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Monday's Internet Edition, January 05, 2009.
Lacrosse clinic draws over 100 excited youth to RM
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Photo courtesy to River Valley Times
Head Coach Paul Frank (near left) oversees boys in a warm-up drill at the second annual lacrosse clinic at Stonehouse Park in Rancho Murieta on Nov. 16. Featuring a professional lacrosse player, the clinic drew over 100 boys and girls from Northern California to RM.
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By Liz S. Abess
Special to the River Valley Times
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Over 100 kids participated in the Pleasant Grove Lacrosse Club’s (PGLC) second annual fall clinic on Nov. 16 on a beautiful afternoon at Stonehouse Park in Rancho Murieta.
Boys and girls, from high school to sixth grade students, learned the fundamentals of lacrosse while advanced skills were taught by professional Major League lacrosse player Steve Holmes from the San Francisco Dragons.
Over 20 volunteers, including coaches and parents, came together to manage the clinic that featured several vendor booths, a raffle, free t-shirts, snacks, music and a scrimmage between PGLC and players from Jesuit High School.
The day began with a motivational talk about being a “student athlete” by Holmes. The kids moved into a series of warm-up exercises and drills before they split into different areas.
Three fields were utilized as the experienced kids with “full gear” of helmets, pads and gloves cycled through eight stations and were taught by several members of the Dragons’ organization, along with PGLC coaches.
Head Coach Paul Frank instructed the beginners, giving most kids their first exposure to holding, passing and catching with a lacrosse stick. Coach Bill Ousley oversaw the girls’ lacrosse field, which included both experienced players and beginners. His daughter, Emalee Ousley, is beginning her second year and had a great time at the clinic. “It was a lot of fun,” said Emalee. “I think a lot of people got a chance to learn what lacrosse is all about and how girls’ lacrosse and boys’ lacrosse are very different.”
It was clear that PGLC President Paul Abess enjoys the kids and the sport as he addressed many by name during the raffle, where over 30 prizes were tossed out to lucky participants. “There is a great culture to this sport, and we have a lot of good kids involved,” said Abess. “You can see some of these new kids light up when they first start to get the hang of it, and then they’re usually hooked on the game.”
PGLC is entering its third season, which began with one team in 2007, four teams in 2008 and an expected six teams next spring, primarily at the middle school (Falcons) and high school (Eagles) levels, with one younger boys’ team.
The PGLC’s success has been phenomenal for a young club. Three of the five teams have won the championship in their division for all of Northern California, with one Falcon team triumphing over 34 other teams in the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association last spring.
The PGLC will begin practicing after the holidays, and games begin the last weekend in February, continuing well into May. Details about the PGLC are available at www.pglax.org.
Celebrated as “the fastest game on two feet,” lacrosse has grabbed hold of youth – both boys and girls – in Rancho Murieta, Wilton, Sloughhouse and Elk Grove in the past two years. In Rancho Murieta, kids are often seen carrying a lacrosse stick and practicing for fun out on the fields in what is often considered a combination of hockey, basketball and soccer. Growth in Northern California has nearly doubled in the past year. The PGLC expects to have seven teams next year to provide opportunities for even more local youth. Considered a safe sport, players wear full gear including shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves and helmets.
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