Get the ball carrier off balance with a legal push on the shoulders or hips. You can’t push from behind.
Tree-Mendous
How Chesapeake Bayhawks defenseman Mike Simon uses his one-handed back check to set up his prey
Hands shoulder- width apart. If they are too wide, you’re going to make it
diffi cult for to get your butt end past your torso and also be able to recover to get your hands back on stick.
>> WHAT I DO
USE MY SIZE
I’m 6-foot-5. Based on the feedback I get from a lot of players, it seems like a lot complain about an inability to get separation from me. My length really helps more than anything. Sometimes I actually let a guy get a little bit ahead of me because he feels safe but then I can use my length to reach around him and throw a check. It allows me to be rangy.
STAY THE COURSE
I was on the Bayhawks practice squad for three years. I fi nally broke through because I was able to string several good practices together. The coaches began to take notice. Then there was an injury to another player with two games left in the regular season, so I had an opportunity to step up and fi ll a void. I knew when I had that opportunity, I was going to make the most of it and not regret anything about that game.
It’s a one-handed wrap check either around the offensive player’s shoulders, middle back or lower back.
Just make contact with his stick. Instead of a huge windup — which could make your stick out of control and get you called for a slash — just snap your wrist.
GRAB A BUDDY
MY NICKNAME
I was playing on a men’s summer league team. I didn’t really know anybody on the team. When I ran onto the fi eld, one of my friends from Stevenson, Richie Ford, just starting calling me a big tree. I kept making plays, and every time I did he kept shouting, “Tree!” Most people on the team thought that was my last name or a weird fi rst name. It stuck in the lacrosse community, and I’ve become known as Tree. My Twitter handle is @Thee_Tree.
>> MY MUSTANG PRIDE
I couldn’t have been any prouder than I was when Stevenson won the national title this year. I was on pins and needles the whole time. I was so excited for all the players and coach [Paul] Cantabene. I was still connected with some of the seniors and I’ve gotten to know some of the younger players. I have a strong relationship with Nick Rossi, who is still on the team. I think they called him a 10th-year senior during the game broadcast.
— compiled by Matt DaSilva and Corey McLaughlin A Publication of US Lacrosse August 2013 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 57
I drag my friends (pictured: Jimmy Dailey) to do one-on-ones. I don’t buy them anything. I remind them of the great workout they are getting. That should be enough.
MY USA
HOPES It almost doesn’t
seem real. I kind of have to remind myself that I actually have an opportunity to play in some Team USA evaluation games. When I’m in that situation, I almost
have to turn off the fact that it does mean so much to me. I have to try to convince myself that it’s just another day of playing lacrosse, even though it’s probably the greatest honor that I could possibly have playing lacrosse.
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