I graduated high school in 2000. We were the millennial class. As early as kindergarten, we made T-shirts pressed with “Class of 2000” decals.

The trouble with that label, I’ve come to realize as a cynical thirty-something, was it ignored important milestones along the way.

Middle school represented my most formative years. Where were the Seneca Junior High School Class of 1996 tees? My introduction to the spirited Sachem-Ward Melville lacrosse rivalry came as a seventh-grader when we played Murphy and Gelinas, the Three Village feeder programs. We had Corey Harned. They had Matt Monfett. Both would go on to become decorated high school and college players. Neither cared about more than just being better that day.

I recently met someone who told me he coached a club team. I asked what age.

“I coach the 2024s,” he said.

It took me a minute to do the math in my head. It’s like talking to the new mom who refers to her kid’s age in months, rather than years. “Tommy is 29 months.” OK, so he’s 2.

“So… fifth-graders? Which means, what, like 10- and 11-year-olds?”

This is the effect of early recruiting. This is what happens when you disregard the mile markers with your sight set solely on the finish line. It makes me feel bad for these kids, their lacrosse experience reduced to a sell-by date. 

Forget the graduation year. What are you doing for them now, in 2017, to make them not only better athletes, but better humans? What are you doing to help make today their best day?