2022 Women's Tewaaraton Watch List

[laxagainsthumanity]

If it's not about scoring then what is it about? It pains me to say that but I do think that measurable metrics are important (unfortunately). think that the game has changed enough over the last few years that it has in many ways become about scoring. The shot clock has greatly reduced the number of true, elite, 2 way middies in the game. It becomes too physically demanding, even for exceptional athletes to go back and forth at that pace at that level, while stuffing the stat sheet (necessary metrics to justify being named a Tewaaraton winner). Being able to have a 2+ minute possession when needed allowed 2 way middies a breather in a way you no longer get. The play on rules have also led to that- it's small things that eliminate breaks in the game. The move to quarters might actually help revive the 2 way middie. The continued development of draw specialists, the reduction of players on the circle and the growth of the game (leading to larger rosters of talented players) have also contributed.

I was a 2 way middie in college (a long time ago) and love and respect that position. I also have tremendous respect for defenders and goalies. Here's the case for the attacker winning the tewaaraton year after year (barring a generational talent in another position): Your best attacker probably has some of the best stick skills on the team. Their ability to catch, finish, pass, see space, read a defense all need to be highly elite to be that successful at this level. They also need to have good to great speed and lateral quickness. This skill set all also demonstrates coachability, lax IQ, a very high compete level/ drive and more. Every kid playing at a top 20 team and beyond in any position has some of these traits. They wouldn't be recruited if they didn't, but the top attacker on a top team needs to have at least 90% of these traits in order to have the level of success they do.

Point taken. Good points. But these measurable metrics are missing half the game. To me a complete player knows how to make a slide to help a team mate? Play help defense while not violating 3 seconds. Transition over the field with an equally good skills set showing speed and quickness. What you say demonstrates a lax IQ, coachability etc. to me is still missing half the game....actually playing some defense.......team defense. You could point to redefending and yep...real important, but that to me it is different than being able to play good solid help defense for 90 seconds.

Agree with everything in both of these... but even the most elite two-way middie in the game today (IMO probably Mastroianni, although I haven't watched much Watson or Spilis) is only on the field for half the game now, maybe a little more. A great two-way middie used to be able to take over a game, and just their presence on the field changed the way the team carried themselves. Maybe this is just a down few years for middies or maybe hsl is right and it's possibly gone for good, but I don't think anyone has that this year.

[Lax101]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

[wlaxphan20]

If it's not about scoring then what is it about? It pains me to say that but I do think that measurable metrics are important (unfortunately). think that the game has changed enough over the last few years that it has in many ways become about scoring. The shot clock has greatly reduced the number of true, elite, 2 way middies in the game. It becomes too physically demanding, even for exceptional athletes to go back and forth at that pace at that level, while stuffing the stat sheet (necessary metrics to justify being named a Tewaaraton winner). Being able to have a 2+ minute possession when needed allowed 2 way middies a breather in a way you no longer get. The play on rules have also led to that- it's small things that eliminate breaks in the game. The move to quarters might actually help revive the 2 way middie. The continued development of draw specialists, the reduction of players on the circle and the growth of the game (leading to larger rosters of talented players) have also contributed.

I was a 2 way middie in college (a long time ago) and love and respect that position. I also have tremendous respect for defenders and goalies. Here's the case for the attacker winning the tewaaraton year after year (barring a generational talent in another position): Your best attacker probably has some of the best stick skills on the team. Their ability to catch, finish, pass, see space, read a defense all need to be highly elite to be that successful at this level. They also need to have good to great speed and lateral quickness. This skill set all also demonstrates coachability, lax IQ, a very high compete level/ drive and more. Every kid playing at a top 20 team and beyond in any position has some of these traits. They wouldn't be recruited if they didn't, but the top attacker on a top team needs to have at least 90% of these traits in order to have the level of success they do.

