First Class Lacrosse Podcast

First Class Lacrosse

The official podcast of First Class Lacrosse! Checkout our newsletters Coaches Corner: https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe Weekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe On the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to First Class Lacrosse for more highlights, breakdowns & more: https://www.youtube.com/@firstclasslax?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstclasslacrosse/ Shop the latest FCL Merch here: https://www.1stclasslax.com/store

  1. 6D AGO

    Pat Carney and Dan Krikorian: Offense Wins Possessions. Principles Win Seasons

    First Class Lacrosse hosts Deemer Class and Matt Dunn welcome Pat Carney and Dan Krikorian of Slapping Glass to discuss how their basketball podcast and coaching resource began during COVID after a long friendship, driven by curiosity and self-improvement. Carney and Krikorian describe their coaching paths, their willingness to experiment and learn from “micro-failures,” and how they iterate on podcasts, newsletters, and film content without getting too narrow too soon. The conversation shifts to coaching principles: building culture and selflessness, teaching spacing, advantage creation, adaptability, and shared cognition, and using a “slice of the pie” approach to blend on-air reps with constraints-led methods depending on context and time. They cover attacking zone defenses, shot selection hierarchies and role-based green lights, and modern screening concepts (ghost screens, angles) plus defensive approaches. They close with how they balance content creation with coaching and family, emphasizing routines, saying no, quality, and being active coaches to stay relevant. Timecodes 0:00 - Background 12:00 - Trial & Error 14:30 - Core Coaching Principals 20:30 - Where To Start 30:00 - Zone vs Man 34:45 - Start, Sub, Sit 42:00 - Shot Selection 54:30 - Picks & Screens 1:13:00 - Time Management Checkout more from FCL! Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    1h 23m
  2. MAY 1

    Torre Kasemeyer: The Shooting Coach Who Turns "Paranoid" Players Into Legends

    Watch "How To Become An Accurate Shooter with Coach Kasemeyer over on the First Class Lacrosse YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/33uK-JiLgj8?si=8bOaDN5ruS5ziJ5y Deemer welcomes Torre Kasemeyer to the podcast. Torre and Deemer go back, first discussing a 17-year relationship, beginning after a Loyola–Calvert Hall championship loss when MIAA restrictions initially prevented them from training together. Kasemeyer describes joining Calvert Hall in 1997, launching Got Skillz Lacrosse around 2002 with help from Sean Burke, and developing a teaching style rooted in work ethic, competitiveness, resilience, and helping players reach their potential. He explains how playing with Mount Washington’s star-studded club team (including the Gait brothers and others) shaped his standards, and highlights training elite shooters like Ryan Brown, whom he calls the best lacrosse ball shooter ever. He credits Dave Huntley’s influence on principles, teammate culture, and “honest” fundamentals like shot selection and getting to high-value scoring areas, emphasizing open-mindedness, individualized coaching, analogies, and protecting reputation and relationships. Checkout more from FCL! Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    53 min
  3. APR 24

    Katie Chrest Erbe: "Majoring In Lacrosse" & The Courage To Fail In Front Of Others

    Checkout The FCL Coaches Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1stclasslax.com/community First Class Lacrosse podcast hosts Deemer Class and Matt Dunn welcome Katie Chrest Erbe, highlighting her decorated playing career at Duke, U.S. National Team world title, Hall of Fame inductions, and Division I coaching stops before becoming head varsity coach at O’Neill High School. Erbe discusses growing up in Carroll County with four older brothers, getting introduced to lacrosse by a neighbor, and being shaped by early coaches and teammates, especially Tara Singleton’s unselfish leadership. She reflects on idols like Jen Adams, differences in eras of the sport (rules, physicality, stick technology), and challenges in youth development.  Erbe describes “majoring in lacrosse” at Duke, lessons about wholehearted commitment, culture, and role acceptance, and why fear can hold athletes back. She explains joining First Class Lacrosse to keep coaching, learn, and help standardize teaching, emphasizing slowing down offensively and restoring a team-first mindset in the club/recruiting environment. Timecodes 0:00 - Katie's Background 14:15 - Investing In Others 16:30 - The Next Level 20:00 - Player Influences 25:00 - Then vs Now 32:30 - The Courage To Fail 45:00 - Navigating Youth Sports 49:00 - FCL Contributions Checkout more from FCL! Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    59 min
  4. APR 17

    Rankings Deep Dive, Event Scheduling & Being Recruitable + Why Youth Sports Matters

