For the Love of the Game of Lacrosse - Becoming a Girls Lacrosse Referee

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham - Referee for Girl’s Lacrosse Tournament June 2024

As I approached the field, with an energetic group of fourth and fifth-grade girls smiling widely carrying sticks almost as tall as their bodies, I knew I was in the right spot. I had been training for this moment. The subtle, or perhaps major, switch in plans to earn money on a lacrosse field was underway, and my passion was rising up.

You see, my father was a lacrosse player in college after transitioning from being a basketball-only player and my mother taught boy’s lacrosse after earning her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in 1962, I started my love for lacrosse by scorekeeping for my Junior High School boy’s lacrosse team, and playing lacrosse against my garage door because there wasn’t a girl’s lacrosse team at my school in 1979. It all my sense.

Chuck Chamberlain (right) - SUNY Cortland Lacrosse Player 1960-1962

When my two sons were born, they had sports introduced to them at an early age because I was brought up that way. Our house already had a basketball net and court, a hill for sledding, a pond for ice skating and fishing on, and we were in a school district where lacrosse was home to men’s high school championship lacrosse - West Genesee High School. It made sense to introduce the sport to our boys. Our youngest played through to college and I loved watching him every game.

West Genesee Lacrosse Players - NYS Championship Game 2013 (Adam Higginbotham #18)

Since my sons only had friends with brothers, I never watched a girl’s lacrosse game. I assumed it was the same as the men’s game. So, when I decided I needed more sports in my life after my sons got married, I decided I wanted to referee lacrosse for girls, not boys. I was a long-time feminist and the need for more women in sports to inspire girls and other women, was foremost on my mind when I signed up for training.

I was a referee in college for mixed water polo and knew referees weren’t always loved by players, parents, and others watching from the sideline. But my job was to make sure the game was played by the rules, even when others didn’t agree with my calls. I still remember a water polo ball whizzing by my head one time, as I ejected a male player for unsportsmanlike conduct. I’ve respected referees ever since.

Erin Lehman (left) and Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham (right) - trying our hand at lacrosse refereeing

There I was age 59, on the lacrosse field, shadowing an experienced referee Thomas Owens, my instructor, helping me learn the rules while running – really fast running up and down the field, trying to keep my eyes on the ball or the little players running faster by me. “This is a really fast group of girls,” Tom told me as I tried to keep up. I said back, “I’ll have to give up my steady marathon training runs and add in sprints and backward running to do this job!”

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham (left) and Victoria (right) current lacrosse college player - refereeing for first time

The two other women training with me were experienced in the girl’s game of lacrosse – one a former lacrosse player and coach of a travel team and the other a current college player. The only man training with us, was a women’s flag football, men’s football, and past men’s lacrosse referee so he knew much more than I did.  But there I was trying my best on a wide open, humid day, among sweet, yet tenacious girls playing their first games with enthusiasm.

Old habits of trying to encourage girls came up every time one of them looked disappointed or confused. I was reminded that referees are supposed to be there only to enforce the rules, not encourage players. “Hmm, maybe I should see what coaching is like then,” I thought knowing motivating and inspiring is built into my DNA.

I am glad I get to study more film and learn more rules, as well as shadow referee again this weekend before I feel confident enough to referee on my own. What I can share with you that I’ve learned from this training and experience is:

* Girls are as tough, and as skilled as boys, in this game, but like life, they are taught to play less aggressively and more politely, but they still love playing!
* Running stamina is a basic skill you need to referee this sport.
* Sharp eyes, a good memory, and quick responses are needed.
* Learning something new, associated with a past or current passion, is always a positive experience.
* Challenging oneself to higher or different levels of success is a must to remain mentally young and active.
* More women are needed in all areas of sports - even refereeing.

Sunday when I take the field for my third shadowing opportunity, I will know more of what I need to look for and do, and will make sure to continue to enjoy the exuberant faces of the elementary and middle school girls I’m watching because they are ultimately why I’m there getting involved.

Scott, Adam, and Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham - 2017 SU Club Lacrosse Tournament

Freedom Is a Bikeway

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham, daily bike routine, Syracuse, NY

I hop on my trusty friend with white iPods blaring favorite tunes when all of a sudden, Jimmie Allen’s “Freedom Was A Highway” comes on.  As the bike path below my rotating tires catches my eye, I switch up the lyrics singing “Freedom Is a Bikeway,” and bike on, and on, and on. Almost too delirious in joy to stop when my legs are tired. If it’s a sunny 44-degree-day in Syracuse, NY in the middle of winter and I’m biking, I’m ecstatic and I’m going longer than I think – I ride on pure happiness.

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham, Alopecia Biking Girl

Learning ride a bike is almost as elementary as learning to walk, tying one’s shoes, and putting on a jacket. Everyone remembers getting on their first tricycle for the first time or their yellow banana bike (I might be dating myself here) or their first ten speed roadster and heading off down a driveway or street. When we become parents, we remember teaching their kids how to ride a bike, praying they don’t tip over and take a patch of skin off their knees that might require iodine, like we had applied to our scrapes.

