1. What's your favorite part about coaching lacrosse?Kat: It would have to be being on a team again. Of course I am on the other side and it's a tad different, but I love practice, and most of the time I am overly excited. Also, since I have not played lacrosse in awhile, I sometimes am allowed to play with them and love it!!!
2. What has been the biggest challenge going from player to coach?
Kat: My biggest challenge has been slowing down my explanations and communicating clearly what I want the players to do. For instance, it takes me awhile to figure out how to explain certain defensive movements that came naturally to me and my defenders do not understand why someone should move like that. I speak without thinking my explanations through.
3. Did you always know that you wanted to coach?Kat: No, not really. I actually started coaching in Aspen for something else to do after the ski season ended. But after a few practices, I fell in love with the sport again. It was way too much fun helping the newbie middle schoolers with their defense and stick work. The best part was when a sixth grader, about the smallest person on the field, stopped the ball by leaving her girl in a game. It was so awesome! It's the best feeling.
4. Are you enjoying life in Colorado?
Kat: Life in Colorado is great. It is very different from East Coast living. It's more relaxed. I have picked up a lot of new sports and activities that I didn't do at the beach like hiking and skiing. Also, I want to get into road biking and mountain biking, but unfortunately bikes are rather expensive.
5. What do you do outside of the office and off of the field?Kat: Outside of the springs, I am also a ski instructor in Aspen, CO. I have friends and family near there and can go to Aspen to work during the winter break because of school, which is the best thing in the world. We also don't practice on weekends so it gives me the ability to go skiing and visit some of my ranch friends in Wyoming as well.
6. What do you miss most about W&L/Lexington?
Kat:I miss my college friends and lacrosse family the most. Being on the other side of the country is a little hard to see everyone and keep in touch.
7. Do you still keep in touch with Generals Lax Alums?
Kat: I try to. Facebook is always a great thing as well as skype. Last April, we had a get together with the 2008ers in Virginia Beach.. I don't come over to the East Coast very often so we try to organize a fun weekend when I do. I hope this year when I come over with the Colorado College team that I will see some of my friends. We are coming to DC in March during Tilbor’s birthday weekend and then I am coming to Baltimore for a coaching conference in January. Also, I hope to see Bender and RBarr in Maine in April when we play Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin. The only 2008er I haven’t chatted with in a while is Henson. She is over in Africa saving the world and it’s just really hard to keep up, but I hear from my other friends that she is glorious and doing wonderfully.
8. If you could give one piece of advice to current Generals Lax players, what would it be?
Kat: Go somewhere different and live on your own for awhile. If going to DC or NY is what you have been dying to do since you could remember, go for it, but if there is any hesitation, go explore the country or world for that matter. Live life before you have to settle down and become a real adult person (YIKES!). If you need a connection out here, give me a shout. I will be out here for a little bit and would love to show you the West. Just remember, DC and NY will always be there and will be an easy transition if you decide that’s what you want.
*Note: There were problems accessing the link in Christine Bender's last post - please try this instead: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=10633843
