product, and tent design,” said Bernstein. Bernstein’s favorite part of the Jamboree is “getting to see all the people, especially the young players that stop by our tent and are so excited about the game of lacrosse.” That excitement was echoed by a young member of the Bedford U15 team named Chris who mentioned the sponsor tents as one of his favorite parts of the entire Jamboree experience. “The tents are one of my favorite parts of the Jamboree. I enjoy going in and checking out the new lacrosse gear and deals at ComLax each year.” While the preparation may be comprehensive for sponsors such as ComLax, the excitement linked to the MBYLL Jamboree is truly special.
Organization
Jim Olivier realizes that without the help of so many people in so many different capacities, the success of the Jamboree would be nowhere near where it is today. “Volunteers and workers are what make the event possible and is the foundation for its success,” he said. From assisting in the parking of cars, to helping with team check-in, to keeping the universal game clock, it’s truly a team effort to run a Jamboree of this size.
Spangenberg echoed the importance of the entire MBYLL staff and volunteers: “We want to deliver a drama-free event for all participants—and our adult volunteers and paid staff are responsible for making this a reality throughout both weekends.”
Meredith from Walpole, who has served as a volunteer for the Jamboree the past two years,
noted communication as a large part for the Jamboree’s success: “Overall I think the Jamboree is really organized. Communication from everyone involved is what helps things run smoothly, in all aspects of the process.”
When running a Jamboree, organization is imperative. Creating a game schedule and assigning referees to individual games plays a
crucial role in its success. Hiccups are inevitable when dealing with over 450 teams, but Olivier likes to focus on things he and his staff can control. “The things in our control, I think we do a pretty good job with," he said. "It is the things that are out of our control that create the biggest challenges; factors such as the weather. Also, we often have to think on our toes when teams have to drop from the Jamboree for various reasons and we sometimes have to alter the schedule in the best interest of all teams in attendance.”
As the volunteers serve a crucial role off the playing field, the referees play a pivotal role directly in the games. Unlike regular season MBYLL games, Jamboree games are condensed and played with "running time" (meaning the game-clock does not stop). With more condensed games, having a group of organized and experienced officials can be extremely beneficial in the overall quality of the Jamboree.
Rick Catalano has been a referee at the MBYLL Jamboree for twelve years and he has noticed a big improvement in the event. “The Jamboree as a whole has become a lot more organized. When we first started here, it was pretty crazy. As referees, we were not as organized and we were going all over the place.” Catalano also noted that improved technology has help with the organization of the tournament, specifically the
U15 Athletes from Northbridge Youth Lacrosse
relax in between games
Athletes from Sandwich Youth Lacrosse
pose for a team photo
10 The Scoop / Summer '15