by Brenda Shockle

Lacrosse, considered to be America’s first sport, was created by North American Indians, adopted by the French, and then refined by Canadians. Athletes and enthusiasts in the U.S. and British Commonwealth have embraced modern lacrosse for over a century. Today it is one of the fastest growing team sports in the US at both the college and high school level. There are now more than 130,000 high school players and over 500 college club programs. One reason for that growth is because anyone can play lacrosse. It’s a combination of basketball, soccer, and hockey, and rewards coordination and agility, not brawn. Quickness and speed are two highly prized qualities in lacrosse. It’s fast-paced and full of action!

Chris Schiller of the Rochester Rattlers and Knighthawks, and a native of Penfield, talked with RHL about the sport.

How have you seen lacrosse grow in the last 10 years?

The game of lacrosse has exploded in the past 10 years. It was an East coast sport, and now is all over the country. You can find it in Rochester, New York, and Rochester, Minnesota. In California, Colorado, and Seattle, lacrosse has become a competitor with baseball. I see it when we travel out West to play. In Colorado we played in front of over 16,000 fans! We have national television coverage and kids can’t seem to get enough of it!

What skills are necessary for a lacrosse player?

You have to have great hand and eye coordination. The ball travels very fast, so to catch it in the stick can be challenging. For me, I’m in great shape and can run pretty fast, so I utilize those skills to pick up ground balls and stay in good position on defense.

How is the training for outdoor lacrosse different from indoor lacrosse?

Outdoor lacrosse demands that you have tremendous endurance. The best workouts to achieve that include suicide sprints, because of the rapid changing of direction, and a variety of cardiovascular activities. I’m not really big on running, but 3-4 times a week I hop on the treadmill. I also try to get involved in activities that will increase my endurance as much as possible. So I participate in basketball leagues and play racquetball. Indoor lacrosse requires more upper body strength, so my workouts concentrate more on core body training. I love basic training exercises like push ups, dips, pullups, and sit-ups. I do get into free weights, but that’s tough on the joints.

How do you prepare for a game?

My diet during game weeks is usually pretty high on carbs. There are a ton of different opinions about carbs, but the simple fact is you need them when you burn as much energy as I do on the field. I also try to eat a very healthy breakfast every morning, including yogurt, fiber, and plenty of liquids. Game day is tough for me because I get really amped up heading into a game, so my appetite is gone! So a large, healthy breakfast is very important to me on the day of a game. I find it gives me the energy I need for the day. My wife Jen helps me out in the diet category though. She is the health guru in the house!

ROCHESTER RESOURCE
The Rochester Knighthawks play at the Blue Cross Arena from January through April. A full schedule is available at www.knighthawks.net. Tickets are available at the Blue Cross Arena Box Office, ticketmaster.com, or call (585) 232-1900.