Learning lacrosse in Lawrence

Divided into three groups, about 40 Lawrence school students in grades three through sixth were coached in the basics of lacrosse from cradling in the ball in the stick head to learning how to maneuver with the ball and avoid it from being knocked during last Saturday’s free program provided by the school district on the field at the Broadway campus in Lawrence.

In an effort to ramp up its high school varsity program and provide the kids with physical activity to spur their academic achievement, Kevin Anderson, who co-coaches boys varsity lacrosse along with Joe Martilloti, who also serves as the district’s coordinator of athletics and varsity football coach, along with assistant coaches Keith and Mike McDermott and Lawrence senior Kenny Hill, a top varsity returnee, are running the lacrosse program.

Anderson, along with previous Lawrence Middle School coach, Izzy Sanchez, sought to revive what was a dormant Lawrence Police Athletic League in 2012. They established a combined fifth and sixth grade team, but due to shifting life priorities, the league, once again, folded.

“We have a great turnout and are looking forward to a girls team as well as a boys team or intramurals to keep the kids interested,” said Anderson, who said the first-year goal is to establish a sixth-grade boys team. “With the support of Superintendent Gay Schall and Joe, we are looking forward to playing in the spring.”

Anderson said he would like to replicate the success Lawrence’s football program has had with the lacrosse team, while also having the kids learn how to play fundamental, sound lacrosse.

“As of right now this is what we have for the sixth grade as there is no more Inwood Buccaneers,” said Kathy Bowers, an Inwood resident and mother of a Lawrence Middle School sixth-grader. ‘This is what we have and this is where we are playing, and its free.”

In addition to the children learning lacrosse and getting outside exercise, a portion of the mothers have taken to walking the track, talking and networking, they said.

Atlantic Beach resident Elissa Sharin said that her daughter, Julia, 8, couldn’t wait to sign up and learn the sport. “Girls’ lacrosse is growing and other districts offer it,” Elissa said, “this is wonderful.”

To sign up, call (516) 295-8082.