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Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 120
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:11 am: | 
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I have a two-year-old that has a little tiny lacrosse stick. I've tried having a "catch" with him, but it usually deteriorates to a ground ball drill with him picking up the ball with his hand and saying, "Daddy do it." This means I throw the tennis ball at a tree or into the air. "Daddy throw the ball into the SKY!"
Is there anyone out there who has a kid and an old lacrosse stick who wants to have a "catch", while the kids watch/learn/talk about it -- participate.
I'm not looking for a, "helmets-and-gloves-and-where'd-the-kids-go?" pick-up game. Just another dad for the "daddy do it." request.
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Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 236
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 1:00 am: |
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I thought this thread was about something TOTALLY different |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10549
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 4:29 am: |
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Two is a little young to expect a kid to take a sport seriously.
The LAX season is coming up and there are usually a number of college and high school games on TV. I doubt if a two year old is going to sit through a whole game, but having him in the room with the TV and an enthusiastic parent might help him pick up the basics.
Also, attending a couple of CHS games and even the youth league games here in town might spike his interest and understanding. |
spw784
Supporter
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 845
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 7:36 am: |
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Ace -- I did too! |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2913
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 8:05 am: |
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I did three!
Jersey Boy--you didn't ask but here's my 2 cents. I think you need to relax a bit about the whole lacrosse thing. He's only 2 for goodness sake. He has many, many years ahead of him to develop a fondness for the game. Show him games on TV. Bring him to games at the high school. Show him how much YOU enjoy the sport. Give him time to develop even the tiniest bit of hand eye-coordination. If he likes you to throw it at a tree, or up in the sky, or juggle, or do handstands while holding your stick in your mouth, do what he asks without worrying that he's not doing it "right." Share your passion with him in a quiet, positive way, and when he's ready he'll share it with you.
If you try to "force it down his throat" (just an expression, not saying that's exactly what you're doing) your most likely going to turn him off!
Can you and mommy have a "fun" little game of "catch" while he watches. If he sees the two of you enjoying it together, that's twice the inspiration.
And if, ultimately, lacrosse ends up not being his thing, let him be who he is and find his own way!
Like I said, just MHO. Take it with a grain of salt, or not.
FWIW, my dad is a avid swimmer and a wiz at math. He tried to force both those things on me when I was a kid. To this day, I'm not much of a swimmer and absolutely HATE numbers. |
Grrrrrrrrrrr
Citizen
Username: Oldsctls67
Post Number: 243
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 9:46 am: |
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JB, I am 39 years old, coach HS lacrosse, and still play in summer league every year. Lacrosse is part of who I am, it's just what I do. That being said, my son is 4. For my son's 2nd birthday I brought home a mini lacrosse set, with a goal and 2 mini sticks. At 2 I never expected him to be able to do anything except wave the stick around and bat at the ball, which is pretty much what he did. What he learned at 2 is that lacrosse is this fun game that daddy likes to play with this stick-thing and a ball, and whenever the ball goes in the net, every body starts to laugh and clap. At 3 years old, we tried again...he couldn't throw or scoop up the ball with much success, but he could pick the ball up with his hand, place it in the pocket of the stick, and from close range throw it in the goal. At one of my alumni games last year, he and a couple of other 3-year olds had an impromptu game of "catch" on the sidelines. It was great for me to see, and showed me that he would probably be ready this year to learn how to scoop and throw. Our little goal in the backyard has also led to a successful introduction to street hockey as well. My son has mentioned to me several times this winter (unsolicited) that he wants to play lacrosse with me outside when it gets warm out. I agree with Meand that it's not a good idea to force kids to do the stuff that you want them to, but at the same time I REALLY want my son to be a lacrosse player. I've tried to expose him to it in small bits in a very positive way. My son also has some minor developmental issues concerning fine motor skills, so I also knew it would take him longer before we would be out in the yard tossing around the old rock, but he's getting there! Also, FWIW, I had my son watching lax on TV and breaking down game film with me when he was an infant...lol! My son and I would love to have a catch with you sometime. PL me if you want to talk more. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 121
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 9:48 am: |
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I'm very conscious of not pushing it. But we take the sticks out and goof a little till he gets bored; then he's over in the playground which is fine. Last weekend he was SO excited about playing with the "lacrosse stickers."
When I'm at the playground with Jersey Boy jr. Jersey Mom is taking advantage of the free time.
I would have made this a thread just looking for a person to play catch with, but since Jersey Boy Jr. is there I didn't want anyone who would take it too seriously.
