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Jen Adams: Where's the BEEF?
by Matt DaSilva | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
Jen Adams wonders why the outside plant shot is so uncommon in
women’s lacrosse. Perhaps it’s the power-versus-grace
dynamic.
“It’s all about technique,” says the Loyola
College head coach and former University of Maryland standout,
“but it could lead to opportunities all across the
field.”
Adams broke down her technique into four simple elements: balance,
eyes, elbows and follow through. Think before you shoot,
“BEEF.”
Balance
Says Adams:
“You want to be sidearm to the goal, hips perpendicular to
the goal. Move your feet just shoulder width apart. Be on the balls
of your toes, knees slightly bent and set in a ready position.
“Balance so your center of gravity is on your hips and
through your lower legs. Just like a baseball pitcher would line
up.”
Eyes
“As opposed to seeing the goalkeeper, you want to make sure
you’re seeing a space around the goalkeeper. If you were
lining up to hit a golf ball, and you were thinking about the water
ahead of you, chances are you’re going to hit it to the
water. But if you forget about the water and look straight for the
hole, hole in one.
“You don’t want to line up and see your keeper,
because if that’s the last thought in your mind, chances are
you’re going to hit her. See spaces around the goalkeeper and
spots you want to hit on net.”
Elbows
“The third step of the outside plant shot is probably the
most important part with the women’s game — open up the
space in between your elbows. We almost want to kiss our biceps.
Your stick is in a triple-threat position, almost parallel to the
ground. That lines up the ball and helps you get it in your sweet
spot, so you have a quick release when you go to shoot.”
Follow Through
“It’s really important in the women’s game that
when we step into it and generate all that power through our hips,
we’re driving our hands across our body. You should end up
planted on the opposite foot, with your hands finishing on your
opposite hip. Same idea when baseball pitchers pitch — they
don’t follow through under their arm. Lacrosse is 99 percent
about looking cool. We follow through across our body. That way,
we’re pulling our hips through, but using our whole body in
it when we shoot, as opposed to just using our arms.”
• • • • •
And if you were wondering about her golf game: “I’m
the water person that says, ‘Don’t hit it in the water;
don’t hit it in the water; don’t hit it in the
water,’ and kerplunk.” LM
