PNC Invitational … and then some

Great event, with great coaches 

Last Sat, March 29th, I had the pleasure of watching 4 great HS lacrosse coaches practice their craft. Game one pitted old college teammates head to head as John Nostrandt, Haverford School, and Rick Brocato, St Paul’s who played together at Washington College in the 80′s, lead their teams out onto a very rainy field at Loyola’s Ridley Complex. The second game saw Casey O’Neill of Gonzaga take on Andy Hilgartner of McDonogh. Coach Hilgy’s in-laws all attended ( or have a close connection to ) Gonzaga, so this battle is of a more personal nature, and Hilgy will not have to do the dishes next Thanksgiving, as his Screamin Eagles came out on top. I had the pleasure of being involved in many steps of this event, as CSE was the event administrator. All 4 head coaches made time in their schedule for the Press Conference Luncheon. All 4 do a tremendous job of sharing the credit of their team’s success, they have a healthy perspective on what is truly important in the life of a HS athlete, and they put up with an inappropriate amount of second guessing from parents and alumni alike.

“This event was first class all the way, and even a couple raindrops could not keep our team from making the most of the opportunity to play in a fantastic venue, against a top team”. — Coach Hilgartner

That is one concept that has snowballed to almost out of control levels in recent years. Parents have driven their children to practices, games, and tournaments, at their own expense. I understand that parents have a financial interest in their child’s athletic involvement. If coaches are willing to concede that, will parents please admit that it is wrong to suspect that your child’s coach dedicated their life, and career for decades only to be in position to destroy your child’s season and career …? I have been around coaches for more than 4 decades now, and I have yet to run into the one who got involved because he hates kids, and secretly wants to ruin their experience.

These 4 coaches are prime examples of guys who are in it for all the right reasons, and they deserve to be credited and thanked for doing everything they can to help young men mature into fine adults. Let’s make 2014 the year of “I appreciate all that our coach does for us” ….. Lordy knows we have spent too much time and effort on the wrong side of that issue.

Booker #YOGOSAT