Following a successful game day which saw the JV Tigers play a tight game against Creighton Prep before soundly defeating Bellevue, Coach Sundermann and I decided a truly fun practice was in order.  When the boys arrived, they started their usual routine.  To truly conceal what we planned, we acted like extreme hard asses the entire time.  Then, just as they got in push up position, we ordered them to stand up and relax.

Taking a cue from the Major League Lacrosse All Star Game halftime traditions, we held a multitude of fun shooting skills competition.  First up was a lively game of Braveheart with the final contestant facing off against Coach Sundermann.  Next came a heated and creative trick shot competition, with an awe-inspiring yet unexpected winner – a moment that literally elicited a “holy shit” from my mouth; I really wish that I had recorded it.  After a water break, we split the boys into two groups for speed shot competitions and games of Around the World.  Both groups played their round of each competition before we left practice.

Nobody knew going in that there would be prizes awarded.  When we got together a week later, I distributed some goodies fresh from the The Lacrosse All Stars Lacrosse Shop.

Feast your eyes on this bounty

For winning their respective group’s game of Around the World, Charles Love and Trip Bartlett each won a of Lacrosse All Stars GTG laces.

For winning their respective group’s speed shot competition, Jack Parker and Jacob Oberender each won a of Lacrosse All Stars GTG laces.

For winning the Braveheart competition, Ross Delsol won a pair of Lacrosse All Stars GTG laces.

And the big winner of the day was Charles Love for scoring a sick back-to-the-goal between-the-legs jump-shot during the trick shot competition.  Charles received a pair of black LAS socks.

While I was in the Lacrosse Shop, I decided to pick up a couple of pairs of Thailand socks and a new t-shirt.  I grabbed some LAS socks and a shirt for Coach Sundermann as a thank you for about a bajillion errands he’s run for me this season.

Valley at Millard West

Varsity

Final Score: Valley 10, Millard West 8

JV

2012 Valley Tigers JV

Final Score: Millard West 4, Valley 2

Valley vs Westside

Unfortunately, Westside opted to forfeit the game originally scheduled for Sunday, May 13.  While the forfeiture counts as a Valley win, I am not happy about reporting  it.  Worse, it appears that this is the Warriors’ second forfeiture this season; they also forfeited to Lincoln on April 25, just days after losing 20-2 to Valley.

Although there were many factors influencing this decision, losing out on a game is a bad state of affairs for everybody involved.

Playoffs

The 2012 Nebraska High School Lacrosse League playoffs begin on Thursday.

JV Tigers vs Blue Valley North (KS)

This is my first spring as a dad and I have learned that things pop up continuously.  Unfortunately some of these monumental life moments (as well as some rather mundane events) have interfered with lacrosse in ways that I could not have anticipated.  This caused me to miss a couple of weekends altogether.

Including the JV team's biggest win of the season

Complicating things, we are still having some issues with the new Valley Lacrosse website, but I hope to have them resolved soon.  In the meantime, scores and stats can be found on the Nebraska High School Lacrosse League website.

Because of the backlog caused by the website issues and due to the fact that I have not been in attendance at many of the following games, this post will only recap the results.

Saturday, April 21

Valley vs Olathe (KS) at Creighton Prep

Varsity

Valley 10, Olathe 8

JV

The JV teams did not meet.

Valley vs Blue Valley North (KS) at Creighton Prep

Varsity

Valley 13, Blue Valley North 3

Taht may or may not be a slash to Felderman's knee

Blue Valley North 10, Valley 4

Sunday, April 22

Westside at Valley

Varsity

Valley 20, Westside 2

JV

Westside withdrew from the JV game.

Saturday, April 28

Creighton Prep at Valley

Varsity

Valley 12, Creighton Prep 5

JV

Delsol unloads

Creighton Prep 3, Valley 2

Bellevue at Valley

Varsity

Valley 14, Bellevue 4

JV

JV Captain Bartlett would like to report a mugging...

Valley 7, Bellevue 3

Saturday, May 5

Lincoln at Valley

Varsity

Lincoln 13, Valley 5

JV

Lincoln is not fielding a JV team this year.

