Current Section
Coach's Corner
Important Dates
March 19 10am (Zoom) - MSLAX Spring Coach meeting. All coaches must attend. They will be covering new rule changes, suggested drills and updated policies & procedures for the 2023 season.
One week prior to Games - all certification requirements must be completed.
May 21 10am (Zoom) - MSLAX Summer Coach meeting. All coaches must attend.
Unified Coach Requirements (USA Lacrosse, GNLL, MSLAX)
Coach Requirements and Resources (homegrownlacrosse.org)
GNLL/MSLAX/YLM have unified requirements with USA Lacrosse Level I Coach Certification.
USA Lacrosse has updated their courses and requirements for 2023:
ADDED How to Coach Kids online course
ADDED Women's Game: Safe and Legal Defense online course
UPDATED the in-person course to Level 1 Athlete Centered Coaching (Virtual) -or- Developing the Individual Athlete (in-person workshop). (required for at least one head coach per team)
REMOVED PCA Double Goal online course is no longer required for Level 1 certification.
HEADS UP to Youth Sports: Online Training for Coaches
Minnesota State mandated concussion training
Requirements Accessed through USA Lacrosse Educational Platform
Level 1 Coaching Development certification is designed to introduce coaches to the responsibilities and philosophies of coaching and how to provide a safe and athlete-centered environment that emphasizes positive growth and sportsmanship. The Level 1 curriculum provides the tools to teach lacrosse effectively to players of all ages. This baseline training is relevant for all lacrosse coaches, regardless of experience.
Coaching Clinics and Training Opportunities
Boys Coaches Clinic
This clinic is open to anyone interested/currently coaching boys lacrosse and will be led by Homegrown Lacrosse Senior Staff.
Date & Time: Saturday, February 18 from 9 - 11:15AM
Location: Concordia University - St. Paul: Seafoam Dome
Cost: FREE*
*Must be registered ahead of time*
The clinic will touch on how to set up your season, practice formatting, offense/defensive/goalie/stick handling/dodging/off-ball movement drills, and 6v6/full-field concepts.
Registration Deadline: Saturday February 11, 2023.
For additional questions, please direct inquiries to Jing at jing@greatnorthernlacrosse.com
Girls Coaches Clinic
Homegrown Academy will be hosting their first ever Girls Lacrosse On-Field Coaches Clinic. The clinic will be led by 4-time MWLC Coach of the Year, Karen Heggerness of Hamline University!
Date & Time: Saturday, February 4 from 9 - 11:00AM
Location: Concordia University - St. Paul: Seafoam Dome
Cost: FREE
For additional questions please contact Sydney at sydney@homegrownlacrosse.org
USA Lacrosse Coach Development Clinics
USA Lacrosse offers two types of live training, in person and virtual. Either option currently satisfies the live training requirement for coach certification. In person workshops are hosted by USA Lacrosse member leagues and are scheduled upon request. Virtual coaching workshops are scheduled monthly.
USA Lacrosse Mobile Coach
Per USA Lacrosse: Mobile Coach | USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse Mobile Coach gives you access to over 500 men's and women's Lacrosse drills, with diagrams and videos on your iOS or Android device. Users can sort by skill level, gender, and even the skill they want to teach their players.
In addition, the app provides pre-built athlete development aligned practice plans, practice planning functionality, whiteboarding (iPad users only), and a host of other great resources.
Coaches of all levels will benefit from USA Lacrosse Mobile Coach, but it may be most assuring to part-time youth or high school coaches who balance the demands of full-time employment and parenthood.
Athlete Development Model
Per USA Lacrosse: Athlete development is a framework using six core values which bring out the full athletic potential in every player. When these values are embraced, players learn the sport better, love it more, and play it longer. Following the core values of athlete development keeps more players engaged in the sport longer and allows the best player to emerge as they reach physical maturity.
Resources for Youth Coaches
Homegrown Academy Boys Drill and Coaching Resource
Practice planning, Team Goal Setting, Stretching, Strength and Ability, Drills, Strategies
Homegrown Academy Girls Drill and Coaching Resource
Exercise Routines, Ground balls, Stick Work/Passing, Shooting, Draw drills, Competition, Fun Games
USA Lacrosse Sample Games
USA Lacrosse games (drills) for athlete development
Fun Drills for Youth
Catching and Throwing, Ground Balls, Cradling, Shooting, Dodging, Offense and Defense, Agility
Sample Girls Coaching Handbook
Provides coaches in every age group a comprehensive guide of skills development, practice plans, and drills to use throughout the season, as shared by MSLAX
IWLCA Drills Handbook - 2020
Handbook of advanced drills, as shared by MSLAX
Recommended Reading List
GNLL has compiled a list of books and readings that may help you grow as a coach and mentor. The list varies in content, spanning coaching philosophies, autobiographies, or lacrosse skills and schemes:
- “The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players,” by Pat Riley
- “Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization” by John Wooden
- “Wooden: A Lifetime of Observation and Reflections On and Off the Court” by John Wooden
- “How Good Do You Want to Be?: A Champion's Tips on How to Lead and Succeed at Work and in Life” by Nick Saban
- “The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership,” James C. Hunter
- “Season of Life: A Football Star, A Boy, A Journey to Manhood” by Joe Ehrmann
- “InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives” by Joe Ehrmann
- “Win Forever: Live, Work and Play Like a Champion” by Pete Carroll
- “Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition, The Second Edition of the Bob Scott Classic” by Dave Pietramala
- "The Coaches Guide to Teaching" by Doug Lemov
