In team sports, the right mindset coming into a contest is very important. In fact, coaches, mental performance consultants and sport psychologists spend a lot of time with athletes on helping them establish and practice mental and physical routines before competition.
In team sports, the right mindset coming into a contest is very important. In fact, coaches, mental performance consultants and sport psychologists spend a lot of time with athletes on helping them establish and practice mental and physical routines before competition.
Often, these routines begin 24 hours before the contest.
The goal of establishing these cognitive and behavioral routines is to help athletes get into their own particular zone of optimal functioning (ZOF).
From a practical standpoint, having the right mindset can set the stage for success in competition. In essence, these behaviors can potentially help athletes get into the flow state more often at the start of a contest so that a team can start quickly.
For the Chagrin Falls Tigers Boys Lacrosse Team, in their 20-4 first round playoff victory over the Willoughby South Rebels on May 15 at C.S. Harris Stadium, a focus on starting strong, was an integral component of their game plan.
Tigers senior, Owen Edwards, said that their focus coming into the game was to start strong which had been a problem for Tigers the whole season.
“We were kind of just trying to come out hot, that’s been a problem for us all year,” Edwards said. “We’ve been starting slow. Coming out of the gate strong was definitely a plus for us.”
In starting strong, Edwards said that domination on face offs was quite helpful in being able to get into a position to put the ball into the back of the net.
“We were just scoring a lot of transition goals and getting our attack involved,” Edwards said.
In establishing their dominance early, Edwards was stellar on the offensive attack as he led the Tigers with four first half goals.
Edwards said that the Tigers were utilizing a recently installed new offense which focuses on moving down the alley in the midfield and drawing an additional defender to slide in toward the player with the ball.
However, he said that the Rebels were not sliding over, thus he was able to sprint downhill and get high percentage shots on goal.
“(Our new offense focuses on) getting down the alley and waiting for that slide to come,” Edwards said. “But Willoughby wasn’t sending a slide so I guess I kind of just ate it down the alley.”
Edwards continued: “I dodge down the alley until I draw a slide, then I roll back to hit my other guys. Then we push the other alley for them to get it through x, JP Shaw, and hit it up the back side for a step down.”
As Edwards, a senior, helps lead the Tigers playoff run, he reflected on his four year varsity lacrosse career as a Tiger.
“My four years here definitely have been a highlight of my sports career,” Edwards said. “Coming from a different school freshman year, I was kind of the new kid. But I got to prove myself early and kind of just kept going. Started as a sophomore and kept it rolling with the rest of the team.”
When asked what his favorite memory was while playing lacrosse at Chagrin Falls, Edwards talked about beating Hoban in the OHSAA Regional Semifinals.
“Last year, beating Hoban in the Regional Semifinal was a peak moment for me,” Edwards said.
As Edwards provides senior leadership to the Tigers, underclassmen, including up and coming sophomores Justin Bookman and Mikey Agnello both contributed to the Tigers quick start. Indeed, Bookman and Agnello both had two goals.
“I think we came out hot,” Bookman said. “Starters did their job so we could rotate through and get (other players) on.”
Added Agnello, “I definitely think we did a good job swinging the ball around and creating opportunities for everybody. And everybody was cutting and doing their thing, which is why we both got two goals.”
For the game the Tigers were led offensively by Edwards (4 goals), Tommy Clark (3), J.P. Shaw (2), Owen Adelman (3), Bookman (2), Agnello (1), Wyatt Corto (1), Jack Gellin (1), Jacob Kay (1), Wyatt and Patrick Jones (1).
In addition to the Tigers advancing to the second round, two additional Geauga County Boys Lacrosse Teams also advanced to the second round of the OHSAA playoffs including Chardon and Kenston.
The advance to the second round, the Hilltoppers defeated the Canfield Cardinals 10-4 on May 15 and the Bombers defeated the NDCL Lions on 19-1, also on May 15.
All three programs will next be in action on May 20. The Tigers will host the University School Preppers, the Bombers will host the Hoban Knights and the Hilltoppers will travel to Gilmour Academy.
