Pitt Lacrosse Clinic A Huge Success

The Pitt Panthers men's lacrosse team held a youth clinic for children in grades kindergarten through eighth Saturday at the , despite the chilly weather.

The team was scheduled to play the University of Indiana Hoosiers at 2 p.m. at the high-school field, but the game was canceled. Weather conditions during the week caused the Hoosiers to push back an earlier scheduled game until Saturday, which replaced the Pitt game.

At the clinic, the Panthers assisted younger lacrosse hopefuls in all sorts of drills, helping them learn some of the fundamentals of their sport.

Pitt Head Coach Alex Perry said the main purpose of the clinic was to help spread the sport to different areas and help teach it to children in the community.

"It's really just growing the game and teaching the game and giving back to the kids who are playing," said Perry.

"We just want to make the quality of lacrosse as a sport better in Pittsburgh," the coach continued. "I have guys from all around the country who know the game really well, and for them to come out and share that knowledge is a great thing."

Perry also said how much of a success the clinic was, as did some of the parents of children participating.

"Youth clinics are very important, because it gives the kids someone to look up to, and they are very enthusiastic about it," the coach said.

Not only was the clinic a success, but it was planned on a very short notice.

"Pitt contacted us two weeks ago and asked if we wanted to host it," said Barbara Young, the director of operations for Pine-Richland High School Boys Lacrosse Club.

"This is our first time doing a clinic," Young said. "All of the money we make today will go to the boys team at the high school."

In most schools, lacrosse is a club sport, which means it is not funded by the school as much as team sports, such as baseball and football.

"They do provide the field for us, which is a great thing," said Young, who was very excited at the turnout for the day.

But, the Board of Directors all agree that getting more attendance for home games is a must, and the only way to do that is by spreading the word.

"We're just trying to get more people out here to support the team," Young said. In the club's first home game, nearly 400 fans attended the match, a very good sign for weeks to come.

Both the Pitt Panthers and Pine-Richland Rams are doing well, as Pitt currently owns the 16th rank in the MCLA (Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association). The Rams have also been successful thus far in starting off its season 2-1.

Both teams want and need your support, so be sure to check out a game or two in the coming weeks and months, as both Pitt and Pine-Richland will look to make a statement in the post-season.