Lacrosse Chris Watson puts pressure on Navy star freshman Nick Mirabito in the Blue Jays’ 9–8 overtime win against the Mids in 2005. Jay Van Rensselaer Lacrosse Technique and Tradition David G. Pietramala and Neil A. Grauer The Second Edition of the Bob Scott Classic The Johns Hopkins University Press Baltimore © 2006 The Johns Hopkins University Press All rights reserved. Published 2006 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The Johns Hopkins University Press 2715 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218-4363 www.press.jhu.edu Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Pietramala, David, 1967– Lacrosse : technique and tradition / David G. Pietramala and Neil A. Grauer.—2nd ed. p. cm. Rev. ed. of: Lacrosse / Bob Scott, c1976. Includes index. ISBN 0-8018-8371-7 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-8018-8410-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Lacrosse. I. Grauer, Neil A. II. Scott, Bob, 1930– Lacrosse. III. Title. GV989.S36 2006 796.347—dc22 2005027696 A catalog record for this book is available from the British Library. To my wife, Colleen, and our sons, Dominic and Nicholas. —David Pietramala To the Hopkins lacrosse players, families, and fans whose friendship has been an honor. —Neil A. Grauer This page intentionally left blank Contents Preface ix 11 Transition 133 Part I 12 Man-Down Defense 151 The Game and Its History 13 Goaltending 167 1 The Game of Lacrosse 3 14 Clearing 183 2 A Brief History 9 15 Riding 195 3 The Rules 31 16 Face-offs 205 4 What Makes a Player 39 17 Drills 215 Part II Part III Techniques and Tactics Lacrosse at Johns Hopkins 5 Fundamentals 49 18 Building the Tradition, 1883–1974 229 6 Individual Offense 61 19 The Modern Era, 1975–2000 249 7 Team Offense 77 20 Into the Twenty-first Century 265 8 Extraman Offense 93 9 Individual Defense 105 Index 285 10 Team Defense 117 This page intentionally left blank Preface As has been said by others whose efforts follow and add thirty years of season recaps and other develop- build upon the work of prominent predecessors, we ments in the sport to the chapters on national and stood on the shoulders of a giant when writing this Hopkins lacrosse history, including in them Coach book. Pietramala’s recollections of events in which he Bob Scott was and remains a giant in the world participated. of lacrosse. His two decades as head coach at the Special thanks are due to Robert J. Brugger, Johns Hopkins University earned him the respect, senior acquisitions editor at the Johns Hopkins admiration, and affection of countless players, fans, University Press, for his faith in our ability to do and fellow coaches. Writing the first edition of La- this work and his patience while we tackled the crosse: Technique and Tradition made his name — job. We also are grateful to Jay Van Rensselaer and and coaching principles — synonymous with the Will Kirk for their exceptional photos and to Jade game wherever it is taught and played around the Myers of Matrix Art Services for the play diagrams. world. In addition, we appreciate the insights on goaltend- To update such a landmark book—considered by ing and face-offs, two highly specialized positions, many the “bible” of lacrosse—has been a daunting provided by Hopkins All-American, Hall-of-Fame task and has taken more than two years. We are goalies Dr. Les Matthews, Mike Federico, and Larry indebted to Bob Scott for his encouragement and Quinn and by former Hopkins face-off men and counsel throughout this process and are humbled coaches Howard Offit and Patrick Miller. Their by his approval of what we have done. At Mr. combined expertise would be hard to match. Scott’s urging, much of this book was rewritten. Mr. Grauer thanks Coach Pietramala and all of In some sections, however, we saw no reason to his predecessors going back to Bob Scott for the change what Mr. Scott wrote and have retained his generous and kind welcome into their exciting original wording, with his approval. world; he also expresses his appreciation for the We were extremely pleased and honored to be enduring friendship of all the players and their asked by the Johns Hopkins University Press to families whom he has been privileged to know. undertake this project. After the press approached He is grateful that his grandfather, the late Albert Coach Pietramala to revise the book in 2003, he L. Grauer (JHU 1907), and father, Dr. William S. asked Neil A. Grauer, a longtime Hopkins lacrosse Grauer (JHU 1936), established his family’s cen- fan, a friend since Pietramala’s days as a player, and tury-long love of Hopkins lacrosse. a professional writer, to help. During lengthy meet- Having the honor of revising this book simply ings, Coach Pietramala and