Does Equipment Matter?

Recently while doing a Junior “A” Delta Islanders Lacrosse broadcast I watched the “tykes” playing between periods and noticed several different (unique) features for the program for this level of play.

Yes – the players are younger and much smaller, but they are playing within a style of play that they are simply enjoying, which makes it much more fun.

The Coaches instill the knowledge of learning, teaching while having fun, which seems to be much more enjoyable for the players of this age and level of the game.

The sport is a mix of both boy’s and girl’s with equal playing time or as close as they can get to this format, which evens the fun for everyone.

The cost is the same for both boy’s and  girl’s and as long as the Parents don’t put too much pressure on the kids at this age, they go away with the understanding that it doesn’t always have to be about winning- Nice Concept!

The other part of the game is the size of the net’s for the players, which is what created the “fire-storm” with some fans of the game of other sports.

Recently while getting a normal “trim” at Nordel Barbers I chatted with Father and Son (Carmen and Anthony) about this and other topics and the outcome was it makes more sense for the smaller or learning players to have such things as a smaller net?

If you notice the size of the two net’s in the photo, then look at the size of the player, it might make sense, but not to everyone.

Some question the fact when Hockey Associations want to have the young or learning players play cross-ice verse end to end.

Cost vs playing time is one thing that many parents in today’s world don’t or won’t understand and for them, it’s sad cause they are missing out on the best part of the game.

It goes without saying that cost in today’s world matters, but not for Parents who want their Son or Daughter to be the next Olympic Champion, or a level they never reached.

So now the Parents live their life through the eyes of the child or so they hope?

Recently I spoke to a person who has their Daughter in Cheerleading at various levels of competition and I am told the pressure put on in this sport (at times) outweighs pressure in other contact sports.

One sport that seems to have it right is lacrosse where the kids are taught using equipment that equals their size, which is nothing new.

In the 60ties growing up in Ontario as a minor hockey player we had a puck that was smaller than the normal size puck used by other levels of the game.

Why – to teach us using equipment that we could relate to, but somewhere along the line this got tossed aside.

Knowing this and understanding this are two different styles, which some won’t understand or relate to, which takes the fun out of the game for the young players.

Teaching the kids to play fair and for the Coach to understand this as well, means not playing favourite to one or two specific players!

Far too much pressure is placed on the “Kids” to win and if you don’t believe this check out the video on YouTube for “Coach Gone Wild” it’s better than any Jerry Springer Show.

Regardless of the sport, it’s about having fun and teaching the future generations what it takes to be a success.

Today’s youth want to or try to emulate the pro’s and simply put, some kids act much better than any pro, regardless of the sport.

The language, the gestures, the actions of the one’s that kids look up to, is something that all Pro sports should re-evaluate and ask if my Son or Daughter saw me act like this – what would they think.

Maybe it’s in the upbringing by the Parents of the Family values that are at stake when it comes to learning?

Not everyone win’s – But Delta Lacrosse has it RIGHT!