Ever wonder if what you’re telling your players resonates with them? It’s one of the challenges that comes with coaching. You may think you’re doing everything right and telling them what they need to hear, but are you really connecting?

It’s difficult to know, yet sometimes the littlest piece of advice might stick with a player for years.

We asked members of the 2019 U.S. Women’s U19 Training Team to share what was the best piece of advice they’ve received from a coach during their lacrosse career to this point. Here are some of our favorite responses:

Kari Buonnano — Providence, R.I.

"The best advice I've ever received from a coach was that body language goes a long way. My high school field hockey coach, Leslie Caito Jones, once told me that what makes a good player, great, is how they carry themselves on the field, in practice, and even when you think nobody is watching. Having positive body language is contagious, and it is crucial to being a good leader. If those around you continue to see you being positive even when you're having a tough game or a hard practice, it will inspire others to keep working hard."

Emma Schettig —Woodbine, Md.

"The best advice I have received from a coach was to embrace the future. I tore my ACL my freshman year, but Chris Robinson, my coach at the time, really pushed me to focus on the present and future rather than dwelling on the past."

Olivia Dirks — Wayne, Pa.

"My high school coach, Josie Ferri, said 'Every time you step on a field give it all you have and most of all enjoy every second of it because you will never get that exact moment back again.'"

Morgan Schwab — Fairport, N.Y.

"The best advice I received was from one of my future coaches at Virginia, Colleen McCaffrey. She gave me such amazing advice while we were playing in the committed games at the Triple H Tournament, which was right before the USA tryout. She told me to be myself and to 'just do you.' She also emphasized that I have to trust the training and be confident in what I know I can achieve. This advice really stuck with me throughout that whole weekend, and I am so grateful she said these inspirational thoughts to me."

Kimber Hower — Sandy, Utah

"The best advice I have ever gotten from a coach is when I was told to play with a burning passion for the game and to have a chip on your shoulder. I was told this by Adam Ghitelman."

Caitlyn Wurzburger — Delray Beach, Fla.

"The best advice I have received from a coach is to never let others’ opinions get in the way and to just go out and play like nobody is watching. My dad is the coach who gave me this advice. He has taught me how to play and respect the game of lacrosse. He has always encouraged me to just go on the field, play and never doubt myself."

Hannah Heller — Babylon, N.Y.

"We were running our timed mile and Bill Smith said 'You don’t get better from cutting corners.' It didn’t just pertain to that situation. You give 100 percent all the time and it will pay off."