Often an under utilized part of player's games and team's strategies a LSM or long pole who is an offensive threat can change the game very quickly.
FROM LAXMAGAZINE.COM
Your Edge: Grip and Rip With Brian Farrell
What I Do
Believe in LSMs
It's the best position on the field. I'm not just saying that because I play. You have the opportunity to be on the wing of faceoffs every time. You get to play defense every time, and you're also involved in the transition time. If you understand the game enough and know where to take your opportunities, you can be part of the offense, too. You're doing everything but save the ball. No other position can really say that. There's some two-way middies, but most middies just want to play offense if you ask them. I love seeing the kid that wants to be a pole, but can still play close defense if he wants to. The versatility factor is huge for young defenseman. The ability to not only play behind, but go up top, too. It's the all-around position. It's the most fun.
(MORE AFTER THE JUMP)
Make Good Decisions
You have to be smart about your decision-making. When to shoot it, or when not to shoot it. Knowing the situation of the game. Is it a tie game and we've played a lot of defense. Do we really want our pole shooting right now? Attackmen are paid to score goals. At the end of the day, if you're shooting with a long pole or you're given time and room with a long pole, you have to score. You can't let it get saved. You can't miss and not have a backup.
Practice Shooting
A lot of poles don't have time to practice shooting. When I go out to do footwork drills, I'll do 20 minutes and then I'll shoot after, since I already have my stick with me. If you want to become a better shooter, you have to shoot. Same as the short sticks. If they go out and shoot for 20 minutes, why can't you? It's the most fun part of what I do, is shoot and play in transition.
My Background
I played attack until ninth grade at Boys' Latin (Md.). I've always liked playing offense and scoring goals. I also played football in high school. I was a receiving tight end. I didn't really block much. Now I coach football and lacrosse and work as assistant admissions director at Salisbury School (Conn.), in addition to working with Trilogy.
My View From the Stands
I played at Maryland from 2007-11. I went to the Villanova-Maryland game this year and saw Villanova long stick John LoCascio playing on their man-up. I didn't know they used him like that. I was thinking, 'Why aren't we just shutting off adjacent and pressuring him?" But he scored a goal. It was impressive. I got to play against him in the USA tryouts. Also Mike Ehrhardt (a senior at Maryland now with the MLL's Charlotte Hounds) is a natural close defenseman, but it shows his versatility in his ability to go up top. He was a beast up top there this year.
My Scout on Rabil
Rabil is Rabil. It's not fun guarding him. His pure athleticism and stick skills, his ability to go right and left, you can't force him either way. He's big, strong, fast, powerful. He's a horse. Coming downhill, you don't know which way he's going, what his tendencies are.
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