By Stacy Case
The Parkland RedHawks Lacrosse Program is prepping for the 2021 season, and what better way to give potential newcomers an introduction to the play sport than an opportunity to attend a free-of-charge introductory clinic?
Well, that is exactly what this recreational lacrosse organization will have done by the start of this coming Spring season. They hosted a clinic last month and will have others on Oct. 18th at 9am at Pine Trails Park as well as one more on Dec. 11th at 6pm at Terramar Park.
From offering a glimpse of what the sport has to offer, in addition to those eager to return to the RedHawks ASAP, the league’s president is rather optimistic that the upcoming season very well may be even better than that of any previous one.
“I think we’re going to have more kids out there than ever before; they’ve been sitting at home a lot over the past few months, plus it’s a relatively socially distant sport when they’re playing,” says Aaron Toombs, who is in his second year as the RedHawks president and has been a Board Member for about four years.
The RedHawks had about 260 players last season, which was cut short due to the pandemic, amongst its five different divisions. Both boys and girls, grades K-8 will have the opportunity once again to practice/play at Pine Trails Park and/or practice at Terramar Park. Boys and girls age divisions separately include Kindergarten, first and second, third and fourth, fifth and sixth, and seventh and eighth.
The shortened season will be taken into consideration when registration fees are collected during sign-ups. And with that, the RedHawks will be implementing the required precautionary measures when the players take to the field.
“We’ll have the typical ‘return-to-play’ protocols followed once we get back out there,” adds Aaron, regarding the 2003-established Parkland RedHawks. “We’ll be sure to do what we can to keep everyone as safe as possible.”
And those who are ‘in-the-know’ in the sports world, may recall that lacrosse is often referred to as ‘the fastest game on two feet’ still, and Aaron and his Board are doing what it takes to provide that excitement once again for area youths.
While registration is still open for quite a while, the planning of the upcoming season is well underway by the Board of Directors.
In fact, once registration closes in mid January and the teams are compiled, practices start, in which teams will meet up several times per week to prepare for Saturday games. And while the RedHawks are a recreational youth sports program, there is not in-house play; their games are versus other ‘like’ programs within the South Florida Youth Lacrosse League, which is under the governing body of U. S. Lacrosse.
The RedHawks play teams from Boca and Delray as well as teams from Weston and Davie, and may have a few other opponents included in their 10 or 11 game schedule.
Regardless of where/who the RedHawks match up against on a given Saturday, one thing remains for sure….”it’s very easy to get involved in lacrosse and stay in it,” adds Aaron, whose own two children are involved with the RedHawks program.
For more info, visit www.parklandlacrosse.com
