Lacrosse for LIFE: Benefits


	Benefits
	In 2002, our first season, our goal, agreed upon between coaches and players, was to complete our schedule of games in the NCJLA and to demonstrate to other teams that we belonged competing in the league with them. We as coaches made clear the necessity of the following to reach our goal: perfect attendance at practice, communication with coaches regarding attendance, focus and attention to coaches while at practice, respect for the team and teammates as well as other teams. Our players and coaches agreed that our goal was unreachable without these basic steps. Though we had players miss practice, by the end of the season, they became more consistent in their communication with their teammates and coaches regarding attendance and more attentive during practice. Our players realized that simply following these basic fundamentals enables them to focus on becoming better lacrosse players. Once the value of these fundamentals became self-evident, our players trusted the value of learning the fundamentals of the game. They then found that they improved even more rapidly and gained a high degree of confidence in their ability to play lacrosse. Our players realized that it took self-discipline to devote themselves to these fundamentals. Thus, they gained self-confidence through self-discipline. Additionally, lacrosse offers a unique opportunity to youth to rapidly experience marked individual and team progress. Unlike other sport-related activities, each child approaches the experience on the same level. Customary competition is reduced as each child starts from the ultimate beginning in terms of knowledge and experience in the sport. This furthers their sense of accomplishment and encourages continued commitment. Individual Benefits ¨ Learn a process for setting and achieving a goal ¨ Realize that self-discipline is key to that process of achieving goals ¨ Gain self-confidence through mastery of fundamentals ¨ Recognize that lacrosse fundamentals are analogous to building blocks of success in other endeavors ¨ Occupies players after school, at times when children are most vulnerable to at-risk activities Social Benefits ¨ Introduces players to new areas of San Francisco and to new people ¨ Increases players' exposure to professional, college-educated role models ¨ Teaches the value of desiring and achieving an internal goal, as pursuit of lacrosse in urban areas provides no external gratification from peer groups