When Megan Zimmerman started coaching lacrosse last month, she had barely ever watched a lacrosse match, let alone played the sport herself.
But Zimmerman, director of marketing at Milwaukee-based Sensia Wellness, wanted to increase her support of her 8-year-old son, James Bakar, as he jumped into his first year on the lacrosse field.
“I wanted to learn with him, and I thought by stepping in and coaching that would make me learn the sport inside and out,” Zimmerman said, adding that one of her own childhood coaches inspired her to try taking the team lead.
Zimmerman’s team, the Lake Country Lil’ Scoopers of Lake Country Lacrosse, is comprised of 24 boys ages seven to nine, whom she coaches at weekly practices and games alongside her husband and assistant coach, Asif Bakar. She also gets help from a group of older boys who mentor the players.
Lake Country Lacrosse is part of a small pool of leagues that introduce kids as young as seven to the sport as it continues to grow in popularity in the region, according to Zimmerman.
To become a coach, Zimmerman had to complete a certification facilitated by U.S. Lacrosse. Now, much of her free time is spent watching YouTube clips of lacrosse games, studying her playbook, and devising drills that will help the Lil’ Scoopers grasp the fundamentals of the sport.
Her new role as coach has been approved by James, who fondly calls her “mega mom.”
“If I can be cool in my eight-year-old’s eyes, that’s enough for me,” Zimmerman said.
