PAL Grows Youth Lacrosse Across Long Island

Syosset NY

14 November, 2021

11:21 AM

Description

              New Nassau/Suffolk PAL Long Island Lacrosse League                   Engages Players From Floral Park To Twin Forks                                                       _______ One popular segment of youth athletics across Long Island already is looking forward to 2022 and it will welcome the new year with hopes of a significant growth spurt. The recent merger of PAL Lacrosse programs in Nassau and Suffolk counties into the Nassau/Suffolk PAL Long Island Lacrosse League already embraces 15,000 current players from kindergarten to eighth grade in almost 80 communities. The new league now is focused on expanding the reach of the sport by encouraging participation by thousands of additional first-time players from communities along the Queens border to the tips of the twin forks. The spring schedule of games begins at the end of March. “Nassau County PAL Lacrosse has provided opportunities for 40 years for boys and girls to play lacrosse in a safe environment that is focused on participation,” said Eric Geringswald, the president of Nassau County PAL Lacrosse who now will oversee the new league. “In Nassau, we have 43 towns participating with about 10,000 children. In the Suffolk program, which shares the same ideals and philosophies regarding a safe environment for our children, we have 33 towns and about 5,000 children engaged in the game.” The new organization is committed to promoting the ideals of sportsmanship in lacrosse by following the concepts of ethical conduct and fair play that involves all players, officials, parents and event attendees. The league adheres to the highest standards of athletic competition, citizenship and respect for others while ensuring the well-being of all young players by requiring only USA Lacrosse Level 1 Certified coaches. All coaches agree to national background checks, completion of abuse prevention courses known as SafeSport (The United States Center for SafeSport is a nonprofit organization under the auspices of the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017) and a review of the rules. The league promotes respect for the game, respect for the officials and respect for opponents while teaching children to respect themselves as they have fun. “The number of children participating in lacrosse has plateaued during the last few years,” added Geringswald, who played lacrosse at Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills and at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. “Towns have needed to remain flexible from year-to-year as they determined the need for more or fewer teams based on participation levels and a more or less competitive schedule depending on registrants’ age and skill level. By combining the Nassau and Suffolk programs, PAL will provide additional lacrosse participation options for parents and their children. “Our children will play at designated competitive levels in each town and for the teams within each town,” explained Geringswald. “This will allow children to learn the game, develop their age-appropriate skills and possibly harness their interest should they wish to pursue lacrosse in high school and possibly college. But, most of all, we want them to have fun.” The new league is developing comprehensive programs that will increase youth interest and participation in the game, and the administration will coordinate field times for young boys and girls to practice, learn and play. The league also will organize clinics, including the already scheduled indoor winter clinic that begins in February for children with special needs.   “All of this will raise lacrosse to a new level as a sport that will teach teamwork and provide the thrill of competition,” added Geringswald. “It will create more interest and participation in towns, better develop player skills at a young age and create balanced, competitive teams.” Merger Has Started The merger between the Nassau and Suffolk organizations began a few months ago. Committees are engaged in organizing standard rules, creating schedules and developing an administrative structure that will provide an enjoyable lacrosse experience for the children.  To become involved with the new league, parents should continue with the established process. Each town that already participates in either the Nassau or Suffolk programs is registering children at the various age and grade levels for the spring 2022 season in the new league. “Begin with a town’s website and its lacrosse program to find information about the sport within a community,” said Geringswald. “For towns without a lacrosse PAL program, parents should visit the website for the Nassau/Suffolk PAL Long Island Lacrosse League to obtain details and contact information. Contact the league with questions. We will support parents whose children have expressed an interest in the game.”