We are missing something. Lot’s of somethings actually. We are missing thousands of them. I saw what we were missing on the beach up at Bear Lake a few weeks ago. I saw a dad playing baseball with his 3 year old son. Now, trust me, I do not want us playing baseball. I don’t want you to be bored to death. But this is what impressed me. The son kept trying to hit the ball wrong while the dad was pitching to him. He kept turning the wrong way. And the dad patiently would help him turn the other way. Help him get used to the way it was supposed to feel. He told him which foot to step with to throw the ball. It was beautiful. I stared. I wished that I had brought my lacrosse sticks to the beach and made my daughters play with me. I felt like a failure.

But that is what we need. Parents teaching their kids the basics of the game. It is no secret that kids of coaches end up being pretty great players. They get that instruction. And good instruction very early on. We don’t have enough parents here in Utah yet who have played the game to teach their children at an early age to love this game. We are getting there. There are some. A few people who I played against in high school have been bringing their kids to our East Summer Clinics and those kids are always more advanced. They know what passing and catching entails. You hear those 6 year old kids instructing others about where to hold their hands to pick up the ground ball.

So get outside with your kids. Go play catch with your stick. Give them one. A surprise. Use a tennis ball if you want so that you don’t break anything. Including them. Not only will you be a better parent, your kid will learn lacrosse and other life skills. Please. I am begging you. Your future high school and college coaches are begging you. Also, it will be the best hour you have spent today. Way better than watching some boring TV show and way more meaningful for that boy or girl of yours.

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