23 year old Glenn Humphreys from Rawtenstall near Blackburn has had a lacrosse stick in his hand since the age of 3 and first played U16 lacrosse at the age of 9. Last season he was the top goalscorer in the Northern Premiership, playing for Rochdale and combining for a total of 67 points that was good enough for the second highest points in the league. On the eve of the new season, TopJLax thought we'd find out what makes a player of this calibre tick.
TopJLax: Hey Glenn, welcome to TopJLax, how are you doing today?
Glenn Humphreys: Good man, just got home from work...
TopJLax: For everyone who isn't up to scratch, give us a brief "Glenn Humphreys lacrosse history", how did you end up playing lax for Rochdale in the Northern Premiership?
Glenn Humphreys: My dad started playing at Rochdale when i was about 5 , and I started playing U16 about 9, then I played for Lancashire a bunch of times and then went straight to the Rochdale 1st team when i turned 16, just when they'd just moved back in to the prem, some wake up call at 16...
TopJLax: You had a standout season in the Premiership last year, 67 points, 2nd highest in the league, and top goalscorer, what would you attribute that success to?
Glenn Humphreys: Practice, practice, practice. I realised a few years ago that i only had a big dig and needed to futher my game so i basically picked it to pieces and worked on everything else... I had a lot of help along the way from various american coaches but most of which came from Greg Rose who is possibly more of a lax geek than me! I've still got a lot to work on mind...
TopJLax: How often do Rochdale train - and what sort of practice do you do in your free time?
Glenn Humphreys: We started official pre season a couple of weekends ago and now train for 2-3 hours every Saturday, and we have just started Monday nights aswell. I try to do some wall ball every night and shoot as much as I can, I'm fortunate that theres a good core of people that want to improve as much as possible at Rochdale so we've got together once or twice a week and work on various parts of our game throughout the off season.
TopJLax: Your first England call-up was for the Euro's in 2008 - how was that experience?
Glenn Humphreys: The Euro's was great, it was great to play with an entire team playing and training at the same level, and loads of fun once we actually got out there. There really is no feeling like pulling on that jersey for the first time as im sure anyone else thats played for England will agree....
TopJLax: You were one of the alternates for this years Worlds... it must have been hard getting cut at the final round. Were this years finals bittersweet?
Glenn Humphreys: I watched every game and supported all my friends on the team despite feeling that I deserved to been down there with them so it was definitely tough at times i guess, but sometimes the decisions dont go exactly as you or anyone else feels they should do. Never the less I enjoyed watching my mates play paticularly knowing how much effort had been put in first hand.
TopJLax: England cemented a 5th place finish again... what steps do the domestic leagues have to take for England to be able to compete for a medal in your opinion?
Glenn Humphreys: I personally believe that in order to compete for a medal we need to go a bit arse about tit and not worry about where we finish, but worry more about developing our own style of play in order to finish higher in the future.... the style we play week in week out wont cut it as it stands in international lacrosse, but this has to be a base from which we work up, quite simply we will not beat the top 2 at thei own game, so we need to find and develop our own.
TopJLax: Matt Bagley was the only player this year from the Southern league to make it onto the England team. Does this show a broadening of the areas from which England players can be selected, or do you still need to be on a Top 5 Northern Premiership team to have a realistic chance?
Glenn Humphreys: I guess it depends on the coaching set up, i'd like to think it bears no relevence where your from but i'm not a coach. Baggers thoroughly deserved to be on the team not only for his playing ability for his ability to say the right thing at the right time.
TopJLax: From playing at tournaments and such, have you noticed any difference in the quality of player coming from the non hotbeds of lacrosse (Manchester) in the last 4-5 years?
Glenn Humphreys: Its definitely improved, but from what I've seen personally it tends to be certain players as opposed to full teams that really stand out but i'm sure that will change over the next few years...
TopJLax: Where do you see Lacrosse in England going in the next 5-10 years?
Glenn Humphreys: Hopefully getting more recognition from the public and press for the fantastic sport that it is. Also junior sections will hopefully have developed across the country, the sooner all clubs develop an established junior section the better, not only will this help the senior sections at the club but should help long term with the national squad.
