As Mia Hamm once said, “Take your victories, whatever they may be, cherish them, use them, but don’t settle for them.” In order to achieve competitive greatness, you have to build on your successes and victories. Below is a list of 5 ways to build on your success in sports:

1. Ask people who matter to you for constructive criticism. Part of being coachable is taking criticism well. If you are one that takes criticism well, be sure to ask those your respect for ways to be the best you can be.

2. Watch game tape. Watching yourself play can seem awkward and egotistical. With that said, it can prove to be extremely beneficial. Explore the nuances of your game through watching video. Discover ways you can develop your game!

3. Practice your weaknesses. You don’t develop your opposite hand by waking up on the right side of the bed. Eliminating weaknesses comes from daily repetition and proper practice.

4. Continue to try things that make you uncomfortable. Are you uncomfortable with making contact? If so, match-up with the most physical player on your team in practice. Are you uncomfortable communicating? Make it a point to speak up in the huddle when your coach asks a question. Find comfort amidst discomfort and you will continue to build on your success.

5. Don’t lose sight of what got you there in the first place. If you eat an apple with peanut butter before every game, then don’t eat french fries before a big game. If you’ve become the leading scorer of your team by shooting 20 shots after practice each day, then don’t stop shooting 20 shots after practice each day. Remember, BUILD on your victories and don’t SETTLE for them.

One of the most important parts of lacrosse is how you string the lacrosse pocket. Unfortunately, not every player understands the importance of what it takes to string and maintain a quality lacrosse stick. In a sport where consistency is king, the way in which you string your stick can be everything.

A couple of weeks ago in my home town of Huntington, New York, I stumbled into a lacrosse store on a side street called String It Up. As I walked inside, I was greeted by co-owner Leyland Davis. After chatting with Leyland, it was apparent he was an experienced, knowledgeable, lacrosse fanatic who truly understands the importance of properly stringing lacrosse heads. Leyland and his String It Up company customize string jobs for specific players based on their body type, age,  position, and preference. They listen to the customer who knows what they want and string the perfect pocket for those who have not idea.

As a kid, there was only 1 lacrosse shop in my town. In that store, they would string-up the same type of stick no matter what. Customers ranged from beginners to all-americans. If you wanted a lacrosse head strung, then it was going to be done the exact same way. Today, that is no longer the case. It was refreshing to see how much thought, precision, and innovation Leyland and his team put into stringing lacrosse heads. String It Up is currently a small store with a big mission – which is to string the perfect lacrosse pocket for YOU.

If your the type of kid that aspires to play in front of thousands on ESPN, then I highly recommend you visit a store like String It Up and acquire a properly strung lacrosse head. In the words of String King “Consistency is King”, and it all starts with the crosse.

Special thanks to String It Up for working with FLG and having a great mission! #LoveTheGame #StringItUp #FLG

FLG May Newsletter

Be sure to check out FLG’s May Newsletter. This month we cover a spotlight article on our FLG Club Director Robyn Pastuch, we cover ways to showcase your skills in front of college coaches, and upcoming events that FLG is running!

Check it out here!

Happy Whiteboard Wednesday!

Whether you are in middle school, high school, or college, the summer is a great opportunity to experiment and follow your passions. Middle School studletes can utilize summer to experiment with different types of camps and figure out which one was the most fun and beneficial. High School studletes can experiment during the summer with different types of jobs. College aged studletes can experiment by traveling to different parts of the country or even the world! Regardless of your age, the summer is a great time to focus on your passions and experiment to find new ones. Below is a list of 5 ways to transition into your summer season:

1- Set up your resume so you can apply for jobs & internships. Be sure to set up your recruiting profile if your in middle school or high school. (Be sure to include a video if you have one!)

2- Create a list of ways to make yourself better. Everyone can use some fine tuning. Get better every day!

3- Set up meetings with your coaches, teachers, guidance counselors, and mentors. Utilize your resources to improve yourself and find direction.

4- SPRING CLEANING! Get yourself organized by cleaning your room, car, books, computer files, documents, and much more!

5- Have a day dedicated to REFLECTING! You’ve worked hard in school for 3 straight seasons. Be sure to take some time off and enjoy life.

#flg #flglax #flglacrosse #whiteboardwednesday #studlete #summersummersummertime

Lauren Procaccino is leading Washington and Lee through the DIII NCAA tournament! She just received IWLCA All-Region First Team honors as a sophomore! Follow Lauren and the Generals throughout the 2015 Division III NCAA Tournament.

Don’t forget to check out our #Whosinthenews each week! Lots of #FLGAlumni and current #studletes playing in some big playoff games.

#flg #flglax #flglacrosse #studletes #maymadness

Playoff time is here! If your team has earned the right to play in the post-season, make sure to stay focused on your goal at hand.

Don’t get caught up on your regular season record. Don’t look past your next opponent. Know your role. Do your job. Get better today! Winning will take care of itself.

#MotivationalMonday #FLG #FLGLAX #Today

Remember NYPD Officer Brian Moore by leaving a blue piece of tape on your left chin with the letters “BM-NYPD”

Read more about Officer Moore and his heroics here – http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/08/us/new-york-police-officer-funeral/