Sunday, May 6

Valley at Millard North

Varsity

Valley 15, Millard North 7

JV

Millard North 6, Valley 5

Valley  at Bellevue

Varsity

Valley 13, Bellevue 6

JV

The JV teams did not meet.

The Tigers will wrap up the regular season this weekend.  Millard West hosts the Varsity at 11:00 am on Saturday with a JV game to follow.  Although originally scheduled for a West Des Moines visit on Sunday, that has been scrapped by the Warriors.  The game has tentatively been moved to follow the JV game at Millard West on Saturday.

Notes:

Valley’s Photobucket page is overflowing with some great shots from varsity and JV games.

Without further ado, here is the copy from the official 2012 Youth Lacrosse Program flier, sponsored by the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association and the Walnut Creek YMCA:

We’ll help your child have fun and learn America’s oldest sport in our new lacrosse league.  We will focus on teaching your child the skills and fundamentals of the game, as well as bringing team work and character building through friendly competition.  Your son or daughter will get equal playing time and opportunities in 8 weeks of practices and games.

Age Divisions
4th-6th grade                        7th-8th grade
Boys and Girls Welcome!

When
June 4th-August 2nd with a break the week of the 4th of July. (Practices on Mondays between 5:30 and 7:30, Games on Thursdays between 5:30 and 7:30)

Where
Practices and Games will be held at Jordan Creek Elem. soccer fields

Fees
Member – $65 per child
Non Member- $85per child

Jersey
$15 if you don’t have 2011-’12 version from other YMCA youth sports

Stick
$30 if you don’t have one of your own.  You will need a stick to play.

Additional Info:
Our teams will be coached by the Valley High School Lacrosse staff, Varsity players and parent volunteers.  All equipment besides the stick will be on hand for use, but if you already own lacrosse gear or hockey gear you may use that instead.

Contact
Derek Hannah, Youth Sports Director
derek.hannah@dmymca.org
-or-
Walnut Creek YMCA Service Center, 515-224-1888
948 73rd Street
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
www.dmymca.org/walnutcreek

I am in no way a perfect coach; I am conscious of my slips, which often include a sailor’s vocabulary at high school practices.  Although I understand where “vulgar language” comes from and do not find it particularly offense, I know that others are unfamiliar with its origin and are offended by its use.  Despite it being the dialect de jour of most high schoolers, I know that I need to stop peppering my speech with f-bombs.  Excitement and frustration certainly impede my restraint.  Thankfully, I am able to maintain composure and check my tongue during games.  Unfortunately this is not true for everyone…

This weekend I experienced something that I had hoped I would never see on a sideline.*  With his team behind, a coach ripped relentlessly into the officials.  He did this not during a quarter break, but while the game was in motion.  His tirades involved enough vulgarity to make me blush.  Before long, his assaults became personal toward one official in particular.  Rather than focus on what needed to be done to keep his team in the game, the coach focused his energy on degrading the official.

Parents soon followed his example.  Not long after, players on the bench were also yelling and cursing at the official.  It goes without saying that having an entire team – and its contingent of parents and fans – gang up on an official during a game is a bad thing.  It is bad enough after the final whistle, but the endless onslaught during the game in unconscionable.

The referee, to his credit, maintained as much composure and focus as possible; he did his best to ignore the personal attacks.  He threw a couple of flags for bench conduct, but few would argue that they were not warranted.  Somewhere in this chaos, the offending coach yelled a remark about the referee not being impartial and allowing his emotions to dictate his calls.

As the game wore on, the coach continued his tirade.  Both officials continued to call the game fairly evenly.  No additional bench flags were thrown.

Late in the fourth quarter, the offending coach’s team was deep in the hole.  As the opposing team’s offense executed from the 1-4-1, a d-pole made a blind side helmet-to-helmet hit on the offensive middie with possession.  This was the type of hit last year’s head contact emphasis addresses specifically; this is the type of hit that has no place in any sport, especially lacrosse.  From any angle, the d-pole led with his head and targeted the midfielder’s head.  In other words, it was as illegal as they come.  At the same time, another d-pole had squared up to make a big (legal) body check.  The blind side helmet contact came first and the clean body check sent the midfielder to the turf, where he lay motionless.

