My name is Taylor and I am West Morris Central High School Wolfpack Varsity Lacrosse Stat Girl. This is my story of what my job is, What I've learned from it, and how and why I've fallen in love with lacrosse.
1. I do not just sit at the table and look pretty.
Yeah, stats isn't all I do! That girl you see across the field sitting at the stat table, yeah that's me. I'm not just sitting there. I'm doing a lot of hard work being a part of the team. My job consists of a lot of work.
Don't let this photo deceive you.
2. Game time set up.
This includes, setting up the stat table, which means, getting the roster written in the book for both teams. Check the starting line. Make sure both teams names, numbers, and player positions are all right in the book before the captain line up before the starting face off.
3. Who do you think runs that scoreboard?
After the book is filled in, power up the scoreboard. Scoreboard, game clock, and penalties? Oh yeah that's also me. The scoreboard runs the game clock, score, and penalties for both teams. As I'm watching the game writing in stats, I also have to be on top of my own game while watching the game being played, to work the clock, put up the score, and track penalties. Oh, yeah, did I mention I'm also watching the game and writing an entire team stats? I'm also doing all of this by myself.
4. Going away.
The crazy bus rides with the boys. It is also part of my job to hop on that sweaty, smelly, teenaged boy bus with the entire team of over 40 high school boys and coaches. At least I make the best of it. I do my jobs worth on away days too. Ride the bus there with them, take stats at the game, become friends with the opposing team stat people, take the bus home and socialize with the boys.
Not being on the sideline all the time sitting at a table not being able to talk to the boys while we're all at work, gives us the chance to socialize on the bus rides. On our way home from away games, I pass out the team sandwiches from the cooler and get to talk with the boys. I also put up with their teenaged boy shenanigans. They're quite rambunctious on the bus rides home. They're sweaty and smell after a long game whether win or lose, it all comes back to the bus. They're loud and don't always talk about the most appropriate or intelligent things. For the most part, they're fun. I've seen them play baseball with gatorade bottles and caps. There's never not something amusing happening that makes me smile and laugh the way home.
5. Not just a team. Family.
What I love about these boys most is I have never seen anyone specifically any group of boys share such a strong bond. They're all great friends with each other. It's like one big team of brothers. I love how they've welcomed me to that too. They've shown that they'll be there for me and now I know they have my back. They help me out and stick up for me when I make mistakes and don't take crap from other teams; that goes for my coaches too. My coaches have settled opposing team coaches from yelling at me when they don't like the job I'm doing.
6. Not just a job. Loving lifestyle.
Besides the fact that it's a paying job, now that I'm not a volunteer high school student anymore, I'm not just doing it for the money. I held this job previously in my high school years, where I volunteered my time and didn't get paid and fell in love with the game. My coaches and team treat me like family. They respect me and the job I do for them and I feel and know I'm appreciated. I wouldn't be doing this job if I didn't love it. I love having multiple days a week to look forward to being part of a team, working a game, and getting to learn new aspects of a sport I've come to love.
Thank You, Wolfpack, for teaching me and making me a valuable part of your team.
