The guest is Andrew Kirkaldy, the head coach at Trinity-Pawling. Kirkaldy discusses the challenges and responsibilities of coaching at this level, including player development, mentoring, and recruitment. He emphasizes the importance of teaching life skills alongside lacrosse, reflecting on the pressure to compete for student-athletes and how prep schools provide a nurturing environment for young men to grow both on and off the field. The conversation also touches on Kirkaldy's personal journey through lacrosse, from his playing days in Canada and the NLL draft to transitioning into coaching. Additionally, the episode delves into the competitive landscape of the Founders League, strategies for player utilization and development, and the cultural shift towards incorporating box lacrosse techniques into the field game. Kirkaldy also highlights the accomplishments of his players, the majority of whom continue their lacrosse careers in college, underscoring the program's success in preparing them for the next level. The episode concludes with insights into the unique benefits and challenges of the prep school lacrosse scene.

Topics:

01:29 The Challenges and Triumphs of Coaching Lacrosse 03:47 Coach Kirkaldy's Unique Journey to Lacrosse Coaching 05:27 The Evolution of a Lacrosse Player: From Box to Field 20:20 The Importance of Control and Instinct in Lacrosse 24:52 Analyzing Defensive Strategies in Lacrosse 25:09 The Importance of Aggression and Confidence 25:29 Reflecting on Past Performances and Adjustments 25:50 The Challenge of Coaching at High Levels 26:56 Success Stories: From High School to College Lacrosse 27:27 The Role of Athleticism and Team Dynamics 28:46 Coaching Philosophy: Developing Players and Roles 32:02 Balancing Instructional and Situational Coaching 33:36 Building Character and Life Skills Through Lacrosse 38:32 Personal Journey: From Player to Coach 40:50 Recruitment and the Founders League Dynamics 43:14 Choosing Trinity Pauling: A Focus on Authentic Growth 45:12 The Prep School Advantage and Coaching Perspectives 47:21 Concluding Thoughts and the Impact of Coaching

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/