Practice to make perfect

Blair's lacrosse, softball and baseball teams started the school year by participating in fall leagues and programs to stay in shape and prepare for the 2006 spring season.

Both the boys' and girls' lacrosse teams are taking advantage of a recently developed lacrosse program, Potomac Lacrosse, a program that includes workshops and teams where players can improve their skills, in practices and scrimmages. They will begin training next week.

Maddie Driskall, one of the four senior captains of the girls' lacrosse team, thinks that joining the Potomac Lacrosse program will help returning players to maintain their game and give incoming freshman the opportunity to learn the basics of lacrosse as well as a chance to meet and play with the Blair team. "Most people who are coming into Blair have never played lacrosse before," she said. "This year we had a lot of freshman that were interested in playing, so the sooner we can get them to play, the better they will be." Girls' lacrosse is also participating in Advantage Lacrosse, a clinic similar to the program PlayHer Sports, which organizes teams for girls interested in playing lacrosse and field hockey.

Junior Robbie Ginsberg, co-captain of boys' lacrosse, is excited that his team is taking part in Potomac Lacrosse. Not only will his returning teammates raise their playing level, but players who did not get an opportunity to play during games last year will have the option to play more during the fall league.

The softball team varsity players are playing on a fall team, while the JV team joined an instructional fall league team. Coach Louis Hoelman III organized and advertised Varsity's fall league, but since public school coaches are prohibited from instructing their teams in the off-season, Paul O'Brien is coaching the team. Varsity will play two games every Sunday for the next five weeks at Blair, according to Hoelman.

Gordan Pavey, a long-time Blair supporter, will coach the baseball team in the fall league this year. As with softball, baseball's fall league has been set up and running for many years.

John Macdonald, the varsity baseball coach, emphasized the significance of playing throughout the year. "It's very important to play in the off-season to keep up with other teams. The best players play all year round. You have to do all that just to compete." He said that Blair's spring athletes look to the off-season as an opportunity where they can "keep their confidence high, keep their skill level tuned and get used to playing with their teammates."