By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette women's lacrosse team has been practicing since the smoke from wildfires in Oregon cleared out enough for the team to get underway. Players work out in small groups 2 to 3 days a week and also lift weight in small groups two days a week.
"We are not able to play with any contact, so much of our drills are skill based, focusing on stick work, shooting, footwork, as well as transition and attacking formations without defense," Head Coach Sarah Lautenbach explained.
It's a chance for the team to work together even with the limitations of social distancing. And it's an opportunity for players to develop their skills.
"While this is not an ideal fall season for us, we are still grateful to be back on the field," Lautenbach commented. "This is an opportunity that every team is not getting right now and we are working to make the best of it by getting better at the things we would not otherwise focus or put as much time into. We want the players to go outside of their comfort zone, whether it is with mechanics or trying something new, and not be afraid of making mistakes.
"We are still able to be together and connect as a team in the same space even while practicing distancing," Lautenbach added. "It also gives us structure and a mental outlet that is necessary to fulfill a typical student-athlete routine."
Practicing without contact and without outside competition means that Lautenbach and Assistant Coach Annie Longtain have to work harder to plan out practice schedules. They want practices to be meaningul, varied, and fun.
"The biggest challenge for us as a coaching staff has been to figure out how to be creative with our drills so that we can incorporate a level of competitiveness and fun with small numbers, masks, and no defense," Lautenbach said. "We are also trying to be aware of where we need to be flexible as a staff in terms of when we need extra breaks or when something is just not working and make the adjustment on the fly."
For the players, it's just great to be on Sparks Field and in the weight room.
"I am grateful that we are able to come together and practice even in social distancing times." Catie Kawamura (So., MID, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) said.
"It has been awesome getting back on the field with my teammates," said Nina Hernandez (Sr., DEF/MID, Valencia, CA/Williams S. Hart HS). "I always leave practice in the best mood, and as a student-athlete I feel like I am more productive and motivated when I have a practice schedule. With that being said, our #1 priority is to stay safe and in line with COVID protocols, and we are grateful that we get to practice with these guidelines in place."
The new practice schedule may have its challenges, but it also provides opportunities for the players to excel.
"I have been focusing on trying to push my self as hard as I can, to get better every day," Kawamura noted. "I'm also trying to keep the energy and intensity at practice by cheering on my teammates."
"My mindset has been to get better," Hernandez said. "We aren't able to full-out scrimmage right now (even though Sarah and Annie sure know how to get creative mocking the competitive nature of a scrimmage with socially distant games and drills). But a huge positive that has come out of this is that we have gotten to position our focus on basics.
"We spend a large chunk of practice bettering our mechanics such as passing, catching, or footwork," Hernandez added. "I have already seen huge improvements in myself and my teammates in the ways we are able to carry and move the ball. Another plus is that we get time in practice specifically dedicated to on field strength and conditioning. So while we may not be able to experience the simulation of a game, we are focusing on the details in our individual games, which is still preparing us for the season. Regardless of when the season does come, I know that we are going to come out of fall ball looking stronger, faster, and more disciplined."
Emma Canchola (Jr., DEF, Oregon City OR/Oregon City HS) said that she also appreciated the chance to practice.
"Coming back this fall ... just take each practice day-by-day and take advantage of having practice to really focus on mechanics and technique," Canchola said. "We don't know if we'll have a season in the spring, so it's hard to have the same motivations as I would have in a normal situation, but this is still an opportunity for us to get better as a team and all be on the same level skill wise.
"I'm focusing on the fact that we are able to have any sort of practice at all," Canchola continued. "It is hard not being able to do everything that we want to do and practice with all these restrictions, but I would rather do this than not have any practice at all."
