Phi-Lacrosse-ophy Podcast Ep. 67 - Farfield Head Coach Andrew Baxter

Andrew Baxter - Head Coach at Fairfield University 00:58 The Journey For Coach Baxter -Growing up in Rochester NY -8th grade -Reconnecting with past mentors -Transferring schools in college -Springfield legends coaching in college now -Coach Bugby -Connecting to the coaching world -Experiences at Colgate -Favorite camps from back in the day -The 5 years at Drexel -The beginning of building the pairs offense 29:46 Coaching With Old Teammate Nick Myers at Ohio State and Transitioning to Yale -The support from the wife -Taking a step professionally -Learning to build a program -Coaching with Nick Myers -Learning to be thoughtful -Evaluating options for a time by stepping away from the game -Being reached out to by Coach Shay at Yale -First few years at Yale -Why Andy Shay is successful -Developing men -Less is more -Players accountability 41:49 Building Culture -Worrying about the "how" instead of the "what" -It means something to get through practices -What the little things in practice should look like -How well you mobilize your team is an indicator of the structure of the program -Using the film to address the "what" -Managing change -Utilizing the mental side of the game -Recruiting culture-Working on culture 52:50 Style of Play Philosophy -Building on fluidity on two way play -Want to play fast -Breaking down the 6v6 play in the league -Really playing two way middies -The evolution of it all 58:18 Defensive Philosophy -Finishing your play -Going from on ball to off ball and visa versa -Transitioning roles within a possession -Efficiency is key -Practicing communication -Teaching decision making -Using rules within drills to encourage things -Parameter scrimmages 1:07:08 Offensive Philosophy -Early offense -Take advantage of two way middies -Very simple -Focusing on ball movement -Operating a lot out of the 22 set -2 man game -Why 2 man game is effective 1:11:41 Player Development Philosophy -Using individual periods -Using small groups and station work -Individual skill development is key -Starting with an individual experience in the spring -Teaching dodging -The footwork of different dodges -Teaching shooting 1:22:53 Recruiting Philosophy -School recruits itself -New facilities -Looking for core principles -Talking to their advocates -Skilled athletic attackmen as the unicorn -Playing both ways in the midfield -Face-off guys -Multi-sport athletes-Recruiting box players and Canadians -What you note in recruiting -Evaluating IQ