The guest is Acton-Boxboro Coach Pat Ammendolia on his journey and philosophies since taking over the program, including the importance of fostering a fun, hard-working culture. Coach Ammendolia shares insights on implementing zone defense, developing young talent through the 'buddy program,' and navigating the challenges of the high school lacrosse landscape, such as players reclassing and transferring to prep schools. The episode closes with a talk on the significance of the Players Cup and its impact on high school lacrosse in Massachusetts.
Topics
00:39 Guest Introduction: Coach Ammendolia
02:01 Building a Winning Culture at AB
04:08 Challenges and Successes in Coaching
10:05 Youth Programs and Community Engagement
13:21 Playoff Formats and Opinions
19:28 Zone Defense Strategies
24:13 Mastering the Zone Defense
25:24 Challenges and Adaptations in Coaching
26:23 Innovative Defensive Strategies
29:35 Balancing Offense and Defense
32:14 Reflections on Playing Career
37:42 Recruitment and Retention Issues
41:32 Debate on Reclassing in Lacrosse
48:16 The Importance of April Break Tournaments
50:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Chasing the Goal podcast from New England Lacrosse Journal is a Seamans Media production.
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