Lauren Lewis : Coaching with Courage — Redefining Lacrosse from the Sidelines

When you talk to Lauren, you quickly realise she’s not just another lacrosse coach. She’s a visionary, a player-turned-leader who’s helping to rewrite what it means to coach, to lead, and to build community within a sport that has long been confined to narrow boundaries.

She’s also recovering from knee surgery — and yet, her determination is unshaken.

Photo: Thomas Wesley

“I haven’t been able to play pain-free for a year,” she says matter-of-factly. “But the psychology of it is probably going to be harder than the physical recovery.”

That blend of honesty, humour, and grit captures who Lauren is — both as a player and as a coach. Whether she’s strategising on the sideline for the Home Nations Lions, competing for England Box Lacrosse, or mentoring new players, she approaches everything with one clear goal: to help people become their best selves through the sport she loves.

From Player to Coach: Stepping Up When No One Else Would

Lauren’s coaching journey didn’t start in a classroom or with a qualification. It began with frustration — and a decision to do something about it.

“I’d been playing with Lions for years,” she recalls. “But we weren’t really learning or developing. There were no matches, no structure, no plan. One day, I realised no one else was going to step up — so I did.”

What began as a stopgap solution soon became her calling. She quickly found herself not only leading the team but shaping its philosophy from the ground up.

Under her guidance, the Home Nations Lions transformed from a social side into one of the most competitive and inclusive mixed teams in the UK, regularly taking on national squads from Scotland, Wales, Germany, and the Netherlands.

But for Lauren, it’s never been about wins on a scoreboard. “My job is to get the best out of the players in front of me,” she says. “I don’t coach teams. I coach people.”

Building a Coaching Philosophy from Scratch

Lauren laughs when asked about formal qualifications. “I only have a Level 1,” she admits. “We’re outside the England Lacrosse system, so technically I don’t need more. But really, most of what I know has come from trial, error, and a lot of watching NCAA games at 2am.”

She describes herself as a “lax rat” — constantly studying, analysing, and experimenting. “I spend hours drawing up plays that suit our players. I look at the strengths and skills of our players and I build from there.”

One of her non-negotiables? Every player must train both hands.“If you can’t use both hands, you’re predictable. I want everyone to be dangerous on either side. It’s not about perfection — it’s about willingness to try.”

Her approach to play design mirrors her people-first philosophy. “I ask: what are my players naturally good at, and how can I turn that into a team advantage? Why would I want 12 identical players? The beauty of lacrosse is in its differences.”

Breaking Barriers: Inclusivity and Access

The Lions’ ethos is as bold as their gameplay. “We don’t record gender identity, and we don’t ask,” Lauren explains. “We just want people who love lacrosse and want to play competitively. That’s it.”

It’s a simple idea — and yet, in the traditional world of English lacrosse, it’s revolutionary.

“The sport in this country still has massive class and race issues,” she says. “Our top clubs are full of upper-middle-class white players from private schools. If we really want to ‘grow the game’, we’ve got to stop just growing it in the same places.”

Lauren’s dream is to build a new pathway — one that starts in communities that have never seen a lacrosse stick before.

“I’d love every Lions player to go into a local state school and deliver five or ten sessions a year. Imagine the impact if every national or club-level player did that. That’s how we grow the game — not by coaching more private school teams, but by opening the door wider.”

Photo: Thomas Wesley

Box Lacrosse and the Art of Adaptability

Lauren’s evolution as a coach is deeply tied to her journey in Box Lacrosse — the fast, physical indoor version of the game.“I was dragged into it, honestly,” she laughs. “The first time I played, I hated it. I was freezing, I didn’t want to get hit, and I thought, ‘This isn’t for me.’ But then I went to Prague for a tournament — and everything changed.”

She describes the moment vividly: “There was this amazing energy — fans cheering, music, laughter. Everyone was there because they loved the sport. I scored a few goals, and suddenly I realised, ‘I can do this. I belong here.’”

That sense of belonging reshaped how she saw the game — and how she coached it.“In Box, you learn to think fast, to see angles, to adapt. You can’t hide behind one style of play. That’s what I bring to my field coaching. Everyone at Lions has to learn to use both hands, to read the play, to think creatively. It’s not optional.”

