The Last Lacrosse Day

Today is one of those days that was bittersweet, as a coach, as a mother. Today was Stesha's last high school lacrosse game. It's hard to believe that it's been four years of lacrosse already. She played great. As a coach, I was so pleased with her ability to stay calm amongst the (seemingly 12) Hood River players that were actively trying to score. It was a brutal game...one end to the other. As a parent I was pleased at her poise and tenacity. She is a fine player that gives her all to her team...even when they don't give back.

We played Hood River...that was what my last bog was about. How ironic! Today we tied Hood River 7-7. They scored their 7th goal in the last second...literally.

I am proud of the girls. They have played well. It has been an honor to coach the team...

A red letter, big smiley day!

So, there has been abunch of garbage going on with lacrosse. Mostly, I just want to crawl into a space inside of myself...

Next week lacrosse is over. I am sad and happy at the same time.

So, the board had asked that tonight my assistant coach the team so they could see how she coaches a game. I was on the sidelines watching.

And here is how the bonus round went...During the JV2 team's game, the goalie saved 13 potential goals. Now that may not seem like anything, but this is a girl who just stood in front of the goal before tonight. We talked about positioning, we practiced what it would look like...she was AWESOME!

Yep, that's why I coach!

Lacrosse

Another night, another game vs Sherwood and yet...another LOSS! OMG...thank goodness we don't play them again!

Lacrosse

I know that sometimes I ramble about lacrosse sometimes, Tomorrow we play Sherwood for the third time (Yes, that would be the third time!) The last game we played, we lost by 1 point in the last 10 seconds. I really want to win tomorrow. I am frustrated that we can't seem to beat these guys. We are an equal team, if not better...Argh!

Today's brutal game

Can my girls just get a break? Holy cow!

Tonight's game was something else. The girls really came to play. Can you believe that we lost with only 10 seconds to go? It was frustrating!

The other team was a frenzy of fouls. It was crazy. Even the goalie got a yellow card. I guess that was because she tackled one of our players. It was crazy!

One thing after another, but I don't want to digress. They played great. True rock stars.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) we play this team again. We're going for the win on that one....

More lacrosse

Yes folks, we had a game tonight and (by the grace of God and whatever Karma was with us!) we won! The other team came and only had nine players. The coach and I talked and decided that we would also play with only nine.

So, here we are, with a load of subs, and them with only 9 players. You would think that we would dominate, right? Um...no! We are losing at half time (what is going on? Have I told them that we have a ton of subs? Why can't we pass and catch the ball?).

I swear we play to the level of the team. We should have been dominating and we couldn't get it together. We would shoot directly at the goalie, not at the open space...it was annoying!

So to make a long story short, with only 4 minutes to go in the game, we woke up and scored 5 goals...Yeah! (*smile*)

So, we are in second in our division and second in the while league. GO figure. Imagine what we could do if we actually played well. I shudder to think!

Happy one day, bummer the next!

Well, the high from winning yesterday against Grant with a score of 11-4 was met with a crushing loss against West Linn today with a score of 12-6.

We move forward...Next week, round two!

And Lacrosse Begins...

Well, tomorrow is our first game. We play Heritage High School. We actually played in the Jamboree this last saturday, but it was an ugly day overall. It really looked as if we have not practiced anything for the last few weeks. It was both frustrating and eye opening. Today we practiced dodging (getting away from a defender when you have the ball), fast feet, and ground balls. Tomorrow's game is a practice game, but Thursday is for real...

Let the games begin!

It's a smackdown!

Okay, lest you get confused, I am really not the WWE type of girl, but rather one who had a little smackdown today. I know that I have talked to you about lacrosse and the trials and tribulations of it. It's almost like the good, the bad, and the ugly. So here they are:

The Good: Practice is going well, many of the girls are committed to improving their skills, my assistant coach, Cassie, rocks! Overall, there is not a lot of girl drama and I don't feel like I am battling whatever boy is walking by the field. So, that's the good. Now for

The Bad: Okay, the bad is that some are still not cradling well, we are still not really ready to play on Saturday (and our first game on Tuesday!), I don't know where the goalie equipment is.


The Ugly: Some of the players have come feeling like they are entitled to be on the JV 1 team, others have been "trash talking" the skills training, some are constantly late or not showing up at all on a regular basis. Since this is true, some players have been placed on a conditional basis.

So today, I revealed the teams and who was on conditionally. I then told them that they should talk to me individually as to why they were on conditionally and what they could do to receive a permanent place on the team.

I felt a little vindicated because of the negative attitudes that some have been displaying!

Yes, folks, we had a bit of a smackdown today!

Ambidextrous

So, I grew up knowing that I was able to do things with both hands. When I was in college, I took a golf class and pretty much sucked. I spent about two-thirds of the class making very large divots in the hills of George Fox College, and muttering under my breath about how bad I was. The professor asked me whether I had ever did things left handed. I explained that I did do some things left handed and that my mother did as well. I was handed a left handed club and viola, I could hit the ball. Okay, don't get me wrong, I am no golfer, but at least I could HIT the ball! So that event occurred many years ago. Who knew that the big Ambidextrous word would come back to bite me in the butt?

This last week when at practice my assistant coach, Cassie, has been laughing at me because I can't cradle for crap. For thos of you who know nothing about lacrosse, for girls, cradling is how one keeps the ball in the net. The centrifugal force of cradling (a kind of rocking motion) keeps the ball in the net as you run down the field. Although the others on the field try to check the ball out of your net, cradling is essential to lacrosse.

So, anyway, on friday I was working with the girls on ground balls (scooping the ball off the ground with your net) and one of my players asked if I was left-handed. I said, "no, why?" She said, "You just did that ground ball left-handed." Things that make you go "Hmmm." In my brain, I am thinking, "Wait a minute. If I am taking the ground balls left handed, maybe I should try cradling left handed." Viola...I guess I can cradle now!

Who knew?

Lacrosse

Today they rocked it at practice! I am so excited! We have been practicing for just over a week and I can't believe how quickly some of the girls have improved. Our season starts in just over a few weeks and I really believe that we have a change to do well this season. I am already starting to formulate the team in my mind. Cassie, my assistant, is also pretty impressed. They listen, they do what is asked, it is amazing! :)

Today I saw the fire. Some of the girls came to make the team. I am hoping that the girls that played last year will find the fire within them to want to make the team! Some of them are taking it for granted. I want to see the fire in all of them!

I guess time will tell!