By Stacy Case
After only a short-lived 2020 season, the Parkland RedHawks Lacrosse program picked up the pieces after Covid’s wrath last year and is already in the middle of play.
Once again, the RedHawks have taken to the field at Pine Trails Park, and with even more participants this year, the club doesn’t seem to have missed a beat.
“It’s absolutely fantastic, the amount of players we have this year,” says Aaron Toombs, who has enthusiasm about his second year of his Parkland RedHawks presidency role. “Considering everything over the past year or so, we really are very pleased,” adds Aaron, who says his opinion is mirrored by his nine other board members.
Since the league’s inception in 2004, the RedHawks have tailored play to local, recreational players (grades K-8) amongst its various age divisions for boys and girls separately: K,1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th, and 7th and 8th graders.
And when the Parkland RedHawks aren’t hosting their home games, they visit teams from as far as Delray and Wellington to as close as Ft. Lauderdale and Weston, and several other leagues in between.
As many players and parents may have had their own apprehensions about the virus, the RedHawks are following the safety protocols that have been set forth by local government agencies. That being said, Aaron and his league were rather excited to just get back out there.
“More than anything, safety measures included though, it was so great to have achieved such great numbers again this year and I attribute that to our highly-involved Board,” Aaron adds. “These board members are so involved in our community and really helped get our registration up.”
In fact, this past Fall, the RedHawks stayed true to their form and once again offered several trial clinics; mostly for the younger players who have never tried the sport previously or for any other youths who wanted to get an introduction to ‘the fastest game on two feet.’
The RedHawks are just about at the mid-season point, in which there are no playoffs scheduled. Additionally, games end around early May, followed by 2022 registration opening up in mid Fall.
Regardless of experience or 2020’s robbed season, the RedHawks organization continues to keep the spirit of recreational lacrosse alive and well within the South Florida circuit.
“I’ve been involved with lacrosse for years and it really is an incredible sport,” adds Aaron. “For boys, it’s a great mix of contact and fast-moving action, and for girls, it’s more about finesse and the perfect blend of passing, catching and scooping.” Aaron looks for a strong finish this season before going on a short hiatus, followed by him and his Board getting back to work for the RedHawks’ 2022 games.
For more info, visit parklandlacrosse.com
