How Chasing a Small Orange Ball Taught Me How to Learn and Lead

The other day, I saw a few kids playing lacrosse. Just a couple of sticks, a ball, and a lot of energy. It reminded me just how much playing lacrosse shaped the person I am today.

Some of the most formative lessons in my life didn’t just come from classrooms, boardrooms, or books. They also came from a lacrosse field.

For those unfamiliar with lacrosse, the game is straightforward.  Two teams compete on a field similar in size to a soccer pitch and layout of a hockey rink, working to score more goals than their opponent by shooting a small rubber ball into a net using a specialized stick.

But beneath that simple objective lies a game of constant motion, strategy, and precision. Lacrosse is about coordinated movement, sharp teamwork, and mastering the game’s ever-shifting momentum. Every pass, pick, cut, and ground ball is a building block — each one critical to breaking down defenses and creating the moments that lead to scoring opportunities. It is chess with some added bumps and bruises.

When I first started playing, I had no real lacrosse skills, knowledge of the game, idea what I was doing, or why — just a way to pass some time with friends that quickly turned into an obsession. That simple introduction turned into something so much bigger than I ever expected. Lacrosse didn’t just become a sport I played, it became one of the foundational experiences that shaped who I am.

Learning How to Learn

Lacrosse taught me how to learn — not just facts or strategies, but how to truly absorb something new, break it down, practice it, and apply it. It was humbling to start from scratch after being good at many other sports. I dropped passes, missed ground balls, and made mistakes that made me cringe. But every day, I showed up.

In those early days, my first coaches weren’t adults with whistles — they were my friends and their older siblings, that played at a college level or were on the high school team. They took the time to teach and encourage me, and most importantly were patient, even when they probably didn’t want to be, as I learned the basics. 

As I grew more confident in my abilities I was driven by a deep desire to succeed — not only to be the best on the field, but to improve, contribute, and earn my place as well as the respect of the team and coaches. In those early days, I watched the best players closely, mimicked their footwork, how they moved, carried themselves, asked questions, and practiced the basics relentlessly. What started as an often frustrating new beginning became a pursuit of perfection and a challenge that I willingly accepted.

Over time, as I learned, made steady progress, and grew into the game, I was fortunate to have great coaches and mentors. They refined my fundamentals, challenged me, and helped me understand where I fit in — not just in terms of position, but in terms of mindset, leadership, and responsibility. They pushed me when I needed it, believed in me when I doubted myself, and showed me what it meant to lead by example.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that I wasn’t just learning lacrosse — I was learning how to learn, teach, and lead.  How to be patient with myself and others. How to take feedback. How to focus on small, daily improvements that, over time, become transformative.

Perseverance and Progress

One of the greatest lessons lacrosse provided me was about perseverance. In the early days, I wasn’t the most naturally gifted lacrosse player on the field, no one is usually great the first time they do something, but I was determined, committed — and I had a supportive team around me that kept me going. That determination paid off — I made the varsity team as a sophomore. No small feat as hundreds tried out and only three sophomores were selected. Not because I was the fastest or flashiest, but because I kept grinding, put in the work, and became a good and reliable player and teammate. I arrived at practice early, left last, and humbly mastered the little things.

The truth, I have learned in my short lifetime, is that real progress in life rarely comes in big leaps. It comes from showing up every day, doing the work, and making small changes that slowly add up to a sum greater than their individual contribution. That lesson has followed me into every area of life — work, relationships, personal growth. Success is rarely sudden. It’s usually quiet, steady, built over time, often a challenge, and often requires more than you. As a coach I had often stated, "goals are scored and games are won in practice."

Finding My Role: The Servant Leader

I found my place on the team as a midfielder — not always the goal scoring star, but always in the middle of the action doing the work that doesn’t show up in the stats. I was setting and executing the strategy for both offense and defense, making the tough clears, winning ground balls, and setting up scoring plays. That position helped me understand what it means to be a servant leader. Not the loudest voice in the huddle, or someone who scores the most goals, but someone who tried to lead by example, helps others succeed — who puts in the effort, is consistent, makes the smart pass, hustles back on defense, and keeps the team moving forward toward the goal and adjusts strategy in an ever-changing environment. 

The most rewarding moments weren't scoring a goal myself — and yes, I had my share of goals and delivered some hard hits — but watching others succeed, like my friend, one of the team’s attack stars. He was also the person who first introduced me to lacrosse, so those moments where he scored on a pass or play that I helped set up carried extra pride. After a goal, and he scored quite a bit, he always made a point to come over with a tap on the helmet with his stick or punch in the arm and a remark like, “Great hustle,” “Nice pass,” or “That’s it.” That kind of recognition meant quite a bit to me and was very motivating.

What was more impressive was that he always made a habit of ensuring everyone — felt acknowledged and appreciated for their contribution. He understood that while he might have put the ball in the net, the play started long before the shot. Ground balls, clears, winning face-offs, ball movement, smart passes, a great goal save — it all mattered. He made a point to always recognize the contribution of everyone. His goal celebration was always the recognition of others contributions first. That is character and leadership! This genuine gratitude and encouragement was consistent in practice or games. Today he is a professor and the same attributes are reflected in many of his students comments on various social sites. Still bringing out the best in others.

As a team, the culture we created through mutual support was evident when one of the least skilled players entered a game and scored. We as a team celebrated like we had won a championship game. It was a great moment to see someone who put in the time daily as a practice player, execute and receive such a reception. I am certain we left the opposing team very confused.

Moments like those reminded me why I played and reinforced the team concept. I was earning trust, fulfilling my role as a member of a team, and everything thing I did was contributing to something bigger than myself. 

How to Win, How to Lose, and How to Belong

Lacrosse taught me how to win — and maybe more importantly, how to lose. We celebrated the big wins, and we felt the sting of tough losses. I learned to leave it all on the field and learn from it, and when the final whistle blew, to shake hands with humility and respect, even when it was a hard pill to swallow. I learned how to own mistakes, how to lift myself and teammates after a rough game, and how to come back stronger and practice harder the next day.

Through it all — wins, losses, and everything in between — I found belonging. I found a team that held each other accountable, supported one another, and worked toward something greater than individual recognition.  We also had a lot of fun along the way. 

More Than a Game

Lacrosse wasn’t just a sport. It was a proving ground. It taught me how to learn, persevere, lead, and how to be part of a team. It gave me the chance to fail safely, to grow consistently, and to feel the pride of helping others shine.

Even now, long after my last competitive game, the lessons from lacrosse are still with me — in how to build relationships, approach challenges, strategize and execute. Lacrosse helped me find my voice, confidence, and role as both a leader and a teammate. To think it all started with a willingness to try something new and chase a little orange ball around a field.

-Greg Originally posted on LinkedIn April 6, 2025