As soon as the ref drops the hand, it’s free game. You’re able to react. The whistle is blown second. Some refs will blow the whistle when they are close to you. Others will wait until they get out. It’s actually a good thing to look at their hand. As soon as her hand moves, it’s go time.
Scrape and Chase
Team USA’s Karri Ellen Johnson gets you mentally and physically prepared to take the draw
>> WHAT I DO
GET MY ‘OMAHA’ ON
You can practice signals with people around the circle so they know where you’re trying to put the ball. Sometimes I stomp my feet, or hold my stick beforehand a certain way to show where I want the ball to go. You can prepare your teammates. You want to work on that in practice, too, making sure you can get the ball where you want it to go. Whether it be yelling “Omaha” like Peyton Manning, or anything, just practice those signals.
BOX OUT
A huge thing that is often forgotten is making sure as you go from the draw you are positioning yourself to box out your opponent. You’re fi rst step after the draw is to box them out. Go up and turn immediately. Have your stick in front of you always.
SCRAPE DRILL
There’s a ton of things you can do to practice reaction time. Get a partner and have someone else be the whistler. He or she will say, “Tweet,” and you’ll really work on cranking that bottom hand, trying to get that bottom lip going and scraping your opponents stick. You can hear the sound scraping. It means you’re doing it right. You’re working on muscle memory and getting used to the positioning of your hands.
My Plan
I am currently at Kanakuk Institute in Branson, Mo. I’m doing a faith and leadership program out there until April. The plan is to move to Nashville — my brother and sister live there — and apply to nursing school.
My Start
I was put on the draw when I was young and I stayed there ever since. Even at Maryland, normally the draw person is a midfi elder, but I was an attacker taking the draw. College is when I discovered
there was an art to taking the draw. Quinn Carney really helped with that, just practicing even losing it or going to a specifi c spot.
Make sure you chase after the ball after the draw. A lot of people take the draw and forget to go after it.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
>> MY CONCUSSION EXPERIENCE
They’re brutal. Unfortunately, it’s different for every person. You really need to pay attention to your symptoms and let your body heal and rest. I was out my whole junior season at Maryland. At fi rst, I collided with a goalie. Then I played in a game a couple of days later and got hit in the head with a stick. It took me six months to fi nally feel normal again.
Concussions are an issue. I know from the offi cial s’ standpoint, they’re trying to minimize the aggressiveness of the sport. Helmets would completely change the game, and I don’t think that’s necessary. I did my college thesis on concussions, and that won’t minimize the concussions.
— compiled by Corey McLaughlin March 2014 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 79
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