primary things we teach. A lot of town programs have coaches who bring an AED to the games and practices as well. Hopefully, we never have to use these skills but if we do all these, coaches are prepared.”
Meanwhile, the on-field portion goes into greater detail with the intricacies of lacrosse and how certain drills and schemes can be employed.
“The field stuff is more application and in some respect the coaches who have a little more experience appreciate this portion a little bit more,” explained Gagnon. “It is a way to show a variety of techniques and skills, while also working on terminology and the fundamentals of coaching. We can go through certain techniques and get a chance to get a little more discussion going on how you manage them as kids and players.”
The final aspect that is required of all MBYLL coaches is the completion of the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double-Goal online program. Demonstrating how winning should occur, this online seminar takes roughly two hours to complete.
The PCA aims to enhance a character-building youth sports experience, much like how MBYLL aims to create a beneficial lacrosse experience. Both organizations recognize that winning is important, but infusing the proper mentality and approach in coaches causes a trickle-down effect that altogether enriches what each kid gets out of a practice or game.
“We talk about this Double Goal certification program, and the idea of it is kids and parents both want to win,” said Spangenberg. “There is nothing wrong with keeping score and wanting to win, but there’s a way to win. That’s what we are trying to emphasize too; there’s nothing wrong with wanting to win or keep score, but we want to do it the right way. That is why when PCA talks about Double Goal—one goal is to win and the other is to teach life lessons.”
When all of the required aspects of the MBYLL coaching education regiment are completed, each coach receives a certification that last two years. With this, they become equipped with skills and knowledge that should impact kids not just during the season, but in life beyond lacrosse.
At the end of the two years, the coach need to be re-certified. This happens for a number of reasons, but mainly because lacrosse is an ever growing and evolving game. Rules change, different approaches develop, and coaches need to understand new trends and nuances within the game.
To accomplish this re-certification, coaches have a couple of options. They can either opt for a higher level US Lacrosse course or participate in a unique partnership that MBYLL has with Trilogy Lacrosse—a lacrosse education company that is based out of New York.
“Every two years the coaches also have to take a refresher course,” said Klim. “This refresher course is one of the four hour clinics they have to come back to. If they have already taken Level One they can take Level Two, or now we have an affiliation with Trilogy Lacrosse and we have incorporated a program called Trilogy 1.5 or 2.5.”
The partnership with Trilogy Lacrosse is a unique and extremely valuable one. Mitch Belisle—a Director at Trilogy Lacrosse and a player for the Boston Cannons and US National Team—leads the educational efforts from Trilogy. MBYLL coaches have the option of attending an advanced clinic put on by Trilogy that focuses on more finite details of the game.
This re-certification path allows the coaches to get a more extensive look at a new drill or offensive or defensive scheme. Above all else, what makes this partnership so valuable is the shared goals between MBYLL and Trilogy.
“We have a lot of synergies with Mass Bay that have allowed us to work together successfully,” Belisle said. “Their focus is on creating a great community of lacrosse families all across Massachusetts, and we want to do that nationwide. The fact we are trying to do the same things—we can help provide some of those things to their families and to their coaches—is really beneficial.
“We have got some of the best players and coaches in the world and they have access to tens of thousands players and coaches all across Massachusetts,” Belisle continued. “We have similar philosophies that are easily combined for player clinics, for coaches clinics, and for additional player opportunities in the summer. Overall, it has been beneficial for both parties.”
Spangenberg expressed the same sentiments, highlighting how the “smart practice visits” can be crucial to the growth of the coaches and the relationship between Trilogy and MBYLL.
“Our relationship with Trilogy Lacrosse is a strategic one in the sense that we have shared and common goals to help teach the game,” he said. “One of those common goals is the training of coaches. They are focused on similar things that we are, and that is the training and coaching component to teach and grow the game. Our view is that they are playing a critical role for us.”
No matter what path coaches choose to take, the re-certification component furthers the knowledge and skills that MBYLL coaches are expected to possess. All of these steps create a positive environment in which the athletes ultimately benefit.
There also is the hope that with all of the education coaches receive, they may be inspired to go the extra step and do more. As Spangenberg expresses, the coaching education efforts are hopefully going to be just the tip of the iceberg.
“To have a foundation that they can build upon is so important to us, but I also say that our coaching certification process is a minimum and not the maximum,” he said. “Like all education, it is a continual process filled with continuous improvement. We try to
24 The Scoop / Winter '15
Education
continued from page 21