While many athletes mainly focus on the performance in their games, the true mastery of boys lacrosse lies in the communication and teamwork shown on the field. Senior Samuel Sowers said, “The team chemistry that we have on and off of the field helps us thrive as a group.”

   At UC High, teamwork is highly valued and appreciated, considering it has led the Centurions to success in the past. Building trust amongst teammates provides many benefits; it helps prevent collisions on the field, helps players to call plays, and helps players to adjust to opposing team’s strategies.

   According to Sowers, his best performance is shown during his face-offs where the objective is to win possession over the ball at the very start of the game and after every goal. As stated by Sowers, perfecting stick skills can be one of the challenges in playing lacrosse. He said the physical aspects can be stimulating as well, especially if you play the position of a midfielder.

   The requirements to join the Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team this year were very competitive. For instance, they were required to complete a timed mile run and do a certain amount of push ups and sit ups, and they were tested on how well they worked with the ball, all contributing to their acceptance.    

  The daily practices consist of a routine of warm-up laps and stretches, followed by passing drills and offensive and defensive workouts. At the end of practice, scrimmages are played to put everything learned in practice to a test.

    There are many different positions to play in lacrosse, such as goalie, attacker, defender, and midfielder. Junior Decklan Houston, who has played lacrosse since the end of seventh grade, said his role is to play attack. This position is in the offensive zone, and is often played by the specialized scorers with strong stick skills. He explained that, usually each player is assigned a position based on their skill level and effort shown. Senior Itai Warschaw said his goal this season is to bond with and create memories with teammates, and secure a lot of wins.

   According to a website about lacrosse, “Good communication during lacrosse is essential for building trust, preventing defensive breakdowns, and accelerating skill development.” These key elements ensure that players are on the same page and allows them to practice for faster decision making in any scenario (gladiatorlacrosse.com).