Page 39 of (La)Crosse My Heart

I'm surprised by the sudden responsibility I now have, but I nod and get moving, knowing we've got to look like this was planned all along.

"Okay, when I call out your colors, I'll point to the coaches you'll start with this morning. You'll be with them until we switch."

It doesn't take long to get the kids all split up across the park.

We're about thirty minutes in and I'm working with the smallest group. With them all dressed in their tiny lacrosse gear and helmets that make their heads look giant, I can't help but grin. They look so cute.

"Okay, get a little lower to scoop the ball," I say to one of them and show what they're supposed to do. “Think of how you sit in a chair.”

“A big chair, or a little one?” one kid asks in a high-pitched voice.

It takes a few seconds for me to think that through, hoping I’m answering it so they can understand.

“One you don’t have to climb on. You can just walk over and sit on it.”

I walk around as they pass the ball back and forth, every once in a while getting an actual catch. They get so excited at this age, and I love it. It makes me think of how much I loved lacrosse at that age. How I still love it.

I glance up at the hill and see Jessa there, a whole wagon of stuff next to her. She's got the camera out and is taking pictures.

"What do we do next, Coach?"

Grinning, I say, "We're going to do another drill before we have a drink break. Does that work?"

"Yep," the boy says, nodding and running back to his spot.

Jessa has moved on to other groups. It’s cool she has the talent of taking pictures. It seems like her talents have quadrupled since I knew her in high school.

I leave my group with Finny and walk over to check on the wagon. She's got a lot more than was in my garage.

There are water guns and water balloons, along with several hula hoops and a bowling set. I'm not sure what we'd use those for, but I guess I just have to think in terms of lacrosse skills and come up with something on the fly.

The kids get a water break, and we leave them in the shade for a few minutes to beat the crazy heat wave we've got going through this area.

"Hey," I say to Jessa when I walk up to her. "How's it going?"

She turns to me, and I see she's got slight bags under her eyes. "It's going. How are things for you?"

"Good. It's going to be a long day."

"I'm sure it will feel great at the end."

"Thanks for getting that stuff."

She turns to look at the wagon and says, "No problem. Hopefully, it helps. I added a few things, trying to find anything that could work for lacrosse drills. I figured you could set up the bowling pins and have them try to throw a ball and get a strike? Then the hula hoops would be good for a Tic Tac Toe or something? I think I remember that as one of Brock's favorite drills when he was younger."

"I totally forgot about that one. Thank you."

She grins. “Of course. I’m glad I could help. Is that an outfit we bought?”

I glance down at the shorts and my Lancers T-shirt. “No. I figured I’d try to represent the team since we’re all here together.”

She nods and taps her forehead with her palm. “I’m even more of a zombie than I thought.”

I don’t get a chance to ask why she’s a zombie because the buzzer on my phone goes off.

It's time to get back at it. We rotate the groups before settling into the same drills. We can use the water guns and other things for after lunch.

We make it through to the lunch break and I see Jessa talking to one kid. She's got the camera trained on him, asking him a question. Even though I'm not a fan of the camera, I walk over, curious to hear what this little guy will say.

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