From the podcast: Glenn Clark on the rise of the indoor game

Albany FireWolves coach and GM Glenn Clark joined the podcast to talk about the influence of the indoor game. (Christian Bender/NLL)

On this week’s episode of New England Lacrosse Journal’s “Chasing the Goal” podcast, hosts Kyle Devitte and Jack Piatelli welcomed Albany FireWolves GM and head coach Glenn Clark to the podcast.

Clark previously helmed the New England Black Wolves franchise before the sale of the team to Oliver Marti and its subsequent move to Albany, N.Y. In addition to being a head coach in the National Lacrosse League, Clark was an established box lacrosse player, making NLL All-Star teams multiple times before transitioning to coaching.

A native of Ontario, Clark currently lives in Stouffville, Ont., and commutes to Albany to coach the FireWolves. 

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This podcast is sponsored by the University of Nebraska High School. For more information on UNHS, visit highschool.nebraska.edu/nelj.

Kyle Devitte: We’re seeing more and more American players make the transition from field to box in the past five to 10 years. Why do you think that is happening now? How has the college game produced players for the indoor game?

Glenn Clark: I think that it is good and I think that we need to get more Americans involved in the indoor game. I think part of that comes from the influence that Canadian players are having in the NCAA, particularly from an offensive standpoint — and a lot of the defensive players as well. So, I think what is happening is that a lot of the American coaches and players are recognizing that box lacrosse gives them a certain skill-set that could give them an advantage in the field game.

There are Americans that are coming up and playing the junior A leagues. A player on the FireWolves right now, Charlie Kitchen, came up and played with us in juniors and that was a University of Delaware connection. We had a Canadian player down at Delaware and asked, “Charlie is interested in playing box, can we bring him up?” And a lot of programs (in the U.S.) are doing things like that now. 

Jack Piatelli: What I love about box is it’s a great conditioning tool for players because when you’re on the floor you’re always in the action — there is no time to think. You’re reacting more than you’re thinking. There’s never a dull moment. When you’re on the bench, you have to pay attention the entire time because you need to know when your next run is going to be. For the younger players it’s stick-skill development, vision and staying in the game — how do you think it develops players?

GC: I think the way we would describe that with our athletes at the pro level is that you have this nervous awareness for the whole game. Your mind, body, eyes — you never get a break. Even when you get to the bench. Guys are running to the bench and then they’re watching the play. When is the next transition? Who is up?

It’s this hyper-sensitive awareness of what’s happening the whole game. I think the U.S. players are doing that more and seeing that more in the field game. But I think there are plays and windows that people are passing into that are certainly better in the indoor game.

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