LACROSSE: HOW DOES OUR SPORT GROW THE “RIGHT” WAY?

The lacrosse community is excited about the rapid growth of the game. Venues range from casual conversations at youth games to the hype of the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four; comments on the Internet to a feature story in Sports Illustrated.

Lacrosse enthusiasts and casual observers alike contribute to a dialogue that encompasses a wide range of opinions and suggestions on how to celebrate the growth and popularity. I wonder how to do it without sacrificing the tradition. My experience during a tremendously rewarding thirty eight year association with lacrosse as a student athlete, coach, clinician, parent and official does not give me the magical answer but hopefully a balanced perspective.

“LET’S BE INCLUSIVE-NOT EXCLUSIVE”

For many years, lacrosse was criticized as a sport available only in select regions, wealthy communities and private/prep schools. As our geographic and socioeconomic barriers have slowly faded, we face new challenges in the form of youth, all star, select, travel, and elite teams. Why should we create “haves” and have nots” in our novice players (ages 7-12)? Let’s take the time to introduce the sport at a developmental level with quality instruction in a non competitive atmosphere that is an enjoyable athletic experience. Turn the scoreboard off, host a Lacrosse Community Day in place of the 8 year old world team game and let the “kids be kids”. Let’s take a real look at the growth numbers and include children we are losing because of too much pressure at an early age.

HAVE FUN-PLAY HARD-BE POSITIVE

These are the themes that I have shared with every team I have coached (youth, middle, high school, college and the MLL). We always perform better when we; like what we are doing – play to our potential regardless of natural abilities – treat our teammates, opponents, coaches and officials with respect. Do these three things and you’ve had a good day by any measure.

COACHES ARE EDUCATORS; LET THEM COACH

Jack Kaley (East Meadow HS) and Dick Garber (University of Massachusetts) are Hall of Fame coaches who had a tremendous influence on me. Every student athlete who played for these two men found a mentor for life. Beyond the championships and NCAA tournament appearances, they taught self discipline, hard work, loyalty, teamwork and sportsmanship. Their true measure of personal success, despite their hundreds of career victories, lies in the thousands of athletes who will always carry the lessons learned both on and off the field. Parents should recognize the importance of the coach/athlete relationship and encourage it because men like these can exist for every child.

As a middle school teacher and administrator for twenty eight years, I stress to new teachers, “Our role is to place children in situations where they can be successful”. Coaches work hard to give players the same opportunity. Let’s view coaches as advocates not adversaries.

SHOW ME THE MONEY – OR ELSE?

College coaches work in an academic environment that provides a natural progression from the high school experience. During the recruiting process, they have never been overheard saying, “I’d really like to have the club coach or player agent (who is often promoting all players regardless of ability on a fee basis) contact our office.” College coaches have long standing relationships based on mutual respect with their high school colleagues. In most cases, they began their career as a high school coach. They value the opinion of an educator who works day to day with the player and can give an accurate, honest appraisal.

EVERYTHING’S BETTER SO THE LEVEL OF PLAY IS BETTER

Bigger, stronger, faster athletes playing with newly designed equipment and advanced coaching techniques creates an improved game. Old timers can recall countless hours spent working on the pocket of a wooden stick after a rainy day to bring it back to playing condition. Today you can leave the store with a brand new stick and use it effectively on your way to the car. Catching and throwing remain the basic skills and now they are mastered more quickly. This creates greater interest and more players.

KEEP THE SEASONS SACRED AND BE LOYAL TO YOUR SCHOOL TEAM

During middle and high school, lacrosse should be a spring sport and a summer camp opportunity. Basic common sense tells us that fall and winter seasons are for fall and winter sports. “Double dipping” with multiple sports in the same season can lead to mental fatigue and physical injury. The age of specialization also prevents a child’s exposure to academic endeavors, clubs, performing arts and community groups. Honor your commitment to the school team; they demonstrated their loyalty by selecting you to participate. Don’t leave a school team practice early or miss it entirely by “overbooking” your schedule.

THE GAME IS THE GAME

We have seen many changes in rules, equipment, strategy and philosophy over the years. The “Air Gait” shot, teams riding with nine long sticks, the “no face-off” year, invert vs. the short stick middies, international competition and more to come. Excellence in lacrosse is still measured by the same standards; recognize and appreciate the box out on the loose ball, the second or “hockey” assist, a defensive stop vs. a transition offense opportunity as well as the fancy behind the back goal. Lacrosse is a great sport because it will always be lacrosse.

RULE CHANGES

When I started playing in 1968, the only bumper sticker you saw was "Lacrosse - fastest game on foot.” Sadly, that is no longer true. Today’s substitution pattern of running to the box has created a half field game. Midfielders should run full field and play both ways, offense and defense (North-South), not the sideline (East-West). I scout for UMass, UDelaware and UMaryland, and with the exception of the Syracuse-Virginia games, many of the games I see today are methodical and half field chess games with inverts and match-ups. I understand the fact that coaches want to win, but there are enough good players today – let them play! Only in a severe mismatch should a slowdown approach be considered. Let the kids play! The shot clock in the MLL does work. I believe the NCAA rules committee moves closer every year to going that way.

UMASS – THE 2006 TITLE RUN REALLY BEGAN IN 1954

In 1976, my first plane ride and our first NCAA tournament appearance took us to historic Homewood Field in Baltimore for a quarterfinal game vs. Johns Hopkins. Thirty years later, I stood with fellow UMass alumni who spanned six decades of lacrosse to watch the first team ever from New England play in the championship game. People would ask me, “Why are the UMass guys so loyal? What is the special bond that exists?” “Mental toughness” at Cornell, a “never quit” attitude vs. Hofstra, the “will to win” vs. Maryland and “a determined team effort” vs. Virginia did not mysteriously appear on those select days in May 2006. They were a learned behavior that began with a physical education instructor guiding a group of young men on an unlined dirt practice field on a Massachusetts state campus in 1954. Coach Cannella was sincere in his comments that the 2006 team represented the history of UMass lacrosse. Respecting the sport and honoring the tradition can lead to great success.

LACROSSE ALUMNI – ANSWER THE CALL – (AND BRING A FRIEND)

You have great memories and experience; pass the opportunity on to the next generation. Our sport is struggling to keep pace with the explosive growth. Lacrosse will always thrive because we share a passion for the sport and the relationships that we enjoy. Give back to the game – we need you!

*** EDITOR***

Rich Donovan played defense at East Meadow High School (Long Island Champs in '71, '72 and '73) and at the University of Massachusetts.

He says that in his senior year at East Meadow ('74) after they lost their first game at Massapequa--against a loaded team that featured future College All American's like Mike O'Neill of John Hopkins and Tom Marino and Craig Jaeger of Cornell--they went back to their home field and were made to line their cars up and run sprints under the glare of the lights.

Rich also says that the home field at UMass in the late 1970s (now known as Garber Field) was in the southwest residential area and home games were packed with students who skipped class to watch them play. There was no seating around the field and a party atmosphere was always in full swing on the hill overlooking it. Fans spilled down the hill and packed so close to the edge of the field that opposing coaches would often refuse to start the game until the crowd was pushed back.