Thursday, December 25, 2003

 LacrOSSED IN PARADISE

 I try to keep things in this journal somehow related to lacrosse.  The idea is to see life in here always through lacrosse colored glasses.  However, it is very difficult to sit here, a million miles from Hopkins or even Fort Collins, and not comment outside the lacrosse reality.  I am on a trip to remember.

 I am sitting in my sister's really nice rented house overlooking the Caribbean post card (green water, white sand, sun) that is Megan's Bay in St, Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.  I'm at a Naumburg family reunion and we are down to celebrate my mom's 80^TH birthday.  Meanwhile I am also thrilled to be pecking away here on Christmas day at the oversized keys on my brand new Macintosh Powerbook laptop that I recently got myself as a gift.

 I always take sticks to the beach so that counts as lacrosse.   Truth be known, sand has always been just about my favorite lacrosse playing surface anyway.  Also, we went out to dinner the other night and I ran into someone here in St. Thomas that I know (Jim Bell) because of lacrosse, a guy I played club ball with a zillion years ago with the Denver "Stickers".  It's amazing the way lax connects.

 I'M ON HOLIDAY BUT THERE ARE PLACES I CAN'T GO

I am on vacation. For me a Caribbean vacation might normally mean that I can casually mentally exercise a cornucopia of future coaching considerations. In the past I have brainstormed during the fab West Indian tropical rains, and searched on my island travels for new inspiration to bring home to team.  I am finding here and now that having a zero year old that likes me and an almost 4-year old who more than occasionally needs me has changed the coaching thinking equation. To reflect on coaching while parenting can create potentially a very dangerous situation, and I try not to do it without supervision.

 WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN

 As always, we will lose a few players that we had in the fall for one reason or another. It is always hard for me to see any kid go whatever the circumstances unless he is a "poison player", and we haven't had that bitter taste within our program in quite some time (knock wood).  At any rate, I have lately pondered only team preparation on a very basic level.  I am not concerned with the differences between box and field lacrosse.  I am interested in preparing individuals to do battle as a team as quickly as possible. 

 Ultimately I can't stop and worry for very long about who I may or may not have when the bell rings IN 4 WEEKS, and for how many more years I may or may not have them.  They come and they go and that is the only thing that I know for sure about this whole college coaching thing. I hate the go part.

Next Entry | Previous Entry


Flip Started Blogging Before it was Cool, Read Over 400 of His Entries Since January 2001
Jump to a Period:
2006: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov
2005: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2004: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2003: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2002: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2001: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Sept Oct Nov Dec