Point taken. Good points. But these measurable metrics are missing half the game. To me a complete player knows how to make a slide to help a team mate? Play help defense while not violating 3 seconds. Transition over the field with an equally good skills set showing speed and quickness. What you say demonstrates a lax IQ, coachability etc. to me is still missing half the game....actually playing some defense.......team defense. You could point to redefending and yep...real important, but that to me it is different than being able to play good solid help defense for 90 seconds.

Agree with everything in both of these... but even the most elite two-way middie in the game today (IMO probably Mastroianni, although I haven't watched much Watson or Spilis) is only on the field for half the game now, maybe a little more. A great two-way middie used to be able to take over a game, and just their presence on the field changed the way the team carried themselves. Maybe this is just a down few years for middies or maybe hsl is right and it's possibly gone for good, but I don't think anyone has that this year.

I agree. And I certainly hope it isn't gone for good.

[Laxfan500]

If it's not about scoring then what is it about? It pains me to say that but I do think that measurable metrics are important (unfortunately). think that the game has changed enough over the last few years that it has in many ways become about scoring. The shot clock has greatly reduced the number of true, elite, 2 way middies in the game. It becomes too physically demanding, even for exceptional athletes to go back and forth at that pace at that level, while stuffing the stat sheet (necessary metrics to justify being named a Tewaaraton winner). Being able to have a 2+ minute possession when needed allowed 2 way middies a breather in a way you no longer get. The play on rules have also led to that- it's small things that eliminate breaks in the game. The move to quarters might actually help revive the 2 way middie. The continued development of draw specialists, the reduction of players on the circle and the growth of the game (leading to larger rosters of talented players) have also contributed.

I was a 2 way middie in college (a long time ago) and love and respect that position. I also have tremendous respect for defenders and goalies. Here's the case for the attacker winning the tewaaraton year after year (barring a generational talent in another position): Your best attacker probably has some of the best stick skills on the team. Their ability to catch, finish, pass, see space, read a defense all need to be highly elite to be that successful at this level. They also need to have good to great speed and lateral quickness. This skill set all also demonstrates coachability, lax IQ, a very high compete level/ drive and more. Every kid playing at a top 20 team and beyond in any position has some of these traits. They wouldn't be recruited if they didn't, but the top attacker on a top team needs to have at least 90% of these traits in order to have the level of success they do.

Point taken. Good points. But these measurable metrics are missing half the game. To me a complete player knows how to make a slide to help a team mate? Play help defense while not violating 3 seconds. Transition over the field with an equally good skills set showing speed and quickness. What you say demonstrates a lax IQ, coachability etc. to me is still missing half the game....actually playing some defense.......team defense. You could point to redefending and yep...real important, but that to me it is different than being able to play good solid help defense for 90 seconds.

Agree with everything in both of these... but even the most elite two-way middie in the game today (IMO probably Mastroianni, although I haven't watched much Watson or Spilis) is only on the field for half the game now, maybe a little more. A great two-way middie used to be able to take over a game, and just their presence on the field changed the way the team carried themselves. Maybe this is just a down few years for middies or maybe hsl is right and it's possibly gone for good, but I don't think anyone has that this year.

UNC consistently rotates their middies on and off and did so with Marie McCool as well - prob one of their most talented middies . That’s a UNC thing. Doesn't watson and Smith play the whole game ? UNC also rotates dif people at draw more so than other teams . And they sometimes pull their attackers out 3rd period to let other kids play.

[Dr. Tact]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

[wlaxphan20]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

Oooh boy, I felt that one. Especially if your team is down a player with a yellow. Unless it's an extremely high percentage shot/opportunity and depending on the score/time left, it's frustrating for sure and something I would put under game awareness/management for attackers - knowing when your middies & D could use a quick breather. Even more difficult is letting the frustration go as a player and not letting it be divisive amongst the team.

[OuttaNowhereWregget]

even the most elite two-way middie in the game today (IMO probably Mastroianni, although I haven't watched much Watson or Spilis) is only on the field for half the game now, maybe a little more. A great two-way middie used to be able to take over a game, and just their presence on the field changed the way the team carried themselves. Maybe this is just a down few years for middies or maybe hsl is right and it's possibly gone for good, but I don't think anyone has that this year.

