Thinking about things differently

At our practice last Thursday a couple of the Revolution Lacrosse Club coaches took over practice for us and help a clinic for the U15 girls. It was a great opportunity for our players (and us!) to get a different perspective on the game and how to execute some basics than Coach Bolte and I tend to teach it. As everyone learns differently, having a new teacher describe the components of a pass as pushing with the top hand and then pulling with the bottom, could be extremely helpful for some players.

The REVs is a pretty hard-core club team--they demand a lot from their players and many of the girls excel (on the field and in school and in getting into the college of their choice!). [Full disclosure: My daughter and 2 other Belmont girls are on the REVs--but the team does clinics with any town... it's great marketing for them.] At our clinic they promoted a few of the standards that they expect from their players: Sticks do not rest on the ground when the coach is talking--hold them up and remain alert; teamwork and supporting your teammates is everything--and be loud about it; always keep your eye protection on and be ready to jump into the game when needed.

After some basic throwing and catching the REVs coaches split the girls into groups of 6 and did a team-building exercise with them that was fun to watch. After group huddled together, each girl had to hold 2 other girls hands - but not girls standing right next to them. They then had to untangle themselves into a big circle. It was fun watching the girls figure it out. Once each group had accomplished the task, they had to do it again with no talking. In a final round, just one girl could speak. While only one group got through all 3 assignments, I think that the teambuilding that was accomplished--and fun that was had, besides--had real value... even if they weren't actually working on lacrosse skills!

Untie the pretzel

Oooops, dropped a mouth guard! (But the team is there to help)

which way to turn?

almost untangled

The REVs coaches, Brooke and Cuddy, were terrific. They had an amazing way with the girls that was both focused and encouraging and somehow they engaged even our most distracted players without raising their voices as Candy and I find ourselves doing almost every practice! Skills to be admired!

I'll be writing more about club teams later in the season given my direct experiences with 3 of them and working with the coach of a forth.

One game down...

The game yesterday was great fun! Despite having many new girls and having to "volunteer" someone to play goal (which she very sweetly agreed to without any fuss), I think that for a first game of the season it was a terrific showing!  It was very rewarding to see the girls come together, pass well, work strategically and cohesively. There are things we need to work on, of course, but even in 4 short practices, everyone has learned a lot, and is putting that learning into action on the field. Way to go, girls!

This year MBGLL asked teams to select whether they consider themselves beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

In previous years there was no such self-ranking and each year we played several teams that were definitely in the "beginner" category. Each game, as the point spread grew I'd have the girls play just with their left or less dominant hand on top and have to make 5 passes before scoring. It's good practice, but no one feels good when you walk over another team. So I've been a big supporter of the league change. With the rankings this year, the games will be much more competitive. I just hope that the other towns we're playing also have new girls playing and that we're not the one's being wiped each Sunday afternoon!


By the way, the new MBGLL president, Ted Kelly, is also blogging on the MBGLL site at http://www.mbgll.org/ (scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the blog).

First Game Tomorrow

Despite the April Fool's snowstorm yesterday, tomorrow is our "opening day," with our first games of the season scheduled.

It feels like we're less prepared than in previous years - we had less time inside in the gym (just 2 weeks as opposed to 3 or 4 previously), and only 2 practices outside. Not only that, we have many more new players than anticipated (16!) and 22 returning players for our two U15 teams, so the girls still have a long way to go before becoming comfortable with their sticks and the game.


Because so many girls are new, we needed to scrimmage on Thursday so new players would get a general idea of the game. It was a miserable practice! We began by handing out uniforms in a cold drizzle (and oops, not enough large uniforms this year. Last year we had 2 U13 teams and one U15 team. This year, 2 U15 teams; all those younger players are growing up and growing bigger. So on Sunday, girls who didn't get there early will be wearing very tight small jerseys! --more are on order, ladies!). The rain started coming down harder as we worked on a few passing drills, but too many girls were standing around, freezing during those activities, so we decided to plunge into a scrimmage. Despite the rain turning to sleet, several of the new girls said that they at least now had a clue of what the game was all about!


On Sunday we play Arlington, the next town over. Belmont has a bit of a rivalry with Arlington - at least in the youth league (I'm not sure we play in the same high school sports league) - and this year one of the Arlington coaches is doing the scheduling for MBGLL, so he has us playing our first games against each other. (I admit, I wish we were playing them a bit later in the season, but that's the rivalry talking!)


Having so many new girls is a bit of a challenge, but we have learned the hard way to mix the girls on the field up a bit - if you start with all your strong players on the field, when it's time to sub, you're left with mostly beginners, and (unless one is playing a much weaker team) you don't want that!


The biggest challenge in tomorrow's game, however, will be who plays goalie. I have no volunteers or girls who want to play the position, which means I have to assign someone to the position and no one will be happy about that! I can't pick a new player, so it has to be one of my returning 11 players. Whoever is picked will not be pleased--though hopefully someone will take to the position and actually enjoy it. I do think that being in goal helps players see the game in a different way; she can see who's not marking her opponent or passing in front of the goal. But for tomorrow, one girl will be unhappy! The dilemmas of being a coach.