Page 32 - Godstowe USA Lacrosse Tour 2018

Queen Anne’s School
An independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18
The right choice for
your daughter’s future
Regular open mornings
hosted throughout the year
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www.qas.org.uk/bookanevent
A range of
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Caversham, Berkshire
T: +44 (0)118 918 7300
QAS.- Godstowe LAX Tour - full page.indd 1 15/02/2018
TEAM TALK
Leading a lacrosse team
Being asked to captain a team can be an exciting yet daunting experience.
However, remaining positive throughout the team’s highs and lows is key,
as former England Lacrosse captain Laura Merrifield explains
exposure for the Senior Women’s
best I could make it to enable me
have been involved in the sport
I of lacrosse for 15 years and I am
press and television coverage. This is
naturally very passionate about the World Cup – both from the national to confidently lead by example. I
trained hard so that my fitness levels
sport that has given me so much. I an exciting step forward for lacrosse were the highest they had ever been,
started my playing career at and an extra responsibility for the keeping strictly to the strength and
St. George’s School, Harpenden players. I found myself taking part conditioning programme that had
and it was there that I had my first in many interviews not only prior been created specifically for me. In
experience as captain of the school to the World Cup, but also during this way I hoped to gain the respect
of my teammates and instil in them
team. This instilled in me a strong
the tournament itself. I have always
found that a positive approach to
sense of responsibility, which I have
a strong work ethic and disciplined
carried with me throughout my leadership has been essential, even approach to training.
playing career. I have had the privilege after a disappointing defeat and I
To reach any goal everyone knows
of being selected as captain at county, always tried to maintain that attitude
hours spent working towards
regional, and international level, as even when faced with a close loss that you must work hard. All the
England co-captain at both the U19 early in the World Cup tournament. improving my game and keeping
World Championships in 2007 and
my motivation high enough to play
In my interviews, I would always
the Senior Women’s World Cup in try to focus on the positive, at an elite level has been a huge
July 2017. drawing attention to key players commitment. I am a teacher at
Being selected as captain is an in the game and talking about how Wycombe Abbey School and their
incredible honour and to lead we were going to learn from our support and encouragement helped
the team out onto the field at mistakes to improve performance me on my World Cup journey. Staff
the start of a game fills me with in upcoming matches. members and pupils would often give
immense pride. Playing against top leader and preparation for the encouraging words which helped me
As captain, you are the team
international sides is very different
with early morning training sessions
from normal day-to-day match play World Cup brought exciting new and getting the work and training ➢
balance right.
and, as captain, I felt accountability
challenges. I took pride in helping
for team performance. We were very to set the standard, making sure
Below: the England team line up at the Senior
lucky to have unprecedented media that my own performance was the Women’s World Cup in July 2017
www.godstowe.org GODSTOWE USA LACROSSE TOUR 2018 33
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