1 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: I think the only way to folicee your potential is 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: to really sort of let go and just be all in. 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: And that means sacrifice, and that is hard sometimes. If 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: you want to get on the field spoiler alert, listen 5 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: to the coach because they're going to give you the 6 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: keys to like what they want. This is the Reformed 7 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: Sports Project, a podcast about restoring healthy balance and perspective 8 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: in all areas of sports through education and advocacy. Hi, 9 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: this is Nick Bonacoor from the Reformed Sports Project podcast. 10 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: Joining me today is coach Lindsay Monday, the head women's 11 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: lacrosse coach at the University of Southern California. As a player, 12 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: Lindsay Monday is one of the most accomplished collegiate lacrosse 13 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: players in history, setting records at Northwestern University before joining 14 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,639 Speaker 1: Team USA to bring home two world titles. Named two 15 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: thousand nineteen Pack twelve Coach of the Year, Coach Monday 16 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: was hand picked to build USC's women's lacrosse team from 17 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: scratch in two thousand eleven and has led the women 18 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: of Troit to multiple championships since. Coach, thanks for hopping 19 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: on a call. Yeah, of course, thanks for having me 20 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: we connected right through your borderline viral tweet where you 21 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: were just talking about the importance of kids playing multiple sports. 22 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,199 Speaker 1: And here's where I love to start. When you look 23 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: at the culture of youth sports, Now, what do you 24 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: see as a coach, former athlete, multi sport athlete, what 25 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: do you see currently that that kind of concerns you 26 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 1: a little bit? Yeah, I mean I think you know, 27 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: what I'm seeing is a lot of specialization and and 28 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: early specialization, you know, um, I think especially in use sports. 29 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: Like I said in the tweet, I mean I was 30 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 1: fortunate enus. I played multiple sports. I played soccer, basketball, 31 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: and lacrosse in high school and you know, pond hockey 32 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: and tag and all the ass you know when you're younger. 33 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: But I see now, you know, when I do coach 34 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: higher level you know, in high school kids and even 35 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: use kids when I try to make um comparisons or 36 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: you know, use basketball as an example about you know, 37 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: jumping off your to sit foot, and I ask, like, 38 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: who plays basketball? You get zero hands? Now, And when 39 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: you try to explain certain things that you know work 40 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: in a specific sport, you know, kids just don't understand 41 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,239 Speaker 1: because they don't you know, a lot of them don't 42 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: play all these other sports, and I think you know, again, 43 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: every single sport can help him whatever you do choose 44 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: to play ultimately. But you know again, in like hockey 45 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: you need to get a passing lane because you can't 46 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: pass through people, and basketball you gotta protect, you know, 47 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: shoulder shoulder ball. You know, all these skills will help 48 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: him whatever you end up choosing, and just a lot 49 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: of kids aren't playing them. So I think you know, 50 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: some of these simple just like athletic, you know, understanding, 51 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: you know they don't have, and you almost have to 52 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: teach that where you know they're almost giving themselves a disservice. 53 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: One of the gentlemen on our advisory board is coach 54 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 1: Bob Bowman, who's the head swimming coach that there was 55 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: on the stay at. He's Michael Phelps is longtime coach. 56 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: He literally sets me on interviewss Nick. We have kids 57 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: coming here that don't know how to stand on one 58 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: foot like that, don't know how to throw a ball 59 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 1: like they know how to swim, but that's all they 60 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: know how to do, and they break down and all 61 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: is that you're alluding to? Yeah, No, definitely, And in 62 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 1: our sport and lacrosse particular. UM the rules at a 63 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: youth level, UM let you get away with a lot 64 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: in terms of things like protecting the stick and you know, 65 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: cradling and some of the basic skills for safety reasons, 66 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 1: which makes sense. But you can just get away with things. 