2019- 2020 Delaware Valley Junior Lacrosses

Scholarship Winners: 

Madeline Bill & Charlie Niebuhr

What Does Honoring the Game Mean to You?

Honor the Game

By: Madeline Bill

In my first year as a young second grader, I was just learning the basic skills of the game and

trying to be the best one on the field. Not much sticks out from that first year, except being told

countless times to “Honor the Game”. As I continued to play for the Chargers, year after year,

that maxim became ingrained in my mind and in my teammates’ minds as well. At the time, I

was unsure of what it really meant, other than to play with respect. Play with respect for yourself, your teammates, opponents, coaches, refs, and fans. Although that is part of it, I have come to realize that there is more to honoring the game than just respect. To honor the game has multiple meanings including, giving every minute you are on the field your all. Giving it your all begins with finding respect for the game and all that it entails, which translates to committing yourself to being the best player you can be. Honoring the game means realizing that there is something new to be learned every practice and that there is always room for improvement. It means finding that mistakes are not a bad thing; they are simply an opportunity to learn and try again. Throughout my high school lacrosse career, I have had the opportunity to grow and find a deep connection with this saying and have realized that to honor the game is a strong lesson in itself. It has taught me a lot about the game and has given me a standard to hold myself accountable to.With honoring the game comes success and greatness. I believe that honoring the game is relevant to more than just lacrosse, it is a lesson that can be applied to all aspects of life.

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Honor the Game

By: Charlie Niebuhr

This past winter, my friend Matt passed away suddenly on New Years Day. At first I wasn’t

bothered by losing my friend who I had played lacrosse with for seven summers. Not until the

funeral had I realized how much it had effected me.

Ever since the moment of seeing my team fall apart sobbing in front of our teammates dead

body, playing lacrosse has never been the same. Ever since that moment of realizing that the guy I had warmed up with before every game since fifth grade was gone, I realized what lacrosse meant to me.

Ever since that moment, I understood what it meant to Honor the Game.

Losing my friend Matt has changed the way I think about the game of lacrosse. Before, I saw the game as something fun because I was good at it. After, I saw that similarly to Matt, lacrosse

represented my entire life.

So what does Honoring the Game mean to me? For most people, they see Honoring the Game as paying respect for those who played before; their parents, siblings, or even the Native

Americans. For me, Honoring the Game is being able to let game of lacrosse change your life.

Without lacrosse, my entire life would be different. I would have never made the friends I still

have today, I would have never been able to travel all around the east coast for the past seven

summers for tournaments, and I would have never experienced the death of my friend Matt.

Honoring the Game is all about letting the game of lacrosse lead you somewhere you could have not gotten to without it. Looking back on my history with lacrosse, I realize that, lacrosse made me who I am today. As I go off to play lacrosse in college next year, I reflect on my entire

experience with the sport; all my teammates I met in middle school who became my best friends, all the different coaches I had who taught me how to be more mature, respectful, patient and confident and, most importantly I reflect on the death of my friend Matt; who made me realize that life is real.

Congratulations!!

2018-2019 Delaware Valley Junior Lacrosses Scholarship Winners:

What Does Honoring the Game Mean to You?

Clayton Middings, Chargers player grades 3-8 and High School Lacrosse Player:

Honor the game, a phrase I have heard for the majority of my life. From the very start of my long lacrosse career, coaches have been telling me to honor the game. Personally I do my very best to do so. Your probably wondering what it means to me, well I am about to tell you. To  me, honor the game means get done what needs to get done. You do what you have 10 do on and off the field. This constitutes many things including behavior, school work/ work in general, the 

gym, etc. 

I have been working my butt off this year trying to fulfill my dream of playing college lacrosse. With hard work, determination and honoring the game I got what I needed to get done. I may not play that much but I work harder than everyone, this helped me get to where I am at. I took everything one step at a time, starting with grades. I studied, studied and studied some more. This has been my best school year by far, all A's and B’s. I lift at least three tiines a week and of course I hit the wall everyday. Lacrosse has a special place in my heart and it will nevergo away. If I could I would play all day everyday. 

Honoring the game isn't about your win percentage, or how many goals you scored, or any other stat; it is all about getting to together with friends and having fun. The wins come when everyone is working hard but having the most fun possible. To honor the game you must be respectful, responsible, hard working and disciplined. It doesn't take much effort but it will take you a long way. I hope you got at least one thing from this, Honor the Game. 

Kelsey O'Connor, Chargers player grades 7-8, Del Val H.S. Varsity Lacross Grades 11-12:

Playing in the Chargers Junior Lacrosse program not only taught me the game of lacrosse, but how to be a true athlete and Honor the Game. As an athlete of the Chargers program, I developed an appreciation and respect for those who, without, I would not be able to play. The game not only involves my team, but the dedication of a coach who has sacrificed time and effort to share the sport they love. The game is able to be played because the parents  volunteer to line the fields and support the program as well as share the excitement of the players on the sideline.

Through the program I learned to respect the girls on the other teams and to play honestly, for the love of the game. I learned to appreciate the referee and respect the call, period. My coaches throughout the program taught me to respect the game and to let my coaches advocate for me. The program taught me to treat my teammates like family and to look out for each other on and off the field. All of these components are so important in forming an athlete of the Chargers program and should be appreciated through every practice and every moment of every game because none of it would be possible without them. To Honor the Game is to appreciate these factors of the sport and play with a full heart dedicated to the game, because nothing is better than the moments on the field with your team.

As a senior this year, I know that the time I have left to play the sport I love is limited, but I will always remember and value the lessons I learned from the program. They developed me into the athlete and person I am today. I have held myself to the high standards demonstrated to me through the program while I continued my athletic career throughout high school. I plan to continue to hold onto and apply these lessons for the rest of my life. To Honor the Game is to appreciate all of the hardwork and dedication which others have contributed to the game; to respect the other players, coaches, families, and fans for their role in the game, and to play for the pure appreciation and love of the sport.