Tricksters and lacrosse
Big plans, new challenges
01.08.2009 source: Goldman
When in 2003 year the very first lacrosse team in Slovakia Tricksters Bratislava was established it had only a few members. Thanks to their enthusiasm this brand new sport could be developed in our country. The newest plan of the club is investment into the youth base and own rink.
For some good or interesting things you have to wait. Even if it takes centuries. That is the case of lacrosse, ancient Indian game, which started in north America. Centuries ago, it was used by tribes for fun, and for settling arguments for territory. Even in some European countries it is sport with long tradition, but in Slovakia it appeared for the first time in 2002. It is thanks to Mark Lichtner, who noticed it thanks to his interest in north-american Indians. “First we played it during indian-themed camps. It was Czech lacrosse, idea of czechoslovakian fans, which tried to copy and reconstruct it in 20th century in old Czechoslovakia. „I ran into sport form of lacrosse during my journey across USA to study indian culture.“ Mark remembers. He was also influenced by meeting with Thomas Vennum, author of book about history of indian lacrosse. Then he came up with idea to try it at home. I saw boxlacrosse – tough form of this sport is played in ice hockey field, for the first time in Prague in 2001 on Ales Hrebesky Memorial. I met here old friend of Thomas, John Hetzel, who was helping to develop lacrosse in Czech Repoublic. Here I started to put plans together for Slovakian lacrosse federation and its first club, Tricksters (www.tricksters.sk).
Dynamic start-up
For the past ten years lacrosse became the fastest growing sport at high schools and universities in the USA. For sure we can not expect similar procedure in Slovakia but it looks like that a few enthusiasts which began to play lacrosse in a humble conditions, with minimum equipment and throwing a lacrosse ball against the wall will find enough followers. Since the 2003 year when the first lacrosse club Tricksters Bratislava (currently Tricksters Lacrosse Team) was established, development of the sport did not stop. The players gained their first experience at the Danube lacrosse conference (DLC) which they established together with Austrian club Vienna Monarchs. In the 2006 year the Tricksters for the very first time won the whole league, when they lost points only in the opening game of the season after the tied game with Vienna Cherokees in what team played at that time three Americans. As of 2007 the DLC was canceled because the two strongest teams Passau and Ljublana withdraw from the league. The only possibility how to develop was the team attendance at the tournaments and later in the Czech league. In the 2007 the women’s team Tricksters Ladies was established. This season they will play in the Austrian league (OLL). Players base is helping to expand also second men’s team in Bratislava. The first phase of the lacrosse development in Slovakia closed premiere attendance at the last year’s European Championships at Lahti. Our national team end up on 12 place from 18 countries. The team was led by an American Slovak Edward Kostolansky who is former player, currently coach of Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team (USA) and head scout of the professional team Major League Lacrosse Washington Bayhawks. In his case for sure we have the reason to be be proud of as Ed is a member of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Another big challenge is participation of the Slovak national team at the World Lacrosse Championships (fieldlacrosse). In the 2010 they will be in Manchester, England and a year later yet in Prague (boxlakros). It will be the first time that the best national teams of this sport will not be hosted by birthplace country of this sport Canada.
It is time to move on
„It is time to move on and to give to our endeavour another dimension. We must train our followers because when the older generation will grow up there will not be any players who could play“, said Pavol Kopernicky, manager of Tricksters LT and in the last year also manager of the Slovak national team. Already this year for the training preparation our team joined 7–8 new boys in the age around 16 years. „Lacrosse has many common characteristics with hockey, handball, basketball or soccer. That is why it could appeal to wide spectrum of boys and girls. After all many of them are practicing or have practiced these sports. In professional Canadian-American leagues former basketball players, and handball players are the best defensemen because they just simple know how to do it. They have learned many of this staff in their previous sports. Former hockey players are again very effective in ofence as they have good space selection, they are able to quickly release themselves, take a pass, find a space for a shot. They just need a work and their lacrosse stick technique for a while and they could become useful players“. Second step which should secure the future of lacrosse in Slovakia is investment into own playing field. „We are in contact with Mayor of the Vrakuna city district with whom we negotiate about the possibilities of placing of such playing field in one of the elementary schools areas. We would like to build the boxlacrosse rink and use the schools areal and facilities. Before noon the rink could be used by the schol and after noon it will be our base. We would like to create preparatory team where we would teach kids the basics of this sport. Lacrosse is multilateral, cultivates shape, power, creativity and fighting spirit as well. Not to mention that it cultivates also character-will qualities, teaches to systematicness, endurance and responsibility. From this point of view lacrosse is a full value sport. Some of our players study at the Faculty of physical education and sport, thus they can devote to them on skilled level“ says Kopernicky.
Following the Czech image
Simmilar development had in its 20 years history lacrosse in Czech republic. At first, everything was bought by individual clubs, then they started to invest in new fields, mostly in Prague. There is where new generation was rised, where 4–5 years old childred are being coached by older players. The result is that Czech republic is in European top. In technique, which is very important in lacrosse, they are pretty much equall to american or canadian teams. In mater of time, more than ten teams were established. „We are glad, that we can play Czech leaugue, compete in tournaments with good teams, each year we attend to camps, where are invidted professional players from over-seas. We help each other with Austrian teams, which have better financial potential, and can get for their tournaments top teams. We go play on them, and thanks to that we can learn, get better, and get some experience.“ says Kopernicky. The biggest chalenge for Slovak federation is to have its own, Slovak league. Great news were born of a new second team Bratislava Bats and interest showed other cities, too. Last time it was Poprad and Kosice.
Inspiration after few years is floorball, which appeard just few years ago, like lacrosse. But in only a few years it became faire competetor with other and more popular team sports. Because it was being played in PE class, more people started to notice it, and its popularity gorwed. „For similar scenario we would need more fired-up players, so far we can not get everything. Our priority is to stabilize senior and build-up junior teams. Maybe latter. Once again, we can take advice from Czech republic. There in elementery schol is played most gentle form of lacrosse – intercrosse. It is played with plastic lacrosse sticks and without phisical contact, it can be played with both boys and girls, they learn the basics and they fluently begin to play in lacrosse teams" explaining Kopernicky.
Forms of plays
- Originally north-american indian game developed into few sport froms. Boxlacrosse is the tough form, its played on ice hockey field and with its thoughness it looks simillar to ice hockey. I tis being played by 5 players and goalkeeper. Professionall canadian-american boxlacrosse leaugue is National Lacrosse Leaugue (NLL)
- Fieldlacrosse is played on football field with 9 players and goalkeeper. Professional canadian-american leaugue is Major Lacrosse Leaugue (MLL)
- Newest and most gentle form is Intercrosse, which is being played with plastic sticks and it can be played in gym.
- They have all in common that you are trying to shoot small ball into goal. Players carry, pass, and recieve ball by pocket made from strings on the end of their lacrossse stick.
Do you know, that…
- Over seas there are two canadian-american leaugues? Some players are pure proffessionalls, some are not, some are playing both leaugues. Like with ice hockey, lacrosse in America and Canada makes big „medial fuss“
- National boxlacrosse leaugue (NLL) is being played in winter in the same arenas as NHL? Finalls in May in Calgary watched 13 thousand spectators. Home team Calgary Roughnecks won against New York Titans 12:10
- Second leaugue is Major Leaugue Lacrosse (MLL) – field lacrosse – which is being played on grass)
- One of the best players is Thomas Hajek, born in Bratislava. Last year there was an option that he could join Slovakian national team in the European championship in Finland, but he had other duties.
Article: Prokop Slováčik
Foto: Jozef Barinka