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham - Bike West Shore of Onondaga Lake

I associate freedom with biking because of the way it makes me feel – and maybe you too. The speed of moving faster than walking, wind blowing in one’s hair, moving along, taking in the sights, and feeling simply free and in control of one’s life for a moment or two. It’s not so different for me as a 58-year-old woman taking off for her lunch hour to bike an easy 9-miles or 15-miler if I have the time. It was the suave I needed when I became a bald woman four years ago because no one cared what someone looks like when they are biking or doing sports, and on my bike I found my new image and myself again.

It was on my bike four years ago that the passion of riding enveloped me. I had been a runner for 15 years eventually running in the Boston Marathon on a charity team when a simple tear to my hip muscle one July day stopped me in my tracks. I couldn’t run forward. I was told to rest but I couldn’t. Soon I discovered my hip didn’t hurt when I biked.  My natural Italian energy soars every day even only drinking half-caf coffee; and as you know what goes up, must come out – or down – depending on how you look at it.

Taking to my bike instead of my running shoes, reminded me of the freedom of skiing downhill when speed was the goal – of mine at least. The faster I could go, the happier I was. I tucked and bombed it out, never wiping out. Biking down hills fast puts me right back on the slopes. Biking up bigger hills eventually taught my legs and lungs to be stronger. Biking became addictive and remains so for me, so much so I bike all year long in snowy Central New York if the roads are clear enough.

So yes, for me, and hopefully for you some day, biking will be your freedom highway.  Start biking more and let me know if you need someone to go with you! I’m available. 

West Lake Trail, Onondaga Lake Trail, Syracuse, NY

Crazy as a Loon or Long Distance Kayaking?

It was an atypical day in my city with temperatures rising to 70 degrees in mid-October. The weather was calling and a glimpse of late summer grabbed me by the arm and led me out the door to put my bright pink kayak in the car. My sons gifted their father and I a pair of kayaks for Christmas three years prior so kayaking in this story is not about my first time kayaking, but rather about my longest kayaking adventure. Sometimes we get so used to playing the sports we love, we forget to challenge ourselves while doing them.

October Day on Onondaga Lake

As the crystal blue sky and lake edged with orange, gold and crimson trees, welcomed my kayak and I one random Tuesday morning, the absolute absence of wind or other boats spoke to my heartstrings about attempting to kayak down the entirety of Onondaga Lake – 9.2 miles round trip. I often bike the 9 miles and wondered what it would be like to kayak it so for some reason with the conditions stellar, I decided to do it mid-way down my relaxing autumn row.

Destiny USA, Syracuse, NY

Unlike the Boston Marathon where I put in five training months of increased mileage to condition my body and mind to accomplish the 26.2 mile run, I hadn’t prepped kayaking ten miles on a whim. I knew I could do it because my arms were strong from archery all summer and stacking wood the past weekend so I had no trepidation in trying it out. Destiny USA sat at the south end of the lake and my bike trail weaved around it to the west. No sweat – literally - since it was a cool 55 degrees when I took off. No clouds. No threat of bad weather. No wind. Perfect sailing conditions even though I didn’t have a sail to help me just my middle-aged semi-flabby arms, the kind most women have.

Dave Matthews Band Concert - Darien Lake - 2010

I also had one other important thing with me – Dave. Dave? Yes, Dave Matthews Band serenading me along my way with some kick-ass tunes to get me rowing faster. I take Dave everywhere with me as most people know. He was in my ears running the streets of Boston and in every car ride I take to and from my new and old sports adventures. Kayaking the entire lake in silence would have felt really long, so a shout-out to my favorite musician, Dave.

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham - mid-kayak ride

At one point on my expedition, my son called me as I oared my way near Destiny USA Mall talking about his wedding plans. I enjoyed the company on my solo journey. On the way back, loons, seagulls, and fish swooped, swam, and jumped around keeping me alert. I thought about Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway when he got so lonely on the bare island he turned to a volleyball to talk to as a friend. I must admit by the near end of my trip, I was talking to seagulls. One can’t be alone too long. It just isn’t normal.

Back at the Bridge where it all began

As usual I had some insights after my 3.5 hour, 1,300 calorie burning boating experience, I like sharing after each sports adventure to encourage more people to try them. Here is my wisdom on this sport,

* There is nothing that beats being on the water in my mind and soul.
* Kayaking is a fairly easy sport to do especially if the wind is gentle.
* Once you buy, borrow, or rent a kayak, it is an inexpensive sport to do.
* Most kayaks are light enough to lift and transport if you have a good size SUV/truck.
* Being alone for 3.5 hours on a lake with nothing around is extremely peaceful.
* If you are going to do an exercise or sport of any kind, training helps to ease the pain and set the mind for the adventure. Get in those test runs or add miles to your journey until you are ready to go for the long one!
* Nature has a way of inviting all of us to join it in sports during all its seasons, and kayaking is an exceptional way to see all of nature’s glory.

Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham

Remember YOLO – You Only Live Once - so get out there and try kayaking in all seasons with a friend, your neighborhood loon or SOLO.