67 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: So then you know, if you don't play those other sports, 68 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: you're just not learning sort of those basic some of 69 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: those basic skills. But yeah, you just lose. You know, 70 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: if all you're doing is specialize in one sport you do, 71 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 1: you lose just basic things that UM will help. So 72 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: I will tell you this if yet to have a 73 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: college coach or a professional scout say to me, I 74 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: want a specialist, I want this, I want never. I 75 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: never have that check. But at the same time, I 76 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: always hear your parents say, well, coaches are talking out 77 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: of both sides of their mouth, right, they say they 78 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: want multi sport athletes, but they're showing up at offseason 79 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: tournaments and recruiting from those. Can you speak to that 80 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: a little bit, because I think people get confused, absolutely, 81 00:03:55,880 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: and I understand that comment. I think and lemons across particular. 82 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: I'm actually on a committee. I wasn't there right from 83 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: the beginning. So I have to give you know, props 84 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: to who the committee who started this trend. But Women's 85 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: across the low down recruiting, and that was a big 86 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: piece of it. So now we are back to we 87 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: officially cannot talk to kids, We cannot recruit kids until 88 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: September one of their junior year. And again, in the past, 89 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: it did get to a point where you know you're 90 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: recruiting you know, freshman or sophomores, and so I get 91 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: parents saying that going to each tournament is important because 92 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: you can go to one of coach sees you you 93 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: start the relationship from there. So I understand that that 94 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: in Women's Across, we felt so strongly about it that 95 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: we made this huge push to to stop early recruiting 96 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: and really get back to how it used to be. 97 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: And again, like I said, this is part of it 98 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: because then it does allow you to get back to 99 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: playing other sports. And if you miss one tournament your 100 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 1: freshman year or your sophomore year, it's not a big deal. Yes, 101 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: as you get going into junior year, maybe that's where 102 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: you you know, focus a little more and you can't 103 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: miss as much er, you know, anything like that. But 104 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 1: we did that for, you know, one of the reasons 105 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: being multi sport athletes. So one of the things that 106 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: I don't think it's talked about enough is mental health, right, 107 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: And one of the things that I think early specialization 108 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: supports is that your identity gets tied to a certain 109 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: thing or your performance in a sport at a very 110 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: very young age. How do you think identity mental health 111 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: plays into early specialization those kids that are doing at 112 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: early ages. Yeah, No, I think it definitely does. I think, 113 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: you know, part of what I said in that tweets 114 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 1: you was, I think playing other sports like it challenges you, 115 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: but it's also it's fun because you can kind of 116 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,359 Speaker 1: make fun of yourself a little bit because you know 117 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: you're not as good, or you know you might not 118 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: have the skills. And I think when it's something that 119 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 1: you know, obviously you're passionate about, but maybe got as 120 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: much as something else, like you can laugh at yourself 121 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: a little bit, you can have fun, like you could 122 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: play loose. You realize it's just a game. You know, 123 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: all of those things that then will come into play 124 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: in the sport you choose right, you know, you understand 125 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 1: that you're gonna make mistake it just it all kind 126 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: of comes full circle on that side. And I think, yeah, 127 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:02,119 Speaker 1: when you're so you know, invested in something, is easy 128 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 1: to get wrapped up in it, and it is easy 129 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 1: to get just crazy about it, you know, not in 130 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: and not in a good way. It's a really fine line. 131 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: And I think, you know, when you can have fun 132 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: and other sports and and keep things light and you know, 133 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: enjoy it and and all these things, I think those 134 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: same concepts will come into the sport you do choose 135 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: and will help you. So I was able to interview. 136 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: I don't know if you've read the book yet. If 137 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: you haven't, I recommended the book Range by David Epstein. 