Mr. Grauer reviewed reflects again the enormous debt Coach Pietramala each chapter in the first edition. Coach Pietramala owes to his parents and the great coaches, play- detailed the revisions he wished to make to the ers, teammates, opponents, and administrators at text, and Mr. Grauer subsequently put his words on the universities he has been privileged to work paper. The “I” in the text now is Coach Pietramala, for and with throughout his career. It is said that not Coach Scott. Mr. Grauer did the research to you are only as good as those with whom you are ix surrounded, and he has been blessed to be around associated with some wonderful young men. All of some of lacrosse’s finest. Without these people, he his current and former players have helped fulfill would not have been able to accomplish either what his life. The time they have spent together has he did as a player or what he now tries to do as a taught him many lessons and given him the oppor- coach. tunity to watch these great, talented young athletes Ernie Larossa, associate director of athletics at grow as people, develop as players, and graduate as Hopkins, heads a superb sports information depart- men. He will continue to cherish every day he is ment. We are grateful for his assistance in compil- able to share with these exceptional individuals. ing statistics and photos and for proofreading por- Seth Tierney, Bill Dwan, and Jeff Tambroni have tions of the text. Tremendously important addi- been at his side during his eight years as a head tional assistance was also provided by the Special coach at Cornell and Johns Hopkins. (Jeff now Collections Department of the Milton S. Eisen- heads Cornell’s program.) These outstanding men hower Library of the Johns Hopkins University and have had a profound influence on him, not only as a by university archivist James Stimpert; Josh Chris- coach but also as a person. tian, managing director of programs and services at Last, and most important, Coach Pietramala US Lacrosse; Joe Finn, US Lacrosse’s archivist; and thanks his wife, Colleen, and their twin boys, Leighton Beamsley, executive director of the Inter- Dominic and Nicholas. Their unwavering love and national Lacrosse Federation. support mean everything to him. His life would not Coach Pietramala has had the good fortune to be be complete without them. x Preface I The Game and Its History Hopkins attackman Kevin Huntley (’08) surrounded by Duke defensemen in the 2005 NCAA national championship game. Jay Van Rensselaer 1 Lacrosse, first played by Native Americans before The Game recorded time, now is one of the fastest growing games on the local, national, and international sports scenes. From the United States to Japan, of Lacrosse from Great Britain to the Czech Republic, players of all ages are propelling lacrosse to new heights in participation and popularity. It is booming particu- larly at the youth level, not only captivating novice players and casual observers but also strengthening its ties with those who get to know it well. A game of constant action and exceptional grace, lacrosse combines the individual skill of baseball, the physical demands of football, the team strategies of basketball, and the conditioning required in soc- cer. It has made its way from youth league tourna- ments in local parks to collegiate championships in the National Football League’s Baltimore Ravens’ 69,084-seat M&T Bank Stadium and the Philadel- phia Eagles’ 68,532-seat Lincoln Financial Field and into countless homes through television coverage. Spectators cannot help but be caught up in the thrills—and beauty—of lacrosse. Whether a pass from a midfielder to an attackman, creating a fast break that leads to a goal and clinches a 17–16 win; a smoothly executed slide by a defenseman who, with one swift poke check, knocks the ball to the ground, scoops it up, and sprints past the opponents; a bone- crunching hit that up-ends an opposing player in the middle of the field; or a spectacular save by a goalie that secures a 9–8 victory—lacrosse offers partici- pants and fans alike tremendous, nonstop excitement. Today’s youngsters take part in more organized sports than their parents or grandparents did, and more opportunities exist now than ever before for young men and women to become involved in la- crosse. In addition, because of lacrosse’s increased 3 presence on television, the efforts of US Lacrosse The parity of our sport at the Division I level (the sport’s national governing body), and sports has promoted growth as well. More college teams, clinics held by high school and college coaches, the in more areas, now are having success, which in number of adults who have knowledge of the game turn is sparking interest in local high schools.