NLL Insider

I’ve never really liked that saying because, I’m not wicked. OK, maybe wicked awesome but only the So-Cal surfers talk like and I’m a laid back Vancouver islander who likes to get out there and give ‘er.

But for the few hundred National Lacrosse League superstars the “rest” period is literally no time at all.

For most players, as soon as their team has played their last game of the season they head home, get razzed by their friends for not being in the post season or in the final. They spend their first free weekend in 6 months with their family and catch up on some much needed sleep. However, after that little break it’s right back in the saddle for the grueling summer months of lacrosse.

After 16 weeks of bone-crunching hits, countless bruises, ice baths and enough air miles to get you to Tahiti and back, there’s nothing like strapping on the gear again for 3 more months of even more aggressive and chippy lacrosse that leads to the goal that all of us Canadian lacrosse players grew up playing for: The Mann Cup!

Now, if you have never stepped foot into an arena in Brampton, St. Catharines, Peterborough, Victoria, Coquitlam or New West that’s filled with lacrosse craved fans in the middle of August, you have no idea what these guys go through. Outside, it’s 25 degrees (Celsius), no air conditioning inside and 30 guys running around sweating right through their jerseys for over an hour is something to be witnessed in person. (I recommend that even the fans hydrate before one of those games!)

So if you think about it, if you start with the NLL season and its training camp, a player could easily play from mid November to early May, take a short week break, and then jump right back into the fire with summer ball from mid May to late September! That’s 10 months of straight lacrosse. Oh, and that two-month break isn’t much of a break at all. Most guys are nursing all of their injuries and building up holiday time so they can miss games for the NLL season, since guys have to take every weekend off. Most guys have to cover shifts and work as much as they can so that when they need time off in the winter, they have extra sick days/holiday time to take off, and doing everything they can to make sure they have a home and or a league sometimes to play in the following year.

With all but the Major Series circuit out West started, the eastern loops starts on the 24th, and you can pretty much find all of your favorite NLL superstars at an arena near you. The summer season is that much more intense for the players, and that much more enjoyable for the fans ’cause there is no loud rock music, no TV timeouts, dance teams and or overzealous announcers telling what to do. It’s lacrosse in its purest form!

So grab your pocket change and buy a ticket quick cause in a few months the lacrosse players will go into hibernation for the fall and you will wonder when the wicked will wake up and begin their 10 month battle for supremacy.

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