From the podcast: NLL coach Darryl Gibson on U.S. adapting

On this week's "Chasing The Goal" episode, Jack and Kyle are joined by Albany Firewolves offensive coordinator Darryl Gibson, right.

On this week’s episode of New England Lacrosse Journal’s “Chasing The Goal” podcast, hosts Kyle Devitte and Jack Piatelli were joined by Albany Firewolves offensive coordinator Darryl Gibson.

Gibson is a former professional lacrosse player and currently a coach with the NLL franchise. The Canadian native had a long career in the NLL, playing for eight different franchises, including the Toronto Rock, the Minnesota Swarm and the Buffalo Bandits.

The Firewolves missed the NLL playoffs this year with a record of 3-15. However, they are building their base with a number of American players, including former Cornell star John Piatelli (Wrentham, Mass.).

Gibson’s son, Tyson Gibson, is also a professional lacrosse player currently playing for the NLL’s Colorado Mammoth franchise.

Watch the full podcast below on YouTube. It’s also available on all major podcast platforms. If you enjoy it, please leave a rating and a review. Watch more episodes on the Chasing the Goal podcast channel.

Here are some excerpts from the pod.

Jack Piatelli: What is the most difficult adjustment for American players to make in order to play in the NLL? 

Darryl Gibson: The biggest thing is just the spacing and the timing. I got to talk to your son, John. A lot of the American kids are still growing up. They’ll set that pick and just kind of flash to an open spot. Whereas in box (lacrosse), it’s more about setting that hard screen and just beating all the way through. It’s because the spacing is not as open and it’s just a little tighter window there. There’s an adjustment for that spacing and obviously just the physical nature of the game.

Zac Tucci (Bedford, N.H.) played his first box game ever with us. And at one point in the game, I turned around and his face was covered in blood. I asked, “What happened?” Some guy decided to cross-check him in the face — kind of gave him a “Welcome to the league, gentleman.” It’s hard for (Americans) to fight for their space; where they’ve grown up, you can kind of go wherever you want. In box, anything inside that dotted line is pretty much open territory to fight for your space.

Kyle Devitte: I think the other thing box lacrosse teaches — and this is going to be a controversial take, so I want to hear what you think about this — is fear. Because there’s nowhere to run.

You said it in a good way; I’m saying it in a bad way. If you are out there and you are not sure what you’re doing, you better run to that box. Because if you’re not sure … if your spatial awareness is off in even a low-level box game, you, at minimum, get thrown to the ground. That’s just part of the game. And I think that’s actually what is missing from how Americans play.

Americans who play hockey get it. But if you’re trying to convert a basketball player or a baseball player or someone like that to play lacrosse, and the first time they get thrown down and can’t run away from someone, they should learn that playing box first. What do you think about that? Is that is that too much? 

DG: No, no, no, no. And that’s the big part of the box, As I said earlier, that physical nature, it’s that jam that translates into winners. You’re going to get hit. So get hit.

I grew up playing hockey and like I’ll never forget my first box lacrosse game.  I remember saying to my mom — I was screaming in the car — “Oh, my god! I cross-checked the guy as hard as I could, Mom!” And I couldn’t believe it. It was mind-blowing to me. They’re out of their minds.

But I like the physical nature of sports. I was a hockey player and a lacrosse player. It does kind of create that jam in the indoor game from a young age.

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