Participating in competitive sports, including lacrosse, usually requires that a player undergo an evaluation process to determine his level of skill and athleticism. When selecting players for a lacrosse team, a coach considers many factors. Players should be evaluated based on athletic skill, physical conditioning, and mental capacity for the game. When running a lacrosse tryout, you should remember that the goal is not to simply select the most talented players, but to build the strongest possible team.
Step 1
Evaluate the players' level of cardiovascular fitness by running basic calisthenic drills. Requiring players to run wind sprints or suicide drills will quickly separate those who are physically fit from those who are not. Lacrosse is a game of skill and timing, but even the most talented player is of little use to the team if he or she is unable to keep up with the pace of the game.
Step 2
Evaluate the players' physical strength. You can do this with standard weights in a gym setting, or directly on the field of play with body weight movements like pushups, squats and lunges. The key is to push each player to her maximum and see which athletes are capable of maintaining their strength over a period of time. Strength is important, but endurance is critical.
Step 3
Set up a series of stations around the field with a variety of game-like situations. Have the players run through one-on-one evasion drills, two-on-one passing drills, shooting gallery drills and loose ball drills. This will allow you to identify where each player's strengths lie and to position your players accordingly.
Step 4
Construct a multiple-choice quiz based on a video session of lacrosse games. Pause the video at predetermined points and ask each player to identify the proper play to be made in each scenario. Total the results to determine which players have the best mindset for the game.
Step 5
Run a scrimmage. Now that you have taken all of the individual factors into consideration, it is time to evaluate who is best in a real game situation. Some players are much more than the sum of their individual abilities, and some are surprisingly less. With the information gathered through the first portions of the tryout, you are better equipped to evaluate each player's performance.
Tips and Warnings
- Remember that a roster should reflect the best team possible, and not simply the most talented players available. It is important to have players who are defensively responsible as well as players who are offensively gifted. The goal of a coach should be to assemble a team that has balance and depth at each position.
Things You'll Need
- Clipboard
- Pen
- Roster of players trying out
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