by Allura Carney
For Richard Fulvi, the new Hudson High School girls lacrosse coach, his main goal coming into the season was to make the girls more serious about the game and the team. Before the season he knew that the team had tendencies to goof around, and he had the intention of changing that by being more strict and vocal about talking during practice.
“If they paid attention at practices, they would be dangerous in a very good way,” said Fulvi.
Girls on the team also agree that the team would be better if they were to pay more attention. “We can’t get better if we can’t be serious at practice, and I think we could have been a better team this year if we didn’t spend so much time goofing around,” explains freshman Caroline Pollard.
Fulvi has done all that he can to try to make the team more serious. “There’s a lot of yelling, but not because he’s trying to be mean,” Pollard said, “but because he cares and wants us to do the best we can.”
Coming into Hudson, Fulvi was aware of the challenges of dedication, skill level, and focus from the team. He explains that it is difficult to get the students with lower skill levels to trust his way of teaching. “The more the kids try the fundamentals I teach them, they will understand that they will never allow the ball to hit them,” said Fulvi. “They couldn’t be safer on the field learning the way that I teach.”
Fulvi loves coaching this team and coaching in general. “Coaching took the place of playing for me,” he said. “And I love playing.”
He has been playing lacrosse since his sophomore year in high school. He started by playing in West Springfield as a goalie. Since then he has dedicated his life to lacrosse. Fulvi has coached lacrosse for twenty-two years, alternating between boys and girls teams.
Even though Fulvi has run into many roadblocks with this team, he says, “There has been a lot. But I still love it. I’m still here. And I want to be here for a long time.”