Immediately following the the illegal helmet contact, just as the second hit came, the offending coach cheered like he just won the national championship in overtime.  Taking his cue, the players on the bench and his attackmen whooped and screamed.  Their parents and fans did as well.

Meanwhile, the opposing team’s midfielder lay on the field and his coaches rushed onto the field.  His teammates immediately took a knee.  His team’s parents and fans went silent.  The d-poles that initiated contact were the first on the offending coach’s team to do the same.

After the game, the coach apologized to the opposing coach for cheering on that hit.  But, to my knowledge, he never apologized to the player that was illegally creamed.  He committed an inexcusable offense – sure he was clearly frustrated and caught in the moment – when he hollered in praise of an illegal and highly dangerous (for both players) hit.  Worse, his cheer informed his players that he approves illegal headhunting on the same level that he approves goals being scored.

He never apologized to the referees for his treatment of them.  As a coach, I understand the tension that comes in a losing effort.  The officials are the easiest target during the game.  Regardless of what is said or how well the referee called the game, thanking the officials for their work is something every coach should do.  Officiating is one of the most thankless jobs on the lacrosse field and officials are in limited supply – especially in newer areas.**  Apologizing for extra harsh criticism never hurts.  Besides, as a coach you can report the official to the league after the game.

When we step onto the sideline, we are the primary role models for the players on the field.  Everything we do and say conveys a message to our players.  Acting like a jackass teaches them that it is perfectly fine to act like a jackass.  Treating the referees like dirt gives them a license to treat the referees like dirt.  Cheering like a madman when they hurt an opposing player encourages them to continue hurting opposing players.  On the other hand, if coaches act like professionals, their players will respond in kind.  If the coach is calm and cool, his players will be calm and cool.

Lacrosse is a lot like life.  People like to be treated with respect. People respond more positively when they are respected.  Games – and life – go much more smoothly when people are decent and collected.  On the sideline, it all starts with the coach.

*I was not involved in this game, but witnessed it as a spectator.  The names of the teams, coaches, and players are irrelevant.

**According to Nebraska’s head official, the state lost six and gained two in the last 12 months.  Iowa has one certified referee.

Ted Glesener & Adam Higginbotham, True Game Growers

Yesterday I posted a brief recapof the event.  Later in the day, I learned that Higginbotham and Glesener collected roughly 450 pieces of equipment.  I am still amazed that the community stepped up in such a big way to donate thousands of dollars of equipment to two programs halfway across the country.

Boxes of donated equipment loom behind Glesener & Higginbotham

I am sure that I speak for Denver City Lax as well as the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association when I say that I appreciate this drive more than words can truly express.  The generosity displayed here is just unreal.  I hope that we are able to do the same thing for another new program someday.

*Spoiler Alert*

It was a strong weekend for the varsity.  The Tigers faced competition from the Kansas League at Creighton Prep.  The morning game saw a 10-8 win over Olathe.  In the afternoon, Valley defeated Blue Valley North13-3.  The JV lost to BVN 10-4.  Yesterday’s home game saw a massive 20-2 win over league opponent Westside.  The Tigers are now 6-1 in league play and 8-1 overall.

**End Spoilers**

Creighton Prep and Bellevue will come to West Des Moines on Saturday.  The first varsity game will begin at 10:00 am.

I spent most of Friday building a new website for the Tigers.  Our current server is going offline at the end of the month, so I am pushing hard to get new sites up and running for both Valley and the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association.  Valley’s new website is functionally ready, but only the information for the current season is posted due to the small window available.  The remaining statistics and information will be updated over the next several months.  I originally intended the new website to go live today, but the unexpected circumstances that prevented me from attending yesterday’s games also prevented that.  Because coaches’ email will be affected, the change will occur next weekend.

Unfortunately, the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association’s transition has yet to start.  Valley is the priority since they are currently active.  However, a rudimentary, bare bones version of the new CILA site should be live next week.