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Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 122
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 10:02 am: |
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Grrr,
I P.L'd you. If you went to/coach at Columbia HS, I hope it's not gonna be a problem that I went to Montclair HS.
J.B. |
Grrrrrrrrrrr
Citizen
Username: Oldsctls67
Post Number: 244
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 10:23 am: |
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Nope, did not play/coach at Columbia. Played HS in Kinnelon, college at W&L, have coached a couple of different places, currently assisting at Ridge HS in Basking Ridge. |
Deidra
Citizen
Username: Deidralynn
Post Number: 480
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 11:59 am: |
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Yeah Jersey Boy! MHS - class of '82 here! Did you play for the school? I was captain of the Girl's Lacrosse team and I have two young sons of my own. I did the little stick thing too! Grrrr is right on target with his advice. It's all about just exposing him to it - with fun. My brother, ahem, (one of Star-Ledger's Lax Players of the Century) ..she said bragging....did the same with his boys. But....even though they love the game, one plays basketball, one plays soccer, and one baseball....we're hoping his last son (7 now) will be a LAX player, but if not, that's okay too!...and there's still hope that my boys will get the LAX fever!
Happy cradling! |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10558
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:12 pm: |
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Deidra, there is hope. Little K never played organized lacrosse, he was into soccer, until his freshman year at CHS. He took to the sport and now loves it and continues to play on the club team at the colledge he attends. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 128
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:18 pm: |
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Deidra,
I was class of '88. You're totally invited if you want to make this a coed (but not naked) lacrosse catch. I don't know why I said, "dads" in the thread title. I guess I slipped back into high school sports mindset.
Go blue. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 129
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:21 pm: |
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Oh, and yes I did play for the school. J.V. State Champs! Still pissed that I lost the jacket. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10559
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:23 pm: |
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Back then they had a JV state tournament? |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 131
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
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Bob K,
MHS and CHS have a loooong history of lacrosse playing. When I was there in '88 there were a ton of banners with the years of championship teams. I believe they went back to the 70s.
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Deidra
Citizen
Username: Deidralynn
Post Number: 481
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 2:05 pm: |
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I still have my jacket in my attic!  .
Oh! The JV's!!!!!
.... my brother ( class of '77) was on Montclair's UNDEAFETED JV CHAMP TEAM! You may have heard of him....Mark Tyree.
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Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10566
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 2:56 pm: |
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Interesting. There had been some talk about setting up a County JV Tournament for both soccer and lacrosse a couple of years ago, but a state JV tournament is long gone.
The lacrosse rivalry between CHS and MHS is still alive, or at least it was two years ago when the two teams played four times (home and home league, county tournament and state tournament). Montclair squeaked out three wins, including the county championship game (or maybe semi-final), but Columbia won the state Group 4 quarter final game, only to lose to Chrisitan Brothers down the shore in the semi-final.
Little K was the first off the bench midfielder on that team. His roll was defense and using his speed on break aways.
Honesty makes me admit that the game CHS won was when two of MHS's seniors were suspended for bad behavior at their senior prom. |
Grrrrrrrrrrr
Citizen
Username: Oldsctls67
Post Number: 246
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 4:37 pm: |
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MHS and CHS play every year for a trophy, I can't think of the name of it now...the Gibbs cup, maybe? |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 134
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 6:13 pm: |
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Gil Gibbs. Usually when spoken, "The Great Gil Gibbs."
The cup was at MHS during my tenure there.
Mark Tyree? Sounds vaguely familiar. Did people call him, "The Great Mark Tyree?"
J.B. |
Deidra
Citizen
Username: Deidralynn
Post Number: 482
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 6:30 pm: |
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"The Great Mark Tyree..."  I know he's my brother, but he was an incredible athlete! Coach Gil Gibbs (as well as the late Coach Homer Robinson) were great legends...who both coached my brother. The game is a tribute to both of them.
Mark was an all-american both at MHS and Rutgers. His nickname was "The Reeper"!
I just thought of something....I think it was last spring, I was leisurely driving around town with Mark (just checking out Maplewood) and we stopped at Memorial park because two high school lax players were tossing the ball around in the field. Well, my brother (who keeps a stick in his SUV) got out and talked with and played catch. It was great. I hope the same happens for you one day - while you are at the park with your son. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 135
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 8:12 pm: |
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Deidra,
I'm always tempted to do that, but I don't have the lacrosse resume your brother has. If he stops for a catch, it's a celebrity sighting. I'm just some old guy...
If only I had my J.V. State Champs Jacket! Damn. I'm still pissed.
J.B. |
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