--- title: First Class Lacrosse Blog | Matt Dunn (5) description: Matt Dunn graduated from the University of Maryland in 2016 and is currently a Professional Lacrosse Player in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) for the Whipsnakes LC (5) image: https://www.1stclasslax.com/hubfs/Page%20Featured%20Images/FCL%20Blog.png --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and/page/5#main-content) [![First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2026%20Logo/Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png?width=990&height=660&name=Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png "First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class")](https://www.1stclasslax.com/) [![First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2026%20Logo/Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png?width=990&height=660&name=Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png "First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class")](https://www.1stclasslax.com/) - 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[Mental Performance](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/mental-performance) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/watching-college-lacrosse-like-a-pro) [![](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/FCL-Blog-men-1.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=FCL-Blog-men-1.jpg)](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/universal-defensive-skills) 4 min read #### [Universal Defensive Skills: Building Your Foundation](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/universal-defensive-skills) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and): Apr 3, 2023, 11:00:00 AM Building a great defense starts with building great defenders. I am a big proponent of building an extremely solid foundation of universal defensive... [Defense](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/defense) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/universal-defensive-skills) [![](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/FCL-Blog-men-1.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=FCL-Blog-men-1.jpg)](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/fall-back-on-your-training) 2 min read #### [Fall Back on Your Training](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/fall-back-on-your-training) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and): Mar 24, 2023, 11:00:00 AM At Maryland our coaches would use a military expression to reinforce our fundamentals and approach to the little things: “you don’t rise to the... [Mental Performance](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/mental-performance) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/fall-back-on-your-training) [![](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Featured%20Image.png?width=1920&height=1080&name=Blog%20Featured%20Image.png)](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/skill-development-transferring-knowledge-into-execution) 2 min read #### [Skill Development - Transferring Knowledge Into Execution](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/skill-development-transferring-knowledge-into-execution) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and): Nov 4, 2022, 11:30:00 AM When I coach or work with players consistently I will from time to time “quiz them” on the concepts we have covered. [Mental Performance](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/mental-performance) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/skill-development-transferring-knowledge-into-execution) [![](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Featured%20Default%20Blog%20Image%20(1).png?width=480&height=280&name=Featured%20Default%20Blog%20Image%20(1).png)](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/player-development) 2 min read #### [Focus on Player Development](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/player-development) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and): Oct 14, 2022, 4:01:11 PM As players mature in the game of lacrosse, the number of distractions grows proportionally. The better you get and the higher you set your goals, the... [Mental Performance](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/mental-performance) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/player-development) [![](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Featured%20Default%20Blog%20Image%20(1).png?width=480&height=280&name=Featured%20Default%20Blog%20Image%20(1).png)](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/how-to-handle-negative-thoughts) 4 min read #### [Navigating Negative Thoughts](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/how-to-handle-negative-thoughts) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and): Sep 21, 2022, 3:23:49 PM Negative thoughts are more natural than you think. Having these thoughts may be difficult to control, but how you manage and respond to them can... [Mental Performance](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/mental-performance) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/how-to-handle-negative-thoughts) [![](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Featured%20Default%20Blog%20Image%20(1).png?width=480&height=280&name=Featured%20Default%20Blog%20Image%20(1).png)](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/mastering-approaches) 2 min read #### [Mastering Approaches](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/mastering-approaches) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and): Mar 13, 2022, 12:00:00 AM We are very excited to launch our new courses feature on FCL online. We truly believe this method of conveying lacrosse-related concepts will... [Defense](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/defense) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/mastering-approaches) [Prev](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and/page/4) [2](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and/page/2) [3](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and/page/3) [4](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and/page/4) [5](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and/page/5) [6](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and/page/6) [Next](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and/page/6) - [Trainings](https://1stclasslax.sprocketsports.com/all-programs) - [Players Membership](https://first-class-lacrosse.circle.so/checkout/player-and-parent-community) - [Coaches Membership](https://www.1stclasslax.com/coaches-membership-community) - [Media](https://www.1stclasslax.com/media) - [FAQs](https://www.1stclasslax.com/about/faqs) - [Summer 2026 The Approach](https://www.1stclasslax.com/the-approach) - [Summer 2027 Best In Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class) - [Summer 2027 BI3 Showcase](https://www.1stclasslax.com/bi3) - [Summer 2027 Women's Sixes](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-committed-sixes) - [Summer 2027 Summer Camp](https://www.1stclasslax.com/summer-camp) - [Fall 2026 Women's Spark](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-spark) - [Fall 2026 Showcase](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-fall) - [Summer 2027 High School Nationals](https://www.1stclasslax.com/high-school-nationals) - [Event Hotel Information](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-hotels) Recent Blogs [Featured Blog Image](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/mens-2033-2024-standouts-nxts-the-circuit) ###### [Men's 2033 & 2034 Standouts - NXT's The Circuit](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/mens-2033-2024-standouts-nxts-the-circuit) The Best In Class team was thrilled to be on-site for Session One of NXT's The Circuit on October... 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