Acton-Boxboro Coach Pat Ammendolia

The guest is Acton-Boxboro Coach Pat Ammendolia on his journey and philosophies since taking over the program, including the importance of fostering a fun, hard-working culture. Coach Ammendolia shares insights on implementing zone defense, developing young talent through the 'buddy program,' and navigating the challenges of the high school lacrosse landscape, such as players reclassing and transferring to prep schools. The episode closes with a talk on the significance of the Players Cup and its impact on high school lacrosse in Massachusetts.

 

Topics

 

01:53 Building a Winning Culture at AB

03:43 Challenges and Strategies in Coaching

08:53 Youth Programs and Community Engagement

12:01 Playoff Formats and Opinions

17:07 Zone Defense: A Deep Dive

21:46 The Wesleyan Zone Defense

22:37 Coaching Challenges and Strategies

23:36 Zone Defense in Action

26:52 Balancing Offense and Defense

29:09 Reflecting on Playing Career

31:58 Team Rules and Philosophy

34:34 Challenges of Player Retention

37:38 Debating Reclassing in Lacrosse

42:59 The Impact of Roster Limits

44:06 The Importance of April Break Tournaments

45:44 Conclusion and Farewell