By Ashley Ferraro
For years, Parkland RedHawks Lacrosse has been celebrating the culture of the sport and granting youth rewarding benefits such as leadership development and improved self-confidence and self-esteem. More notably, it’s paved the way for students to land scholarships and take their talents to the collegiate level.
James Gianos, Parkland RedHawks Lacrosse president touches on the increasing demand for collegiate lacrosse athletes. “There’s huge growth across the country in lacrosse,” he says. “It’s actually one of the largest growing scholarship sports in college right now for boys and girls.”
Lacrosse is an incredible sport, but it’s not basketball, soccer, or football—games that Americans hear about every day. A lot of times, kids aren’t exposed to lacrosse as much as they might be in other sports. In an effort to revamp that narrative, RedHawks Lacrosse is offering free lacrosse clinics to local youth.
Put simply, the Beginning Players Clinic is designed to introduce youth to the sport of lacrosse. The clinic started back up in September, and after a wildly successful turnout, the RedHawks planned subsequent clinics in the following months. With this, the league hopes to grow the game of lacrosse and offer local youth an exciting opportunity to explore a new interest and perhaps develop a passion for it.
Open to boys and girls ages five through fourteen, the Beginning Players Clinic accommodates children of all athletic backgrounds. James tells us, “The younger you start the kids, the more years they have to learn.” The free clinic is open to Parkland residents and non-residents alike.
It’s important for RedHawks Lacrosse to offer the clinic at no cost to players and their families. That’s all made possible thanks to the help of local volunteers who love the sport and are excited to introduce it to new players. By offering the clinic at absolutely no cost, the RedHawks are able to eliminate any financial barriers between kids and the game of lacrosse.
Players can expect to learn basic lacrosse drills and various techniques to get them accustomed to using the stick and the ball. Not to mention, they’re afforded opportunities to make new friends their age. James was excited to share that most of the league’s coaches are certified coaches, and many of them have a history with collegiate lacrosse.
The next Beginning Players Clinic will be held on Nov 12 at Pine Trails Park at 6pm. Parents can register their children for the free clinic at www.parklandlacrosse.com.
The RedHawks league officially starts in late January for those interested in continuing with lacrosse after the clinics. While all pre-season practices will be held at Terramar Park and season practices at Pine Trails Park, players can expect to travel to compete against teams from neighboring communities. Players will need to register by December 31st to secure their spot for the 2022 season.
