NLL Insider

As a two-time finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, winner of the Inside Lacrosse Laxie Award for Player of the Year, and one of the most highly-touted Americans to ever be drafted into the National Lacrosse League, you can call Paul Rabil’s entry to the indoor game a lot of things.

Don’t call it easy.

With his humble indoor beginnings currently being overshadowed by rumblings of his San Jose Stealth incompatibility, the big Maryland middie is once again getting acquainted with the downside of being in the spotlight.

“Being just off a national championship game, signing with Under Armour and getting drafted in both pro leagues has given me significant exposure. However, I have also been exposed to the more daunting side of the media throughout my tenure at Hopkins,” said Rabil.

“Many forget that we experienced both a three game and five game losing streak my junior and senior seasons, so for all of the good times, there are also bad times. Being able to fight through both as if they mean nothing is what’s most important.”

If practice makes perfect then there’s no reason to worry about Rabil’s focus. But while many are quick to predict that his imposing physical presence and scoring touch will translate easily to the NLL, Rabil isn’t content to rely on words like probably.

“I have been doing all the basic training that I did at Hopkins. Lifting is very important to me, as well as getting into indoor shape,” said Rabil. “After the combine, I started equating a lot of the movements to basketball in terms of quickly moving up and down the floor, and running hard for 30-60 seconds at a time.

In speaking with guys like Brodie Merrill and Colin Doyle, they have told me that in the end, lacrosse is lacrosse. Sure, it’s a much different style of play, but that’s what learning curves are for. My personal battle is to fight through the learning curve as hard as I can so that I can hopefully be successful in the pros.”

Though his on-field ability and acumen are the big reasons he was so highly sought after heading into the 2009 entry draft, what sets Rabil apart from many field players of the past is his overwhelming enthusiasm for the indoor game. He’s made no secret of his desire to play in the NLL, and for a league looking to him to lead what’s been dubbed the American revolution, that feeling is more than mutual.

“I watch a lot of NLL games and am a big fan of the players in the league,” he said. “In terms of a mentor, the captain at San Jose is one of the best in the business. Colin Doyle was one of the first guys to talk me into playing the game after my junior year in college — a great guy with a tremendous lacrosse IQ.

Having the opportunity to play in the pros is something that I have always dreamed about. The NLL is a great game that is headed in the right direction. I am working on anything I can to prepare for the change of pace and I’m excited to get going and work my way up to hopefully playing with the best lacrosse players in the world.”

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