TopJLax: Moving on to the next season, and Lacrosse with Rochdale, what are the teams aims?
Glenn Humphreys: Top 4 in the league and back in the Flags final, but coming out with the flags this time round!!!
TopJLax: For anyone new to the game, or just picking it up at University, what would you say the most important thing to be doing is to develop your game?
Glenn Humphreys: Watching/listening to other players and practice, you really cant push this through to people enough, in order to improve on the weaker parts of your game you need to practice and you have got to be strict and work hard at it, instead of just going down and ripping the top corner righty you've got to do exactly what you need to. Ive still got loads to work on and i'll keep doing it until i get it right.
TopJLax: Do you follow NCAA lacrosse at all? Who's your favourite college team and player and why?
Glenn Humphreys: I watch as much as i can, i've always like the way Navy play, making the extra passes and letting it rip when they should. As for player there's loads of great players out there but i guess Rabil is probably one of my favorites, i like the way people discuss which hand he is!!!
TopJLax: Which is the better feeling, giving your mate a slam dunk assist, or finishing the goal yourself?
Glenn Humphreys: Catching a slam dunk assist from one of my team mates and finishing it myself!!
TopJLax: What makes the game of Lacrosse stand-out from other sports (Rugby, Football, cricket)?
Glenn Humphreys: It takes real dedication, i appreciate that the other sports metioned require this to be played at a decent level but lax is tough to pick up, but well worh the rewards once you start to improve.
The other major thing for me is its a great spectator sport, theres no other sport played in England where you get big hits, fancy tricks and goals scored within 6 or 7 seconds of the first whistle.
Glenn Humphreys: Hopefully getting more recognition from the public and press for the fantastic sport that it is. Also junior sections will hopefully have developed across the country, the sooner all clubs develop an established junior section the better, not only will this help the senior sections at the club but should help long term with the national squad.
TopJLax: Moving on to the next season, and Lacrosse with Rochdale, what are the teams aims?
Glenn Humphreys: Top 4 in the league and back in the Flags final, but coming out with the flags this time round!!!
TopJLax: For anyone new to the game, or just picking it up at University, what would you say the most important thing to be doing is to develop your game?
Glenn Humphreys: Watching/listening to other players and practice, you really cant push this through to people enough, in order to improve on the weaker parts of your game you need to practice and you have got to be strict and work hard at it, instead of just going down and ripping the top corner righty you've got to do exactly what you need to. Ive still got loads to work on and i'll keep doing it until i get it right.
TopJLax: Do you follow NCAA lacrosse at all? Who's your favourite college team and player and why?
Glenn Humphreys: I watch as much as i can, i've always like the way Navy play, making the extra passes and letting it rip when they should. As for player there's loads of great players out there but i guess Rabil is probably one of my favorites, i like the way people discuss which hand he is!!!
TopJLax: Which is the better feeling, giving your mate a slam dunk assist, or finishing the goal yourself?
Glenn Humphreys: Catching a slam dunk assist from one of my team mates and finishing it myself!!
TopJLax: What makes the game of Lacrosse stand-out from other sports (Rugby, Football, cricket)?
Glenn Humphreys: It takes real dedication, i appreciate that the other sports metioned require this to be played at a decent level but lax is tough to pick up, but well worh the rewards once you start to improve.
The other major thing for me is its a great spectator sport, theres no other sport played in England where you get big hits, fancy tricks and goals scored within 6 or 7 seconds of the first whistle.
During our interviews with some of the players at the elite end of the game TopJLax always tries to tie in questions that can relate to our readers who are just picking up the game for the first time. It may not be rocket science, but when we've asked how they got to where they are there's definitely a theme of a dedicated work ethic, repeated repetitive practice, and a cut throat determination to succeed that echo's from all of the players we've spoken to so far. It's definitely attainable with a little sweat, go out there and make it happen, and whilst doing it keep an eye on the NEMLA points table, we'd bet a few notes on Glenn being up the sharp end again this season. Respect.
