Most athletes fear overtraining; they worry about losing that "sharp edge" of condition. Sometimes they try to ease this phobia by judicious absences from over-strenuous practices, thus avoiding bad after effects. And the coaches fret both evils.

Now Bruce Munro, varsity lacrosse coach, isn't particularly concerned with either. As a matter of fact, the lacrosse team has been scrimmaging on a full-field basis just since Monday, which allows the club only a single week before the vacation trip. Rain and muddy fields have limited the lacrosse team to workouts in the Cage, and lengthy drills in fundamentals.

"Passing practice and play set-ups are fine," says Munro, "but you've got to have real scrimmages to prepare the team for the season." The season, incidentally, starts in Hoboken Monday with Stevens, never a pushover, and continues with the real powers of Eastern lacrosse: Penn, Navy, and Maryland. The trip closes a week from Saturday against a new opponent, Hofstra College, of Hempstead Long Island.

Before the team returns to Cambridge it will have travelled close to 1,000 miles by car in five days and played five games against teams which have been practicing for weeks. Maryland has begun its season already. The Terrapins pounded Washington and Lee, 13 to 1, over the weekend.

Although the late start and the excellence of the teams it must oppose give the Crimson a double handicap. Munro's squad will have the advantage of experience. Of the 20 men who will make the trip, only two are sophomores; 14 won letters last year. All of the starting attackmen are back, and the defensive trip has also returned. In addition, both goalies are the same as last spring's.

Munro could, if he wanted, start an all-veteran midfield, but he has been working sophomore Ron Huebsch into the first unit. Dick Post and Dave Waring--who got all-New England recognition last year--team with Huebsch, one of the fastest midfielders in the '53 squad.

Al Sawyer, Pete Brooke, and Rip Lynch, all juniors, combine on the second midfield. The third is a mixed combination, with Ed Thayer, a senior, joining Junior Bill Julian and Hank Wood. Wood is the other sophomore, and like Huebsch, was a standout as a freshman last year.

Elsewhere, positions are fairly well set. Captain Rick Hudner, one of the best attackmen in this part of the country, and last year's top scorer, is feeder for a powerful attack. He, Bill Plissner, and Ned Yost counted 42 goals last season. As reserves, Munro is taking Bob Baldwin and Thorp Kelly--a transfer student last year, and hence ineligible.

Fred Coburn, Jay Byrne, and Bill Spence are all hard-hitters and capable defensive players, while Ed Maroni is an experienced alternate. The brightness of the defense picture is indicated by the fact that even Turk Broder, '53's best defenseman, will not make the trip.

Munro is still unwilling to name either Dick Thomas or Syd Clark to the starting goalie's job. Both have shown to good advantage in practice, but Munro says, "each is good in different things."