Meet the Green Hornets Girl's LAX Commissioner

Jackie Harrison, like every other mom in Severna Park, is a busy woman.  With three kids who play on three different teams each spring and a career as a real estate agent, her days and nights are spent running from one practice or game to another.  But the kids and the job are only part of the equation.  This year Harrison has stepped up from being one of the assistants to the girl’s lacrosse commissioner to being the Lacrosse Commissioner.

In a program like the Green Hornets, this is no small feat.  The girl’s lacrosse program has 38 teams, at least 76 coaches and assistant coaches and 602 players.  As commissioner, Harrison is the “go to mom” in the club - organizing field times, coaching staff and training and dealing with any conflicts that arise over the season.

But Harrison doesn’t complain, “I am pretty lacrosse nuts really. I love it.”

Harrison grew to love the sport as a child playing first in California and then Crofton and going on to play both in high school and college.  She lives and breaths the game.  When she moved to Severna Park and became friends and neighbors with the former commissioner, Bev Altig, it was almost a given that she would step into some position within the Hornets organization.

When I asked her why she would choose to go into the administration end rather than the coaching end of the club she was quick to correct me.

“Oh no, I coach too,” she said.

Floored by this response, I went on to ask, “Wait, you are the commissioner of the whole girl’s program AND you coach a team as well.”

Again Harrison corrected me, “Actually, I coach both of my daughters’ teams.”

Coaching is the fun part of the lacrosse season for Harrison.  Watching the girls develop over the season, seeing the friendships and bonds made both on and off the field and understanding the love that her children are finding for a sport that is so dear to her heart is, as you might expect, a real pleasure.

But commissioner?  That can’t possibly be fun, right?  Wrong. 

“It is a lot of work,” Harrison said, “but it is rewarding too.  This year we had more kids in almost every age group and knowing that it was through my efforts that we were able to get enough coaches so that we wouldn’t have to turn any kids away is a great feeling.”

Harrison believes that Severna Park is unique.  Having lived in different communities across the country she feels like Severna Park stands out for its sense of community. 

“Sometimes it takes cajoling to get a coach to give it a go the first year but after that they stick with it.  They really enjoy it and eventually all of the parents step forward and help in so many different ways.  That’s what makes this community special.”

Harrison is modest about the time and effort she puts into the organization.  She gives credit to the players and their parents for making it such an outstanding program but after speaking with her and hearing her passion for the club, the community and the sport, it is clear that she is a driving force behind this program today and hopefully for years to come.