The Scoop's Guide to Coaching Guidebooks
The Skinny on the Many Lacrosse Books Available
Lacrosse: Technique + Tradition
Authors: David G. Pietramala & Neil A. Grauer
Publication date: 2006
The Skinny:
You have to value words as much as pictures, but if you do, this should be an essential piece of your lacrosse library. The techniques and tactics section is as fine a collection of ideas and concepts as exists in the field. The book is broken down into categories (individual offense, team defense, transition, clearing, goalkeeping, etc.) and the skills and strategies are explained, diagrammed, and dissected thoughtfully and comprehensively.
Drills:
The drills section isn’t as plentiful as other resources, but there is a good mixture of individual and team-oriented drills which are diagrammed nicely. Each category contains descriptions of concepts to focus on at practice with suggestions and great tips. Those are peppered throughout the book and not catalogued together in any specific order.
Usefulness:
An outstanding resource for coaches of all experience levels, this book will enhance a coach’s lacrosse IQ with an in-depth narrative of this sport broken down into every important aspect. It’s recommended you start with this book for a fuller grasp of the nuances of this sport, and then augment it with a drill-heavy manual.
Extras:
For fans of Johns Hopkins University and their lacrosse program, there’s an enormous section of the book dedicated to the “traditions” of that program and the history of the sport in general. There’s a decent section of rules and a perspective section on the necessary characteristics called “What Makes a Player.”
The Skinny:
Two-hundred and fifty pages of pure playbook, this masterpiece may not be suited for the U9coach. This
collection of over thirty-years worth of lacrosse knowledge comes together in fully illustrated diagrams of strategies and tactics for team offense, team defense, transition, and Extra-Man / Man-Down situations. If you can master his unique terminology, you can understand the beauty and choreography of this game as demonstrated through his versatile sets and formations.
Carl Runk's Coaching Lacrosse
Author: Carl Runk
Publication date: 2009
Drills:
There are about two-dozen practice drills illustrated and explained towards the back of this book – but the vast majority of the content is pure plays. The drills are organized into tactics, well-defined, and not overwrought with explanation.
Usefulness:
If and when you’re ready to take your team to the highest level, you will find this book perhaps the single-most important resource in your collection. Each play has multiple phases to implement, but you can find great success in mastering the first phase.
Extras:
Coach Runk introduces each section with an entertaining anecdote. He’s as playful and humorous as he is smart and organized. There’s also a sample practice plan section with season arc (master plan), and an adequate glossary of lacrosse terms.
head of the class
26 The Scoop / Spring '17
Whether our first year coaching lacrosse or our 25th year involved in the sport, a coaching book can provide a wealth of knowledge, advice, and entertainment to make preparing for our season a little easier (and a little more enjoyable). But which books are worth our time and which books should we avoid like a herd of angry defensemen coming to make sure our protective pads really work?
Our panel of coaches and staff contributers put together a small collection of books from our personal libraries and our local ones (racking up quite a bit of late fees) in an effort to determine which are the books to keep with us in our coaching bags, and which make fine collectors of shelf dust. Here is the Scoop's Guide to Guidebooks.
Enjoy!!!