Michigan Coaching Clinic No. 3

File photo.

Michigan’s coaching staff hosted their third coaching clinic on Thursday. Like the previous editions, it was themed. This month, the talk was about designing a week of practice.

In front of 49 (or maybe a couple more, if they filtered in late) area coaches, the Michigan coaching staff – primarily defensive coordinator Ken Broschart, with input from offensive coordinator Judd Lattimore – ran through a week of practice, what types of drills they use to stress certain coaching points, and a few related topics.

A lot of their presentation was about specific drills – and since I am not a coach, this was a part I could take or leave – but I got a pretty interesting glimpse into some of their philosophies of practice design, how to use drills that will complement team strategies, and other such things.

Perhaps the most important part – although they didn’t stress it that much verbally – was the “part-whole” theory of putting together a team practice plan. That basically means running individual drills that fit in to a larger philosophy that encompasses team strategies. There’s no reason to practice drills for a 10-man ride every day if the team isn’t going to incorporate the 10-man ride into their regular strategies. Football is a good analogy here. If a defensive coordinator is set on running zone coverage every play, why should the defensive backs practice man-to-man techniques as a significant part of their practice plan. The defensive backs coach needs to focus on making his “part” fit in with the “whole” of the team philosophy.

On that note, since Michigan puts emphasis on the ride/clear game (the quote “it’s not a secret that we run a 10-man ride” was dropped, so expect the varsity Wolverines to carry on that aspect from the club days), they teach individual techniques and use team drills that will help them be successful in that aspect of the game. That was the main thrust of the presentations, and the coaches in attendance seemed to get plenty out of it.

One more fun point. Judd Lattimore teaches his offensive players to exit a split dodge in a “Heisman pose,” which Michigan’s coaches are calling the “Desmond Howard” for obvious reasons (although Lattimore initially couldn’t think of Howard’s name, tsk tsk).

Rockin' split dodge, bro.

The next (and final, for this offseason) coaching clinic takes place on January 12. E-mail Michigan lacrosse director of operations Joe Hennessy for full details, and to RSVP.