I’m in the middle seat, again, as we prepare for our 3 hr 20 min flight from Denver to Baltimore. Mae (2029) is to my left and Clara (2030) has the window to my right. It was another epic battle. She “called window” before Mae did. I selected the aisle seat hoping we would all have some space, but the flight is full and my happy place is between these two anyways. We are on our way to practices for M&D Lacrosse Club, the top girls lacrosse club in the country. We live in Colorado.
We are a month out from September 1st, that ominous day in lacrosse recruiting where college coaches can communicate their interest in players. I was fortunate to be involved in a couple of high-level player experiences, which hasn’t been common in Colorado, and watched schools miss on top players because they lacked urgency and/or follow through. Lacrosse gives us lessons if we are looking for them. If we are slightly awake. Here’s one lesson I saw repeated over and over again: you snooze you lose.
I feel different. There is a noticeable change in Colorado lacrosse. It may be the Coach Prime effect, and the “We Coming” vibe out of Boulder, but the talent is undeniable. Colorado has players who can play at the highest level. Colorado clubs are ranked higher and higher. They are getting more exposure. There is definite momentum as a result of the skillset emphasis movement. And it’s still not really close. The talent is diluted between clubs. It’s a mentality that permeates club lacrosse: the club’s success trumps the players’ skillset development which, inevitably, impacts player overall performance.
If you live in a hotbed on the east coast, you are stoked. Those players level-up one another and all players get better. Colorado has ballers. They just all play on different teams. Players are stalling out in development because the best players aren’t being challenged. They are making everyone else better on their teams. If they aren’t getting better through individual training, separate and distinct from club practices, then they get used up. No path. It’s like the children’s book The Story of Little Babaji where the tigers chase each other’s tail, going in circles, until they turn to butter. So the focus has to be performance and fun.
Performance. It’s my favorite business/athletics topic. And there’s a formula for it. I built Burnham Law from a basement (2009) of a home in foreclosure to a cutting edge, multi-state, eight-figure law firm using this formula:
This model applies to both service and athletic performance. It’s the Burnham Law Performance Formula and it works for girls lacrosse (and anything else). We follow it at Burnham Law and Katy and I emphasize it in our home. And, unfortunately, its not followed by most clubs. Where soccer gets it right, lacrosse gets it wrong. Soccer training focuses on skillset development which then is incorporated into team training. Lacrosse training, historically, focuses on team training without the skill development. It’s backwards. And it doesn’t work except for a select few outliers who are undeniably talented and who, likely, focused on that skillset and not which club they played for. I have been amazed at the undeniable talent of Boulder, Colorado players like UC Davis commit Cami Johnson. The motivation required to be dominant (which she is), in an environment that isn’t full of DI players, is pure savage.
And that’s how I now find myself sandwiched between these two similar, yet very different, beautiful souls. We tried out for the 2029 and 2030 M&D Black teams as part of our tournament trips back east. Mae and Clara both made M&D’s top teams. They now play exclusively for M&D Lacrosse Club, flying in to Baltimore every other weekend to practice with their teammates, while training in Colorado with the OGs of lacrosse performance training: TJ DeMartino, Casey Powell and Kylie Ohlmiller. It works. That performance equalizer in the Burnham Law Performance Formula, the “E” for Environment, is the ultimate competitive advantage. They all get better together. It helps that M&D has the best actual coaching I have experienced.
The optimized performance environment is created by collective mindsets and belief systems. Casey, Kylie, TJ…with Katy and Todd Burnham. And our new “E” Is M&D. We are together, all of us, focused on the personal development of the young women in our village. Lacrosse is just a tool. Please, remember that. But it’s a powerful tool that can be effectively used to build confidence, mental toughness and grit. And that’s the only game I’m truly interested in.
I am aware that most parents aren’t able to jump on planes and go train with the best, in Maryland for 90 minutes, and then come home. There are parents out there like my social worker single mother, Nancy Burnham, who don’t have the resources. They rely on clubs to create the path. The roadmap. The inspiration. The connects. That works in NY and MD. It works with the top level clubs because they all understand. The parents understand what is expected.
The key is developing the actual skillset as growth and confidence add to the athlete’s mindset. The skillset is developed through individual and/or alpha group training. A great club will offer skills sessions, which is awesome, but it’s not enough if you live west of the Mississippi.
The answer: the best train with the best. Every age group from every local team puts up three or so players. Those three players train with the top three players from other local teams. All those players get better together, and they all go back to their clubs with higher level skillset. They keep getting better with the other top players, while helping their club get better, all without stagnating.
The best train with the best, even if they’re on different clubs. The only way to compete with East Coast players is to create East Coast players. The only answer I see is, in Colorado, the best players need to train with the best players. Otherwise, we are going to need Cami Johnson providing motivational training!
I hope you enjoyed this article and you feel connected to some of these concepts and ideas. If so I urge you to take action. And most importantly remember that we can help with a path provided the dreams and goals are theirs…not yours.
Mahalo!