02/24/2012
PARK LACROSSE TEAM NEWS
Children Participate in Lacrosse Clinic
Children from kindergarten through 5th grade get training.
By Brett Hunter Spielberg | September 26, 2011
Memorial Park was the site for the second of three lacrosse clinics run by the Park Lacrosse Organization.
"We service all the Park Communities in the 11040 zip code: New Hyde Park, Garden City Park and Floral Park," said Rich Pallisco, park/recreation chairman. "With hands on instruction of the basics we hope down the road to put our community on the map as a hub of lacrosse in Nassau County."
This three week program, held Sundays from noon through 1 p.m., is specifically for instruction. Fundamentals include learning to scoop, cradle, shoot and generally learn the feel of using the lacrosse stick.
In conjunction with the local high school, recent graduates volunteered as community service to help teach elementary school-aged children the fundamentals of lacrosse. With practice and hard work, young children can learn the sport early, so that down the road the high school will have a strong lacrosse program that can successfully compete.
Over 75 children registered for the clinic along with over 10 college-age student-coaches that volunteered their time, along with countless mothers and fathers who spent the afternoon watching their children have fun and learn to excel at the sport.
"These are young children we're working with, so we take numerous safety precautions," Pallisco said. "The children don't use equipment and we use special safety lacrosse balls that will prevent injuries to the children."
Past lacrosse clinics in the area have been held at the PAL. However, it is much more conducive to learning the sport to be at Memorial Park on the proper surface. Trying to scoop a lacrosse ball on a wood floor can be like trying to dribble a basketball on the grass.