138 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: It talks about a generalist versus a specialist, and the 139 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: dad is just compelling. He also wrote The Sports Team, 140 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: which talked about the tenth that he kind of defunct 141 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: the ten thousand hour rule and yeah, you're not defunct, 142 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: but just kind of gave another perspective. Well. Range just 143 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: really just game changing. And one of his quotes in 144 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: there he gave me was the earlier you match someone 145 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,359 Speaker 1: to a specific you know, task or whatever, is the 146 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: greater likely you've matched the person to the wrong task. 147 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 1: So it's kind of like you talked about before with 148 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: your own journey, you know, playing other things, are being 149 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: exposed to other activities. You may not know what you 150 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: want to do until your eighteen years old. Can you 151 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about your path, how you thought 152 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: you were going to play soccer and how you you know, 153 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: turn into lacrosse. Yeah, yeah, so I did the club 154 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: soccer circuit, so that's where I did travel, you know 155 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: all that. So, yeah, soccer was when I was younger, 156 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: my passion. It's what I thought, you know, I would 157 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: do and what I would play in college. And I 158 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: kind of picked up lacrosse later. Actually played women's across 159 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: for a year in six or seventh grade. Actually played 160 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: boys across when I was younger, and like you know, 161 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: sirtain fourth grade, picked up girls across in seventh grade. 162 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: But because you know, kind of to this point, I 163 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: was playing cup soccer and I missed a lot, so 164 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: I stopped playing and then picked to back up in 165 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: high school and I just had so like it was 166 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: so fun, you know, the sport that one I had 167 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: so much room to grow because I was new at 168 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: it and it was exciting and I loved it. You know, 169 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: it's just I didn't know until probably my junior year 170 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: that it was lacrosse, you know, junior year in high 171 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: school at least, I didn't take an official visit until 172 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: my senior year, you know, that's when official visits were. 173 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: I was looking at the College of New Jersey, so 174 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: at D three school, and maybe I would have played 175 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: both um there, but ended up getting an opportunity at 176 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: Northwestern really because she was starting a brand new program 177 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: and so she was just looking for athletes, you know, 178 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: because she could teach the game little across and she 179 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: just wanted the athletic kids who would buy in and 180 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 1: had a lot of room to grow. So it was 181 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: just and I happen to go to her lacrosse camp 182 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: that she was running. So I feel very lucky that 183 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: my you know, story ended up the way it did. 184 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: But you know, again, I think lacrosse for me was 185 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: just the thing where I had so much room to grow. 186 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: And you know, again, even when I was playing, you know, 187 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: we won two national championships my junior and senior year. 188 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: We want three more. When I coached there, UM had 189 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: the opportunity to play on the national team for two 190 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: World Cups, and we want to gold medals. But like 191 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: even then, I just I feel like I was still 192 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: growing as a little cross player because I hadn't played 193 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: you know, those years. I still loved it. I was 194 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: still passionate about it, and I was still getting better, 195 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: which was really really cool. But if I didn't play 196 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: soccer and basketball, I would not have been as good, 197 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: you know, as as successful as a lacrosse player as 198 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: I was. You know, there's something to be said about fatility. 199 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: I think it goes along with being a multi sport athlete, 200 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: being adaptable, kind of being able to adjust two different roles, 201 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: you know, on certain teams. I know, for me, I 202 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: went to college as a catcher and we're talking baseball, 203 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: and then you know, our team was, you know, we 204 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: won a national championship my sophomore year. We had a 205 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: ton of seniors. And my sophomore year I had the 206 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: d H because the catcher that was the senior started 207 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: over me. But I was in the lineup every day 208 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: because I hit. But I had to adjust to my role. 209 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: I was only an offensive player. I caught some, but 210 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: I kind of adapted to that role and I was 211 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: just happy to be in the lineup. It's then coming 212 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 1: up a lot where people are talking about how you know, 213 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: there's offense, there's defense, what's there to being versatile and 214 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: just talk a little bit about roles from a team 215 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: chemistry standpoint. Yeah, it's you know, the role conversation is 216 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 1: very interesting because you know, first and foremost, I am 217 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: a huge, huge believer of communication, you know, to be 218 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: transparent with players in terms of where you know they're 219 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: at and what they can do to improve. But having 220 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: the mindset of doing what is best for the team 221 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: should be everyone's role, you know, listening to the code, 222 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: being a great teammate, working your very best, Like that's 223 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: everyone's role. In my opinion, I think someone's skill set 224 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: is what needs to be discussed, you know, and hopefully 225 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 1: grown and sort of broadened and cultivated throughout their athletic experience. 