How do you feel about BC’s Belle Smith?

[Dr. Tact]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

Oooh boy, I felt that one. Especially if your team is down a player with a yellow. Unless it's an extremely high percentage shot/opportunity and depending on the score/time left, it's frustrating for sure and something I would put under game awareness/management for attackers - knowing when your middies & D could use a quick breather. Even more difficult is letting the frustration go as a player and not letting it be divisive amongst the team.

Well, that does happen at all levels. Tough to avoid it (frustration). You are right on with the awareness point. I would love to talk with a former attacker at the College level to explain their experience with that. I could ask one of D's teammates, but that would be creepy.

As far as player down, I think I see that happen around once every 2 games for teams I follow. It is usually a fast/slow break, but the attack not knowing that killing the penalty is most important is so difficult to watch.

[laxagainsthumanity]

Agree with everything in both of these... but even the most elite two-way middie in the game today (IMO probably Mastroianni, although I haven't watched much Watson or Spilis) is only on the field for half the game now, maybe a little more. A great two-way middie used to be able to take over a game, and just their presence on the field changed the way the team carried themselves. Maybe this is just a down few years for middies or maybe hsl is right and it's possibly gone for good, but I don't think anyone has that this year.

UNC consistently rotates their middies on and off and did so with Marie McCool as well - prob one of their most talented middies . That’s a UNC thing. Doesn't watson and Smith play the whole game ? UNC also rotates dif people at draw more so than other teams . And they sometimes pull their attackers out 3rd period to let other kids play.

I think every team rotates their middies as much as their depth will allow. McCool's junior and especially senior seasons were some relatively lean years for the Heels' midfield and she actually played quite a bit more than AM has. McCool also took the VAST majority of the draws her senior year after Sammy Jo Tracy's departure, while AM has Dirks backing her up. Maybe if UNC had less depth, AM would step into a bigger role - her team just doesn't need that from her.

Smith does play the whole game or close to it, but even on her best days, she doesn't control the game the way that McCool, Cummings, Cannizzaro, etc. did during their careers. She's also just a sophomore and I wouldn't be surprised if she develops that leadership over her next couple seasons.

I haven't watched much of Watson, but every time I've seen her I've been incredibly impressed, going back to her freshman year. I'm glad to see her on this list. I've seen her take over games, but I just haven't watched her enough to compare her to the players I've seen more of.

[laxagainsthumanity]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

The universal pet peeve of every single middie and defender!

[Dr. Tact]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

The universal pet peeve of every single middie and defender!

^^this^^

[wlaxphan20]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

The universal pet peeve of every single middie and defender!

That's why there's a drill called "kill the middie"

[Lax101]

Agree with everything in both of these... but even the most elite two-way middie in the game today (IMO probably Mastroianni, although I haven't watched much Watson or Spilis) is only on the field for half the game now, maybe a little more. A great two-way middie used to be able to take over a game, and just their presence on the field changed the way the team carried themselves. Maybe this is just a down few years for middies or maybe hsl is right and it's possibly gone for good, but I don't think anyone has that this year.

UNC consistently rotates their middies on and off and did so with Marie McCool as well - prob one of their most talented middies . That’s a UNC thing. Doesn't watson and Smith play the whole game ? UNC also rotates dif people at draw more so than other teams . And they sometimes pull their attackers out 3rd period to let other kids play.

I think every team rotates their middies as much as their depth will allow. McCool's junior and especially senior seasons were some relatively lean years for the Heels' midfield and she actually played quite a bit more than AM has. McCool also took the VAST majority of the draws her senior year after Sammy Jo Tracy's departure, while AM has Dirks backing her up. Maybe if UNC had less depth, AM would step into a bigger role - her team just doesn't need that from her.

Smith does play the whole game or close to it, but even on her best days, she doesn't control the game the way that McCool, Cummings, Cannizzaro, etc. did during their careers. She's also just a sophomore and I wouldn't be surprised if she develops that leadership over her next couple seasons.

