Introduction to Heritage 2012 Men’s Lacrosse
Dear Heritage Men’s Lacrosse family,
Welcome to the 2012 lax season. It’s here and we are excited about the prospects for an exciting adventure of the chase for the Indiana State Title and the process of becoming one of the premier lax programs in the Midwest.
The program set before us has been constructed with the help of many people including Kyle Ray from Hoffacker. It is set to best prepare us for competing for the title this year. It will be challenging and a significant commitment on the part of everyone, especially the players. But the sacrifices that are necessary to accomplish our goal will be worth it.
For those players that are not in a winter sport the expectations for the preseason prior to our first official practice on Feb 13th is that the players will follow a lifting program that will be sent, 3 times per week. That will continue throughout the season and be modified from time to time. The lifting times that are available at the school will be communicated. We are flexible in that a player can also do the lifting at home or at an outside facility if that is more convenient. We need to make sure each player is properly trained and knowledgeable in safe technique. We will ask each player to turn in his lifting records at some point. Currently we are hoping to make the lifting times available during the morning stick sessions on Thursday and Friday 6:30 AM. We also are partnering with the football team in lifting on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30 PM. Students who are already in Physical Conditioning class for Athletes doing their lifting program do not have to do extra sessions and the class will fulfill the requirement. We will be doing testing of the lifting statistics for our evaluations this year at a time to be announced.
Again for players not in a winter sport: Conditioning: Expectations are for conditioning 3 times per week. Hoffacker runs sessions specifically for men’s lacrosse from 3:30 to 4:30 on Tues and Thurs. They also run a general session on Monday from 3:30 to 4:30. If those sessions are not possible to attend then an alternative program needs to be arranged and approved by the coaches. Saturday AM sessions may be available and will be considered.
Skills: Morning sessions will be run in the upper gym for stick skills on Thursday and Friday at 6:30 AM. We plan to work-in lifting opportunities for some at that time and will be working on individual skills possibly with film sessions.
The season starts early and we plan on having a heavy schedule of good competition so we will need to be prepared early. One of our important games and one of our toughest comes right out of the stick (right off the bat) against Dublin, Ohio a very talented team and a strong program, on March 2nd. Beginning Feb 13th full practices begin. Mondays and Thursdays at 5:00 PM. Tues and Fri at 6:00 AM (depending on coaching availability maybe 5:30 AM). Wednesdays will be Hoffacker workout and possibly short lax practice sessions from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Some practices are scheduled on Saturdays such as player evaluations. Evaluations will take place on Sat Feb 18 which will include strength, speed, stamina, and stick skills testing. When games are scheduled then our practice times on the days around those games may be modified. We are finalizing the game schedule and it should be available soon. The season is scheduled through the Friday and Sat of Memorial weekend where we plan to be playing for the title. We also plan on playing our first annual alumni game in May which will also be a memorable and important event. We are working with the alumni on that event.
Summer Team Camp: We will be taking a Heritage varsity team to the Notre Dame team camp to participate in a tournament July 13, 14, and 15th. We will be taking at team also to the JV camp the 27-29th. We are also considering an east Coast tourney for team camp TBA. We encourage each player to participate in an individual skills camp or to go to one of the recruiting camps. Information about these opportunities will be forthcoming. Please let me know about your availability for these camps Notre Dame team camps ASAP. Get those on your schedule right away so that you can play.
The hope is that each player will commit himself to being maximally prepared and he will encourage teammates to do the same in order that each might contribute to the success of the team. This is a team sport and we will need to be deep to be most successful. We hope to glorify God by our commitment to excellence as if we are playing before Him, which we are. We are not doing it for ourselves. Remember “We, not me. Him, not us!”
In order to get to know the players, interview times have been assigned over the next 2 weeks. A schedule will be sent. Please try to make those times. If you are unable then please trade or make alternate arrangements. There will be a questionnaire that each player will fill out and send back to us beforehand that we will use to get to know them. This is only a brief, no pressure, get to know you interview and we desire to know these young men in order to best mentor them. This is important and a priority for us. Please email these back to me ideally or bring in a paper copy in necessary at the time of the interview. My email is below.
We are hoping that some of our players would be willing to step into new roles this year. Some players might decide that they could serve the team best in an important role as manager. They will be an important part of our team with an important role and an opportunity to letter in that position. Responsibilities among other things would include assisting with preparation of the game films, and editing for the coaches. We would like for them to get their referee certificate. There may be good opportunity to help with our youth program as well. Scouting might be included in this. This is an opportunity to be involved and be a great asset to the team. Please contact Coach Pittman if you are interested.
We want you to know that the coaches are committed to improvement as well. Coaches are obtaining certifications, attending National coaching meetings, reviewing game films from last year, reviewing other instructional materials, and having many preseason meetings. We are creating a new playbook to be distributed to each player on Feb 13th. This is a team effort and we are certainly doing our part to be the best that we can be and to set an example.
I will not go into details of ideas that we have at this time but I hope that you will pray about ways in which we can impact our community for Christ through the sport of lacrosse. I am curious what God would put on your heart. Once you have prayed and considered it for a while then let me, Coach Pittman, know.
Do we really want to be champions and do what it takes to get the trophy? A lot of people say they want to be champs and say they are going to try. But not many actually sacrifice, work hard, and do the difficult painful hard things that are necessary to be the champions. I have seen that many in our program are stepping up and making that commitment and doing the extra things to be successful. I have seen that the Heritage team is special and willing to do what is needed to be champions. So I am expecting success to be in our path soon. It is now time to do what we say and do what is necessary to reach our goals to the Glory of God.
Respectfully,
Coach Pittman
“We, not me! Him, not us!”
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