The guest is Sam Cleveland, the head coach at Lawrence Academy. They discuss Sam's lacrosse journey from playing in Arlington, Mass to his collegiate career at Colgate, and delve into his coaching philosophy at Lawrence Academy. Topics include the challenges and rewards of high school lacrosse, the impact of club lacrosse and prep schools, and the importance of player development and love for the sport. The conversation also touches on recruiting, reclassifying, and how high school coaches can better support their players in navigating the complex landscape of collegiate lacrosse.

Chasing the Goal podcast from New England Lacrosse Journal is a Seamans Media production.

Find more daily lacrosse news at New England Lacrosse Journal: https://www.laxjournal.com/

Topics

00:44 Introducing the Guest: Sam Cleveland

01:45 Sam Cleveland's Early Lacrosse Journey

04:01 High School Lacrosse and Club Struggles

05:58 College Lacrosse Experience at Colgate

08:08 Coaching Philosophy and Player Development

17:40 Challenges of Coaching in the ISL

20:50 Recruitment and Team Building at Lawrence Academy

25:49 Balancing ISL and Out-of-League Games

26:43 Reflecting on Last Season's Highlights

27:23 Playoff Strategies and Challenges

29:31 The Importance of Academic and Athletic Balance

33:10 The Role of High School Coaches in Recruitment

35:55 Debating the Reclass Phenomenon

37:28 Challenges in Lacrosse Development

47:40 Opportunities for Improvement in Coaching and Recruitment

50:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the New England Lacrosse Journal's 'Chasing the Goal' podcast, host Kyle Devitte interviews Deemer Class, co-founder of First Class Lacrosse and former pro and Duke lacrosse player. They discuss Deemer's journey from youth sports to playing at a Division I powerhouse like Duke, the rigorous training that shaped his career, and the transition into professional lacrosse with MLL and PLL. Deemer shares insights into First Class Lacrosse, emphasizing the importance of intentional training, personalized coaching, and maintaining a love for the game. The conversation also touches on the evolving culture of lacrosse, the scrutiny of elite programs, and the valuable experiences at the Division II and III levels.

Topics

00:40 Deemer Class: Early Life and Lacrosse Journey

03:08 College Experience at Duke

04:58 Transition to Professional Lacrosse

07:18 Founding First Class Lacrosse

09:25 Reflections and Evolution of First Class Lacrosse

13:14 Lacrosse Culture and Training Philosophy

20:22 Developing Elite Training Events

29:26 Engaging Youth Lacrosse Coaches

30:33 The Importance of Speed and Reps

31:37 Personalizing Coaching Approaches

32:32 Challenges of Modern Coaching

36:15 Gamifying Lacrosse Drills

38:54 The Reality of College Lacrosse

47:48 Balancing Expectations and Reality

52:56 What's Next for First Class Lacrosse?

In this episode of New England Lacrosse Journal's Chasing The Gold podcast, host Kyle Devitte engages in a comprehensive conversation with Jake Bernhardt, head coach of Colby men’s lacrosse team. Kyle explores Jake’s journey from his upbringing in a football family to playing lacrosse at the University of Maryland, his professional career, and eventual transition to coaching. The discussion covers Jake’s coaching philosophy, strategies for balancing offensive and defensive play, and adapting to new environments as he moved from Florida to Vermont and then to Colby. Jake provides insights into the recruiting process within the competitive NESCAC conference and shares experiences of developing a winning team identity at Colby. Key points include managing team dynamics, the importance of setting realistic goals, and fostering relationships within the lacrosse community. The episode offers a detailed look into the challenges and rewards of collegiate lacrosse coaching, emphasizing strategies for success and continuous improvement.

Topics

00:44 Jake Bernhardt's Background and Early Life

01:06 Transition to College and Professional Lacrosse

03:45 Coaching Influences and Philosophy

09:13 Coaching at Colby and First Season Challenges

16:46 Building the Coaching Staff and Future Plans

20:43 National Recruiting Strategy

21:07 Lacrosse Popularity in New England

22:39 Welcoming Freshmen to the Program

24:24 NESCAC Admissions Process

25:43 Colby's Unique Selling Points

28:03 Building a Competitive Team

30:38 Offensive and Defensive Strategies

39:59 Setting Realistic Goals for the Season

42:01 Conclusion and Future Outlook