Glendale Youth Lacrosse
Glendale Lacrosse League (GLL) is dedicated to growing the sport of lacrosse in Arizona. "The largest hurdle is spreading awareness and finding opportunities to play in organized leagues at an affordable cost", said Bill Casey, Director of the league.
In addition to scholarships and grants offered every season, the GLL puts their players to work to help promote the sport by providing a 1/5th discount to their registration costs for every new player they bring into the summer league beginning July 18 at Castle Sports Club in Phoenix. If a player gathers 5 friends to play in the league - they end up playing for free.
Lacrosse, the other stick and ball sport in America, has grown more than 500% in the last 20 years, doubling in high school boys and girls participation since 2001. The most significant growth is occurring in the western states. The game has steadily migrated as former players and coaches moved West. Lacrosse Magazine says that of the 2,427 men's lacrosse players on D-I rosters in 2009, 118 players came from five key Western states: California (55); Colorado (37); Washington (13); Arizona (9) and Oregon (4.).
With a history that spans centuries, lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America. Rooted in Native American religion, lacrosse was often played to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, and develop strong, virile men. Documented as early as 1636, the modern game is traced to Canadian dentist W. George Beers who standardized the game in 1867 with the adoption of set field dimensions, limits to the number of players per team and other basic rules. New York University fielded the nation's first college team in 1877.
In Arizona the sport goes back to at least 1961 with the University of Arizona's lacrosse program. The game built slowly until 1996 and 1999 with the formation of the Arizona Youth Lacrosse League (AYLL), and Arizona Girls Lacrosse League (AZGL) for high school boys and girls respective. In 2005 Glendale Lacrosse began youth programs working with the now defunct Arizona Sting professional lacrosse club, city parks and recreation departments and area schools. Today, close to 5,000 children play lacrosse throughout the state.
This summer Glendale Lacrosse opens their indoor season at Castle Sports in Phoenix on July 18th with a free clinic and game to anyone wishing to try the game. The league continues every Saturday, ending with a $500 to win 3 on 3 competition for the under 17 (U17) division. U13 and U11 will play for $250 and $100 - all in the form of gift certificates to a lacrosse retailer.
The "Bring -A - Friend" campaign is the latest in community outreach initiatives from Glendale Lacrosse including free physical education programs for Arizona schools, churches and non-profit organizations.
For more information about the "Bring - A - Friend" campaign, free lacrosse events, or learning the great sport of lacrosse in Arizona, you can visit the website at www.glendalelax.com
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
