The First Family of Lacrosse: Lacrosse Tips From the Thompson Brothers

Six keys to getting more out of your game from the Thompson brothers.

If you lot know lacrosse, you've heard of Jeremy, Jerome ("Hiana"), Miles and Lyle Thompson. Collectively, they've won the prestigious Tewaaraton Award three times, participated in the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championships with the Iroquois Nationals, been named NCAA Division I All-Americans, and currently play for the Florida Launch of Major League Lacrosse and the Georgia Swarm and Saskatchewan Blitz of the National Lacrosse League. They also run off-season youth camps and have their own line of Thompson Brothers Lacrosse gear with Nike.

They are known for their inspiring and creative play and, as Native Americans, maintaining a close connection to the roots of the sport. For them, playing lacrosse is almost honoring and conveying on ancient traditions that date back more than a chiliad years.

And all they want is for yous to get that same fulfillment out of the game as they do. DICK'S Pro Tips joined them so they could share some of their favorite drills and talk about how you can better your skills on the field and your agreement of the sport.

1. HAVE FUN

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"Once yous showtime one person with this game, you know, it goes. It just keeps going. Anytime you accept someone to play the game with, it makes it more fun. It helps you lot compete and sets you to a standard." – Lyle Thompson

"Put your best effort out, encourage the people around yous and most importantly, in the end, you desire to have fun." – Jeremy Thompson

"I grew upward seeing the kids on our reservation, the older guys, they weren't on a path that I actually liked. They were doing drugs, perchance some alcohol. And the but people I looked up to were my older brothers and my father. I want to be that for the side by side generation. I want to prove them that y'all can have fun with a clear mind." – Miles Thompson

You might piece of work a defender, piece of work the pucker, or work the ball downfield, but y'all play the game. And playing is fun. The Thompsons firmly believe that the game should be fun. If it'south non, why bother? Growing upwardly, the Thompsons had lilliputian else except each other and the game. They played all the fourth dimension and still do. And then remember that having fun is ever the outset order of business.

ii. PLAY IT YOUR Style

thompson brothers spirt animals "The brute I represent is the conduct because a deport is good with his hands. He's non the fastest creature out in that location and that resembles me on the field. Mine is the within game where you demand good hands to catch any pass that comes to you." – Miles Thompson

"I represent the hawkeye considering the eagle flies high and tin can see everything that's going on. That'south perfect for the way I play the game. I remember of myself as a adept feeder – someone who sees the field really well, sees the play before information technology happens." – Lyle Thompson

"The animal that I represent is the wolf because I'm pretty shifty and quick. I'm a pretty aggressive player and I play all-time with my wolf pack." – Hiana Thompson

"The fauna that all-time represents me is the deer. I've always been a runner, I've always been quick on my feet and running was ever a fun thing for me." – Jeremy Thompson

Every player on the team is at that place for a reason: to add their strengths to the team while minimizing the weaknesses of others. To honor their Native American heritage, the Thompsons each selected an animal that reflects the elements of their game. You too can choose your spirit fauna or just recognize that dissimilar players bring unlike things to the table. Peradventure one player's game is speed, while for another it is quickness. Or vision. Or reliability. Or guile. Or strength. Understand that as long as players are properly deployed on the field, at that place are whatever number of positive qualities that tin can meliorate a team.

3. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE

"It really goes beyond just a sport for us. Every bound [the Onondaga] have a medicine game. Information technology'southward a renewal for us every year. Institute life comes upwardly, the trees starting time to bud, flowers start to come out once more. Same matter as lacrosse players built-in into this world. You're given that reminder of why the Creator sent this game downward to the people." – Jeremy Thompson

"The manner I personally expect at information technology is, it's medicine in a way that it's entertaining. It brings people together. It'due south something to await frontward to. It makes people happy watching information technology and it makes people happy playing it." – Hiana Thompson

The Thompsons connect to lacrosse on a different level. Information technology'southward more a game to them. As Native Americans of the Onondaga Nation, they call it a medicine game, which means they play for the benefit and entertainment of the Creator. With that comes a reverential respect for everything virtually the sport: the ground it's played on, the tools they utilize; their opponent, spectators and community; for the elders who have passed on and the youth who will someday bring together them on the field. The more you dedicate yourself to the game and improving your skills, the more you lot will get out of the game and exist able to give dorsum to the people important to you.

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4. Abound THE GAME

"It's a small sport, [but] it'south growing fast. I think a lot of people want to see information technology keep growing. Information technology's an entertaining game to scout and an fifty-fifty more entertaining game to play. Simply for us, information technology carries more meaning considering information technology's our game. It's role of united states, it'southward part of our lives and it'due south function of the next generation of players. So, we want to grow the game so that everyone tin see this game that is office of our culture." – Lyle Thompson

"When this game was given to u.s.a., it brought people together, it brought nations together, communities. And [the almanac spring medicine game], that's our basic reminder that this game was sent downward to have good intentions, good mind, good thoughts, good free energy." – Jeremy Thompson

"When I was a child growing up, I wanted to be a professional histrion, and being a professional player, now I want to help other kids alive upwards to their dreams, have something to look forward to. And I want to be that role model for them." – Miles Thompson

Invite your friends and family to watch games. Invite others to join the team. Teach people how to cradle, take hold of and throw. In brusque, abound the game by introducing people to it. Compete upwardly to your ability. And always keep in mind that the game is for your enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.

five. RESPECT THE GAME

Thompson brothers Nike"Almost everything that I'one thousand involved with in my life wouldn't be here without the game of lacrosse. Lacrosse has given me an education, helped me meet my all-time friends, helped me make a living. And so it's of import for me to go out something for the kids coming upwards or for the future of lacrosse." – Lyle Thompson

"Respect was a huge thing that nosotros're brought up on whether information technology'southward in life, or the game of lacrosse. My dad brought the states upwards playing lacrosse [a sure way]. I mean, I don't intendance if someone comes upwards and two-easily y'all across the arm, you're out at that place for a unlike purpose. Y'all're going to go out in that location and play hard still. And it's only the way we play lacrosse. Information technology's the way we walk effectually through life." – Hiana Thompson

Lacrosse is a microcosm of life. Playing it tin assist you lot on and off the field, but merely if yous allow it. To exercise and then, sympathize where the sport comes from and its original purpose. Know that yous will confront arduousness, ups and downs, wins and losses. Through it all play difficult and play clean. Practice non seek retribution on opponents who do not play the aforementioned mode. And apply that respect to your everyday life.

six. Piece of work HARD

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"For me and Miles, we grew up playing together and he ever played at a high level. Information technology forced me to play at that aforementioned level. So I remember merely having that, it really helps yous go better at the game." – Lyle Thompson

"Know that y'all have a gift and information technology's going to accept you a lifetime to go the best you can be, [to] own your own arts and crafts and have yourself to the next level through difficult work. There's going to exist adversity. Just [stick] with it and [stay] strong." – Jeremy Thompson

Naught worth having comes easy. That goes for lacrosse the aforementioned equally information technology goes for life. But you'll go out of lacrosse everything you put into it and more, so work at it. Remember what Lyle said: "The harder you play, the stronger the medicine." And potent medicine means the more healing yous get.

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