Addictive Personality

Have you ever heard someone say, “I have an addictive personality.” Usually when I hear people associate addictive tendencies with their personality, they are fighting the urge to try something that’s not only addictive, but harmful. Personally, I feel human nature is to have addictive tendencies. The question is, what are you going to get addicted to? In life, you can develop healthy habits and get addicted to becoming the best version of yourself. This is the form of addiction I want to spread. Here’s some things I choose to get hooked on:

Stepping outside my comfort zone.

Making sure my inbox stays between 1 and 19 emails.

Watching documentaries on topics that frighten me.

Practicing what I preach.

Shipping on time. Shipping packages, projects, emails, and work.

Staying in shape.

Becoming a better boyfriend, boss, student, and family member.

Doing what’s right over what’s easy.

Drinking water.

What healthy habits have you formed?

 
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3 Sport Coaches

It’s rare to hear of a three sport athlete these days. Specialization in youth sports has forced athletes to make decisions which sport to focus on earlier and earlier. Some players are choosing to focus on one specific sport before they get into Middle School, playing that sport year-round.

The impact of specialization in sports stretches beyond the athlete. Unfortunately, it effects coaches as well.

As parents guide their children to specialize in sports, spend money to make their children better, and increasingly involve themselves in their child’s organized sports experience; the pressure to win in High School sports begins to increase. As parent’s see their children compete in school, they expect their teams to be nothing short of competitive. As the added pressures of being competitive and winning in High School sports increases, quality High School Varsity coaches are forced to develop a year-round training schedule for their sport, as opposed to just working with Varsity athletes in season.

As coaches start to work with their players year-round, the opportunity to coach multiple sports begins to fade. The idea of a quality 3 Sport Coach has turned into a 1 sport Head Coach. These Head Coaches, most of whom serve as Linchpins within their communities, are now dedicating all their effort into developing studletes in one specific sport.

With parent pressures, year-round schedules, and specialization in sports, will soon be the time that quality High School coaches decide it’s worth it to coach Varsity sports?

To me, the biggest travesty would be seeing the most qualified and indispensable coaches go from being a 3 Sport Coach, to not one at all.

How can we help promote the importance of multi-sport athletes and coaches within schools? For ideas, please comment below…

 
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21 Ways to Be a Great Teammate

Yesterday, FLG 2020 Girls Coach Bob Schmitt walked into the FLG office with a book titled, The Hard Hat. After I inquired about the book Bob was holding, he said, “this is a must read, once you pick it up you won’t want to put it down.” Boy was he right. I simple could not put the book down once I dove inside. In The Hard Hat, author Jon Gordon features:

  • The true story of George Board, his team and their legacy
  • Insights from George’s teammates
  • Exercises to help you build a great team
  • 21 ways to be a great teammate

Jon Gordon takes the story of someone who did so many things the right way to educate readers on what it takes to be a great teammate, young man, and society member. I hope that George Boiardi’s legacy continues to spread and educate future generations of studletes. Below I’ve summarized Jon Gordon’s lessons on being a great teammate. This post is in honor of a true studlete, role model, and leader.

21 Ways to Be a Great Teammate *From Jon Gordon’s The Hard Hat in honor of George Boiardi

  1. As a team member, one of the things you control each day is your effort. Effort is a cornerstone value that you can control and allow oneself to be the best.
  2. While well done is greater than well said, don’t just show effort, demand it vocally to your teammates.
  3. The key to success is be a life-long learner. Stay humble and hungry along the way.
  4. Try to be the best you can be. Pursue excellence. Give more percent of yourself each opportunity you get.
  5. Stay positive and spread that positivity.
  6. Don’t complain.
  7. Work hard for your team. Put your team first. Give credit where credit is due.
  8. If you want commitment, be committed.
  9. Be consistent in your attitude, effort, and actions.
  10. Before you expect the best of yourself, you can expect the best from your team.
  11. If you respect everyone, they will respect you
  12. Be an energy fountain, not a drain.
  13. Without communication, you can’t build trusting relationships
  14. Connect with your teammates. Get to know them as people on and off the field.
  15. Greatness is a focus a focus on making oneself better and ones team better.
  16. Be selfless.
  17. Show you care, don’t just say how much you care.
  18. Be a loyal friend to  your teammates.
  19. Love your team first. Commit to that. They will then love you back.
  20. Be willing to sacrifice some of your wants for what the team needs.
  21. Leave the place better than you found it.

