Tom Ryan was recently named the head coach of the U.S. Indoor Team and he's now in the Fan Zone to answer your questions.

The nine-year NLL veteran, who last played for the Philadelphia Wings in 2002, has amassed 202 points (82 goals, 120 assists) in 95 career games. Tom previously played in Boston and Baltimore, before being dealt to Philadelphia, where he was a member of the 2001 World Championship team. Ryan was also a member of Team USA in 2002, playing for the team that upset Canada in the Heritage Cup.

Tom has served as an Assistant Coach for the women's lacrosse teams at Towson University and Loyola College - as well as the men's lacrosse team at Connecticut College, where he earned a Masters degree in Psychology.

A 1994 graduate of Bowdoin College, Ryan was an All-American attackman and holds the school's record as the all-time leading scorer, which includes a 97-point Senior season (56 goals, 41 assists). He also played in Major League Lacrosse, scoring nine goals and seven assists in 14 games for the New Jersey Pride. Ryan currently resides in Baltimore, where he works as Assistant Director of Marketing for deBeer Lacrosse.

With a wealth of experience in lacrosse and the new experience of coaching the U.S. Indoor team, Ryan is now here to answer your questions about the sport. Submit a question and he may answer yours in a future issue of IL.

Andrew from Baltimore wants to know: Where did you like playing better: Boston, Philly or Baltimore?

I am glad I had the opportunity to play in all three cities.  Although I take something away from each, I liked playing in Philly best because of the tremendous fan support.  To play in front of a crowd of 15,000 people is exhilarating.  When they are cheering for you it seems like you have an endless supply of energy.  Winning a championship in 2001 with the Wings was one of the highlights of my career and so I have very rewarding memories from my playing days in Philly.

Kevin from Columbus, OH wants to know: Seeing that Canada unexpectedly knocked off the U.S. to win the ILF World Championship this summer for the first time since 1978, do you think a U.S. win over Canada in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship would be considered as big of an upset?

I feel the Canadian National Indoor Team is considered as dominant as the U.S. Field Team.  It has the players and the history to put together a dream team much like The U.S. National Field Program.  The U.S. Field Program had demonstrated its superiority with an impressive run of world titles, however, if you look closely, Canada had been nipping at our heels for the past two tournaments and has some of the best field players in the world.  I think that is a accurate analogy.

Ross from London, Ontario wants to know: What form of lacrosse is more exciting for you, box or field?

I find box lacrosse more exciting.  The non-stop action and intensity makes it more fun.  The nature of the indoor arena combined with the crowds makes for a more energetic experience.

Andrew Everett from Seattle, WA wants to know: Having played against you while at Williams, it has been fun to see your career continue past the NESCAC. Given Middlebury's success, do you regret our league not letting us compete in the national tournament back then? I will always wonder how those early 90's Williams and Bowdoin teams would have stacked up.

I don’t usually think in “what might have been” terms.  I feel fortunate to have been a part of the rivalries we had against teams like Williams and Middlebury and proud to have won twp New England Championships during my four years at Bowdoin.  It does make you wonder though.

Eric from Pennsylvania wants to know: Will you ever get back in the game and play one more time with the Wings? I would love for you to play one more game and mix it up like you used to.

Thanks Eric. That sounds like fun.  Unfortunately, when I exited the game in 2003 I was unable to exercise for three years because of the seriousness of my concussion-related injury.  I have since started playing street hockey, but am still a couple years away from playing contact sports, so a return to the Wings isn’t in the cards.

B Brown from Toledo wants to know: Why did you cut your hair?

Before I cut my hair my dreds were hanging just below my waist and had gotten to the point that they were making my head sore from the weight.  I had them for 14 years, throughout my entire professional playing career.  I guess when It comes right down to it I was ready for a change.

Lachlan from Melbourne, Australia wants to know: Did you find it hard to attract the very best talent in the country to try out for the U.S. Indoor team?

It has been a challenge assembling the U.S. Indoor Team.  The games are being held in May right after the NLL concludes and since the MLL is starting two weeks earlier this year, the World Tournament overlaps with the first two weekends of Major League Lacrosse.  I have found that our best indoor players want to represent their country, but between pro lacrosse and work obligations some guys are having a hard time fitting the week long tournament into their schedules.

smitty0386 from Rochester, NY wants to know: What prompted you to want to pursue the box game?

When I graduated from college the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (now the NLL) was the only professional lacrosse league in existence.  I tried it and fell in love instantly.  I realized it was something that I really wanted to be a part of so I dedicated my life to learning and improving my box game.

Iceman7 wants to know: What are some keys that you use to get a psychological advantage? What is your mentality when you go into a game?

I think the psychological advantage goes to the player and team that believes in themselves more wholeheartedly.  That comes from training hard, but also believing that your teammates will be there for you when you need them.  So the harder you push yourselves in practice and in training, the more confidence you will have come game time.  The X- factor is coming together as a team and believing in each other.

