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Kevin Angell from Lynchburg, takes a shot on goal during Chris Bornholtz of Stafford wipes away sweat during the Nike Lacrosse Camp at the UMW Battleground Complex. |
Although he'd never played lacrosse before, Magnus Charters of Chevy Chase, Md., didn't mind being thrown in with more skilled players attending the Nike camp at the University of Mary Washington.
"Everything is new to me, but I've learned a lot here. And I'm a better player now," the rising junior and safety for the BCC football team said this week.
"I like the contact," he added. "There aren't so many rules, which I like, too. And I like the speed of the game."
The sixth annual camp drew approximately 100 players, including California teens Harry and Sebastian Clifford, whose parents rented an RV for their cross-country trip.
Players were grouped by age with high-school players gathering at one field, middle-schoolers on another, and 12-and-unders at a third site at the Battleground complex.
While the evening scrimmages were easily the favorite time, there were plenty of opportunities to have fun while honing one's lacrosse skills at all levels.
"A lot of this camp is about good habits and trying to teach them drills that they can do in small groups," Shenandoah University head lacrosse coach Brian Jenkins said. "It is human nature for young athletes to always want to play, and every morning they ask me if we are scrimmaging this morning.
"Playing is a big part of it, but lacrosse is a very much a skilled sport. It is hard to play a game if the skills aren't there."
The mixture of high and lower skills worked for the most part, according to Hunter McCann of Charlottesville.
"We all get along," the rising Albemarle High junior said. "I can catch and throw with both hands. I'm always here playing with guys learning how to catch and throw and helping them out."
McCann, a midfielder, has played lacrosse since he was 5 years old and appreciates the way campers were brought along.
"The counselors [UMW lacrosse players] work with you one-on-one and they teach you about the team," he related. "They don't let you go out there and dominate. They always have something for you to fix."
Daniel Coats was one of the counselors working with the 12-and-unders, and he noted the group improved its skills significantly since the first days of camp, worked hard and generally maintained its attention span.
Still, there was some friendly banter going on, particularly during the water breaks that occurred every 15-20 minutes.
"I've heard a lot of 'When are we going to scrimmage? Do you have a girlfriend? How many girlfriends have you had?' Funny stuff like that," the rising UMW junior said.
While sharpening their individual skills was the top prize, campers also had fringe benefits to strive for--including camper-of-the-day tickets (to trade in for ice cream or soft drinks) for each session, as well as prizes that were handed out at Wednesday's final session.
"The kids are all great here, and they are enthusiastic," said Spotsylvania County resident Joe Trippi Sr. as he watched his grandsons Alex and Joey go through their drills.
"They enjoy the game--you can see that, and they are out here in 100-degree temperatures," he added. "They're working hard, and I'm over there in the shade sweating."
Kurt Nicoll: 540/374-5441
Email: knicoll@freelancestar.com