Speaking of the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association, early communication from West Genesee’s equipment drive indicates that the event was a success beyond belief.  When Higginbotham and Glesener began their project to collect lacrosse equipment for the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association and Denver City lax, we all hoped that there would be plenty to go around.  From the sound of it, the lacrosse community stepped up in a big way and even players from competing teams donated lacrosse gear thanks to a local article about the event. Once again, the lacrosse community simply amazes me.  Words cannot begin to describe how thankful I am to these outstanding gentlemen and everybody that donated gear and/or time to this event.

Ted Glesener & Adam Higginbotham, True Game Growers

With final preparations for the 2012 youth program currently underway, the gear will definitely be put to good use.  Because lacrosse is still so foreign here, lacrosse equipment packages are a hard expense for parents to justify; the down economy makes it even harder.  Thanks to the hard work by the West Genesee players and other volunteers, we will be able to get even more boys geared up.

2011 League Champion Gargoyles

I have received a couple of inquiries about summer lacrosse for adults this year.  The short answer is that there will be summer lacrosse.  However, the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association will not be running a full blown league this year.  Although the increased emphasis on youth lacrosse and the time involved is a primary factor, there are other items that led us to this decision.  The biggest factors relate to league attendance, officiating, and growth of the game.

We will have pick up games this summer.  The schedule is still under discussion.

In the next couple of years, Zach conducted free annual youth clinics through the YMCA and West Des Moines school district as part of our agreement with both entities in exchange for their support of the high school team.  I intermittently held a few free clinics around the metro for players of all ages.  We even sent a crew to a major Boy Scouts event.

Last year, we finally established a bank account for the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association and started fund raising for the benefit of boys lacrosse in the metro.  Thanks to several donations, we were able to meet Valley’s needs with enough money left to allow us to finally start a  youth program.  As luck would have it, Adidas decided to pull the plug on their contract with the Henson Group.  The subsequent liquidation sale allowed me to pick up 15 sets of lacrosse equipment and even more sticks at ridiculously low prices.  A few local players, mostly associated with Valley, donated old lacrosse helmets.

Since a handful of boys already had their own lacrosse equipment, CILA launched our first youth program with roughly 20 boys in seventh and eighth grade and another 20 in fifth and sixth grade; both groups were divided into three squads.  Each group rotated between drill stations and games over a two hour period once a week last summer.  The younger boys played non-contact chumash while the older boys played a modified hybrid of field and box lacrosse (with no goalie).  It successfully introduced the sport to several boys, but everybody involved wanted more.

Before summer was out, Zach and I started working on plans to increase the scope of the boys program.  Interest exceeded our available resources in 2011 so we knew to expect even more boys this year.  This meant that we needed to obtain even more lacrosse equipment, so we applied for the US Lacrosse Equipment grant.  Zach had previously applied for the grant, meant for players in new and developing areas, in 2008 when the Valley program evolved from an intramural event into the team we know and love today.  The grant was denied.  Using the demographic information for my neighborhood (CILA’s headquarters) in the city of Des Moines rather than the suburb of West Des Moines, we had high hopes that the 2011 application would be approved.  Once again, the US Lacrosse grant rejected Central Iowa.

The second denial left us devastated.  Realizing that the odds of another liquidation were slim to none, we started examining our options.  Fund raising is unreliable, but we would follow the same course as last year with the hope of obtaining enough money for a few more sets of gear and a couple of lacrosse helmets.  We could keep the numbers low once again, but that would be detrimental to the sport’s growth in central Iowa.  Players could be required to provide their own lacrosse equipment, but it is hard to justify throwing down that much money in a down economy for a sport that most parents have never heard of, let alone played.

Just as we began losing hope, an angel appeared.  Tracy Higginbotham contacted me about an endeavor her son, Adam, and teammate Ted Glesener were undertaking.  Members of the West Genesee lacrosse team decided to take an active role in spreading the game of lacrosse.  They scoured the internet for programs in new and developing areas and reached out to us.

As we know, most laxers accumulate gear over the years and it sits unused.  The West Genesee players decided that this made little sense.  Their plan, Higginbotham explained, was to hold a lacrosse equipment drive for current players and alumni.  The equipment drive is this Sunday.

