Jones named head coach of Junior Nationals

Player development has been the forefront of local lacrosse coach Al Jones’ philosophy over the years, and now he’ll get the chance to enact that at one of the highest levels in the sport.

Jones was named head coach of the Haudenosaunee Junior Nationals’ U17 and U19 field lacrosse teams for their tournament season, which ranges from mid-spring to late fall.

“It’s a great honour, because they showed they have faith in me helping with the development of our players. I love that they have the confidence in me to pick me for this position, and I’m ready for the challenge,” said Jones.

“What I love about this is the challenge. It’s going to be interesting to be able to meet new players and come up with new strategies. All that intertwined is what is great about the game.”

Joining Jones on staff will be assistant coaches Aaron Printup and Freeman “Boss” Bucktooth, two people Jones has some experience with.

Jones and Printup have been on the same coaching staff before in the Nationals program, and both are alumni of the program as players.

“We both know how much this program can do for a player, being alumni, and I like to give back and give the experiences we were lucky to have as players,” said Jones.

Bucktooth, meanwhile, was Jones’ lacrosse coach back in Onondaga Nation when Jones was a young child.

“He was one of my mentors when I was growing up. We’ve come full circle, and now I get to work side by side with him,” said Jones.

“He’s always been that very good player,” said Bucktooth.

This will mark a return to coaching the Nationals after almost a decade away for Bucktooth.

He had decided to retire about a decade ago but soon found himself getting involved again at the local level after four years away. A half decade later, the spark returned to coach the Nationals.

“I didn’t want to be a head coach. I just want to be involved to some extent,” said Bucktooth.

“It’s good to see Al stepping up and taking command of the duties there for his coaching.”

Some of those duties will include picking players at tryouts for their upcoming tournaments, the first of which being the Heritage Cup in Lawrence, New Jersey, from May 22-25.

The first tryout took place on March 28, and the talent level was very high.

“There’s so much talent and skill that I see throughout the whole team, it just makes our job tough,” said Bucktooth, with almost 40 players joining the tryouts.

“We’re a fraction in size compared to say, the US and Canada, but we’re right there in world rankings.”

For Jones, the tryouts served as a way to show players that they don’t have to be the best goalscorer on the Nationals to get a roster spot.

“We’re looking for everything. We’re looking for ground-ball guys, face-off guys, defensive guys, offensive guys. There’s only one ball.  You can only have one goal scorer, but you need a passer. All those elements within a game and a team comes into play,” said Jones.

Making the team is also a question of attitude, tenacity, and being in the shape needed to play lacrosse whenever and wherever, he said.

“Lacrosse never ends. Yes, seasons end, tournaments end, but you have to be ready when you get that call for the next event. You might not make one event, but the next event you could be in, and you need to be ready,” said Jones.

The second round of tryouts will take place on April 4 at the Onondaga Field House in Nedrow, New York.

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