Its funny what you can learn about team work while getting beaten by sticks.

Not figuratively either.

See, when I went to college I knew I wasnt going to be able to competitively swim (I swam in high school for a number of years.) because I was “ok,” but not great, and I didnt want to put that much time into a sport.

A friend, I met in college, Darren, who was from San Diego, suggested I try lacrosse.

Lets just say that partying wasnt the first thing I got addicted to. I loved playing. I played for 15 years (I retired from playing about 3 years ago) and have coached for just over 18 years. I have coached all levels (youth, high school, college. Men and Women).

Lacrosse has been a large part of my life (my first tattoo commemorated my love of lacrosse, and memorialize my friend Jeff Cerny, who died playing lacrosse).

What are the lessons getting beaten on by sticks taught me?

1. Love What You Do. You dont have to love it every minute, but it has to be something that you love enough to continually try and improve it and your interactions with it.
2. There is ONE Team Leader. There can be many “sub-leaders” that at specific times and for specific tasks take the lead, but a team only works if there is one clear leader. This leader has only one function: To build trust. From that, the team allows the leader to make the decisions that have a major effect on the team.
3. Everyone Has a Specific Role. If you cannot articulate what your specific role is on the team, then you are useless, and will most likely be removed from the team.
4. Not Learning is Losing. The scoreboard is simply a way for simple people to determine who won. In truth, if, as a team member, you are not learning from the good and bad, you are not benefiting the team, and should re-evaluate your membership.
5. Focus on Making Everyone Else Better. Not focus on making everyone else happy. What can you do to help a team member achieve his goals? What can you not do?
6. Focus on Being the Best You Can Be. Basically, know your limitations. But push them hard. So often a hard working team member has more value than a naturally talented one.
7. Pain and Failure is Ephemeral. It sucks to get beaten. It hurts to get knocked to the ground. But its what you do next that defines your value to the team.
8. Teams Can Excel With One Fantastic Player. The truth is, that one fantastic player can push a team to achieve more than it could with the sum of the rest of its parts. If the rest of the team is willing to support the star player, the team will achieve. If the rest of the team doesnt provide support because of petty jealousy, the team will fall apart.
9. Coaches Get Things Started; Players Finish It. Coaches become extraneous pretty quickly. They can put the right players in the right positions and places, but the players must execute. If the coach forgets to the let the players play, or the players forget to let the coach coach, failure is the only outcome.
10. Have Fun. Without fun, the previous 9 things just dont matter.

If you have kids and are wondering what sport to let them play, check out lacrosse. Let them get beaten by sticks. It could be one of the greatest experiences you and your kid share.