從零開始的挑戰

中華男子袋棍球隊的總教練Travis，自中華民國袋棍球運動協會成立以來便深度參與其中。遠從加拿大來到台灣的Travis教練，不僅為台灣袋棍球的成長做出了貢獻，更見證了這段旅程的起點。

來自加拿大的Travis，首次接觸袋棍球是在他五歲時，第一任教練便是Travis的父親。這樣的早期起步，奠定了他對這項運動的深厚情感。在成為中華隊總教戀之前，Travis擁有豐富的執教經驗，曾執教荷蘭和香港代表隊，並在世界各地舉辦過訓練營。

Travis願意加入中華代表隊教練團，起因於他得知曾經指導過的選手Tim，即將在台灣啟動了一個新的袋棍球推廣計畫。認識到台灣在袋棍球方面的潛力，Travis認為，這樣從零開始的項目是一個令人興奮的挑戰。

The Challenge of Starting from Scratch

Travis, the head coach of the Chinese Taipei Men's Lacrosse Team, has been deeply involved with the Chinese Taipei Lacrosse Association since its inception. Coming all the way from Canada, Coach Travis has not only contributed to the growth of lacrosse in Taiwan but has also witnessed the journey from the very beginning.

Originally from Canada, Travis's first encounter with lacrosse was at the age of five, with his father being his first coach. This early start laid the foundation for his deep passion for the sport. Before joining the Chinese Taipei coaching team, Travis had extensive coaching experience, having coached the Netherlands and the Hong Kong, and hosted training camps worldwide.

Travis's willingness to join the Chinese Taipei coaching team was sparked when he learned that a player he had previously coached, Tim, was launching a new lacrosse promotion project in Taiwan. Recognizing Taiwan's potential in lacrosse, Travis found the prospect of starting a project from scratch to be an exciting challenge.

見證成長與挑戰

在過去的十年裡，協會對球員和教練的支持以及在本土推廣的投入，給Travis留下了深刻的印象。「有時候真的讓我有點嫉妒，」Travis笑著說。「協會可以在幾個月內完成許多事，可能其他地方花30年都做不到這些事。老實說，我還可以列出很多正面的例子。」

在談及台灣球員時，Travis將其與加拿大球員進行比較，指出雙方有一些很棒的共同點，例如對袋棍球的熱情和面對強敵的挑戰者心態。另外，台灣球員的學習意願和適應能力也令他印象深刻，即便是一些很簡單的技巧，也願意盡全力去學習，這些都是一些無法用『教學』去獲得的能力，是台灣球員很寶貴的特質。然而，他也承認球員們需要面對的挑戰，主要是缺乏定期比賽，導致實戰經驗不足，這對協會和代表隊來說都是一個重要的課題。

Witnessing Growth and Challenges

Over the past decade, the association's support for players and coaches very well, and its dedication to local development, has left a great impression on Travis. “Sometimes it makes me jealous,” Travis said with a smile. “That which we've been trying to do well for 30 years, somehow Taiwan is able to do in a few months. Honestly, I could list a thousand positive things."

When discussing Taiwanese players, Travis compared them to Canadian players, noting some excellent commonalities such as their passion for lacrosse and their challenger mentality when facing strong opponents. Additionally, he was impressed by the Taiwanese players' willingness to learn and adapt. Even with simple techniques, they are eager to give their best effort to learn. These are qualities that cannot be taught and are valuable traits of Taiwanese players. However, he also acknowledged the challenges the players face, primarily the lack of regular games, leading to insufficient practical experience. This is a crucial issue for both the association and the Chinese Taipei Lacrosse Team.

人生重要的一頁

回顧自己的旅程，Travis強調了幾個難忘的時刻，例如2016年對墨西哥的首勝，以及2018年在以色列對強敵的重大勝利。然而，最有價值的還是見證球員們的個人成長以及團隊的進步。他珍惜這些年來經歷的各種情感，無論是喜悅、挫折和一切，因為它們象徵著團隊的旅程和發展。

Travis對於這十年一切表示深深的感激。帶領中華隊，不只在台灣塑造了球員的一切，也影響了自己的家人。「我的孩子們伴隨著這項運動成長，他們覺得我去台灣是件正常的事情。當我回家的時候，他們對於能聽到關於練習和比賽的故事都感到相當興奮。台灣袋棍球也成為了他們生活的一部分。」Travis感性地說道。

A Significant Chapter in Life

Reflecting on his journey, Travis highlighted several memorable moments, such as the first win against Mexico in 2016 and a significant victory against a strong opponent in Israel in 2018. However, the most valuable aspect for him has been witnessing the personal growth of the players and the progress of the team. He cherishes the various emotions experienced over the years, be it joy, frustration, or anything in between, as they symbolize the journey and development of the team.

Travis expressed deep gratitude for everything over the past decade. Leading the Chinese Taipei team has not only shaped the players in Taiwan, but also influenced his family. “My kids have grown up with it, they think it's normal for me to go to Taiwan. And when I come back, they’re both excited to hear about the games and practices. Taiwan lacrosse is part of them too. Taiwan lacrosse is part of them too.” Travis said emotionally.