Google AdSense
Walax.com Exclusive Interview with Greg Cannella, Umass Coach: "What Makes a Good Player?"
Submitted by walax on Tue, 2006-03-21 10:49.
Recognized as one of the nation's top lacrosse coaches, Greg Cannella begins his 12th year at the helm of the University of Massachusetts program.
In his first ten years, Cannella has brought his Minutemen to four NCAA Tournaments, winning three tournament games since 1997, captured four New England championships, claimed the 2002 ECAC Lacrosse title after earning a share of the 2001 crown, while being named ECAC Coach of the Year on three seperate occasions in 2004, 2002, and 2001. Cannella took the reigns of the UMass lacrosse program in the fall of 1994 with a great understanding of the program's storied history. He was a two-time letterwinner under the legendary Dick Garber in the mid-1980s and an assistant coach for two seasons with the Minutemen. Cannella is just the fourth head coach in the program's 49-year history. In the spring of 1995, the Minutemen made their 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament--eighth best among Division I schools--in Cannella's first season in charge of the lacrosse program. Cannella led UMass to one of the most successful campaigns in school history during the 1997 season. It featured an NCAA Tournament victory in the opening round against Hofstra, and a gutty performance against Princeton that gave the eventual undefeated national champions their toughest challenge of the season. In addition, the Minutemen were New England champions for the 16th time, finishing the year with a perfect record against regional foes. UMass had one of the nation's most fearsome defenses in 1998 and was ranked as high as eighth. Among his first four-year class, Cannella had three All-America selections. In 2001, Cannella led UMass to one of its best regular seasons in the program's rich history. The Minutemen finished the season with a 12-2 overall record and a 5-1 ECAC mark; the 12 victories tied for the third most ever by a UMass team. Cannella has earned the reputation of being one of the nation's finest recruiters. He has recruited 45 high school and junior college All-Americans in his tenure at UMass.
What can a kid do on the West Coast to affect his opportunity to be recruited for Lacrosse on the East Coast?
West Coast kids who want to get recruited by East Coast colleges should send letters and video to the coach you want to know you. In addition, make sure you attend East Coast camps and visits to colleges you are interested in.
What personal characteristics do you seek in your Lacrosse recruits?
“What I look for in a player”. As a Division I Lacrosse coach I look for many attributes, including great athletic ability, speed, skill, desire, conditioning, toughness, humility and intelligence. Ideally, every athlete we recruit possesses at least some of those attributes.
As a coach, in general the first thing I look for is a good student. Someone who cares about their academics throughout high school is most likely to continue that trend in college. In the sport of Lacrosse we do not sell the dream of making a living playing professional after college. For this reason I try to find mature student-athletes that will handle the rigors of academics and athletics. It is not an easy task considering the time commitments required for both.
Athletic ability is something you are born with. You may have great athletic ability, meaning agility, quick feet, hand eye coordination, balance, and ability to perform tasks at a high speed, etc. You may or may not have as much athletic ability as some other players. It is difficult to vastly improve your athletic ability. Cross training and playing sports like basketball, tennis, racquetball, squash, volleyball, will help. Regardless, I love athletic ability; it makes players versatile!
Speed is similar to athletic ability; it is something you are born with. However, speed training correctly will help the athlete tremendously. In any sport, speed is an asset that you covet; it puts you a step ahead of your opponent. I love fast players; it allows us to play an up-tempo style, both offensively and defensively.
Skill development at an early age is essential to participate at the collegiate level. Specifically the ability to handle the ball in traffic and throw long passes both at high speeds. Shooting with great velocity and accuracy is always a plus, but do it on the run. Being a good ground ball player and dodger rounds out what it takes to be highly skilled.
Desire and toughness go hand in hand. Lacrosse is a sport that someone 5 feet 9 inches and 155 pounds can excel at the highest level. I know, that was myself when I played. What is inside of your heart is what counts. The desire to work diligently to improve everyday goes a long way for every player. IT is not always the most talented player who achieves greatness, but the one who wants it the most. Toughness, both physically and mentally, are essential in becoming a great player. It is sometimes very difficult to determine whether someone has what it takes, but other times it is completely obvious. Consistency in play, superior intensity, regardless of what happens in a particular game, and relentless pursuit as a defender or offensive player, is what I look for!