I haven't watched much of Watson, but every time I've seen her I've been incredibly impressed, going back to her freshman year. I'm glad to see her on this list. I've seen her take over games, but I just haven't watched her enough to compare her to the players I've seen more of.

You are comparing a sophomore Smith to how McCool and Cannizzaro ended their careers. Take a look at their freshman and sophomore seasons and you will see that Smith is outperforming both and it is not really close, and Smith is playing with a ball dominant player in North.

[tothedraw]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

The universal pet peeve of every single middie and defender!

And high school coaches when the parents are constantly yelling "shoot"!!!! because they have no clue that there is a plan to not run middies into the ground and give up fast break goals.

Rant over

[wlaxphan20]

Agree with everything in both of these... but even the most elite two-way middie in the game today (IMO probably Mastroianni, although I haven't watched much Watson or Spilis) is only on the field for half the game now, maybe a little more. A great two-way middie used to be able to take over a game, and just their presence on the field changed the way the team carried themselves. Maybe this is just a down few years for middies or maybe hsl is right and it's possibly gone for good, but I don't think anyone has that this year.

UNC consistently rotates their middies on and off and did so with Marie McCool as well - prob one of their most talented middies . That’s a UNC thing. Doesn't watson and Smith play the whole game ? UNC also rotates dif people at draw more so than other teams . And they sometimes pull their attackers out 3rd period to let other kids play.

I think every team rotates their middies as much as their depth will allow. McCool's junior and especially senior seasons were some relatively lean years for the Heels' midfield and she actually played quite a bit more than AM has. McCool also took the VAST majority of the draws her senior year after Sammy Jo Tracy's departure, while AM has Dirks backing her up. Maybe if UNC had less depth, AM would step into a bigger role - her team just doesn't need that from her.

Smith does play the whole game or close to it, but even on her best days, she doesn't control the game the way that McCool, Cummings, Cannizzaro, etc. did during their careers. She's also just a sophomore and I wouldn't be surprised if she develops that leadership over her next couple seasons.

I haven't watched much of Watson, but every time I've seen her I've been incredibly impressed, going back to her freshman year. I'm glad to see her on this list. I've seen her take over games, but I just haven't watched her enough to compare her to the players I've seen more of.

You are comparing a sophomore Smith to how McCool and Cannizzaro ended their careers. Take a look at their freshman and sophomore seasons and you will see that Smith is outperforming both and it is not really close, and Smith is playing with a ball dominant player in North.

LAH did say that Smith is just a sophomore. Belle will likely eclipse Mccool's offensive numbers from her sophomore year, but not her hustle stats.

McCool 2015 (freshman, 22 games, 10 starts): 26g 4a 30pts 32gb 14ct 26dc
Smith 2021 (freshman, 19 games, 4 starts): 44g 15a 59pts 11gb 5ct 12dc

McCool 2016 (sophomore, 22 games, 22 starts): 46g 17a 63pts 49gb 25ct 49dc
Smith 2022 so far (sophomore, 16 games, 16 starts): 38g 21a 59pts 13gb 17ct 0dc

Although Smith is outperforming McCool on the offensive statistics, personally, I wouldn't say that Smith blowing McCool's freshman and sophomore years out of the water. In 2015 McCool was playing with a midfield that featured SJT & Maggie Bill and an attacking unit that featured Aly Messinger & Molly Hendrick. From my memory, Hendrick was also quite ball dominant, and was also on the team in 2016 as well as SJT, Messinger, Carly Reed, and a healthy Sydney Holman. They are both very good middies, but from my perspective McCool's game on both sides of the ball was more complete in her freshman and sophomore years. That is certainly a part of Smith's game she could continue to take on more responsibility in her final 2 years as players graduate. From my perspective, looking at both players' freshman and sophomore years, they both had great seasons, but I disagree that Smith is "outperforming both and it is not really close"

[wlaxphan20]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

Oooh boy, I felt that one. Especially if your team is down a player with a yellow. Unless it's an extremely high percentage shot/opportunity and depending on the score/time left, it's frustrating for sure and something I would put under game awareness/management for attackers - knowing when your middies & D could use a quick breather. Even more difficult is letting the frustration go as a player and not letting it be divisive amongst the team.