    Checkout The FCL Coaches Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1stclasslax.com/community Deemer Class and Matt Dunn run a parent-style Q&A on the lacrosse landscape, focusing on rankings, recruiting events, and youth-sports value. They explain why rankings exist, how they can spark coach interest but rarely drive final recruiting decisions, and why late bloomers and less “flashy” positions are often undervalued; they urge families to prioritize controllables, long-term development, and goals over emotional fixation on lists. The episode then breaks down tournaments, showcases, high school team events, and college prospect days, including NCAA rules and how athletes should build summer schedules around generating “evidence” against quality competition. They also discuss rising costs and the “money grab” critique, arguing value varies by operator and sports provide rare real-world friction and accountability. Finally, they challenge messaging that sports are mainly for future careers, emphasizing fun, commitment, and emptying the tank. Links Referenced Brendan Winters on Youth Sports (LinkedIn)Leslie Osborne Lewis on Girls In Sports (Instagram) Timecodes 0:00 - Do Rankings Matter? 20:00 - Events & Being Recruitable 40:15 - "Money Grab" Fallacy 49:30 - Why Youth Sports Matters Checkout more from FCL! Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    1h 6m
  5. APR 10

    Jim Mitchell: The Principles Behind Princeton's Success & The Art Of Playing In The Grey

    Checkout The FCL Coaches Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1stclasslax.com/community First Class Lacrosse hosts Deemer Class and Matt Dunn interview Princeton offensive coordinator Jim Mitchell about his coaching path, influences, and offensive philosophy. Mitchell describes entering coaching via a grad assistant role, how a psychology background shaped his curiosity and player-specific communication, and how he learns through conversations, books, and podcasts while balancing innovation with refining core habits. He explains Princeton’s principles-based approach—emphasizing obtainable behaviors like connectivity, deception, possession, and decision-making—supported by daily film sessions and practice design that uses constraints to create game-representative reps. Mitchell outlines how he game-plans by “bucketing” defenses and stresses high-value film focuses for players: perimeter effort and stickwork, handling pressure, and off-ball play. He discusses how defensive-coordinator experience informs accountability, highlights deception and consistency as separators for great players, and offers coaching advice centered on hard work, mindful influence, and excelling in one’s current role. Timecodes0:00 - Jim's Background8:00 - Open-Minded Approach11:00 - The Principles18:30 - Drill Design30:00 - How To Watch Film34:00 - Defensive Thoughts48:00 - Multi-Sport Athletes54:30 - Good vs Great Players58:20 - Coaching Advice Checkout more from FCL! Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    1h 9m
  6. APR 7

    Inside the World of Women's Lacrosse Officiating with Sheehan Stanwick Burch & Francie Box

    Checkout The FCL Coaches Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1stclasslax.com/community On the First Class Lacrosse podcast, hosts Deemer Class and Matt Dunn welcome women’s lacrosse analyst Sheehan Stanwick Burch and longtime NCAA official Francie Box to discuss their lacrosse journeys and major 2026 college rules emphases. Box highlights increased enforcement against physicality via expanded one-minute releasable green cards, nonreleasable yellow cards for dangerous contact to the head/neck and upper back, stricter timing to speed restarts toward a two-hour broadcast window, wider access to video review, and required official headsets. Stanwick Burch and Box address confusion and inconsistency around “illegal use of the stick,” shaft/hand checks, and how green cards affect game flow versus yellow cards. They also explain key women’s rules versus men’s, including three-seconds, shooting space, charge/block standards, held whistles/flags, and advantage/non-engagement, and suggest possible refinements such as false-start penalties on 8-meter free positions and narrowing green-card scope. Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 5:00 - Notable Rule Changes 19:00 - The Women's Game Today 25:00 - Grey Areas 42:15 - IWLCA White Paper 48:00 - What Coach's Should Teach 52:10 - Top of Mind Rules Checkout from FCL! Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    57 min
  7. MAR 27

    The 99% Journey & Building Real Confidence As A Player

    Checkout The FCL Coaches Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1stclasslax.com/community⁠ Deemer Class and Matt Dunn discuss the season’s increased parity in men’s and women’s college lacrosse, noting nontraditional top teams like Richmond, Harvard, Stanford, and Navy, and highlighting Northwestern’s overtime win at UNC that ended a 31-game streak, plus an upcoming Notre Dame–Richmond broadcast. They touch on how hard it is to watch games across fragmented streaming platforms and the idea of building an at-home “command center.” The conversation shifts to the overlooked “99%” of players, emphasizing sacrifices, process over outcomes, and lasting value from lessons and relationships even without elite accolades. They address today’s youth sports landscape—club expansion, private equity, and fewer rec options—urging families to avoid overcommitting and to value varied roles and local play. Dunn outlines a confidence framework (preparation minus attachment to results), reframing nerves as normal and trainable through mental skills. Timecodes 0:00 - College Season Thoughts 8:00 - The 99% Journey 27:40 - Youth Sports Landscape 45:50 - Building Confidence Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On the Run: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    1h 2m

About

The official podcast of First Class Lacrosse! Checkout our newsletters Coaches Corner: https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe Weekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe On the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to First Class Lacrosse for more highlights, breakdowns & more: https://www.youtube.com/@firstclasslax?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstclasslacrosse/ Shop the latest FCL Merch here: https://www.1stclasslax.com/store

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