Lacrosse Program Gaining Momentum

Craig Bakay | Feb 08, 2017

Thanks to a grant from the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport, lacrosse may be an up and coming sport activity for youth in Frontenac County. The grant was from the Ontario Sports and Recreation Community fund to promote aboriginal activities like lacrosse and snowshoeing for two years.

Northern Frontenac Community Services Corporation youth coordinator James Kelly has been running a six-week program at Land O’Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove for youths 10-13 after a similar program in Harrowsmith and so far, so good.

“We’ve really just got started with this,” Kelly said. “We had about 25 kids in Harrowsmith and about eight here in Mountain Grove.

“We’re planning another six-week run in Harrowsmith after spring break.”

Kelly himself, although an avid athlete, didn’t have much experience with lacrosse, but to a certain extent, that allows him to empathize with the students.

“I’m learning as well,” he said. “We teach fundamentals (passing, catching, shooting, face-offs) and then try to work in some scrimmages.”

For those unfamiliar with the sport, its origins date back a millennium or so, to the Iroquois Nations. It’s much like hockey without skates or ice and is played with a ball. The lacrosse stick has a basket at one end to catch the ball and goals are scored by shooting the ball past a goaltender into a net.

There are two versions, field and box lacrosse with the former being played outside on a larger playing surface with more players per team and the later being an indoor game, usually with six a side, much like hockey.

“I’d love to get a league going,” Kelly said. “It’s a great workout.”

The cost for the six-week program is $20 but since the Mountain Grove set has already been started, Kelly said they can work something out if there are more kids wanting to play. Equipment is provided so all kids need is proper athletic wear including sneakers.

Kelly believes this, and other aboriginal activities like snowshoeing, are important are important for kids in rural areas.

“In rural areas, you don’t find as many programs as you do in Kingston,” he said. “I know I would have jumped at the chance to do this when I was that age (and) the kids seem to like it.”
For more information on the program, contact Kelly at NFCS 613-279-2244 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..