StettlerLocal.com November 4, 2021 @ 9:55am
Contributed by Kim Smyth, Coach Coordinator Stettler Minor Lacrosse Association
Box Lacrosse, or indoor lacrosse, started in Stettler in 2010, with league games beginning in the Spring of 2012. Since then, Stettler Minor Lacrosse Association has participated within the Central Alberta Lacrosse League for all age groups from ages 3 through 16 years. Our registrations open up in January of each year, and we hit the floor mid-March with games commencing in April through June. Our AGM is held each fall with amazing volunteers who step up for the board. We also boast the attributes of all our volunteers who have jumped into Coach, Manage, and Train our teams where fun, competition, and honouring the game of Lacrosse are all paramount.
Working with sports teams and their players throughout the Covid pandemic has had its many challenges. For instance, our normal season schedule would include roughly two practices per week with a 12 game regular season and playoffs, as well as opportunities for tournaments and exhibition games. Our 2020 season was completely cancelled, while this past 2021 season saw us playing two games total, with sporadic practices dependent on whether we were allowed indoors or not. Between mandatory masking, sanitizing and maintaining social and physical distancing in a contact team sport, the difficulties of teaching even the most basic of skills were abundant! We are very much looking forward to the 2022 Box Lacrosse season, and hope to add a Recreational Program for all ages to participate and learn the game of Lacrosse through on-floor skills and drills followed by half-hour non-contact games. Should there be enough interest in furthering our Recreational game, there are leagues and opportunities for Junior (16-21 years) and Senior (over the age of 22) players.
Lacrosse is Canada’s National Summer Sport and a game of rich history, given to us by the First Nations people of Eastern Canada and the United States. In all the Native Languages, through the many translations and dialects, it has been known as the “Creator’s Game”. We honour this game, and the prestige it holds, through hard work, tenacity and respect shown both on and off the floor. Our Lacrosse family is very important in our community, and our players and coaches are called upon to help out on numerous occasions, such as helping with the Rummage Sale or in schools teaching about the game.
See our StettlerLocal.com TV episode from last fall with Kim Smyth discussing Lacrosse
For more information about Lacrosse in Stettler, please contact us through our Facebook page, or our website Stettlerlacrosse.com.