It doesn’t just happen overnight. We began playing wall-ball in a small town in upstate NY, and ended up on the big stage in the NCAA National Championship. By no means did we get it perfect, but we have invaluable knowledge and experience to share with you, your kids, and your players.
Our teaching is simple: In order to be excellent sometimes you must strive to be excellent all of the time. “Live like a Champion.” This means, be dedicated to living out a principled life on the lacrosse field, in the classroom, among your peers, and within your families. Eat well and take care of your body – physically and mentally. Respect your parents and coaches because they want you to be great, sometimes more than you. Be committed to being committed and you will be able to write your own success story that will positively influence your peers, and bring a tremendous amount of joy and fulfillment to your life.
WHAT SEED DO YOU WANT TO PLANT?
The seed seems very insignificant by itself, but given time, nutrition, sunlight (the basic fundamentals of growth), the seed turns into a plant and produces a massive Harvest which can now be self-sustained. The same approach should be viewed when it comes to coaching and teaching players. If the wrong seed is planted, players develop bad habits and the wrong mentality, which is not good for your Harvest. On the other hand, if you are hard working and dedicated, then your future is bright, the Harvest is plentiful.
WHAT NUTRITION ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE IT?
Is the soil around it aiding the growth or destroying the seed or plant? We call this, “The Game of Life.” Who is on your team? Family, friends, coaches, and teachers. If you want the best team, you need to surround yourself with the best people.
Muhammad Ali said, “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, and a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”
HOW DO YOU DEVELOP A DESIRE, A DREAM, A VISION?
We believe that it comes from developing the student-athlete as a whole person. There are fundamentals to life and lacrosse, and both need to be developed to reach your full potential as a student, as an athlete, and as a person.
Being a student-athlete can help you excel as a student AND an athlete, if you are disciplined and have the right approach. When you are in the classroom you are 100% a student. When you are on the field you are 100% athlete. “Student-athlete” implies balance not compromise.
“Be excellent at living, not just excellent at doing…Live like a champion!”
