Aptos High School Lacrosse Season Preview

As the spring season approaches, it's time to start thinking about Aptos High School's lacrosse team and what this year's team has in store for us. We sat down with Coach Dairien Boyd to get a preview of what to expect from the team this year. Coach Boyd's main goal for the team is to foster a love for the game of lacrosse that will stick with the players beyond their high school years. He has seen many players continue to play the sport well into adulthood, whether it be through joining a men's league or even coaching. With a roster of 20 boys, only 6 have previous game experience, so Boyd is excited to introduce the sport to new players who can hopefully develop a lasting passion for it. In terms of success on the field, Coach Boyd believes that dedication, teamwork, and effort are key. He emphasizes the importance of being involved regularly, being a good teammate, and playing the game the correct way. Without effort, the team won't be able to achieve much. He also looks for these qualities in potential team captains, who he chooses at the beginning of the season and then has the rest of the players vote for two more. He believes that captains should lead by example and always make themselves available to the team. Team chemistry is also crucial for success, but Boyd prefers to let it develop naturally among the players. He focuses on each player knowing and fulfilling their roles and responsibilities, which he believes helps the team bond and work towards a common goal. With daily practices and optional Saturday practices, the team spends a lot of time together on the field, which also contributes to building chemistry. When asked about his coaching style, Boyd explains that this season will be different compared to previous ones. This year's team is primarily made up of freshmen and sophomores, which means a lower experience level. His approach will be to focus on fundamentals and getting the players comfortable on the field. This will involve a lot of repetition, as Boyd believes that the more touches a player gets during practice, the better they will be in games. He compares this to Steph Curry being the best 3-point shooter in the world due to the number of shots he has taken. Communication is another key component of the team's success. Boyd stresses the importance of communication on the field and works on developing it during practice. The players learn what and when to communicate, and how to do so effectively.