Conditioning is key to any athlete. A lacrosse player who can maintain high intensity for 60 minutes will usually excel. In today’s game weight training is mandatory in becoming a stronger, more flexible athlete to withstand the contact and prevent some of the common injuries. To determine and athletes conditioning level, I look for a player who, in a three-day tournament or camp, still has the juice to go full out on day three. I look for self-motivated individuals who are willing to commit to conditioning when no one is watching!
When I recruit players, I am looking for team players. I look for players who care about their families, their academics, their teammates, and how they represent the University of Massachusetts. Unselfishness is a key element to any successful team. I enjoy having someone who is willing to sacrifice his ego for the betterment of the team. Humility is an attribute that I look for during the recruiting process. Humble people usually do not care who receives the credit, and they are very hard working! I played for Richard F. Garber here at University of Massachusetts. Coach Garber, the all time winningest Division I lacrosse coach, always urged all of this players to remain humble whether in victory or defeat. Coach would say, “When you speak, make sure you use soft words, because someday you may have to eat them.” In my book, those are words to live by!
Finally, I look for smart people. Not necessarily the best students, but players that are sensible and use their intelligence to solve problems and situations. The players who make the best decision on and off the field are the ones I am looking for. During their college career, student athletes will end up in good and bad situations. I want the people who realize when they are in a bad situation to get out of it, and when they are in a good situation to make the most of it! Being a smart lacrosse player is being a student of the game. If you are an offensive player, know how the defense works and vice versa. I look for players who have the ability to make quick decisions, and of course the right ones. Watch as much lacrosse as possible and find out why the best players do what they do. Then go out and use that experience to help you understand what your strengths and weaknesses are. Remember maximize your strengths and work hard to overcome your weaknesses!
Do you find value in recruiting companies, or are kids throwing their money away thinking this helps their chances of being recruited?
No - I think the athletes should spend their money on camps to show coaches what they can do!
An age old question: which would you rather: an athlete with little Lacrosse skill but lots of “Lacrosse potential” or a very skilled player with slightly less athletic ability?
Both! Umass gets a mixture of both types and we need both and either - we want committed people!
Young players here are constantly worried about exposure and how to get their playing capabilities more visible to top-level programs like yours. Do you have any suggestions on how best to do this?
Young players who want exposure to a specific college should attend their camp in the summer. This gives personal time to both player and coach.
After the recruiting process is finished, and players begin playing for you, what type of player is most successful at the college level for four years?
The type of players most successful in college are the ones who work the hardest - it does not matter where you are from or who you are - work hard to excel.
Lets talk about midfielders- some coaches find “between the lines” middies a tremendous asset; other coaches may choose “shooters” or great “d-middies”. What is your perfect midfielder?
There is no such thing as a perfect midfielder - you need a mixture of role guys, scores, face-off men, and Short stick D-mids
Defensemen? “Take away artists” versus “body position” defensemen? What is your perfect Defensemen?
My perfect defensemen will always play position first. Umass defensemen need to possess great skill as well as be a good communicator.
Attackman? “Drive and dump” feeding Attackmen versus “shooters”? What is your perfect Attackman?
The same as midfield and defense, you need each of these different skills and all of these as well.
Lacrosse is only part of college life. What role outside of Lacrosse do you feel a coach should play?
Coach is a mentor, not a friend, but someone who you can count on to honest and fair!
How has the growth of strong club teams across the US helped or hurt your talent pool for recruiting?
Club teams actually helps the talent pool for recruiting across the US because there are more kids playing!
The west coast is still on the upward rise for Lacrosse development, do you foresee this as a role the lacrosse community collectively plays to develop? How do you see your involvement as a DI college coach?
Community must support it - kids need to give back and get the younger kids going! My involvement is one of embracing young people and asking them not to forget where they come from! Give back- represent the sport, your school, your family and yourself in a first class manner!
Finally, if you had one piece of advice to give an aspiring player who wanted to participate in your program, what would that be?
Work hard in school! You need grades to get in the door at most schools!