226 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: And that's where you know, I've been kind of going 227 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: back and forth like maybe it's semantics, but I think 228 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: a lot of people are sort of striving for this role, 229 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: like what is my role? What is my role? And 230 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: it's interesting case I feel like it's such a destination, 231 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: like you want is it a scholarship, is it playing time? 232 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 1: Is it a starter? You know, what is it? But 233 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: then you know, okay, if what's your role, it's a starter, 234 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: you know, and is that it? Like, is that all 235 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: your role is? And I don't believe that, And I 236 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: think sometimes the role conversation can inhibit that versatility. Like 237 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: you're talking about, you know, if I tell someone that 238 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: their role is a cutter, like that's what I need 239 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: you to do? Are you not going to dodge? You know? 240 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: Are you're not going to be aggressive with the ball 241 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: because you don't think that you're good at that. So 242 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: it's it's tough. I put up host South the other 243 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: day about like multi sport combos that come up, and 244 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: I always think about Trevor Baptiste his face off ability 245 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: and I'm a savvy and lacrosse context or or I 246 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,959 Speaker 1: didn't play the sport, but when I think of lacrosse, 247 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: I think of being like a hybrid sport. To me, 248 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: it's like every sport in one. It seems like it's unbelievable. 249 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: I love it. I think it's incredible. But Trevor Baptiste 250 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 1: was a face off guy, but as that was that 251 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 1: his only role, I don't know. I'm asking you, like, 252 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: if you're a face off person, can that become your 253 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: only role, and does that mean that you're limited to that, 254 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: Like what if you have to fill in somewhere? Is 255 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: that kind of what you're talking about. Yeah, I mean 256 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: I think again, you know, face offs are very specific, 257 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: and I think, yeah, he is an incredible face off guy, 258 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: but you know he's scored plenty of goals through and 259 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: can be actually aggressive out of you know, winning a 260 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: face off. That yes, that is technically a role. But 261 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:49,559 Speaker 1: if you or a coach is sort of aggressively saying 262 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: like you need to get the ball and you need 263 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: to get it at your second, you need to get 264 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: off the field, you may lose you know a lot 265 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: of fast break opportunities because of that lack of confidence 266 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: in them. And so, yes, like face off is something 267 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: he really excels at obviously is one of the best, 268 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: but I think he's also very good at finishing the play, 269 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: at starting a fast break and potentially scoring goals out 270 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: of it, which is also really necessary for you know, 271 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: for the team. So again, I think even within a 272 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: defined role like that, it can be very limited or 273 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: you can actually give them the green light to develop 274 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 1: within that role. That's Lindsay Monday, head Women's lacrosse coach 275 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: at USC. When we return, Coach Monday and I talked 276 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: about versatility, what she looks for in new recruits, and 277 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: her advice to kids that want to play sports in college. 278 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Reform Sports Project podcast. Where Coach 279 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: Monday and I left off, We were about to discuss 280 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: the importance of versatility, what she looks for on the 281 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: recruiting trail, and her advice for those looking to play 282 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: sports in college. What propelled you as a player, If 283 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: I'm not mistaken, you want a couple of gold medals, 284 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 1: and you know you played at the highest level and 285 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: competed on the international stage, and you know, we're driven 286 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: and kept developing as you got older. You know, it 287 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 1: wasn't like you were one trick pony, right, You weren't 288 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 1: a specialist. You were a multi sport athlete coming up. 289 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: What was it that drove you internally intrinsically, you know, 290 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: to evolve as an athlete and as a person. What 291 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: allows you to be like kind of a hybrid and 292 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: soil versatile. Um, you know, it's interesting. I've been thinking 293 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: about this concept too, and I think, you know, I 294 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 1: don't know if it's sort of this age that is 295 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: like has changed a little bit, but I think being 296 