Stay Rooted
What makes the lacrosse community unique is its power of bringing virtual strangers together. Every college team, postgrad tournament, camp, convention - you name it - you are connected to someone there. At these events when you meet someone new you will inevitably find something in common whether it be former teammates or coaches, family members who were teammates, the list goes on. And it is often quite beautiful how connected we are in this game. Everywhere you go, you can meet someone new in the lacrosse community that is connected to you by no more than three to five layers of connection. Yes, no more than five. I'm convinced.
I was born in Jupiter, Florida but grew up in Lake Tapps, Washington - a small town just a short drive south of Seattle. I was in elementary school when I first started playing, but lacrosse pretty much didn't exist in my area. Most of the schools that played lacrosse were in the city or on the upper east side. Luckily, my father, Louis, grew up and played in Rochester, New York for Rush Henrietta High School. He was a talented midfielder, a workhorse, and on track to play at the US Naval Academy before being paralyzed in a motorcycle accident at 19. My dad gave my siblings and I our first stick as soon as we could walk. He and my mom helped start the first lacrosse program in our area and he coached my siblings and I all the way through high school. I was fortunate enough to play DII at the University of Tampa with my brother Michael and then transferred to play DIII Aurora University where I graduated in 2018. I continue to play Sr. B for the Ladner Pioneers and have ambitions to play in the NLL and WLA.
Lacrosse has given me the opportunity to play in no less than 20 different states and 2 countries. It has given me the opportunity to meet countless people. It has given me my most meaningful relationships and friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Undoubtedly, it will give me many more of these outstanding opportunities and friendships as I continue to play and coach. I have and always will cherish every second I get to play this game. Yes, I get to play. It is not entitled to me. It is undoubtedly a privilege, and I am a product of that privilege.
That's where Rooted Lacrosse comes in. I wanted to create a platform that brings the lacrosse community together and ultimately leave it better than I found it. I want players to be able to make the same meaningful connections I have made. With Rooted Lacrosse I aim to provide playing opportunities while weaving in lessons on leadership and giving back to our communities. The latter is most important to me and it is the focal point of Rooted Lacrosse. I do not believe our connection to one another ends as soon as we step off the field and put our sticks down.
Lacrosse, the Creator's game, is a communal game for all to play. To quote the late Chief Paul Waterman of the Onondaga Nation, "Lacrosse was a gift to us from the Creator, to be played for his enjoyment and as a medicine game for healing the people." Personally, I feel that too often we play this game without that in mind. With Rooted Lacrosse, I hope to change that. I hope to instill the notion that, yes, we should train hard and play ferociously to become the best lacrosse players we can be. But, this should all be done while giving back two-, three-, four-fold to the community that made us and give the same opportunity to others.
I understand that with creating Rooted Lacrosse I have also created a platform to enact change and it is where I will spend most of my efforts. There are many issues I'd like to tackle with Rooted Lacrosse. However, none are more prevalent than systemic racism that has plagued our country since its inception. In the wake of George Floyd's death and many others, the cause to end racial injustice and police brutality takes top priority because action needs to be taken, NOW.
I think as we begin to make changes in our country we first have to address our immediate family. For me, that is the lacrosse community. We now must look at the lacrosse community in its current state. Let’s be honest with ourselves. We must truly reflect and ask ourselves these questions about the Creator's Game as we know it. At its current state, is it truly for everyone? Does everyone have equitable access to the game? Are we, the lacrosse community, doing everything we can to make it accessible and welcome for all? In our governing bodies, is everyone's voice - specifically Black voices - truly and fairly represented? I will not leave myself out of this line of questioning. I am just as complicit. Just as I have benefitted from systemic racism, I too have benefitted from an unjust system in the microcosm of our game.
Change cannot come overnight and it is okay to be new to the conversation. We can choose to be a part of it today. I hope that with Rooted Lacrosse I can improve the lacrosse family that has made me who I am today… that has given me the game that is the essence of my being. I hope my family continues to grow. It is a game that heals and it is a game for all.
Above all else, be kind. Stay Rooted.
Joey
