Is lacrosse affecting participation in other spring sports?
The answer is generally yes, but what’s clear is that the degree to which lacrosse affects those sports varies from school to school. “I have never lost a varsity starter or impact baseball player to lacrosse,” Simley baseball coach Scott Karlen said. “But it is affecting … depth.” Rosemount boys’ track coach Jay Hatleli doesn’t think lacrosse participation is an issue. “AAU basketball, AAU volleyball, club soccer, and year-round hockey training have had a much larger impact in the watering down of spring sports than lacrosse has,” Hatleli said. 3. Girls’ lacrosse is getting too physical: The same complaints of too much physical play are also being raised about girls’ hockey. Minnehaha Academy girls’ lacrosse coach Todd Wads- worth said: “Strength and contact are replacing speed and skill as the determinants of success. Players are using their crosses more and more to play defense instead of their bodies and feet. There are no helmets, thick gloves and pads in girls’ lacrosse now, bu
