The Copperheads have been in training camp for the last two weeks. As a team we have been putting in a ton of sweat equity to be ready for our season which is quickly approaching. Coach is constantly reminding us how much work is still left to be done and not much time left to do it. I can see that mind set in my teammates as we come together for session after session, sometimes twice a day. No matter how tired, sore or old we may feel, it’s all left behind in the locker room as we battle each other for every inch of the floor. We’re all rounding into great shape and its enjoyable to watch the team evolve. Watching HardKnocks this season reminds me that these types of camps can have their challenges as they wear on. Continuously playing against the same players, doing drills over and over until we get them right takes its toll, but it’s the end goal that matters. Nothing worth having comes easy, and we all will do whatever it takes.
One of the most enjoyable parts of the process of training camp this time around is being able to gauge where I stand today compared to last year at this time or even last week this time. As I get more experience, I feel more comfortable playing the indoor game, but still always feel like a fish out of water as some situation comes up that I have never been through or practiced. Of course something that makes me feel just a tad more at ease is watching our new draft picks and guys trying out for the team who in many cases are playing the sport and doing most of the drills for the first time. These are players who had tremendous college careers outdoors, and are very skilled, but they are learning a new game, in a hurry and trying to show the coaching staff they can contribute to the franchise. I feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility to share with them all of the tips and tricks I have learned along the way, as most of the teammates I have now, have done the same for me. The hope being, to lessen some of their learning curve, but also help these guys feel more at ease themselves. Because in the end, we are all lacrosse players with better than average skill and we all just need to find a way to use our skills we know we have, and apply them to indoor in a way to help our team be better.
As the next few weeks go by, the team will be cutting back to the maximum roster allowed by the league and we will see who the coaches think can be those contributors. That’s where the rubber meets the road, and the Copperheads will kick off this season in Jacksonville. It’s almost here!
