Playing & Coaching For the Love of the Game with Peter Toner, Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Gettysburg College

Thanks to our special guest, Peter Toner! Coach Toner is currently the Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach at Gettysburg College. A native of Kennebunk, Maine, and a friend of Coach Leahy’s from their work with Team USA Lacrosse, he’s known as a top collegiate coach and mentor to many. Peter shares his lacrosse journey and a ton of great coaching points with us in this conversation.

Thanks to our special guest, Peter Toner!

Coach Toner is currently the Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach at Gettysburg College. A native of Kennebunk, Maine, and a friend of Coach Leahy’s from their work with Team USA Lacrosse, he’s known as a top collegiate coach and mentor to many. Peter shares his lacrosse journey and a ton of great coaching points with us in this conversation.

Here are some notes to help you enjoy this new episode.

Youth Sports Hot Topics (6:20)

For Parents: It can be easy to get wrapped up in some of the hype these days, but with any sport that your children engage with, let them love it

For Coaches: The importance of 1v1s - Who can “win the point of attack” to be successful on defense or offense?

For Players: Being a great teammate, the standards and accountability within a strong program

26:45 “What’s in it FROM me?” > “What’s in it FOR me”

Questions & Answers (34:10)

36:50, Springfield College and the “Springfield Mafia” network in the coaching profession

38:00, Special bonds with Pat and Nick Myers, now head coaches of Lafayette and Ohio State

41:00, Not yet being ready to be a head coach

42:20, The opportunity to coach with Mike Pressler at Bryant University

43:15, Learning about how to be more open-minded over time and seeking and accepting constructive feedback

46:00, Time spent coaching and growing up at Penn State, working with Jeff Tambroni to lead the program to historical success in the NCAA Playoffs

52:25, Coaching as Defensive Coordinator with Team USA U-19 team

58:20, Getting comfortable in a new role as a Division 3 Head Coach at Gettysburg, amidst the challenges of COVID-19

Rapid Fire NXT Homework (1:01:00)

For players: Find creative ways to get better

For parents: Encourage multiple sports

For coaches: Continue to focus on developing the fundamentals of the game

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