5 Ways Andy Shay Empowers His Players

Leadership can’t be taught, but it can be learned.

Andy Shay, head coach of the Yale men’s lacrosse and U.S. Sixes teams, shares these tools as part of a USA Lacrosse Coach Development Program Platinum Certification course.

Start your certification pathway today at usalacrosse.com/coach-certification.

1. COACH CAMEO

When freshmen arrive at Yale, they’re the ones who install the systems. At random, Shay will call for a Coach Cameo and they have 48 hours to develop a plan. They meet with upperclassmen to learn the schematics of rides, clears, offense (6v6 and extra man), defense (6v6 and man-down), transition and substitution patterns. Then they run that part of the practice. 

“They’ll fumble it and screw it up, and that’s OK,” Shay said. “The highest form of mastery is teaching. It’s much better than me trying to cram it down their throats.”

2. SPEED LACROSSE

Before every practice, even during the season, the Bulldogs play Casey Powell’s Speed Lacrosse. They set up the small, portable goals that come with the kit in an area that’s 40 feet long by 20 feet wide (with space left behind each goal) and play 4v4 with a tennis ball or squishy ball. 

“They keep score. They set up teams. They set up the field. They shut down the field,” Shay said. “I don’t have anything to do with it.”