Personal experience: JV lax player discusses the harmony of hard work and friendship

by Zach Eisen
Photographer

The bell rings at 2:05 p.m. The school day is over, but I have a long time before my day truly ends. I hurry down to the locker room to change and gather my equipment, and then head down to the front field to warm up, stretch, and mentally prepare for three and a half hours of physical exertion.

Junior Zach Eisen partakes in a warmup drill at a recent lacrosse practice.

The boys’ Junior Varsity lacrosse team practices five or six days each week, and every day we are expected to play to the best of our abilities. At practice, we first complete our warm-ups, which include running laps, stretching, and doing drills to improve our stick skills. Next, we move on to drills including fast breaks, six-on-six half-field scrimmages, and the infamous “man/ball” drill, in which teammates compete head-to-head with each other for possession of a ground ball. Of course, there are also the dreaded 40-yard sprints, “suicides,” and full-field sprints, which we run on a daily basis to build up endurance and speed. 

Running is an integral part of the sport of lacrosse, and each team must be conditioned properly in order to contend in a league as competitive as the FCIAC. Sprinting as much as we do in practice is tiring, but everyone on the team knows that we do it for our own benefit.  Running hard helps us get in and stay in great shape, allowing us to outlast our competition. It is vital for each player to try their hardest in practice every day; by doing so, a player proves to the coaches that he deserves to receive playing time at our matches.

Our hard work in practice culminates on the field during games. The northeastern United States is home to a large number of the nation’s top lacrosse teams, many of which are located right here in Fairfield County. Perennial powerhouses such as Greenwich, Darien, and Ridgefield are tough teams to play against, but facing such talented teams only makes us better. Losses can be frustrating, but they motivate us to work harder.

Still, there is nothing like the feeling of victory; there is an air of complete satisfaction between players and coaches alike, knowing that all our hard work has paid off. 

The social aspect of playing on the boys’ Junior Varsity lacrosse team is a major part of the experience.  Spending nearly four hours every day with teammates allows us to get to know each other very well. Between the time spent in the locker room, waiting for practices to begin, and on bus rides to away games, we have lots of social time where we come together—an important part of any team sport.

Don’t get me wrong, it is not all fun and games. We often argue and try to blame one another for mistakes on the field. Overcoming this can be a challenge, but it is all part of playing on a team. In all honesty, as corny as it sounds, the relationships we develop and the good times we share all factor into why I love playing lacrosse, and I know that the same holds true for my teammates. Being a part of something bigger than myself gives me a certain satisfaction, and this unique experience is one that I will never forget.

—Photo by Ricky Villagomez