Ted Glesener & Adam Higginbotham, True Game Growers

Denver City Lax in Colorado joins the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association as proud recipients of this team’s remarkable generosity.  We are thankful that Adam, Ted, and their West Genesee teammates love the game enough to take this initiative.  These gentlemen truly embody the spirit of the game.  They are true growers of the game.

From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of boys in central Iowa, I want to thank Adam, Ted and the entire West Genesee lacrosse community for this gift.  We will put this gear to great use and a whole generation of first time laxers will be able to learn to love the sport as much as we do.

Official Press Release:

Two West Genesee Lacrosse Players Create Original Equipment Donation Project
to Benefit Two Western Lacrosse Teams

 

Syracuse, New York:  Two West Genesee Varsity Lacrosse players have created an original community service project to help spread their love for the game out west.

On Sunday, April 22, 2012 from 1 – 3 p.m. in the West Genesee High School lower gymnasium, West Genesee Varsity lacrosse players Adam Higginbotham and Ted Glesener are conducting a special original community service project. The “West Genesee Lax Goes West: A Lacrosse Equipment Donation Event” will benefit the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association and Denver City Lax.  Both teams are in need of used equipment to outfit boys in their communities who want to play the sport but don’t have the funds to purchase the equipment.

“We know there is a lot of used and good condition equipment in the homes of current and past West Genesee lacrosse players so we hope current 7^th – 12^th grade male lacrosse players, former West Genesee players and their families will donate any used lacrosse equipment in their garages or houses,” states Adam Higginbotham, a junior at West Genesee High School.

After conducting online research of regions in the United States with limited lacrosse presence, Higginbotham and Glesener discovered Central Iowa Lacrosse Association who has been introducing lacrosse slowly since 2008. “The interest in the sport is growing, but equipment is simply not available. The generous gift from West Genesee will allow us to expand our youth lacrosse program and offer additional opportunities for more boys in the Des Moines area.” stated Adam Edgington of Central Iowa Lacrosse Association.
The second organization benefiting from the project is a more established program in Denver, Colorado called Denver City Lax. Rod Allison of Denver City lax is excited about the project, “We actually follow West Genesee out in Colorado because of their lacrosse history and tradition. Equipment donations make it possible to bring lacrosse to under-served neighborhoods in Denver. We will have almost 200 kids on the fields this year who need equipment to play the sport.”

Ted Glesener, a junior at West Genesee High School and co-creator of the project said, “We are asking current and past players to contribute gently used/good condition equipment including sticks, heads, helmets, shoulder pads, elbow pads and gloves for these two teams.”

The donated equipment will be shipped and paid for by the John Pepper Memorial Athletic Fund, Inc.

To give back to anyone who donates equipment, Higginbotham and Glesener are hoping to have some current and past college players tied to Central New York lacrosse at the event from 2:30 p.m. to give current players lacrosse tips. The tips will be followed by a raffle drawing of a handful of great lacrosse items.   “We know how appreciative the two teams will be of the equipment donation so we want to give something back to the community who supports  this event and our interest in spreading the game of lacrosse out west,” states Higginbotham and Glesener.

For more information or questions on the program, contact Tracy Higginbotham at 315-708-4288 and Loretta Glesener at 925-200-2946.

Valley at Creighton Prep

Varsity

Since moving to varsity in 2010, the Tigers have never beaten the Jays.  With the Lincoln loss already under their belt, a win at Prep would send a strong statement about Valley’s intentions this season.  Unfortunately, the Tigers have never defeated the Jays in varsity play.

Starting LSM McDougal planned to miss the game due to a hockey conflict, so the squad prepared to handle prep without his assistance.  An early round elimination made McDougal available for Sunday’s game, but the coaches withheld this information from the team until the pole arrived at the field.  His presence provided an extra spark for an already motivated team.

Oberender’s calm presence in the cage bolstered the defense, most of whom are newcomers this season.  With the departure of big man Stoll due to graduation, Prep lacked a big physical presence on the crease which removed yet another mental hurdle for the Tigers’ defense.  Marking was tight and the poles did an outstanding job of keeping the box clean.

