Free Play Academy Newsletter #5
What will be covered:
1. How to develop a player’s creativity
2. Chris Fake
3. The Rule of Thirds
How to develop a player’s creativity
“We have this mentality (in practice) when we tell someone to relax, it is because we’re scared. It’s so stupid. If you want to improve it needs be playful.” – George St. Pierre, former two-division champion in UFC
The above quote is interesting, coming from one of the most revered fighters in the history of Mix Martial Arts speaking about “playfulness” being a key to improvement.
When practice is playful, that’s when we improve. We will be willing to try new things, and by trying new things we discover what works and want doesn’t work.
Practice should be seen as a laboratory to experiment through playful focus.
Similar to how we develop decision-making in players, we must place players into situational drills, limited with the amount of constraints we place on the players. Next, as coaches, we must hold our whistle and vocalize our players to be playful with what they do. No matter how ridiculous it could look, allow our players to explore. We must give them the freedom to be their own scientists in the laboratory. Along the way, they may discover something that works better than what they had been doing before. Simply facilitate the environment, but leave the learning and playfulness, in these moments, to the game.
Encourage the willingness to be playful, and push players to see the lacrosse field as a laboratory to experiment and study their own game. If we do, we will eventually end up with more confident and competent players!
Chris Fake
I love to study all the positions on the field, and the close defenseman is one that is fun to watch and pick apart.
A brief bio:
AS A JUNIOR (2020 AT YALE)
IL Second-Team All-America… Named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List…
AS A SOPHOMORE (2019 AT YALE)
IL Media All-America… USILA Warrior & New Balance All-America second team… First-Team All-Ivy… Ivy All-Tourney… 3.18 USILA Tm of Week… First-team All-New England… Yale’s Christian Prince Memorial Award for best defensive player.
AS A FRESHMAN (2018 AT YALE)
Unanimous First-Team All-Ivy League… First Team NEILA All-New England Team… Ivy League Rookie of the Year… IL All-American… Second Team USILA All-America
Chris Fake is currently using up his last year of college eligibility at the University of Norte Dame.
The best word to describe the way he plays defense is: Confrontational.
He plays the position like a junk yard dog, never yielding position or ground, and plays the game with a football-like physicality. Meat & potatoes. Almost robotic at times, the ability for him to constantly match feed with the best attack men in the country is incredible. Described by his coach, Andy Shay, as having a psychotic work-ethic.
The video below is of film from his freshman year.
Enjoy!
The Rule of Thirds
Lean in, do the work, stay focused and become uncommon.
Have a great week.