Going into a game I try to build an excitement in myself and among my teammates.  I concentrate on preparing myself to give everything I have to help my team win.  I find that when you combine confidence and effort, good things happen.

Joe from SE Pennsylvania wants to know: What is U.S. Indoor Lacrosse going to do in the way of development for future teams? Is a Junior-aged (21 and under) team going to be formed?

We are currently putting together a “Developmental Squad” made up of players who tried out for the U.S. Indoor Team but are not currently playing for an NLL team.  I believe the future of the NLL involves cultivating U.S. players.  We are currently working on a plan to get college-aged players and younger involved in the box game.  I don’t think a Junior Team is that far off.

Jay from New York wants to know: How did you get picked to be the U.S. coach?

The USIL committee had put together a wish list of possible coaches.  I was notified by Kevin Finneran, the USIL Director of Player Personnel that the job was mine if I was interested.  It is hard to believe, but the list of qualified indoor coaches in the U.S. is relatively limited.  I have coached various teams since graduating from college, but recently I have been waiting for the right opportunity to get into coaching indoor.  This is it.

Rich from VA wants to know: What are the advantages of playing indoor and outdoor for cross-training purposes? We don't see kids playing real box lacrosse these days. Why should coaches encourage the box game to improve field?

Due to the speed and confines of indoor lacrosse it forces you to improve your skills and handling ability.  It’s like sink or swim, and so most players’ skills improve rapidly when playing indoor.  As far as shooting goes you start to aim at more precise spots as opposed to general areas of the goal in field lacrosse.  In field, defensive players can rely heavily on the advantage of the long stick.  Without that you are forced to play good position and take the body. 

Scott from Chicago wants to know: What is your favorite head to play box with?

A lot of the products Paul Gait designs for Gait by deBeer have the box game in mind.  My new favorite is the Asylum which is such a tight head there is really no need to pinch it.  Factors like the amount of whip and where the ball sits in the pocket are based on personal preference, but for me the Asylum is perfect.

Lyle from Edmonton wants to know: In the United States lacrosse landscape where do you see indoor lacrosse fitting in? Are kids beginning to play this version or is there any possibility of a "grassroots" movement at all? Do you see a future for the sport beyond the NLL? PS: Loved the way you played the game even though I only got to see you play a couple of times on cable.

Thanks Lyle.  As most everyone knows, at the youth level kids are playing field lacrosse.  There are many indoor lacrosse options, especially in the winter, but typically the rules and style are closer to field lacrosse.  I think the future of the NLL involves more U.S. players.  Currently, there is only one American coach in the NLL and most Canadian coaches are not interested in developing American talent. 

Much like the growth of field lacrosse was slow at first, I think box lacrosse will start to grow as my generation of American box players gets older and starts to develop the sport first at the post-collegiate level and then on down to high school and middle school-aged players.  I expect to see more opportunities for Americans to learn the indoor game in the years to come.

GradyB from Vermont wants to know: Hey Tom, what do you like so much about boxla that led you to be so involved with American box lacrosse?

I grew up playing hockey and so playing lacrosse in a rink seems natural to me.  I like the speed of the game, I like how the ball stays in play and I like the added roughness that goes along with indoor lacrosse.  When I graduated from Bowdoin College, the indoor league was the only professional lacrosse outlet.  I wanted to continue playing at the highest level, so that was the path. 

Aaron Stanton from Billerica, MA wants to know: With the extensive knowledge of lacrosse that you hold, can you tell me some tips on what to do as a player when I do not have the ball, or what more should I know about off-ball movement? Any tips would be appreciated.

When you do not have the ball you have three basic objectives:
1. Clearing space for the person with the ball
2. Getting your teammates open
3. Getting yourself open

It is important to read your teammates and what they are trying to do.  If your teammate with the ball is trying to take his man to the cage then you should help him by staying out of his path and occupying the defensive players that want to slide and help out.  Some players with the ball are better at seeing the field and dishing it to an open teammate.  In these situations timing is everything.  You want to time your cut or screen so that you or a teammate are open when the player with the ball is in a position to feed.  The more you move the harder it becomes for your defender and the defense in general to back each other up. 

Richard from Oswego, NY wants to know: I know that you spent some time learning the sport from Native Americans. Can you talk a little bit about those experiences and how they shaped you as a player and a person?

I went to the Akwesasne Reservation to learn the box game.  From the first day my coach Peter Burns took me under his wing and treated me like a son.  I was excited to learn the indoor game, but I was also moved by the role lacrosse plays in the community.  Lacrosse was the most important thing in my life at the time and part of my evolving spirituality, so to be with people who also saw it in this light helped to reinforce my beliefs about the game and the way it should be played.  The box game on the reservation is brutally violent at times and so it forces you to learn to play in a hostile environment.  In order to survive you need to be ready to battle when you step on the floor.  I think it solidified in my own mind what playing for personal pride is all about.  Overall the experience gave me the confidence and experience to get my foot in the door at the professional level.