Mirroring Game Helps Build Athletic Skills

US Lacrosse magazine shares that, "One of the core values of the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model (LADM) is learning the basic building blocks of athleticism. Like the old adage goes, you have to walk before you can run."  "60 Ways to Play", is a free downloadable resource published by US Lacrosse, featuring games that do not require equipment and works on physical literarcy.  Do you remember the mirroring game played in youth?-two people across from each other and one imitating the moves of the other but as a mirror image.  This is one of the games included in the resource.  Here's how to play it:

1.   Group players into pairs, one is the leader and the other is the follower
2.   Ask the leader to make physical moves that the follower will mirror.  For example, if the leader raises their right arm, the follower will raise their left arm.
3.  Once they are used to mirroring, speed up the time between movement changes
4.   After 1-2 minutes, switch roles, the follower then becomes the leader

How is this mirroring game benefical to your physical literacy?  TJ Buchanan, US Lacrosse technical director for athlete development says, “The brain controls the body. By forcing the brain to process someone else’s actions, then do it in a mirror image, we strengthen the neural pathways between the brain and muscles needed to create the movement. Over time, the processing and reaction speed is reduced, creating better movers. Better movers make better athletes.

For more information: How a Popular Children’s Game Can Help Develop Lacrosse Athletes

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Image Credit:  Future Stars Camps