Momentum and Mud

Sunday we headed north once again to catch the Cannoneers take on Alfred State. After Saturday’s win my concern was that JCC would be affected by playing two games back to back. It was cold as usual, and I happened to notice that the trees that surround the field had some very big crows perched high up on leafless branches looking down on the field below. I had heard that Alfred would be expected to crush the Cannoneers, but I don’t think that mattered to the birds sitting high up in the trees. They were about to see JCC play with fire in their eyes. The team wanted to win, that was evident throughout the game. Unfortunately the Cannoneers spent too much of the game a man down. The second half of the game is where JCC came on guns a blazing to let Alfred State know that this would not be a blow out. Although JCC ended up losing 17–12, they put on a great show for the fans that braved the cold to cheer their team on. As we left the field I turned back to watch the crows fly off as if they had only stayed to watch the game. It was a good game, and on the ride home I wondered how the game would have gone if JCC had played even up. I think a lot of people were thinking about that after the game. Speed and control play huge in games where a split second can make or break a play. It takes focus and synchronicity between the players on the field or on the ice. Teamwork also means playing in sync with your teammates. Communication between players and understanding what to do and where to go can’t slip. That’s when your opponent can take advantage of a mistake. That’s why you practice your plays so much, and listen to your coaches. Even when you’re not at practice or playing you can work on different parts of your game. You’re never too good or too old to play wall ball. If confronted with hesitating or making a mistake, I would rather see a player make a mistake than hesitate. You’re going to make mistakes, it happens, but hesitating at the wrong moment is automatically a mistake. At least you have a chance of doing something positive, like scoring. Who would call that a mistake? Lacrosse and hockey are both games of speed. There are times when you slow things down, but if you play against a very fast team you’ll see what I mean.

WTD