more success than I am.”
The difference that sets MBYLL apart from other leagues in the area is their commitment to their core philosophy. For each program, teams are evenly balanced and constructed by grade and age, so the league ensures all players receive equal training despite level of athleticism. The league states, “The MBYLL philosophy enables players to learn in a supportive environment free from undue pressure in which an honest, educational mistake may ‘cost’ the team a game or championship. This approach also empowers coaches to focus on developing and supporting all the players and not on worrying about winning youth championships.”
Because of this philosophy, the league is dedicated to educating players about the game without putting pressure on competitions. While the league holds games and keeps score, the emphasis is on becoming a better athlete while having fun with peers.
MBYLL President Tom Spangenberg said that young athletes need to be in a supportive community. “The core program that we are offering is town based; everyone plays together on balanced teams to the best of their ability. There are no ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, there are no stacked teams.”
The “A” and “B” format that Spangenberg refers to is another philosophy of competing lacrosse leagues. The “A” and “B” means that there are separate teams for players with differing degrees of athletic ability. However, MBYLL finds this format more detrimental than the community-based Classic format.
“Look, we don’t do A/B teams because we don’t want to separate [the athletes.] We want the teams at even strengths,” said Moorshead. “And let me tell you something, that little boy down the road who's playing at a very high level is going to make all the kids around him better.”
Community Learning
It’s true: having a team that has players at varying athletic levels not only builds an education, but those who may be more advanced in their skills can develop a leadership role among the other athletes.
“It’s helping those experienced players bring up and improve some of the other players in their town,” said Spangenberg. “Here’s an opportunity for your player that has been playing for a number of years to really develop
some leadership and mentoring skills for his classmates.”
But for the league at-large, building skills is the most important aspect of team-life. “We’re talking about youth lacrosse. You don't know when they’re going to develop. They could develop in 10th grade, in high school. So you don’t want to turn a kid away from the sport,” said Spangenberg.
Anil Chitkara, the Wayland Youth Lacrosse program director and Boys U13 Orange coach, has seen the benefits within his team as well as problems with the “A”
The Success of Community
How the MBYLL Philosophy Propels Athletes to Succeed
By Emily Kochanek
“I can’t tell you how many kids might not have gone to college,” said John Moorshead, Director of the West Central region of Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League (MBYLL). “Those seven kids that went to college, five of them, without lacrosse, would not have gone. But they're there and they're doing it because they get to play.” Moorshead’s story isn’t unique. Many coaches within MBYLL have had the same experience with their young athletes. While not all boys in the youth programs will be all-star players, the reputation of successful players before them gives hope to current ones as well as inspiration to grow and succeed. “I’m putting kids into college the way MBYLL says we should do it and the way I believe in," said Moorshead. "There are other programs doing it their way, but I don't think they're having any
16 The Scoop / Winter '15
"When the community aspect of lacrosse is not present for a young athlete, it may cause problems later on in his athletic career."