I'm a Lacrosse Mom?

The flyer came home in January in the boys' folders.  Lacrosse.  I knew nothing about lacrosse.  Paul knew nothing about lacrosse.  The boys knew nothing about lacrosse.  But Reid said he wanted to play.  So began the process of finding a bunch of second hand gear - there is padding for every part of the body.  Plus a helmet.  And cleats.  And a mouthguard and protective cup.  I asked a guy in Play it Again Sports how the game is played.  He said, "Basically you put on a bunch of padding and beat on each other."  I thought, "Hmmm.  Reid isn't going to like that".  We are very much a family that emphasizes personal space.  My boys don't wrestle.  They don't play rough. They have never seen a football game on television.  And if you've been reading my blog for a very long time, you might remember the big soccer flop we had several summers ago. 

Lacrosse kids are brutes!  Even when they are just supposed to be listening to the coach, they are constantly pounding on each other with their sticks and elbows and hips.  It's a different world, but they all seem to be having so much fun.  They don't want to quit playing - they beg for more, and they yell in enthusiasm over every game. Even though Reid is the smallest on the team, he endures these pokes and prods from older teammates without complaint.  The practices are long - two hours - and although Reid seems exhausted towards the end, he keeps going out there and trying.

Reid is not at the point of shoving back in all this hardcore playfulness.  But at his first practice he did manage to knock another kid's ball out when playing sharks and minnows.  The other kid laid down and cried.  Reid looked at me in horror.  I gave him a thumbs up, and he looked so surprised.  I'm sure he was expecting me to tell him to go tell the kid he was sorry and give him his ball back.  But this is lacrosse.  No apologies for stolen balls!

It's very different for me.  I never did team sports.  I rode horses.  I did cross country one year in high school, but that's still a solo sort of performance.  I have to say, though, lacrosse seems more interesting to watch than soccer or basketball.  And I know how to say "Great job" or "I'm so proud of you!"  In the long run I think that's all I really need to be a good lacrosse mom.  After all, it seems to be working when I'm dance mom for Cort (because I know nothing about dance either, although I am learning a bit as I go). 

 

 

In the end, all they really need is to know they have your support, right?

 

Readers, do you have any lacrosse tips for me?  I still don't know how a game is played.