Well, that does happen at all levels. Tough to avoid it (frustration). You are right on with the awareness point. I would love to talk with a former attacker at the College level to explain their experience with that. I could ask one of D's teammates, but that would be creepy.

As far as player down, I think I see that happen around once every 2 games for teams I follow. It is usually a fast/slow break, but the attack not knowing that killing the penalty is most important is so difficult to watch.

I was actually envisioning a scenario where the defense (down a player d/t YC) has played the entire penalty and possibly even longer and dead tired only for the attack to take a 10-20 second possession and take the first shot they see (which usually isn't the best shot)

OR

A scenario where both teams have traded quick 10-15 second possessions several times, both teams are making poor decisions, and possession is going back and forth and back and forth and the someone finally decides to take a long possession to gather their bearings, but it probably should have happened sooner

but your scenario also applies!! This is really niche stuff though, not bashing all attackers everywhere

[wlaxphan20]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

The universal pet peeve of every single middie and defender!

And high school coaches when the parents are constantly yelling "shoot"!!!! because they have no clue that there is a plan to not run middies into the ground and give up fast break goals.

Rant over

Dealing with parents coaching from the crowd is tough, at all ages. It puts the kids in a lose-lose situation IMO

[Seacoaster(1)]

Agree with Dr. Tact that a 2-way middie that contributes in a meaningful way on the offensive end is more valuable and more rare than the typical attacker who does nothing but score. That middie is the heart and soul of the team (just ask coaches) and sets the tone on both ends of the field and in transition. If you look at the history of the Tewaaraton winner the award was won by a middie almost every year. It may have been almost 10 years in a row. It is very rare that it goes to a pure attacker. The committee values all round players and rightly so. When Appuzzo and North won they were also great on the draw and Appuzzo great on the defensive ride. They both did more than score. For middies it might be better to look at points per minute played since attackers have the advantage of never leaving the field. IMO the value of an exceptional 2 way middle is incredible. The fact that there are few of them around makes them even more valuable and special. Would love to see AM from UNC win this year.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I don't see AM winning it, unfortunately.

The value of middie is so often disregarded. They are the players on the top of the defense that tend move the most, then they are sprinting up the field, then settling in offense (again more active than your typical GLE low attack.). Don't get me started on the way they feel when they make a great stop on defense, run it up, pass to attack and the attacker loses it, takes an ill advised shot, etc. For the attacker, it's a missed opportunity. For the middie its 200 yard sprints and major frustration....I digress....sorry....one of my pet peeves.

The universal pet peeve of every single middie and defender!

And high school coaches when the parents are constantly yelling "shoot"!!!! because they have no clue that there is a plan to not run middies into the ground and give up fast break goals.

Rant over

Dealing with parents coaching from the crowd is tough, at all ages. It puts the kids in a lose-lose situation IMO

Years ago, we had a group of parents, sort of headed by a Mother whose voice could be heard on Neptune, who constantly yelled instructions to the kids, including the famous "shoot" even in shooting space. We actually had to convene a meeting of the parents -- kind of tricked them there with a tailgatey thing -- to explain the rules (shooting space), the need to give defense some time to breath, and most importantly, clock management. It didn't end the problem, but it helped. And it helped that the kids were there saying everything but "will you please STFU?" to their parents.

[DMac]

Sounds more like a Uranus story than Neptune. Jus' sayin'.

[njbill]

I was watching a late round playoff game in Jersey last spring, when a player on one of the teams turned to the crowd as she was running upfield and yelled, "shut up, Dad." Did not include "TF" fortunately. I was sitting right in front of Dad. Couldn't hear it on Neptune, but everyone on the sidelines could. This was after Dad had yelled some "advice" on how DD should shoot her FPs. BTW, DD was and is a marvelous player and didn't need any advice from Dad.

P.S. to sc, this was a different game and a different father/daughter from the incident I told you about last year.