Thursday, January 29, 2004

ASSESSING SEVEN PRACTICES

These first two weeks of lacrosse have been great, almost novel in my CSU coaching experiences, and a far cry from last year. In 2003 we literally had no outdoor practices leading up to our first games. Our schedule has not been impeded by snow as yet, and I feel extremely good about the practices we have been having. I am comfortable with the way we are preparing right now to play "for real" later, or actually sooner, with our first game being only one week from today.

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER

For once I sense that we have somewhat picked up where we left off a few months back in early November. The second school semester often feels like we are starting completely over. It doesn’t this time. There is an air of familiarity in everything we do on the field right now, like they all know (or are quickly learning) what WE are trying to do as a team within given moments of action. Drills have often been crisp. I hope this evaluation is not illusion, and that I am not missing some big piece of the puzzle. Maybe I feel this way (at ease with where we are at this point) because there is so little "ragging" and or "whining" going on right now. Having no snow on the ground is extremely helpful, too.

I know it is easy for a group full of distinct individuals to have a collectively positive attitude before the season begins. That pre-season one-minded team optimism may or may not endure, and we all know what that depends on for the most part. Because of all the unpredictable individuality on any team it becomes harder rather than easier to prognosticate with assurance what the future will bring, but this family here teaches one another, learns from one another, and, maybe most importantly, encourages one another. This would seem to be a solid foundation on which to build our 2004.

We have a player who had never picked up a lacrosse stick before he was cut from the CSU football team this past fall. Luis was not going to be denied having a quality team athletic experience while in college, however. I think he ran from the football field straight to us. He worked hard in the fall to just have a clue as to what was going on in a lacrosse game, and he obviously spent the entire Christmas break with his stick and a ball. He exhibits no signs of fear of any kind. Everyone on the team, including me, is looking forward to watching him play during a crucial moment in a big game, and I don’t mean three years from now. This kid is driven like a tractor, and he is a decent athlete. Luis has already become a big part of the family.

YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT…..

I am busily trying to gradually increase the pace and intensity of every drill and every moment of practice time, and they (team) have been responding pretty well. I think this team has great potential. We have already had a few "electric" team moments in scrimmages and in drills as well.

Everyone is aware of what is about to happen. We are young (except me) and eager as we seek our identity as a team and what our unified purpose might be, and time is close to revealing at least some of the truth about both. In 2004 we will live in the shadow of a mountain made of extremely high expectations. Where would you rather be, baby?

IT'S A QUESTION OF THE YEAR

The question I am most asked nowadays by members of the "press" is something like, "Why haven’t you (CSU) repeated?" , referring to USLIA wins in ’99, ’01, and ’03, but none in even years. My answer always alludes to the inherent difficulties that come with being "Top Dog", things like arrogance, lack of hunger, etc. Every team you play is out to knock you off, and everyone wants their shot at you. Rivals root for each other to beat you when you are who we are. There is little or no opportunity for us to be the underdog now, and it will be hard (stupid?) for me to use that for motivational purposes this year. Perhaps I just need to get better at motivating overdogs. I am sold on the "Angry Man" routine I have been using during halftimes lately. Maybe I will try it out in the pre-game, too.

ONE DAY AT A TIME

No team is bullet proof. Regardless of popular opinion, we are certainly no exception. All I know is that the long-term goals never really change when it comes to this stuff. We want first to be a good enough team to get to St. Louis in May. Then, we want to get there as a high tournament seed. These are things that are never guaranteed, but we do have some control over them, beginning next week.

In truth I am only capable of really dealing mentally with that which is immediately in front of us. In this case it is practice tonight.

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