Many of the fondest childhood memories are of moments spent on the playing fields with friends and classmates. Whether it’s the first time a boy laces up his cleats or the hundredth time he puts on his lacrosse helmet, youth sports can be an extremely powerful tool in the growth of young athletes. While scoring a goal for the first time inspires feelings of pure joy and exultation, nothing is more valuable than a sport’s ability to ingrain character and values such as respect, teamwork, and determination.
There are many factors that comprise a youth sports experience, but one of the most essential ones are the coaches. They are responsible for a family’s child for multiple practices or games throughout the week. The time spent with them may not be lengthy, but their influence on the development of youth athletes is profound. Their job extends far beyond merely teaching the skills of the game and extends into the holistic entity that makes youth sports special.
Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League (MBYLL) is well aware of the coach’s role and understands that they are an integral part of kids fully enjoying the game of lacrosse. Within Mass Bay there are over 20,000 athletes and the number one priority is ensuring those players have a memorable and impactful lacrosse experience. One of the keys to this is the 2,500-plus coaches.
But these men and women are not your average coaches. They are certified in a number of comprehensive categories, all of which ensure that the on-and-off field experience for the players is as rewarding as Mass Bay strives for it to be.
Tom Spangenberg, President of MBYLL, cannot stress enough the importance of having the several thousand coaches certified: “We believe its the most important thing that we do,” he said. “The most telling indicator of a successful program is the level of coaching. If a town program has great coaches, they are going to have a great program. The most important factor is your ability to teach and relate to youth athletes.”
Mission and Philosophy
The certification process embodies all the elements the league believes in. Without it, the philosophical components of balanced teams, equal playing time,
and deemphasizing a team’s record would be moot. Instead, certified coaches create an environment where sportsmanship and character are fostered.
“The big thing with Mass Bay is we do not have the win-at-all-costs mentality and we really try to drive that home with our coaches,” said Greg Klim, Director of Coaching Education for MBYLL. “We are trying to make it fun for the coaches, fun for the players, and just teach the game the way it is supposed to be taught.”
Perhaps even more important to the MBYLL model than its philosophy is its mission of teaching, honoring, and growing the game. Certified coaches enable this idea to be transformed from something that is great in principle into something that is great in practice.
“Teaching the game is what coaching certification is all about,” Spangenberg said. “Having certified coaches gives people the foundation to fulfill the collective mission of teaching the game. We try to emphasize that it is about character development. The character piece is really key, we want to develop it. We want to get these players together so they can appreciate what it means to be on a team, be of high character, to honor the game, and be a team player.”
Kevin McDonald, MBYLL Vice President of Sport Development and Growth as well as a coaching education trainer, expressed the same sentiments regarding the relationship between the coaching education program and the philosophy of MBYLL.
“The philosophy and mission of MBYLL is inclusive in the sense that is focused on the positive development of the kids both in the sport of lacrosse, but also as young men,” he said.
Along the same lines, Tom Gagnon, another MBYLL coaching education trainer, expressed that Mass Bay’s dedication to coaching education is what allows the mission of teaching, honoring, and growing the game to become a reality.
“MBYLL is a place where youthful exercise, learning a great game, and wanting to win are all balanced by our certified coaches,” said Gagnon. “A lot of it is combining the ability to lead, motivate, and commit to their development.”
The certification process allows the lacrosse experience for thousands of players across the league to be so enjoyable. The game of lacrosse can be more than just mastering the attack position or picking up a ground ball. It can provide lifelong friendships and instill sportsmanship values that will guide them through life. The end goal is that through lacrosse, vibrant and positive communities can be created and positive experiences can be shared between coaches, families, and youth athletes.
The Process
To create a thriving and prospering lacrosse community, there must be a complete and accentuated coaching education process. The steps and requirements are multifarious, if not daunting. But it all ensures that a more positive experience occurs
Inside Coaching education:
The Training of role models By Jonathan Sigal
20 The Scoop / Winter '15
"There's nothing wrong with keeping score and wanting to win, but there's a way to win."