 

 
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Fusion Drill :: Doubles

Cheeeeeck out one of FLG’ favorite Fusion games that will be sure to be an absolute hit with your lacrosse team. We call it doubles. We call this type of game, Fusion. Enjoy!

 
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The New and Improved FLGlacrosse.com

FLG Lacrosse, Inc. Long Island Lacrosse Teams, Training and Events Company has launched a brand new eCommerce website with responsive design, mobile agility, and user friendliness.

“We really wanted to make it easier for users to learn about our company. Also, we want new families to our program to easily digest everything we do and what we’re about. For our existing members, we’ve created an easier shopping experience, making it easier to sign-up, shop, and stay connected with the program.”

FLG Lacrosse Website

                                 Homepage of the NEW FLGlacrosse.com

FLG’s new website organizes FLG offerings into 3 simple categories – Select Teams, Events, and Training.

To start, FLG offers Select Teams for boys and girls in grades 3rd through 11th. The website includes a bio page on each Select Team Coach, as well as, more information on tryouts, what’s included for being in the program, and a Calendar with all FLG Select Team Events.

FLG Lacrosse runs 7 Recruiting Events, 1 Youth Tournament, 1 Co-Ed Summer Camp, and 1 Women’s League. FLG’s events are showcased on the homepage of their website, with the event logo and location. You can learn more about each event under the ‘Events’ tab as well.
Lastly, FLG runs four local training events seasonally. This includes Fall Positional Clinics, Fall Fusion Training, Fall and Spring Small Group Training, and Winter Box Lacrosse Training. Learn more about FLG’s Training events by clinic under the ‘Training’ tab.

Social Media icons and Footer break-down of FLG Lacrosse

               Social Media icons and Footer break-down of FLG Lacrosse

Coming this Fall, FLG’s website will include a daily blog, shopping center with lacrosse products, a new Alumni Community center with player profiles on each alumni in the program, updated Who’s In the News section, and monthly videos on everything lacrosse.

Be sure to click on the large social media icons on the homepage to follow what’s going on at FLG.

We’d like to thank Keith Paul of ElectricBricks.net for designing, building, and implementing the new and improved FLGlacrosse.com! We hope you enjoy. If you have ideas on making our site even better or if there’s something you’d like to see from FLG, feel free to share by commenting below.

 
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Work Out Your Mind

How do you get mental reps?

How do you expand your knowledge for the sport?

How do you work out your mind?

Here are some ideas on how FLG teaches our athletes to become #studletes

Learn to focus on your breath, not always on your movement.

Create a list of distractions that are unacceptable, don’t allow athletes in your program to become victim to those distractions. Hold them accountable for their actions.

Create drills that challenge players mentally and physically.

Quiz your athletes seasonally on what’s they’ve learned throughout the year.

Ask your athletes what they’ve learned at the end of practice.

Send content to your athletes that allow them to develop at their position.

Use creative ways to educate your athletes off the field, not just on it.

#LoveTheGame #FLGLAX #FLG

 
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10 Reasons To Be a Part of FLG

10. It’s a year long program. We have offerings during every season. Our select teams start with Fall Ball, then to Box Lacrosse in winter, Spring Training in the spring, leading up to the summer lacrosse tournament season. Throughout the year, we offer additional training opportunities to make your son or daughter the best they can be.
9. FLG Select Team Coaches are experienced, knowledgable, and have a passion for teaching the game. Currently, FLG has coaches who lead programs in Nassau County, Suffolk County, and at the Collegiate level. Additionally, we have coaches who currently play for Division I, II & III, which is important because they all share their different experiences and remain close to the sport.
8. We are more than lacrosse teams, we are a Program. On top of our Select Teams, FLG runs premier recruiting showcasesFLG brings exposure to different towns by running free clinics throughout the year, FLG runs a slew of unique training programs, FLG has a Lax4all Program that initiates and sustains lacrosse programs in non-traditional communities on Long Island, and FLG has some of the top lacrosse leagues and camps on the island.
 
