lapse, laps

Lapse or lapse means a slip or error; or a fall or decline to a lower grade or state--
It was a minor lapse; I'm sure we can overlook it.
Be sure to tell the doctor if you have a memory lapse.
It was a lapse in judgment, but I'm sure he can correct it.
He thinks we will lapse into barbarism without constant supervision.

Laps or laps ( rhymes with lapse ) is the plural ( more than one ) of "lap", meaning the part of the body from waist to knees, when sitting down--
The mothers all had their babies in their laps.
They sat on the ground, their laps full of the apples they had gathered.

Laps may also be the plural of "lap", meaning a circuit of a course, track, or pool--
He ran three laps of the track before he got tired and stopped.
Four laps of this track make a mile.

Laps may also be the third person singular ( he, she, it ) form of "lap", meaning, of water, to wash against the shore in a repetitive motion--
He likes to sit and listen, as the ocean laps the shore.
At high tide, the water laps against the deck.

Laps may be the third person singular ( he, she, it ) form of "lap", meaning, of an animal, to drink water by scooping it up with the tongue--
What an odd sound the dog makes when it laps water from the bowl!
He laps soup out of the bowl, and what a noise it makes.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The coach let his attention lapse, and counted three laps instead of four."

Note--"Lapps" ( always capitalized ) is the plural of "Lapp", meaning a person from Lapland--
The Lapps live in the northern part of Scandinavia.