Box lacrosse, she adds, also taught her the importance of team intelligence over individual glory. “We track assists just as much as goals. If your movement opened up space, you’re just as valuable as the scorer.”

Coaching with Empathy and Edge

For Lauren, coaching isn’t about power or authority. It’s about trust, transparency, and shared purpose.

“I’ll never give an MVP award,” she says firmly. “It sends the wrong message. We don’t reward one person — we recognise contribution across the board.”

Instead, she focuses on honest communication. “If someone doesn’t get selected, I’ll tell them why — clearly, respectfully, and with empathy. They always know where they stand, and they always know they matter.”

This culture of clarity and connection is the foundation of Lions’ success. Before every match, the team huddles tightly together. “We whisper ‘together’ before shouting ‘Lions!’” Lauren says. “It’s symbolic — a reminder that we’re united before anything else.”

Photo: Thomas Wesley

Challenging the System: Changing Who Gets to Play

Lauren’s passion for equality isn’t just talk. It’s rooted in her own experience. She grew up in the private school lacrosse system — attending Cheltenham Ladies’ College — and she’s determined to make the game accessible beyond those walls.

“Lacrosse has an elitism problem,” she says. “The same schools, the same players, the same pathways. I don’t want to be part of that cycle.”

Her solution is grassroots, player-led development. “We’ve talked about Lions players starting their own local mixed clubs — 18 and over, inclusive, community-based. Even if it starts small, that’s how real growth begins.”

Mentorship and the Future of Coaching

Lauren is candid about the challenges of developing new coaches. “There’s not enough mentoring in lacrosse,” she says. “The real learning starts after the coaching course — in the mistakes, the conversations, the late-night planning.”

To help bridge that gap, she’s now encouraging Lions players working on their Level 2 coaching qualifications to run sessions. “It gives them experience in a supportive environment,” she explains. “They learn, reflect, and build confidence — exactly what I wish I’d had when I started.”

Her message to new coaches is clear: “Don’t copy. Create. Observe, listen, and adapt to the players you have. The best coaching isn’t about drills — it’s about relationships.”

Pride, Progress, and the Power of Belief

When asked what she’s most proud of, Lauren pauses. “Honestly? Getting people to buy into the system,” she says. “When I started, I worried that my friends wouldn’t take me seriously as a coach. But after our first big match against Scotland, one of the players who’d doubted me sent me a message saying how inspiring it was to see what we’d achieved. That meant everything.”

Her proudest moments aren’t about personal accolades but shared breakthroughs — the first time a play works perfectly, the first goal off a new system, or the first time a player discovers confidence they didn’t know they had.

“When something clicks, and everyone realises it works — that’s the magic. That’s why I coach.”

Looking Ahead: Redefining Success

Lauren’s ambitions for the Lions are clear. “I’d love to see us beat a home nation,” she admits with a grin. “If we do, I’ll probably cry.” But her broader goal goes far beyond trophies.

“I want Lions to be a model — for inclusivity, for creativity, for community. I want our players to leave not just as better athletes, but as better people.”

As she reflects on her coaching journey so far, she smiles. “When I started, I was nervous. Now I see how much I’ve learned — about lacrosse, about people, about myself. Coaching has changed me. It’s taught me that leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about bringing people together — and helping them believe in something bigger than themselves.”

For Lauren, playing the game means just as much as coaching and she is keen to leave the sidelines and return to play. Once she has recovered from her surgery, Lauren is determined to bring everything back to the field and relish the opportunity to play alongside the team.

In a sport often shaped by tradition, Lauren’s story is one of transformation — from player to pioneer, from field to box, from isolation to community. Her message to coaches, players, and anyone who loves the game is simple but powerful: “Lacrosse should be for everyone.And the best coaching? It starts with caring about the person in front of you.”

Update

Since our interview, the Lions scored their first win against a home nation - 10-8 against Wales. I contacted Lauren to congratulate her and asked if there were tears. Apparently less than expected but that may be because her eyes are firmly focused on the next prize – matches with Scotland in November and March. We wish Lauren and the Home Nations Lions the best of luck with these matches – but something tells us, they won’t need it!

Photo: Thomas Wesley

Photo: Thomas Wesley