Imagine making one of the biggest transitions of your life. You’re graduating college, receiving your degree, and moving into the adult world full force. Now, imagine making that transition during a pandemic that has shut down the whole world. And on top of all the things that come with life after college, you are a professional athlete expected to join, play, and produce at a higher level against the most talented players in the world. That was the reality for the Premier Lacrosse League’s rookies this season. What would already be a new and intimidating experience for them was put under even more pressure, and the rookies found themselves entering this new phase of their lives and playing careers under circumstances no one else had faced before.

For Bryan Costabile, the Atlas’ second overall pick hailing from Notre Dame, preparing for the season was not much unlike his preparations for college. A tailored regimen of shooting four times a week with running and lifting the other three days allowed him to hone into what he needed to work on to prepare for the PLL style of play.

Chrome rookie Reece Eddy found it difficult to get into a normal routine for training due to gym closures and heavily enforced social distancing. To ensure he still prepared and fully met his needs, he focused on his conditioning and worked in small groups, such as sessions with coach Dylan Donahue at Platform Lacrosse, and with current collegiate lacrosse players. Their abilities to quickly pivot and problem-solve impressed many on and off the field, as their impacts were felt immediately.