Up front, Crites was as solid as ever but his points came under the assist column.  the bulk of the goals came from the midfield via Ben Arends (3), Griess (2), and Long (2).  Levis scored the lone attack goal.  Sam Arends also grabbed an assist, bringing the helpers to 50% of the goals scored.  Ball movement replaced the individual play that hindered the team in previous meetings.  All in all, this was what the coaches were hoping to see from the Tigers this season.

Final Score: Valley 8, Creighton Prep 5

JV*

Prep is a great model for the league.  The Jays always field a JV team without the use of varsity players, making it a complete squad in itself.  Valley employs a half dozen or so varsity swing players in its JV games to help continue their development and provide additional playing time.  Goalie Voggesser spends practice exclusively with the varsity squad, which sometimes leads to a disconnect between him and the defense.

Despite the early communication issues, Voggesser and the defense managed to work together and limit the Jays to three goals.  Midfielder help on defense has improved drastically since the season opener and even since the Millard West game last week.  The transition also received a significant boost, thanks in large part to an emphasis on middie clears and Turner’s ability to snag ground balls and rocket up the field with his pole.

The offense could not put anything away, but play was stronger.  Players settled the ball and created movement both on and off the ball.  Over the course of the game, they began to recognize which player drew a shorty and worked the ball to him.  Everything went as planned, but the Tigers were ultimately stonewalled by outstanding play in the goal.

Final Score: Creighton Prep 3, Valley 0

Valley at Burke

Varsity

The Bulldogs came to West Des Moines last week, so the Tigers knew what to expect in this rematch.  Admittedly, I missed the entire first quarter because the game started before we arrived from Prep.  The rest of the game pretty much followed the same story line as last week.  Valley got up quickly and worked in the bench, who also scored with relative ease.  Burke got frustrated and drew quite a few penalties as the game wore down.

Despite the two big losses, I see a lot of potential on the Bulldogs’ roster.  The team is loaded with athletes and the new head coach has done a lot to bring them under control.  In years past, the penalties would start sooner in an effort to hinder the Tigers’ play.  Now they are expressions of frustration.  As the coach gains more experience, this team will improve in the future.

Final Score: Valley 18, Burke 1

JV*

Burke only had a handful of JV-only players.  The bulk of their roster carried over from the varsity squad and were looking for redemption for the varsity loss.  They had multiple advantages including size, experience, age, and being pumped from the varsity game.

Since the swing players recorded significant minutes in the varsity game (as well as both Prep games), only two had enough juice to stick around.  Brown took his usual spot on attack.  Scrimager grabbed a pole to allow our three defense men rest a bit; he had to leave at halftime.

Putting it bluntly, the first half was a disaster.  Valley could not get anything going and it was obvious that the JV squads had become reliant on the swing players for goals.

After a passionate speech made by yours truly (essentially “If you are here to play, PLAY”), the boys picked themselves up and won the second half.  Coleman netted a goal and Brown picked up a pair.  Delsol played the best lacrosse of his career; he kept his foot on the gas until the final whistle and even took the game’s final shot.

One of the Valley players, I don’t remember which, remarked after the game that had they played with that drive throughout, the Tigers would have one.  Yes indeed.

Final Score: Burke 6, Valley 3

Current Varsity Record: 5-1

Current JV Record: 1-3

Next weekend the Tigers have a full slate of games.  Creighton Prep serves as a neutral site host on Saturday as Valley’s varsity faces Olathe and Blue Valley North from the Kansas league.  The JV squad will be in action against their counterparts from BVW between the varsity games.

Westside travels to Southwoods Stadium on Sunday.  Both the varsity and JV squads are scheduled to meet with the varsity game starting at 1:00 pm.

Notes:

-At the time of this writing, there were no pictures available for these games.

-The standings on the league website are incorrect.  For some reason, they do not differentiate between varsity and JV games.  Lax Power currently has the correct standings.

*I am the head coach of the JV squad this season.

Vs Millard North

LSM McDougal

Griess with his trademark 3/4 shot

Oberender's first ever save

Backup/JV goalie Voggesser always keeps an eye on the field

At Lincoln

Great shot of our 2012 shooter letting its presence be known (Long)

Levis gets a little too physical...

Harrington on the draw with Long ready to pounce while I watch from the score table

From what I can tell, all photos are courtesy of Lisa Long, unless otherwise noted.