Lax Tourney

"Mom I made the team!" ecstatic streams coming from his bedroom.  It started out innocently enough.  His lacrosse coach suggested try outs for an elite travel team. We didn't give it much thought: went to the try outs, joked that there was no way he could play with these amazing athletes, congratulated him on giving it a try, and forgot about it.  He made it? Thrilled, amazed, proud...but wait that means we have weekend tournaments OUT OF TOWN.  Oh the bittersweet taste of acceptance.

If you have never been an athlete, or are first time parents of an athlete, the travel tournament is like reading a Kurt Vonnegrut Jr., not really sure where you are or what is going on but it all comes together in the end.

It starts with the date and list of hotels.  No problem, we book a room in this very less than 5 star hotel, we schedule time off and MapQuest directions. One weekend tournament in Lewiston (terrific no need for hotel), one weekend in Albany and one weekend in Hershey PA.  So the husband's not thrilled that he will miss 3 weekends on the boat, but the three us will be together and our son is excited.

Next we get the schedule, which looks like a page out of the MATRIX.  A spreadsheet of 50 teams, 14 fields and 48 hours.  So 6/20 11 12 38 vs 16  9 1 26 vs 38 9 3 38 vs 47 6/21 7 10 38 vs 18 8 2 48 vs 38... do I need to call Dan Brown to break this code?

Game day.  Pack sandwiches, tons of water and gatorade, fruit, brownies.  Program navigation system.  Bring chairs, hats, umbrella, sun screen, newspaper, schedule and of course my equipped lacrosse player.  Huge line to get in.  I have never seen so many canopy tents and SUV's.  A patchwork of boys dressed in their uniforms tossing balls to each other.  My son finds his "colors" while my husband and I wonder aimlessly lugging chairs and liquids.

Oh sweet relief, we find seasoned parents.  These guys know what they are doing and we have virtually attached ourselves to them.  Dave and Dawn become our guru's and we follow them like apostles.  First game is rocky and our boys take a loss.  But they are laughing with each other and really bonding.  The rest of the day continues with another loss and then a win.  Not bad for a new team.

Driving home that night, the car was buzzing with referee calls, bad plays, and tales of bravado.  Home that night, the house buzzed with one sleepy midfielder.  Next day more of the same but with confidence from son and parents.

We did it!  Albany and Hershey? Bring it!