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: all in is a huge, huge part of it. You know. 297 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: I think for me, when I commit to something, you know, 298 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: I'm like just fully fully in you know, um and 299 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: and committing to all of it and knowing that, you know, 300 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: I think this is the scariest part, right knowing that 301 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 1: if you go all in, like you might fail and 302 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: you might not make the team, and you might you know, 303 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: not be a starter, or you know, you might have 304 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 1: a setback or an injury or whatever. But I think 305 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: the only way to fully see your potential is to 306 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: really sort of let go and just be all in. 307 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: And that means back office and that is hard sometimes, 308 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: whether it was in college, but certainly for the US 309 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 1: team afterwards. I played for two World Cups, essentially, you know, 310 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: called like eight years of training, and you know, there 311 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: were certainly like a lot of things that I missed 312 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: in terms of whether it was like hanging out with 313 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: friends or you know, like sacrificing waking up at four 314 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: thirty in the morning to do like a crazy workout 315 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: before a flight because I knew I didn't have any 316 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: other time. Like, there are sacrifices that are involved in 317 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: again that that fear of failure you sort of have 318 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: to let go in order to really kind of fear 319 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: true potential. And I think that is something. Um it's scary, 320 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: it's hard, it's you know, it's nerve wracking, but I 321 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: think that is a big piece of sort of why 322 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: you know, I was able to be successful, And obviously 323 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: my parents instilled in me just that team aspect and 324 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: like listening to the coach because again, like if you 325 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: want to get on the field spoiler alert, listen to 326 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: the coach because they're going to give you the keys 327 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: to like what they want, you know, and so listening 328 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: to the coach, working hard, being a great teammate, Like 329 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: it sounds really simple, but it's not all the time. 330 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: And sometimes people they have, you know, their own thoughts 331 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: or their own agendas or whatever. But you know, I 332 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: think those things as simple as they are, as well 333 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: as committing fully to what you're doing. Um, again, it 334 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: sounds pretty simple, but I do think it's an indicator 335 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: of potential success. It was a Tom Brady special, like 336 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: you know, when they were talking about him being a 337 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: sixth round pick and I forget which coach it was. 338 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 1: When he's talking about Brady's like, you know, we saw 339 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: him running, We saw this, we saw this, and we're like, 340 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: god he goes with the problem is we couldn't tear 341 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: his chest open and see how big his heart was. 342 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: You can't see how hard he's willing to work and 343 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: push himself like we had no there's no way to 344 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: see that. How do you on the recruiting trail see 345 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: who has that character, who has that all in mentality? 346 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: You know? How can you find that stuff? Yeah, it's 347 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: a it's a really good question. It's hard. But I 348 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: think to circle back to to your point sort of before, 349 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: in terms of recruiting these days, or the nature of 350 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: trying to, you know, get a kid to your school, 351 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: I think a lot of these kids have only sort 352 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: of been the best or only had all this praise 353 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: of your so great, we'd love you, we'd love you, 354 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: all these things. But I think, to Tom Brady, or 355 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: even like myself, I'm really thankful for the challenges that 356 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: I had, you know, for not making the US team 357 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: when I tried out twice, you know before I actually 358 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: made it, not being recruited to all these schools, and 359 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: having all these schools tell me they love me because 360 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 1: I wasn't great across you know, I was always very 361 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: very grateful for the opportunities I had because I knew 362 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: that they weren't easy and that not not everyone got them, 363 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: and it wasn't the norm to have all these things. 364 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: And so I think trying to figure out how people 365 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: have gone through struggle, you know, whether it was in 366 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: another sport or academically or with their family anything, I 367 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: think a big indicator of heart of resilience, um exactly. 