Why Coaches Need Support Too: Opening a Conversation About Building Sustainable Income in Lacrosse

About once a week—sometimes once every two weeks—I find myself in the same kind of conversation. A coach from the lacrosse community reaches out, not to talk about drills or defensive rotations or how to run practice more efficiently, but about something completely different:

“Joe, I’m trying to get my business going… can you give me some direction?”

Some of you know this about me. Some don’t.
Before LaxPlaybook existed, before any of this became a community, I built an online education company from scratch. I eventually sold it, and today I get to enjoy the results of years of hard work, long days, and a lot of uncertainty.

But it wasn’t always comfortable.

There were years when I was flat-out broke.
Years when I was coaching nonstop — running practices, obsessing over lineups, ordering uniforms, breaking down film — all while trying to build a business on the side.

And instead of helping each other, those two worlds were suffocating each other.

Coaching took all my energy.
The business got whatever scraps were left.
Eventually, neither one grew the way I needed it to.

Getting out of that hole wasn’t easy.
It took time, a lot of trial and error, and a willingness to rethink how I approached work, coaching, and money.

And the more coaches I meet, the more I realize:

I wasn’t alone.

Some coaches are still in that struggle.
Some are trying to build something on the side.
Some want to start, but don’t know where to begin.
And some have already built successful online coaching businesses — real success stories right here in our community.

That’s what got me thinking.

What if we brought all of these coaches together?

Not to sell anything.
Not to launch a big program.
Not to create another paid membership or course.

Just to talk.
Just to help each other.
Just to share the lessons that took years to learn.

I want to create a mastermind — or call it a group discussion, groupthink, whatever label makes sense — where coaches who are trying to build something can learn from coaches who already have.

Because here’s the truth:

The lacrosse community only grows as well as the coaches do.

We pour everything into our players:
the teaching, the planning, the emotional energy, the leadership, the time.

But coaches need support too.

You deserve to coach the sport you love without sacrificing your financial stability or your quality of life.

And the biggest challenge I see, over and over again, is coaches asking:

“How do I make money without giving up coaching?”

There are answers.
There are models that work.
There are coaches already doing it, quietly, successfully, sustainably.

So why not bring everyone together and talk?

Why not learn from each other instead of figuring it out alone?

Why not support coaches the same way coaches support players?

If you’re interested in being part of that conversation — whether you’re trying to grow a business, thinking about starting one, or already have something working — let me know.

This isn’t a pitch.
This isn’t part of any business.
This is just something I believe the coaching world desperately needs:

A place for coaches to build a better life while they continue building better lacrosse players.

More details soon.
But if you want in on that first discussion, reach out.

We’re stronger when coaches grow — on the field and off it.