The score is 14-2 during a early season High School Varsity girls lacrosse game. The winning team (let’s call them the Seagulls) gains possession of the ball and is approaching their offensive end. There is 15 minutes and 35 seconds left in the game. Out of respect for the opposing team (let’s call them the Dolphins), the Seagulls head coach instructs her team to pump the breaks by yelling, “Statue! Statue! Statue!” Statue is code for stall aka keep the ball away from the other team.
For the next 6 minutes, the Seagulls keep the ball away from their opponent. With less than 9 minutes on the clock, the Dolphins are still left without a possession. The Dolphins quickly transition from defending their goal to defending their pride. The clock continues to tick down: 8 minutes, 7 minutes, 6 minutes are now left in the game.
After the Seagulls flawlessly execute dozens of cuts and passes around the outside, the Dolphin’s best player (let’s call her Kelly) leaps in the air and picks off a pass. Kelly drives the length of the field, drawing a defender as she enters the 8-meter, and completes a pass to her wide open teammate. One on one with the goalie, her teammate puts the ball in the back of the net, making the game 14-3.
Now, put yourself in the cleats of the Dolphins. How would you react if you had to spend nearly 10 minutes defending a team in open space? Think about it. You’re down 10 goals to a team. They clearly have no intention of scoring any more. They just want the game to end. They want to exhaust time, shake hands, get on the bus, and go home.
Would you let that happen sooner by trying less, sulking more, and giving up.
or
Would you fight harder, talk more, and play faster?
Casual spectators of the Seagulls vs. the Dolphins see a great team, a blow-out, or an easy win. However, if you look carefully, this game can be an opportunity to see who refuses to quit, who can stay positive when their team is down, or who is playing the hardest with little to no time left on the clock.
When some of the best High School female lacrosse player’s go from playing club to playing for their schools, they soon experience very different teams, situations, and challenges. For Kelly, she is on a team that is still building a competitive and successful culture. She will be placed in situations that challenge her to fly away or fight back. In this situation, it’s obvious the choice she decided to make.
