HOW TO RUN A TRYOUT

RYAN BOYLETRILOGY LACROSSE

Ryan Boyle Bio• Industry

– Trilogy Lacrosse Co-Founder and CEO– ESPN NCAA Lacrosse Analyst

• International– 3x Member of Team USA: 2002, 2006, 2010

• Professional– MLL All-time Leader in Points and Assists– 4x MLL Championship

• Philadelphia Barrage 2004, 2006 & 2007, Boston Cannons 2011– MLL / NLL All-Star– MLL / NLL Rookie of the Year– NLL Champions Cup Finalist – 2009

• Collegiate– 4x All-American at Princeton University– NCAA Championship

• Princeton University 2001– 2X Ivy League Player of the Year– 2nd All-time in Points and Assists at Princeton University

Purpose

• Establish Goals– Fair– Competitive– Efficient

• Build Culture– Pre-event Preparation– Event Execution– Post-event Strategies

Establish Goals

• Fair– “Perception is Reality”– Policy = Protection

• Competitive– Intrasquad: Player-to-Player– Team Outlook: Current position vs desired outcome

• Efficient– Event Organization– Timetable for process completion

Fairness

• Transparency around Process– Number of Teams– Roster Size– Positional Breakdown– Evaluation Criteria & Metrics– Staff Credentials– Program-specific Policies

• Cuts• Role of seniority• Talent

Competitiveness

• Intrasquad– Player-to-Player– Establish Interaction Guidelines– Within Team: Upper vs Under, Offense vs Defense– Within Program: Team-to-Team

• Team Outlook– Current position

• Vs League / Peers

– Desired outcome• Goals for season• Reasonable and attainable

Efficiency

• Have a Plan– Event Organization

• Schedule– Minute-to-minute breakdown

• Numbered Reversibles– Assigned to each player

• Staff assignments– Evaluators: Clip boards w/ Evaluation Sheets– Drills: Schedules, Whistles, Balls, Conest

– Timetable• Length of Tryouts• Notification Process

Build Culture

• Pre-event Preparations– Manage Expectations– Players, Parents, and Staff

• Event Execution– 1st Interaction

• Post-event Strategies– Communication: When and How– Roster Gameplay Transition

Pre-event Preparations: Player / Parent

• Manage Expectations• Logistics

– Days / Dates– Location– Time– Conflict Resolution Plan

• Evaluation– Skills– Athleticism– Effort

• Rosters– Total Number– Positional Breakdown– Ranges

• Notification– Roster Finalization– Communication Plan

• Email• Phone• Website

Pre-event Preparations: Staff

• Director / Head Coach– Opportunity for empowerment

• Evaluators vs Drills– Separate or Bleed responsibilities

• Staff Meeting– Evaluators: Rosters

• Returners, Personal Relationships, Politics, Conflicts, Projections (Bubble)

– Drills: Schedule• Focus on teaching and personal engagement• First chance to establish fundamentals and strategies

Pre-event Preparations: Roster Framework

• Positional– Attack– Midfield– Defense– Goalies– Face-offs– Specialty

• Depth– Limits / Flexibility

Event Execution: Schedule

• Breakdown– Individual– Positional– Group– Transition– Team: Half and Full Field– Specialty Situations

• Numbered Reversibles– Strategically assigned for specific drills / teams

Event Execution: Evaluations• Categories

– Field• Stickwork• On-ball Offense / Defense• Off-ball Offense / Defense• Lacrosse IQ• Athleticism/Upside• Overall Play

– Goalie• Stickwork• Ball-stopping• Communication• Lacrosse IQ• Athleticism/Upside• Overall Play

Event Execution: Evaluations

• Metrics– Grades– Numerical– +/-– Rankings

• Overall• Positional

• Qualitative– Positive & Negative Comments

• Quantitative and Qualitative Feedback– Why didn’t I make the team?

Post-event Strategies: Communication

• Program Culture– Email vs Phone vs Website

• Consistency is Key– Timing– Platform

• Identify Problematic Situations– Approach and come prepared

• Evaluations, Policy

• Best Practices– Email: Behave as though it will get forwarded

• Because it probably will

– Phone: Best for sensitive topics• Follow-up with Email for confirmation around points

– Website: Private URL and limited time window

Post-event Strategies: Roster Construction

• Chip Kelly – Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach – “I've always believed play calling is based on your personnel”

• Ideal vs Reality– Identify Strengths

• Individual• Positional• Team

• Roster Framework Adjustments– Size / Depth chart– Positional Breakdown

Post-event Strategies: Roster Gameplay

• Macro Strategies: Philosophy– Style of play

• Micro Strategies: Gameplans– Half-field Offense– Half-field Defense– Man-up / Man-down– Rides & Clears– Transition– Face-off and Wingplay– Goalies

Q & A

• Any questions?

Follow-up

• Contact Information– Web: www.trilogylacrosse.com– Phone: 212-796-7987– Email: rboyle@trilogylacrosse.com

COMING UP NEXT4:15pm - 5:15pm

203AB, Brian Silcott & Bryan Wallace, LB3Individual Defense

Live Field, Dan Sharbaugh, Gettysburg College Team Offense: From The Classroom To The Field(TJ Buchanan)

204C, Tom Rotanz, U.S. U19 Men's TeamMan-Down Defense

Demo Field, Greg Gurenlian, FaceOff AcademyFaceoff (Chris Mattes & Jerry Ragonese)

Basic Training, Lisa Christiansen, US LacrossePE Workshop Demonstration (Justin Moe, Kathy Ayers)