Playoff Season

Playoff season is upon us, and the Mammoth are in. This has been a frustrating season of lacrosse for yours truly, as evidenced by my writer’s block. Not only has the NLL season been one of more losses than wins, my high school team (Cherry Creek) has not yet played to its potential. – since originally writing this we have…once. In recent years losing has not been part of my routine; the Mammoth and Outlaws have enjoyed prosperity on and off the floor/field respectively – and this is my first year back in the high school coaching scene after a two-year stint at the youth level, where winning is less important than development.

Like the yin needs the yang, I suppose losing helps you really appreciate the satisfaction of winning, but while in its grips, losing can be a taxing endeavor. The emotional toll that it takes on a player can lead to the most destructive thoughts for any athlete – fear and doubt. When fear and doubt are allowed to creep into the collective consciousness of a locker room, the results can be devastating. I can recall my first few years of professional lacrosse. I was on the Bridgeport Barrage, and the MLL was in its infancy. We had by any standards a very talented team, but after two seasons of almost winless lacrosse, I began to feel drained. When a team begins to doubt its ability to pull out the close ones, it becomes nearly impossible to get over the self-imposed hump.

My advice for the player/team that is struggling would be to think less and work harder. As an offensive player I have found that slumps do not get better as a result of thinking. The answer usually lies in getting to work. Put your nose over the ball and grind…the rest will take care of itself.

Product review: The latest head that Harrow has introduced is the Crossbow. It is a solid product. What I really like about this head is the simple design. There is no extraneous plastic added for show. The head has a sleek design, and a classic shape. The offset head allows a deep pocket within the rules of the game. The Crossbow is by far the best Harrow head on the market. Check it out!

http://www.harrowsports.com/Zing.asp?Item=23523&Group=999&Type=45&Cat=30&StoreID=