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

Teamwork makes the dream work. 

It’s a phrase that many have heard, and it quite effectively describes the success of a recent youth clinic in Atlanta.

The dream started with Brandon Perkins, a local lacrosse dad who wanted to expose the game that his family loves to more kids who have never played.

Shortly after moving to Kennesaw, Ga., in 2014, his son Bryce, now 10, was introduced to the game by a neighbor and began playing.

Quickly, the lacrosse passion consumed the entire Perkins family. 

“I wish I had known about lacrosse as a kid. It’s amazing,” Perkins said.

He quickly built a team to support his dream.

One of his first contacts was Lou Corsetti, regional director for US Lacrosse. Corsetti committed to running the clinic and recruiting additional volunteer clinicians from the Georgia chapter of US Lacrosse. He also connected Perkins with Mark Rowley, director of operations with Major League Lacrosse’s Atlanta Blaze.

Perkins worked with Rowley to secure field space for the clinic at Kennesaw State University, home of the Blaze. The team also provided discounted tickets to its season-opening game against the Florida Launch, and allowed the kids to be part of the opening ceremonies on the field.

Working with his home church and the non-profit organization Spirit of Atlanta, Perkins was able to generate funding and infrastructure support for the event. The money was used to buy t-shirts and lacrosse sticks for all of the clinic participants, as well as a pizza lunch and the game tickets. 

“Beyond just learning the new skills, we wanted the kids to have a stick and a ball to take home so they could keep practicing those skills,” Perkins said. “We also wanted the kids to see the game played at a high level, and to see how fun and exciting it can be.”

Despite inclement weather for much of the day, the turnout was good, with about 65 kids in grades 1-8 attending.  More than 100 kids had originally signed up. Perkins worked with the Cobb County Foster Care Program and the Cobb County PTA to recruit participants.

“The kids were amazing,” Perkins said. “I sincerely hope that they enjoyed the event and have a newfound passion and desire to learn more about lacrosse. It was a phenomenal day.” 

Corsetti credits Perkins for organizing a solid support team and pulling all the details together to create a memorable event for local kids.

“He’s an incredible individual in making things happen,” Corsetti said. “He raised all of the money on his own. Personally, I have done hundreds of clinics over the years, and the ability to give a stick to every player is incredible. It really makes a tremendous impact.” 

Perkins is not ready to rest on the success of this first Atlanta event. His vision is to work with the Blaze to make the clinic an annual event, and to potentially expand into other markets. He hopes to work with the Cobb County Boys & Girls Club to develop a partnership that brings lacrosse access and opportunities to more youth.

“Hopefully, we can target the first or second Blaze game each season for this clinic,” Perkins said. “But the model could work with all MLL teams. Together, we can provide an experience that can change a kid’s life. We’re all in on lacrosse.”

Locally Grown

Florida Gulf Coast

A Sticks for Soldiers tournament held at Cardinal Mooney High School on March 16-17 raised more than $14,000. Players met and listened to a presentation by Corporal Vincent Mannion-Brodeur, the event’s honoree, as well as his parents and guest speaker Colonel Grover Southerland.

Alabama

The Alabama Lacrosse Association helped host the Auburn Classic, a youth, high school and college tournament. The Auburn Lacrosse Club, along with the ALA and US Lacrosse, helped expose the game to many spectators and participants throughout the day.

North Florida

The Amelia Island Lacrosse Program, a US Lacrosse First Stick Program grant recipient, has been promoting the game throughout the local community.

South Florida

Lacrosse is on the rise in Miami thanks to the support of South Florida chapter president Seth Lehrman, Florida Youth Lacrosse Foundation president Brian Clinton and Miami Lighting Director Jason Pelletier. Pelletier utilized a US Lacrosse First Stick Program grant in his community to help spread the game. Miami Country Day School and North Miami High School will have teams next season thanks to his efforts.

Western North Carolina

Hickory Lacrosse coach Fran Paradine has implemented several US Lacrosse Soft Stick Program grants in the local community to raise awareness of the sport and to help grow the game at the youth level.

Picture This
Flagged for Success

The Sandhills Lacrosse Association — which organizes, develops, supports and promotes competitive youth, high school club and high school varsity lacrosse programs for young men and women residing in the Sandhills/Moore County, N.C. area — was established with the help of US Lacrosse grants and local volunteer coaches Nikki Loeb, Jamie Mosses, Jason Friedman and Tim Ripley.

My USL Rep
Lou Corsetti, Southeast

Corsetti, a Long Island native living in Atlanta, has been around lacrosse for more than 40 years as a player and coach. He was a four-time all-league attackman at Marist, where he also played football and set an NCAA single-game record for punt return touchdowns. He is a US Lacrosse Level 3-certified coach for the Atlanta Coyotes, past president of the Georgia Chapter and a Georgia Lacrosse Hall of Fame member. His son, Gordon, is the manager of men’s officials development at US Lacrosse.

How can US Lacrosse help grow the sport in your area? Contact Lou at lcorsetti@uslacrosse.org or 410-235-6882, extension 190.