368 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: And I think you have to ask those questions, you know, 369 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: when when you're going through two recruits and just see 370 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: you know, because a lot of times if you ask 371 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: someone what's the hardest thing you've gone through, they'll be like, oh, 372 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: well when I got cut, my coach did this, and 373 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: you know, the team did this, and sort of blame people. 374 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: But I think being able to take accountability and make 375 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: a change out of something, you know, that's tough, I 376 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: think can show a lot about someone me And I 377 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: say that to my girls all the time. It's like, 378 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,120 Speaker 1: when things are easy, everyone can be great, a great teammate, 379 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: you know, and be positive and be happy and work 380 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: hard and sort of all of these things. But who 381 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 1: are you when you're backs against the wall? Who are 382 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: you after that injury? Who are you if you're not playing? 383 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: Who are you if you know you're going through struggle? 384 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: Are you gonna sacrifice all your values and and be 385 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: negative and go against the coach and go against the 386 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 1: team or are you gonna really stay true to your 387 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 1: core values? And again, like that's when you'll really see, 388 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 1: you know, who's who is when their backs are against 389 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: the wall. What's your advice to a parent who's trying 390 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: to navigate through this culture of specialization and kind of 391 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,239 Speaker 1: professionalization and youth sports. Yeah, well, I think, first and 392 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:00,160 Speaker 1: foremost for for kids and for parents, like, don't takeing 393 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 1: so seriously. You know, I think a lot of times, 394 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: especially at nine, intent like we treat things like life 395 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: and death like in terms of a game. When you 396 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: pare it down, we're talking about filacasse like a stick 397 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: in a ball and like a goal. That's what we're 398 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 1: talking about. So then when you're crying over games or 399 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 1: you're freaking out about basing one game, when your tenure 400 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: like it's the game. We're supposed to play this because 401 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: it's fun and we enjoy it. And I think when 402 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: you put so much pressure on things, it becomes not fun. 403 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: You know, it becomes a chore, it becomes a job, 404 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: and then you end up presenting things. And like that's 405 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 1: not the point of this, you know, of of why 406 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: we meant to play sports. You know, you do it 407 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: because it's something bigger than yourself and you love it, 408 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: and it creates relationships, and it challenges you and it 409 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 1: drives you and all of these things. But not to 410 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: end up presenting it and so that would be the 411 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,679 Speaker 1: biggest thing for me. Um, it's just sort of you know, 412 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 1: take it less seriously and enjoy it, have fun. Don't 413 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: get so worked up about you know, missing one thing 414 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: or specializing. Just do what you want to do. And 415 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: you know, and I do think playing other sports is 416 00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: going to help you and whatever sport you do end 417 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: up and doesn't mean this crazy club, you know, basketball 418 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: team if you want to play soccer, but just play 419 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: you know, street ball if that, you know, do just play, like, 420 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: just enjoy other sports and challenge yourself and have fun. 421 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,399 Speaker 1: It's fun a key components. Fun have to be involved 422 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: in it in order to achieve any level of success. Yes, 423 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: a thousand percent, I think you know anyway that you 424 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: can provide that for us. As a coach, we try 425 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: every single day to figure out other ways we can 426 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: do that. And right now I'm on the field about 427 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: to play. There's a football out, there's dodgeballs and frisbee 428 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 1: and you know this spring before warm up. If people 429 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: get here early, just go play whenever you want, get loose, 430 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 1: have fun. And you should have seen the first day 431 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: we brought volleyball. Note it was like they won the 432 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: national championship. But Mike, if that's all I have to 433 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: do is gode balls out five minutes before practice, cool, 434 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: like that's the weird you know, Yeah, just enjoy it, 435 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 1: have fun. Ahwesome Coach Lindsey Monday, I just cannot thank 436 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: you enough. Good luck on the season. I'm just grateful 437 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: that on a call that's Lindsay Monday, head Women's across 438 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: coach and you wes C. Thanks for listening to The 439 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: Reform Sports Project podcast Dominic Boncourt and our goal is 440 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: to restore a healthy balance and perspective in all areas 441 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: of sports through education and advocacy. For updates, please follow 442 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or check out our 443 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 1: website by searching for the Reform Sports project