Position requires combination of talents
By: Justin Feil
The longstick midfielder is undoubtedly as demanding a position as there is in boys’ lacrosse. Players have to be versatile, athletic, skilled and smart.
The longstick midfielder combines attributes of other positions into one ever-moving player who can be called out of the box at a moment’s notice, only to return once his job is done and the offense firmly in possession.
"We expect all our defensemen to be able to stickhandle well, our longstick middies in particular," said Princeton High head coach Peter Stanton. "They have to be able to pick the ball up well and carry it up the field. And they have to shut down the other team’s best middie. They fill a lot of roles.
"It takes somebody that can run, somebody that doesn’t need to be the hero. They have to understand their role and how important they are."
The longstick midfielder is under high demand at the next level, men’s college lacrosse, but it isn’t such a glamorous position even though they are involved in all aspects of the game in high school.
"They start the transition a lot," said West Windsor-Plainsboro High North head coach Neil Brown. "They have to have a combination of finesse and toughness. They are special."
Area coaches regard the play of strong longstick midfielders like fine artwork.
"When Hun played Zach Trent at longstick middie against us last year," said Montgomery High head coach Tim Sullivan, "it was so beautiful to watch. Some defensemen can do it, but it’s tough.
"On offense, you need a middie who has stick-handling skills. If they drop it, it’s a waste to have them out there. My longstick middie is probably my most athletic person. They create. It’s sort of like a free safety. If they’re good at reading things, they can create opportunities for your team."
Princeton Day head coach Peter Higgins talks fondly of the versatility of John O’Hara, who went on to play at North Carolina. O’Hara would play offense, but could grab a longstick to play in the midfield on defense. Brown recalls former Princeton resident and then Duke All-America Steve Card, who was a standout at Lawrenceville.
"I think we have two of the best longstick midfielders in the state now," Brown said. "Dan N. Long and Nick Garofoli. They can set the tone for the game.
"They’re responsible for getting loose balls in the midfield. They start the transition. Dan Long is an exceptional hitter. And they’re both great at taking away the ball. They are two-way players. They’ve both been playing the position since they came to us."
That experience can be a difference maker, particularly when talking about a player who will have an impact at both ends. At the defensive end, they can harass a top-scoring midfielder, while they can put the offense in position to score at the other end. Some teams use them as a weapon when they break from the box.
"We use the box a lot on rides and clears," Higgins said. "If you go to a college game, you’ll see that the box is part of the field if you look at the lines. In high school it’s tougher because sometimes there aren’t lines there. But we try to use the box a lot.
"What really helps," he added, "is if they understand the movement of the game. Not only do they have to have strong fundamentals, but they have to be good at seeing the passes three passes ahead and reading the breaks."
A good longstick midfielder can cause problems for the opposition as well as help his own team.
"They can help pull out an offensive player who needs to be refreshed," Sullivan said. "They really help with transition on the fly. It takes a lot of practice to be good a it."
Their job begins from the moment of the first face off.
"It’s pretty crucial," Stanton said. "If you have a guy who can pick up the ball off the faceoff, that can help a lot. They can help in clearing and can help in transition. It’s really a critical guy."
"They will start fast breaks a lot," Brown agreed. "The goalie looks to them as much as anybody. I like to give them the freedom then. I think I have creative players. I encourage my longstick middies to push the ball up forward and be involved in the offense."
But, as is the life of a longstick middie, sometimes they’re on and off like flashing lights.
"Sometimes they are on and off quickly," Brown said. "The key is their effectiveness for the time they’re on the field. They take turns. They work together. They’re a reflection of our team.
"They make the most of it out there. Within 30 seconds usually, Dan Long puts his signature on the game. He’s knocked guys down and we’ve started the game off fast. That’s what it’s all about."
Maybe the hardest part for coaches is finding the right guy to do a longstick midfielder’s dirty work.
"They’ve never said that they want to play close defense or anywhere else," Brown said of Long and Garofoli. "Some people are just cut out to be longstick middies."
They combine a sort of hodgepodge of every skill necessary, from the ability to pick up ground balls, superior passing and catching ability, as well as toughness and solid footwork at the defensive end and an endless engine. The longstick midfielder is a unique position, yet critical to any team’s success.