The girls lacrosse team is a community, both on and off the field. The head coach and players agree that the team works well together, whether it’s team bonding dinners, “sister groups,” or just simply listening to music when getting hype for a game.
One of the main things the team does to bond is their “sister groups,”. Varsity head coach Taylor Tvedt explains these as “a little pod, or a group of what we call sisters.”
The players do a variety of things, such as write notes to each other or bring ribbons to their games. She explains that the ribbons are a fun way for the girls to stay connected. Each player per sister group takes turns bringing a ribbon for the other sisters in their group, and they tie it in their hair or shoelaces, and then explain why they picked that color. Even though it is just a small activity, this helps build community and relationships that make the season more enjoyable.
First-year varsity player, Harper Larsen, talks about the traditions they have as a team, including their goal songs. “When you score, you get to pick 40 seconds of a song and they play it,” she said.
Larsen has been playing lacrosse for 3 years, with this year being her second year on varsity. She explains how her favorite part of playing lacrosse is making new friends, whether it’s girls from different schools or girls in higher grades.
Both the coaches and players agreed on how positive and fun the team is. Coach Tvedt has played since she was young, and remembers all of the coaches she’s had, whether they’ve been good or bad, and she has used these memories to apply them to her coaching. “I’ve definitely learned things that I, you know, wouldn’t want to implement,” she said. “Coaches that have been super positive and hype [is] something that I’ve always felt was powerful.”
Larsen agrees and talks about her relationships with the other girls. One of her best friends on the team is from one of the other schools in the co-op, and in addition, she has many friends in other grades due to the community they’ve built as a team. “Everyone is always happy to spend time with each other,” Larsen explains.
When going to a game, one can see these relationships and positivity form on the field as well. The JV and Varsity teams each have about 10-15 games per season. They have many players from multiple schools, including SPA, St. Agnes, Nova, and St. Croix Lutheran. Their first home game of the season resulted in an 8-0 loss, but throughout the match, despite hardship, the girls managed to have fun and work together.
The players started the game with warmups consisting of passing back and forth, then with a team huddle full of plays and words of encouragement from both coaches and players. Right before face-off, the starting players run through a line of their fellow teammates holding their lacrosse sticks in the air.
After each goal the opposing team scores, the players on the field huddle together to reset, keep a positive mindset, and talk about what they can do next time.
Further, to boost morale, when subbing out for another player, the two hit their sticks together as a form of “high-fiving,” as well as this being a small act to encourage their teammates.
On the sidelines, the players and coaches enjoyed laughter with one another, and engaged in cheers to keep their teammates hype for the game. At the end of the game, the team gathered in a circle and talked about what went well and what they could do better next time. When staying optimistic and giving small criticism, team members are more likely to stay enthusiastic, which fosters team collaboration and more energy, making the game more exciting for each of the players.
On and off the field, the girls’ lacrosse team enjoys playing their game and working together. From a simple “you got this,” to team dinners, the girls make lacrosse a fun, positive, and exciting environment.
Story edited 5/13 to add interactive map.
