As the ELHS freshmen walk onto the turf during their first day of practice, nerves are high, surrounded by scary seniors and intense coaches. Instead of going right into tryouts, girls’ lacrosse coaches take a different approach: A “Viking Challenge.”
For five years, girls’ lacrosse coach Phillip Schneider has organized the challenge as a source of team bonding and connection among some who have experience and some who are just beginning.
“I once went to a conference where coaches talked about their different styles of preseason bonding, when someone brought up an Olympic-style competition. From there, the well-known Viking Challenge arose,” Mr. Schneider said.
Beforehand, the whole team is randomly split up into five groups, introducing them to new teammates. In addition, each group includes a captain to help guide and provide support for the other girls.
But these groups aren’t just for support-the competition and challenges are the key to warming and hyping everyone up.
“We could be only working on team concepts, but it’s more important to build
and bring together the team, and the girls really enjoy it,” Mr. Schneider added.
Once groups are selected, the captains then come up with creative names and their very own decorated teddy bear mascots. The captains focus on spirit and morale to their groups, no matter what the score results as.
Throughout the week, different challenges are held at the start of each practice- some skill-related, and some just for the fun of it. The girls compete in events like Coach Trivia, where players guess details about Coach Schneider and assistant girls’ lacrosse coach William Glenn, Lacrosse, Baseball, where players chuck the ball as far as possible to gain points, and a limbo game, where the players test how low they can truly go. On the other hand, some of the challenges remain on the game side, like the on-paper quiz about lacrosse plays, or the shooting challenge, where whoever makes their shots in the most targets wins.
After several challenges have been completed, players become most excited for the ultimate and most well known event to follow- the Scavenger Hunt around the ELHS campus. Each team has a mission to capture a recording or picture of the group completing certain select tasks, like doing pushups, sitting on the bleachers, or even by the field hockey field. Whichever team completes it all first gets the most points.
“It’s a very competitive competition, but there’s also a ton of conditioning that goes into it- the girls are running all over the place, from the main entrance to the Miracle League field,” Mr. Schneider said.
Throughout each and every hard event, whether it’s picking patterns for the Tic Tac Toe event or even planning who stands where during the Lacrosse Baseball event, players eventually learn how to strategize, problem solve, and rely on each other’s strengths as a team, with the addition of having fun. When beginning to join the team, new players expect to work for themselves and put in effort on their own, but as each challenge is completed, a new skill or form of communication forms.
“We’ve really learned to trust and appreciate each other throughout these challenges, even under pressure,” sophomore Elena Hart said. “And it’s only taken a few rounds of Tic Tac Toe and some major limbo skills.”
Some sports teams struggle with a similar idea- it’s “one for all and all for one,” or “every man for themselves.” Some coaches believe it’s okay to be selfish on the court or field, but it’s important to break free from that mindset, and realize the power and success in cooperation and unity. Making that extra pass, communicating to have help, and even just providing mutual support, is one step closer to success.
As the season makes a start, the ELHS girls’ lacrosse team will use their sense and idea of unity and togetherness to their advantage. As each practice and game continues, the girls begin to cheer louder, communicate more with each other, and find strength in working as a team, which is just as important than stick work and conditioning.
mascot teddy bear
