Old School>New School

New-School Lacrosse Coaches: Why They're Not All They're Cracked Up to Be

So, you think the new-school lacrosse coaches are the answer to everything wrong with the game today? Sure, they’ve got their shiny gadgets, advanced analytics, and trendy training regimens. But let’s pump the brakes a bit. Just because they’re tech-savvy and embrace the latest buzzwords doesn’t mean they’re automatically the best coaches for the job. In fact, in their rush to embrace the “future of the game,” some of these new-school coaches are losing sight of the fundamentals that make lacrosse—well, lacrosse.

Here’s why the new-school coaching style isn’t always the holy grail they claim it to be.

1. Too Much Reliance on Technology

Let’s start with the most obvious gripe: the tech obsession. New-school coaches love to drone on about “film study,” “data analytics,” and their fancy apps that track every second of a player’s practice. While there’s no doubt that technology can enhance a player’s development, some of these coaches act like a player can be developed through an iPad alone. They spend more time in front of a screen than on the field, obsessing over shot charts and slow-motion replays instead of teaching kids the basics of ball control and field awareness.

Film is great, don’t get me wrong. But when coaches use it as a crutch, breaking down every little movement without ever reinforcing how it applies in real time, it becomes counterproductive. Lacrosse is a fast-paced, instinctual game. Players need to learn how to think and act in the moment, not rely on a “playbook” that was dissected in a film session three days ago. Sometimes, it’s just about going out there and playing—no fancy breakdown required.

2. Prioritizing Style Over Substance

New-school coaches are all about looking the part. They’ll come to practice in head-to-toe branded gear, with custom sticks, gloves, and swag for days. They’ve got all the bells and whistles: elaborate practice drills that look cool and intricate play designs that seem like they’re fresh out of the PLL playbook. But here’s the problem: they’re so wrapped up in making lacrosse look a certain way that they forget about the substance behind it.

You can have the slickest offensive set in the world, but if your players don’t know how to catch, pass, and communicate, it’s useless. New-school coaches are sometimes more concerned with “installing systems” and running Instagram-worthy drills than making sure their players have mastered the basics. Flashy doesn’t win games. Solid fundamentals do.

3. Lack of Discipline and Accountability

One of the biggest issues with new-school coaches is that they often fall into the trap of being too “player-friendly.” It’s all about making practice fun, keeping things upbeat, and fostering a positive environment. That’s great—to a point. But let’s be honest: sometimes players need tough love. Sometimes they need discipline, structure, and, yes, a little bit of old-school accountability.

New-school coaches are so focused on keeping everyone happy and “involved” that they shy away from calling out mistakes or holding players to a high standard. They’re scared of being seen as too hard or old-fashioned. But guess what? Growth doesn’t happen without discomfort. If a player is messing up, they need to hear about it. If the team is slacking off, they need to run until they figure it out. Sugarcoating everything doesn’t make better players—it just makes entitled ones.

4. Overcomplicating the Game

You ever notice how some new-school coaches can’t just let the game happen? They overthink everything. Every practice needs a theme, every drill has to be part of a grand, overarching “system,” and every game plan looks like it belongs in a NASA control room. They’ll spend 30 minutes on a whiteboard breaking down a play that should take five minutes to explain, turning lacrosse into rocket science when it’s supposed to be simple.

At the end of the day, lacrosse is about execution. It’s about players making smart decisions in real-time, not memorizing a dozen complicated schemes. The best teams aren’t the ones with the most complex strategies—they’re the ones who play fast, play smart, and adjust on the fly. But new-school coaches often forget this, burying their teams in endless layers of tactics and over-coaching every little move.

5. Losing Sight of Tradition and Culture

Lacrosse has roots, a culture that stretches back long before it was a trendy sport in the suburbs. Some new-school coaches treat the game like it’s their own little tech startup, completely detached from the tradition and respect the game deserves. They don’t bother teaching the history of the game or fostering a sense of respect for its origins. It’s all about what’s “new,” what’s “next,” and how to get ahead in the recruiting game.

But lacrosse isn’t just about the latest trends—it’s about honor, respect, and playing the game the right way. New-school coaches sometimes forget that lacrosse is bigger than them. It’s not just a platform for your cool new offense or the shiny gear sponsorship you landed for the team. It’s about the sport, the culture, and teaching players to respect the game that came long before their YouTube highlight reels.

6. Obsession with Player Autonomy at the Expense of Teamwork

In an effort to avoid being too rigid, new-school coaches sometimes swing too far in the other direction. They give their players tons of autonomy—encouraging creativity, decision-making, and self-expression. All great things in theory. But when taken too far, this turns into chaos. Lacrosse is a team game, and while creativity is crucial, so is structure and playing within a system that benefits the team as a whole.

Not every moment on the field is a time to freelance and "do your thing." Sometimes, players need to follow the plan, stick to their roles, and understand that not every game is about their personal highlight reel. New-school coaches can be so eager to embrace freedom on the field that they forget to teach the discipline of working as a unit. There's a balance, and new-school coaches sometimes miss that.

7. They’re Too Focused on Recruiting

Here’s a dirty little secret about new-school coaches: many of them are obsessed with recruiting. They’re not just focused on developing players for the sake of the team—they’re constantly looking at how they can get their guys (and themselves) noticed by college coaches. They’ll tweak practices, play games a certain way, and even manipulate team dynamics just to showcase one or two standout players. It’s all about sending clips to recruiters and getting names out there.

But in doing this, they forget that lacrosse is a team sport. Not every player on the field is destined for a Division I program, and that’s okay. The constant focus on individual accolades and recruitment rankings can take the joy out of the game and make it feel transactional. Not everyone is in it for a scholarship, and coaches need to remember that developing well-rounded players, both on and off the field, is more important than just boosting recruiting profiles.

In short, while new-school coaches bring some valuable innovations to the table, they’re far from perfect. They can lose sight of the fundamentals, overcomplicate the game, and place too much emphasis on style, recruiting, and player autonomy. Like everything in lacrosse, balance is key. We need a mix of old-school grit and new-school creativity to get the best out of our players and teams. Let’s stop pretending that the shiny new things always make for better coaching.

P-Mac