By Taylor Paige, Assistant Coach, Shenandoah University @SUHornetsWLAX Over the last two days I had the fortunate experience of being one of the facilitators for the first ever Future Leaders of the Game: IWLCA Students of Color Coaching Symposium. If I had one takeaway from the symposium, it would be- “All Smiles.” For the first… Read More Representation Matters
The IWLCA launched Behind the Whistle in 2016 to provide its members with a platform to share their thoughts, experiences, perspective and opinions on issues relevant to our sport. We also hoped the blog would serve as a resource to articulate best practices and to position IWLCA members as experts in their field. After five… Read More Best of Behind the Whistle
By Brandon Davis, Head Coach, Georgetown College @GC_Lacrosse So how about that COVID, right? The last nine months have thrown us all for a loop. As a household with two people making a living in athletics, there’s been plenty of stress. It has, however, shown us how much people can handle. As coaches, we are… Read More Dig In
By Liz Geyer, Head Coach, Bethany College @BethanyWLax Over the past 29 years of my life, I have been fortunate to have amazing coaches, teachers, and leaders. Most of these people were strong, loud, confident women who told me to speak up, be heard, and be authentic. Their honesty, which was sometimes tough to hear,… Read More Engage for Change
By Erin McDonnell, Head Coach, St. Mary’s College of Maryland @SMCMWLAX Author’s disclaimer: Writing this entry is definitely a step outside of my comfort zone… but I learned a valuable lesson a few years back. It was a stress filled season and I found myself at 3 am, on a losing streak, unable to sleep.… Read More COVID Coaching
By Rachel Smith, Head Coach, Ursinus College @Ursinus_Wlax As of June 2021 (finally – COVID forced a reschedule), I will be marrying my best friend, who also happens to be a girls basketball coach at a private school in Maryland. When we first met, we were both coaching as graduate assistants, grinding our way through… Read More Marrying a Coach
By Rainey Whitworth, Head Coach, Southern Virginia University @SVUWoLax As a very young professional, I had just recently obtained the job of my dreams as head coach of Women’s Lacrosse at my alma mater. Then the COVID virus became everyone’s reality and it absolutely devastated me when sports and the world shut down. Feeling lost… Read More Learning to Rebound
By Kerstin Kimel, Head Coach, Duke University @DukeWLAX On Friday, February 14, 2020, our team and staff focused on an important day of scout preparation and practice before a Sunday game at Navy. But that morning, before I could wrap my head around how to shut down Kelly Larkin and manage Navy’s aggressive defense, I… Read More Five Years Later
By Emily Bitka, Assistant Coach, Stevens Institute of Technology @stevenswlax The definition of change is “to make the form, nature, content, future etc. of something different from what it is/was,” and WOAH, has 2020 been the year of change! If 2020 has taught me anything, it has been the ability to open my mind up… Read More Open to Change
By Alyssa Voccia, Graduate Assistant Coach, Lenoir-Rhyne University @LRUwlacrosse Hello again. I wrote an entry for Behind the Whistle last October, where I discussed my struggle with my mental health throughout college and how one of my former coaches, Carlee Buck, had helped guide me through those times. I would be lying if I said… Read More Finding Your Why
