The game of lacrosse has the potential to keep on growing. In many ways the game and coaching education program are just reaching the tip of the iceberg. The vibrant and evolving lacrosse programs across Massachusetts have the potential to act as beacons of the lacrosse community.
The more coaches that are taught the proper ways to teach, honor, and grow lacrosse, the better. It may be easy to get caught up in the intensity of the game, but MBYLL’s certification program ensures that coaches have a balanced and positive approach to molding the athletic ability and character of their players.
With the coaching certification process at the core, MBYLL’s coaches can continue to make the game exciting for the athletes and ensure they have a tremendous experience on the field. The education process may be extensive and time consuming, but it all ties back to the kids.
As Greg Klim points out, it is about the players at the end of the day and coaches becoming certified is a massive step towards ensuring every time a player sets foot on a MBYLL lacrosse field he leaves with a smile.
“The big thing is keeping the game fun,” he proudly said. “The coaches may not always like the extreme to which we do things, but after all it is for the kids and their enjoyment of the game of lacrosse. I know it is a tagline to teach and honor the game, but I can not stress enough how it is all about the kids at the end of the day. It is just such a great game. Teaching the coaches is so important because they will altogether form a more enjoyable process for everyone.”
-JS
Education
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Philosophy
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the few in the country that requires at least one coach on a Classic League team to be certified through the US Lacrosse-based Coaching Education Program.
To become certified, a coach must go through four hours of course training as well as three hours of online training. To remain a coach in MBYLL, he or she must be recertified every two years.
But Klim, who runs the clinics to certify coaches, also teaches the coaches about the MBYLL philosophy: “The biggest things that I'm trying to do as Coaching Education Director is to get these coaches to be the best coaches possible." With the clinics, even coaches who have been certified before learn something new, whether it be a new drill or idea.
Success and Memories
Moorshead as well as Watertown coaches Jim Helie and Tom Shortt have also had success in seeing their athletes play in college. Moorshead has seen seven of his athletes go on to play while Helie and Shortt have seen three go on from their first team in 2009.
But the greatest success these coaches and directors have seen in their programs has been the memories made by the athletes. “At reunions, we talk about the stupidity, not who won what; no one talks about the wins, nobody cares,” said Moorshead. “We remember the fun. That’s why we have classic. Everyone’s playing together. No separating, no alienating.”
“I think the reason we have been a successful league with a long history is because of our philosophy,” said Spangenberg. “The format has been challenged and will be challenged and we try to evolve as far as what’s going to work for our town members and coaches and families.” The hope of the league is that coaches, program directors, and even parents will learn about the organization’s philosophy and the benefits of that philosophy.
So far, the evolution of the league has been positive. Chitkara was reminded of a time that the philosophy directly affected two of his players in Wayland. After a successful day of scrimmages and games, Chitkara had third-grade twins Charlie and Graham come up to him with the idea “that they were going to make their birthday party a lacrosse party to get more of their friends excited about it.” And that’s the goal of MBYLL: to grow lacrosse throughout Massachusetts through community programs.
“Really, when we talk about growth, we want to grow every town and every community across Massachusetts, having more kids play this game that we are passionate about for their towns and in their towns,” said Spangenberg.
Growth doesn’t mean winning; it means playing the best game an athlete can at his ability while learning and creating friendships. While coaching, Moorshead sees this on the field: “You go to a game and everyone is hoping their team wins, but you know what? I don't have any sad faces if we lose. They don’t beat themselves up over it; they're having fun,” he said.
But of course, there are winners: the young athletes. “I think there are many stories out there in every town program,” said Spangenberg. “I believe you would get a story about a player who didn't really want to play and was encouraged by his friends to come out and play. And because the environment was focused on fun and learning the game, he stayed with it and turned into a great player. And even if he didn't, he learned how to play on a team. And that story, I think, is replicated in every town.”
-EK
27 The Scoop / Winter '15