the U.S. field game. Even the way Canadian kids practice against the boards gives them an advantage, he said. “Our first cradle is below the waist. We roll the ball off the
boards and pick it up so the stick’s automatically in our fingertips,” said Mouradian, now the general manager and head coach of the NLL’s Philadelphia Wings. “In the U.S., kids in the same age group often pass and catch with their stick in their palms. They end up pushing the ball instead of throwing it.” Repetition also develops slicker sticks. Because the boards
ensure the ball stays in bounds and because there are only five “runners” in the rink at a time, everyone gets more touches. Moreover, the shot clock and confined space encourage more consistent mechanics. Threading a pass to a partially covered teammate with a few seconds left on the shot clock means snapping the wrists and whipping the ball overhand. Catching that pass under pressure requires hand-eye coordination and keeping the stick tight to the body. The smaller goal (4 by 4
feet in most leagues) also has ramifications. To put the ball past padded goalies that take up most of the cage, box players learn how to fake and shoot with deception. When Canadians get outside and see those inviting 6 by 6 goals, they “might as well be shooting at the ocean,” Tierney said. There’s no specialization
indoors. Growing up, Merrill, the six-time MLL Defensive Player of the Year, wasn’t relegated to throwing long passes at practice. He played with a short stick, learned footwork on defense, picked up “loosies” and got as many touches as offensive players. “A 10-year-old playing with a
6-foot stick completely stunts his growth,” said former Denver head coach Jamie Munro, now the owner of 3D
A Publication of US Lacrosse
American Indoor Lacrosse Association co-founder Bill Shatz took his Tampa Bay Fire U19 club to the Onondaga Reservation for a true box lacrosse experience. Pictured: Goalie Crews Chambers (far left) and runner Matt Menendez (above).
Lacrosse, which focuses on player development using a hybrid box-field approach. It’s not a seamless transition from box to field. Many Canadians
are almost exclusively one-handed, have never dodged long sticks and are prone to too much run and gun. (The internal shot clock never stops ticking, it seems.) They also don’t shoot as hard. “They’re not perfect,” Munro said. “They’re just better players then they would’ve been if they had grown up in the U.S.”
Canadian-American Pipeline Box players have benefited from increased exposure to
the outdoor game. While Canadian kids
still MADE IN CANADA start
indoors, some programs now have a mandatory field component. Club teams even travel to the U.S. to compete against American kids. The Hill Academy outside
CAMERON FLINT, DENVER Hometown: Georgetown, Ontario Effective off the dodge and on faceoff wing, Flint scored 27 goals as a sophomore All-American in 2011.
MARK MATTHEWS, DENVER Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario The 6-foot-4, 210-pound, toe-dragging dynamo is on the short list for the Tewaaraton Award after All-American campaign in 2011.
Toronto is a one-stop shop for Canadians preparing to play NCAA lacrosse. Under Merrill’s direction, it has become one of the premier high school field teams and a hunting ground for college coaches. “We want to teach the nuances of field lacrosse, but not overlook our box backgrounds,” Merrill said. “Finding that balance is our goal.”
Jacksonville star Cameron
BRYAN NEUFELD, SIENA Hometown: Virgil, Ontario All-American senior attackman has averaged 40 goals a season for the Saints, including a 52-game scoring streak.
JASON NOBLE, CORNELL Hometown: Orangeville, Ontario All-American junior defenseman and Brodie Merrill protégé can guard top attackmen, win ground balls and take occasional faceoffs.
Mann, the Dolphins’ top scorer in 2011, grew up in Ontario exclusively playing box lacrosse. He enrolled at the Salisbury School in Connecticut, another popular place for Canucks looking to play NCAA lacrosse. He felt
March 2012 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 43
©MOJO STUDIOS (MM); ©TREVOR BROWN (CF, MM); ©SIENA (BN); ©GREG WALL (JN)
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