February 15, 1996

Release # S044 Contact: Adam Levin Sports Information Director Phone #: (207) 786-6411

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Lewiston-Auburn to Start Community Youth Lacrosse Program

LEWISTON, Maine -- The Auburn YMCA and Lewiston Recreation Department, in association with Bates College, will be sponsoring a youth lacrosse program this spring for boys and girls grades five though eight. The effort is being coordinated by Bates' first-year men's and women's head lacrosse coaches, Al Brown and Stacey Watts, associate director of the Bates College Center for Service-Learning Margaret Rotundo, Craig Jipson of the Auburn YMCA, Bud Raymond of the Lewiston Recreation Department, Lewiston High School athletics director Fern Massey and Bates graduate Hilary Crane-Stern Ô95 of the Auburn School Department. The program is slated to run from April 27 through the third week in June.

"This is a real collective effort," Brown said. "The people at the Auburn 'Y' and in the Lewiston Recreation Department have been wonderful. We have gotten plenty of support from people who want to help out. Fern Massey has been very helpful as an advisor, and Peggy Rotundo has been super in coordinating things between the community and the college," Brown added.

The Lewiston-Auburn program will be the fifth in the state of Maine. Similar programs already exist in Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Portland and Wiscasset. "Lacrosse in Maine is really growing and we thought that the L-A region should be part of it," Brown said. "There are 31 high schools and five colleges in the state that play right now, and that number will only increase."

The program will start with a clinic April 27 where youngsters will begin to learn the fundamentals of lacrosse. Brine Athletics, manufacturers of athletic equipment, including lacrosse supplies, will assist with the sponsorship of the clinic.

The weeks will be filled with instruction and four or five games. Through the help of area colleges and prep schools, the program will be able to fully equip 48 students. Registration dates and fees are not yet set, but are expected to be by late February. "The great thing about this is that kids can participate regardless of the cost," Brown said. "The 'Y' and the rec department have agreed to help people who wish to participate but cannot meet the financial requirements."

Members of Brown's and Watts's Bates College teams will will be going to elementary schools in the Lewiston-Auburn area to make presentations to the schools about the program and lacrosse in general. They will be distributing surveys to students to help determine the interest level in the program. Players from the Bates men's and women's lacrosse teams will also help out at the clinic and the program. Volunteer coaches will be welcomed from the Lewiston-Auburn community. "I am really hoping that parents will come out and help," Brown said. "That way they can help teach their own children and maybe learn about a great sport on their own," Brown said.

One way that Brown hopes to do this is through his book, Coaching Youth Lacrosse, which is due out in the spring. "This is really perfect timing, because books of this type have been out for years in other sports, but this is the first one on lacrosse. It is just one more tool that parents can use to help their children learn," Brown said. "Lacrosse is a great spring sport. It is such an active, running game, it should be really attractive to students who play soccer and field and ice hockey. I am really excited about this project. The whole effort that everyone in the community has given us so far really makes me feel that this program will be a success. It should be a lot of fun."

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