College Coaches lined up at an FLG Showcase this past summer
 
7. FLG has 1 team in each age group to ensure quality play and coaching. This gives us an opportunity to develop each player, team, and guide all families through the recruiting process.
FLG Committed Team player, Jared Horseman, is a 2016 graduate heading to Marquette this Fall
6. We develop players within our program in a constructive, innovative, and interactive way.Players learn the nuances of the game through unique training programs and FLG’s creative training methods, which are developed by FLG’s experienced team of coaches and Program Directors.
5. We look to prepare the players in our program for the next level; whether it be high school or college, we harp on the importance of responsibility, accountability, time- management, and hard work! Not only do we teach lacrosse, but we tie in life lessons and values that relate to the game! Developing the intangible characteristics in our players is as important as teaching the on-field part of the sport.
4. We have Nassau and Suffolk teams for the convienence of the people in our program. Nassau teams practice out of our convenient Nassau County locations and Suffolk teams will practice out of our convenient Suffolk County locations. Practice sites include Adelphi, LIU Post, Kellenberg Memorial High School, Comsewogue High School, and Hauppauge High School. Additionally, FLG has select teams for both boys and girls.
FLG runs ones of the top individual girls recruiting showcase on Long Island, with the best uncommitted girls and over 50 college coaches.
3. FLG, For the Love of the Game, has an extensive alumni network with studletes who have played at the highest level. After you get recruited, you immediately join our alumni network so we can help with potential internships and job opportunities in different fields of work.
2. FLG Club Directors have 1 on 1 meetings with every family in the program who’ve initiated the recruiting process. No one in our Program will go through the recruiting process alone. All of FLG’s recruitable aged players will get a 1-year membership to Lacrosse Recruits, updates on how to engineer a better recruiting process, and in depth conversations on your son or daughter’s recruiting experience.
 
 
FLG has alumni at schools such as Adelphi University who have gone on to win Conference, Sectional, and State Championships
 
1. Most importantly, we teach, play, and coach because of our love for the game.
 
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FLG Celebrity Appearance – Matthew Borges

Matt Borges

Matthew Borges, left, just won a Gold Medal for the Under-19 USA Men’s Lacrosse team

Tonight, FLG Alumni Matthew Borges came down to the Garden City Free Clinic at the St. Paul School. Mathew plays Varsity lacrosse for Ohio State University and just captured a gold medal for the U-19 USA Team in Canada. At the clinic, FLG awarded this young studlete a USA practice jersey for his positive attitude, hard work ethic, and coach ability. All characteristics shared by FLG’s Matt Borges. A big thanks to Matt for coming down to our clinic tonight. We hope his positive attributes will motivate the next generation of great laxers in Garden City and all over Long Island!

Tyler Dunne (#11) and Matthew Borges (Right) celebrate after winning the Gold Medal for the U-19 USA Team

 
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We Don’t Play for the T-Shirt

T-Shirt
We play for the love of the game.

We play to make ourselves better on and off the field.

We play to become better athletes and better human beings.

We play to improve.

We play to have fun and learn.

Why do you play?

 
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Wanted: Executive Director to Head Lax4All

FLG’s Non-Profit Spreads Opportunity to Underprivileged

We at FLG Lacrosse are passionate about the game and what it means to young people from all walks of life. For those in our program, the game serves as a opportunity to bring together like-minded youth, offers a lesson in leadership and provides a healthy outlet after school. FLG wants to spread those benefits while making a positive impact on underprivileged communities here on Long Island and the metropolitan area. In 2008, we founded Lax4All to introduce lacrosse to youth boys and girls in the town of Roosevelt. As a not-for-profit organization, Lax4All is dedicated to raising funds, bringing together volunteer coaches and finding resources to make the game accessible to those who would normally not have the opportunity. The goal of FLG and Lax4All is the same: help build strong, confident individuals who learn respect, leadership and teamwork–the building blocks of success both in sports and in life.

For the past several years, I have personally run the Lax4All program in Roosevelt. Now, we’re looking to offer this program in more and more neighborhoods where economics and insufficient funding have prevented healthy sports programs inside and outside of the schools. In order to be most effective, we’re in search of an Executive Director who will help Lax4All grow.

We are looking for an individual who can provide general oversight to the program, manage its day-to-day operations, help secure essential public and private funding and, above all, be an advocate for our mission.

Our current program relies heavily on assistance from our partners and volunteers as well as donations of used equipment from our members. Funding from private and government sources will allow us to take Lax4All to more neighborhoods where we can make a positive difference in the lives of youth.

The ideal candidate for Executive Director will manage existing revenue streams, develop new revenue streams and seek public/private funding through partnership development, program development and grant writing. Likewise, he or she will work with the team, volunteers and Board of Directors to set long-range goals and increase Lax4All’s visibility within the community. Budgeting, reporting and organization skills are crucial.

For a complete job description and list of candidate qualifications click here. Lax4all Executive Director Description. If you are interested and would like to help us make a difference in the lives of young athletes in disadvantaged areas, please contact me (Corey Winkoff, Program Director FLG Lacrosse), 516-750-6500, to learn more about the Lax4All program, position requirements and salary.

 

 
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