I played lacrosse for Northwestern University. As a college athlete, I know how important it is to improve in high school so that you get recruited, and then to continue improving in college. Here are 7 tips that can help you improve as a lacrosse player. 

1. Adapt your mindset to believe that running is never a punishment (even when it is.)  

• Lacrosse is an extremely fast-paced sport, and a typical game involves anywhere between 3-7 miles of running, depending on your position and skill level. 
• The more you run, and the more comfortable you are performing while tired, which will make you a better player and more enjoyable teammate.
• Running in practice shouldn't be seen as a punishment, but as an opportunity to improve.

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities and Campus Visits

2. Do wall-ball, or stick work for at least 10 minutes a day.

• Having good stick work is the best way to stand out on the field.
• Committing time every day shows that you are dedicated and willing to work hard for your results.
• It's easy to squeeze ten minutes into your schedule, and it adds up over time.

3. Work on your non-dominant hand more than your dominant hand.

• The best players use both hands equally. Think of yourself as a point guard: do they only ever dribble with one hand, or do they use both?
• Being skilled with both hands will set you apart early on and will continue to do so as the skill levels change.
• If you are just as talented as another recruit, but only one of you can play with two hands, the coach will choose that one.

Related: 9 Tips to Become a More Recruitable Basketball Player

4. Don't be afraid to get creative and step out of your comfort zone. 

• If you find yourself asking “will I ever use this in a game?” you are going about it wrong. If you are getting more comfortable with your stick and handling the ball, that is all that matters.
• You never know what kind of situation you will be in, and the more you practice, the better suited you'll be to come up big for your team. 
• Trying new skills will set you apart from other players and teach you how to compete outside of your comfort zone.

5. Accept the fact that it is a physical game. You will have some bumps and bruises. 

• This isn't practice, so much as a mentality. You need to be prepared for what might come – in a game or practice – so that you can shake it off and not take it personally.

Related: Step-by-Step Guide to Handling Acute Muscle Injury

6. Work on your wrist strength, especially if you take the draw.

• Having strong wrists allows you to do more with your stick and frees you from doing the norm.
• Strengthening your wrists will also help to prevent injury.

7. Watch other sports and try to incorporate those skills into your game.

• Basketball players with the pick and roll, pick and pop, give and go
• How runningbacks find the open hole and juke their way through the defense 
• The crow hop that baseball players use when throwing long balls 
• Slap shots in hockey
• Penalty shots in soccer
• All sports are connected, and the more you understand and can incorporate into your own play, the better lacrosse player and athlete you will become

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* Originally published on February 15, 2022, by Leighton Yenor