University of Connecticut Athletics
Women's Lacrosse Reflects on Fall Playdays
11/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Nov. 1, 2011
by Myles Udland
The UConn women's lacrosse team wrapped up their fall playdays on October 22. These six days in the fall allow head coach Katie Woods to test new strategies and challenge her players. "In the fall we look at everything," says Woods. "During our playdays we try out different lineups, and put people at different positions." And while lacrosse is officially a spring sport Woods, entering her second year at the helm, utilizes this time to get to know her team. "We get four months together before our pre-season starts," says Woods. "This gives us a chance to mesh on and off the field."
With the heart of the season still months away, Woods and her staff challenge the squad in their practice and play. In the fall, practice involves not just learning Woods's system, but also undergoing a rigorous fitness regimen Woods hopes will pay dividends come spring. "We're more fit than we were a year ago," notes Woods. "And this will allow us to be more aggressive on offense."
Offensive aggression is the hallmark of Woods's philosophy. Coach Woods encourages an attacking style of play from her squad, and in the fall she presses her players to take risks. "We reward risk taking, and it's easier to take those risks in the fall," says Woods. "We still encourage [taking risks] in the spring. It's the only way to improve your game."
Sophomore Lauren Kahn, who played in all 16 games as a freshman last spring, notes that adapting to this aggressive style has been her biggest learning experience with the Huskies. "It's a big adjustment from high school. But this ultimately makes us better players."
Senior Kiersten Tupper says that this style of play has encouraged her to evolve her game. "Coach Woods got me out of my comfort zone," says Tupper. Tupper also notes that this fall showed more promise for the spring than past years. "There are always ups and downs in the fall," says Tupper. "But this year the highs were higher." Kahn added that this fall indicated significant progress for the Huskies. "We're pushing each other pretty hard, and I think we're headed in the right direction."
As the Huskies looked to improve their game through fall, they also adjusted to the changing rules of the sport. Tupper says that the new draw rule, which now involves three players from each team, changes the game significantly. "The new draw rule allows the team that wins the draw to control the game more than before," says Tupper. Kahn also notes that more teams have adopted a more aggressive style of play. "Players are being more active and less passive on the field," says Khan.
The Huskies open regular season play in February, and with this weekend's snowfall in Storrs, their spring season seems a long way away. Their practice habits, however, will not reflect that.