by Jay Dyer, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
A common error athletes make is assuming "going out for a run" will get them in shape for the upcoming season. This thought usually goes hand-in-hand with "two weeks until tryouts, I better start getting in shape."
Although going for your 3-4 mile run is better than doing nothing, that isn't saying much. Training for your sport(s) should be done throughout the year. Also, if you are a speed/power athlete (if you play lacrosse, that is what you are), the last thing you should be doing two weeks before tryouts is running distance.
Lacrosse is described as the fastest sport on two feet. To keep it that way, the athletes that play the game need to train properly. It's a common belief that you are born either with or without speed, which is true to an extent. What is missing from this general statement is through proper training you can maximize your speed potential.
Also, understand that speed endurance is just as important as speed. A lacrosse player's success or failure is not dependant on one bout of speed, but rather the ability to produce speed for the entire game.
A combination of different exercises will help you improve both your speed and speed endurance. To concentrate on speed development, one exercise you can do is resisted sprints. Using a harness with bungee cords (while these implements are not perfect in their design, they are relatively easy to find and do provide some benefit), or a weighted sled, do repeated bouts of 20-40 yard sprints.
Click here for the full article in Lacrosse Magazine.
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