that every team needs.

I look back to my childhood, and remember buying into this system that was preached to me from people with names such Gait, Maracheck, Zulberti, and Nelson. Committing yourself to 20 minutes a day, yes only 20 minutes will improve your stick handling, hand eye coordination, passing, catching, shooting, fakes, and trickery. The beauty of “wall ball” is that you do not have to rely on anyone else to get better. Just you and the wall. There are six phases of “wall ball” below that I feel can benefit everyone regardless of position. Find a wall in your area (it could be the side of a school, gym, handball court, etc) that is at least 15 yards long and ten feet high.

Phase 1-Quick Stick/Rapid Fire: Line up around 3-5 yards from the wall. First, 50 right hand throw and catches without cradling. After completing 50 right hand throw and catches, do the same with your left. Did you notice I didn’t mention starting with your strong hand? With “wall ball” anything you do right, you followup left. This stage is great because it allows you to work on quick sticks, hand eye coordination, and one timing. You will become better about getting rid of the ball in a timely fashion without even noticing it by practicing this stage.

Phase 2-12 Yard Passing: Line up 12 yards from the wall. Start with 30 right hand throws, which will come back to you on one bounce. When you retrieve the ball from the one bounce, cradle once, then follow-up with the next throw. When you have completed 30 right handed throws, follow-up with 30 left.

Phase 3-Throwing & Catching On The Run: This may be my favorite and most helpful stage. First I start lined up 5-7 yards from the wall on the far left side of the wall. I begin this stage with the stick in my right hand and while I am running alongside the wall (towards the other end), I throw and catch the ball on the run. The important part is to throw the ball on the run and not always catching the ball stick side. I like to do this during every stage. Do you always get a pass stick side? No. Therefore, in your training you should throw the ball against the wall and catch it cross hand (or across your face). After I run one length of the wall, I run back to the other end throwing lefty (doing the same thing I did with my right). Keep repeating these steps. This stage should be done for about 5-7 minutes.

Phase 4-Shooting: Line-up around 12-15 yards from the wall. Get in proper shooting formation (hands loose, three quarter/overhand motion, snapping of the hips, and following threw) mark a few places on the wall with tape to aim at. Shoot at about 80% velocity, having the ball come back to you with one bounce. Depending on where you aim, the ball may take bounces that aren’t the same, so you have to work a little bit. Start with 25 right, and follow up with about 25 left.

Phase 5-Pass and Switch: This stage really allows you to work on hand-eye coordination and stick transferring. I begin by setting up roughly 7 yards from the wall. I start with the stick in my right hand. With proper stick technique I pass with my right hand and instantly switch to my left hand and catch the ball with my left hand. I then pass with my left and catch with my right. I switch every time until I throw 25 times with both hands.

Phase 6-Trickery: This stage is fun. This is a great time to practice behind the backs (make sure you are not following through too much. Step in the direction you are aiming, and the behind the back motion is only about a foot, with the head of your stick ending up hitting the top part of your arm near your shoulder).

Around the world, threw the legs, and any other creative stuff can be incorporated at this time. I would leave around 5 minutes for this stage. I am a firm believer that this stage is important. If you can pull this stage off (and only if you are mastering the other 5 stages should you try this stage), it is an indication that you have a strong comfort level with your stick and great hand eye coordination. It is also a stage that can help you in terms pulling something off in a game that is nice to watch and necessary. There are times in a game when a behind the back is the only option.

So there it is, six stages of ‘Wall Ball.” Get a radio with your favorite beats, a snow cap and duck boots if there is snow on the ground, and do what you have to do to get out at least five days a week for 20 minutes/per day. Don’t let the competition pass you by. No excuses!

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Are you following Carc on Twitter? Definitely worth a follow.

This is the second best wall ball routine we’ve ever posted. The first came courtesy of Gettysburg’s Tommy Kehoe, who detailed his long pole regiment.

Lead in photo: Where is the cool?