This article appears in the Northeast version of the May/June edition of US Lacrosse Magazine. Don’t get the mag? Join US Lacrosse today to start your subscription.

Christine Habermann played lacrosse in high school, never really thinking she’d be involved in the sport much beyond that or see the women’s game grow to modern-day heights.

Now, as Habermann enters her 10th year as executive director of the Massachusetts Bay Girls Lacrosse League (MBGLL), her expectations have been surpassed and then some, perhaps best shown by a March 4 event.

That’s when the MBGLL, for the first time ever, held its annual preseason play date at Medford High School in conjunction with the New England Lacrosse Convention. It offered 10 teams, ranging from fifth- to eighth-graders, the chance to gear up for the spring season, all while the Eastern Massachusetts Women’s Lacrosse Umpire Association got valuable in-game training.

“It’s always a fantastic opportunity for them to come together in preseason and build themselves culturally as a team,” Habermann said. “We’re bringing all these girls together who might hardly know each other, so it’s a great way to bond.”

With the referee component, Habermann said they’re constantly trying to expand the pool of officials around the state. She said she finds that most participants are older, while those in their 20s and 30s might not think of giving back to the game in that way. Regardless, she hopes the March 4 playdate led to increased education and comfort in the girls’ game.

“It’s one thing to learn it on the classroom, but you have to be on the field to experience it,” Habermann said.

Nearly 120 coaches simultaneously participated in a Level 1 Coach Development Program as part of US Lacrosse’s broader coaching education initiative. She found that local MBGLL coaches and others weren’t always willing to travel to the national convention. This was a local training opportunity.

“Even if you coached in high school or college, it doesn’t mean you know how to coach the youth,” Habermann said. “These clinics really help break down the techniques.”

Habermann and company were just getting started. On April 14, MBGLL U15 and U13 teams participated in the seventh-annual Harvard Youth Day. The girls played on Harvard’s fields, coaches and parents attended the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Triple Impact Athlete and Second Goal Parent workshops on campus, and the Crimson players signed autographs after their game against Princeton. The entire day was free for MBGLL members.

Habermann hopes to expand the New England Lacrosse Convention in 2019 to include representation from the region’s six states, as well as professional players and teams — in addition to the world-class college coaches the event already features. That would, in turn, generate even more excitement about lacrosse for MBGLL’s players and coaches.

“This whole day is about bringing lacrosse to New England and to one broader area,” Habermann said. “It’s bringing everyone together, so it’s a learning experience and we grow the sport.”

Growth is at the core of all the MBGLL does, all to give back to the players and enrich their experience — building skills and self-confidence while having fun. The 2018 convention and playdate were big steps forward, Habermann noted, but they hope they’re only getting started. 

Locally Grown

Connecticut

The second-annual Spirit Lacrosse Clinic for children with special needs is Sunday, May 6. Kids are able to take the field and do lacrosse drills under the supervision of several volunteers while laughing, playing and just having plain old fun. The event is operated by the Ellington Recreation Department, in conjunction with Ellington Youth Services.

Maine

On June 23, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik will host a festival to celebrate the return of the Creator’s Game to Wabanaki territory in Maine. The event aims to bring together tribal members from the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Nation, as well as non-native youth lacrosse players from Southern Maine. Following an afternoon of instruction, games and cultural teachings about the traditional roots of the Creator’s Game, there will be a community feast and social to honor all Maine Native American veterans. The event is a collaboration between Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, Inc., the Sipayik Youth Council, the AFSC Wabanaki Program, Brunswick Youth Lacrosse and the Tewaaraton Foundation. 

Massachusetts

On Jan. 24, the Western Mass Hall of Fame inducted a fantastic class into its Hall of Fame. Inductees include Jay Caron, Joel Castleman, Francesca DenHartgog, Norman Smith and Jeff Spooner.

New Hampshire

The NHWLUA and NHYLA collaborated to host three US Lacrosse training sessions for girls’ lacrosse officials, increasing the number of trainers to accommodate approximately 45 candidates who were scheduled to participate.

New York

As part of the Lacrosse Communities Project, the Adirondack Chapter and CityLax hosted the inaugural Lacrosse Communities Day on March 17 at Albany’s Casey Stadium. The day included a skills and drills session, local high school scrimmages and Albany facing off against Vermont in an America East game.

Vermont

Lacrosse is growing in Vermont and so are coaches teaching it in the local school system. Back in November at Jericho Elementary School, 24 P.E. teachers ranging in grades K-8 took apart in a US Lacrosse workshop on how to teach kids lacrosse in P.E. class. Teachers learned skills, drills and fundamental of lacrosse to now bestow onto the youth.

Picture This
Rhode Runners

The Brown women’s team poses with its trophy after claiming the Ocean State Cup — a bragging rights competition between Rhode Island teams — with a 15-14 win over Bryant at Conaty Indoor Athletic Center on March 7.

My USL Rep
Ryan Larkum, Northeast

Ryan Larkum is from West Hartford, Conn. He played lacrosse at Conard High School and then one season at Springfield College. While working for New Britain Parks and Recreation, he coached at Farmington (Conn.) High School. He joined US Lacrosse in 2014 and is the junior varsity coach at his alma mater Conard.

How can US Lacrosse help grow the sport in your area? Contact Ryan at rlarkum@uslacrosse.org or 410-235-6882, extension 188.