In 2015, the deputy director of the East agency for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation issued a directive to sports coordinators at various parks to increase female participation by introducing new sports, including lacrosse.

It wasn’t received well because of the lack of field space. Lacrosse might be booming in California, but not necessarily in L.A. Many city residents still don’t know about the sport.

But after visiting some clinics, Gabriel Fowler, the sports coordinator at Loma Alta Park, learned of its Native Americans roots and immediately became hooked.

“It was something tribal,” he said. “It was family-oriented. I fell in love with the game.”

Receiving a scholarship to attend the US Lacrosse Convention in Baltimore, Fowler witnessed Team USA’s elite skills and learned various drills and skills to take back home.

“It was good seeing how the game was pretty big on the East Coast,” Fowler said. “It was inspiring and motivating to get it going over here, especially my area where there was not much lacrosse activity.”

By October 2015, the Loma Alta Park girls’ lacrosse program was founded with the help of the Kids in Sports Foundation, which provided jerseys and referees. First, Fowler offered free clinics to garner interest. By the following April, nearly 30 girls ages 10-14 wanted to play, forming three teams in its first season.

Last spring, just four parks participated, but for this upcoming season, Fowler has more than 10 parks on board, with Loma Alta Park leading the way with the most teams.

“When we started back in 2015, we were all just lamenting the idea,” said Fowler, who volunteers with the Sankofa Lacrosse Foundation. “Just seeing the opportunities that it has brought my girls, and especially myself, being able to participate, going to LaxCon and learning so much, has been phenomenal.”

Fowler even schedules field trips to watch USC and Whitter College play, complete with postgame meet-and-greet and autograph sessions. His team, full of girls who had never seen the sport before, now regularly shares messages containing NCAA highlight videos that they come across. Fowler also shares new drills with them on Instagram.

“It’s cool to see the sport grow,” said Fowler, who was recently asked to do a presentation about “why people should start girls’ lacrosse” at a local sports conference Nov. 5. “There’s more of a solid foundation that we’re standing on. More people know about the sport in our community.”

“I absolutely see it as an emerging sport” Fowler added. “There’s so much opportunity for the sport to grow, especially on the women’s side. … It’s time for a lacrosse explosion.”

Locally Grown

Arizona

An intra-city clinic hosted by Arizona State’s Joseph Thon and other area coaches brings youth players from all townships to participate in the event. Equipment can be provided free of charge.
 
Colorado

The chapter hosted several clinics focused on development of youth players age 5-10.
 
Los Angeles

Gabriel Fowler from Loma Alta LA Parks and Rec Centers has been hosting “learn to play lacrosse” clinics in the San Fernando Valley.  They are new recipients of the Soft Stick Grant.
 
Nevada

The High Sierra Lacrosse Association attended Oktoberfest near Lake Tahoe and staged a “learn to play lacrosse” exhibition as part of the event. This fundraiser also is designed to expose the game of lacrosse to the local community. 

Orange County

The chapter hosts inner-city lacrosse clinics to help give underprivileged families in this community the ability to learn the game of lacrosse. 
 
San Diego

Lil’ Laxers at Cabrillo Park is designed to get 5-7 year old boys and girls having fun on the field while learning about lacrosse. Unique games and contests keep the littlest players entertained and amused while making sure that they learn the basic concepts of the sport.
 
Utah

The chapter hosted the second combined US Lacrosse Coach Development Program Level 1 certification clinic for 30 Coaches at Westminster College in Salt Lake.  Plans are underway for a Level 2 clinic in the spring.

Picture This

The Art of Imitation

US Lacrosse and the Sankofa Lacrosse Foundation brought the Sankofa Clinic Series to Loma Alta Park in Altadena, Calif., on Aug. 12. The free two-hour sessions are led by some of the best players and coaches in the country.

My USL Rep

Judson Stone | Pacific Southwest

A New Jersey native whose love for lacrosse started as a ball boy for Princeton, Stone and his family were instrumental in the growth of the sport in Colorado after moving there in 1990. He became the first scholarship player at the University of Denver and coached at high schools in Colorado and California. Stone oversees initiatives in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Southern California and Utah.
How can US Lacrosse help grow the sport in your area? Contact

How can US Lacrosse help grow the sport in your backyard? Contact Judson at jstone@uslacrosse.org or 410-235-6882, extension 193.