Q&A: Coach's Corner tries to figure out lacrosse

Full disclosure, I still struggle to enjoy watching the sport of lacrosse.

It has become one of the most popular sports for today's youth, and its popularity is on a steep incline. I fully respect that lacrosse has become the go-to sport for many of our Glenview and Northbrook youth. In fact, I see more kids in the park or front yards playing "catch" with lacrosse sticks than I do the old baseball and mitt. These times they are a changin', that's for sure.

To gain some level of appreciation of the game - and instead of wandering aimlessly on sidelines pretending to know what I am looking at - I decided to go right to the source.

In this case the "source" is longtime Glenview resident Pete Collins, now the very successful head coach for the New Trier Trevian girls lacrosse team. Collins grew up in Glenview, went to Hoffman School, Springman Junior High and then starred in football as an undersized - but tough-as-nails - nose guard for the Titans football teams.

He is now is raising his own family right here in town. His son Will is a star wrestler and football player for GBS but suffered a couple serious injuries keeping him out of action the past two years - particularly in football. Daughter Abby attended Christian Heritage Academy. No doubt, Collins is Glenview "Through and Through."

Here is a rough (emphasis on rough) script of my question-and-answer session with Collins to see if I could gain any better understanding of this confusing sport.

Coach's Corner: So, what exactly should I be looking for when I watch lacrosse?

Collins: Think basketball on grass. The strategies are somewhat similar.

Coach's Corner: Good start. Basketball I can relate to. Any chance there is a three-point shot in lacrosse?

Collins: No.

Coach's Corner: Didn't think so, but thought I'd take a shot at it. So why has the sport become so popular with today's youth?

Collins: It's fast-moving, plenty of action, and there is lots of room for individual creativity. It plays to the current mindset of a lot of today's kids.

Coach's Corner: What are the basic rules of the game a beginning fan should know?

Collins: Depends on if you are watching a guys game or girls game. The goal is the same size for both, but after that there are a lot of differences. The ball is different, the field size is different, the sticks are different. And most of all, there is much more physicality allowed in the guys game.

Coach's Corner: Sounds kind of sexist, no?

Collins: No, not really. That is just the tradition of the game. But they are starting to change things and make the game faster now for the girls. Quicker restarts, as the girls used to have to freeze on every whistle, and they changed the three-second rule in front of the goal - so progress is being made.

Coach's Corner: Wait? Girls had to freeze upon each whistle and stoppage of play?

Collins: Yup.

Coach's Corner: That's brutal.

Collins: (silence)

Coach's Corner: What about positions; who plays where?

Collins: There are attackers, defenders and midfielders, and then a restraining line which can only be crossed by midfielders.

Coach's Corner: A restraining line? Limiting players' freedom of movement? Seems kind of archaic, no?

Collins: I have class starting in a few minutes, any other questions?

Coach's Corner: Yes, so did you play lacrosse in high school or college and how did you get into coaching it?

Collins: I did not play lacrosse in high school. Really didn't know much about it at all, but I was student teaching at Evanston High School and got introduced to the sport as intramural director. Then when I got the job at New Trier, I knew I wanted to coach the sport. I was J.V. coach for a number of years, before becoming head coach. Love the sport now, and I really enjoy coaching the girls.

Coach's Corner: Any rule change you would like to see?

Collins: Less whistles. Too much stoppage of play, but as I said, they are starting to address this.

Coach's Corner: If a fan wants to yell at the referee, what should they be looking for?

Collins: Most fans don't really know the rules, so they don't yell at the ref. We have a hard enough time getting officials that really know the sport - we don't want to lose any due to fan abuse.

Coach's Corner: Who are some of the top schools or programs besides New Trier?

Collins: Definitely Loyola. Glenbrook South is getting much better, and Hinsdale Central is a new powerhouse.

Coach's Corner: OK, I think I may understand things a little bit better now. Any chance you want to do another interview at the end of the season?

Collins: Probably not.

Coach's Corner: As you can tell Collins is a man of few words. Particularly when dealing with smart aleck journalist like me.

But make no mistake, this ex-Titan who came in with zero experience or knowledge of the game of lacrosse, has become one of the most respected coaches in the state. He will often give talks and seminars on the sport, and he always goes out of his way to help some of the younger coaches learn and grow the game (as others did for him).

Glenview and New Trier are lucky to have Collins, as well as his support and knowledge. A no-nonsense guy who is really dedicated to kids and teaching.

As for me and my lacrosse "deficiencies?" I may meander out to the field this spring and pretend like I know what I am watching.

But one thing I know for sure? This sport is here to stay.

• Jon Cohn of Glenview is a coach, retired PE teacher, sports official and prep sports fan. To contact him with comments or story ideas, email jcsportsandtees@aol.com.