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Owl Laxmen hold Youth Clinic
KEENE, N.H. 3/29/10 – As a midfielder on the Keene State men’s lacrosse team, Ian Hart knows how much an assist can help set up a goal.
Although his team’s game against Lasell College was hours away, the freshman from Richmond, N.H., was looking forward to providing a different type of assist Saturday morning with the Monadnock youth lacrosse program. A product of the program himself, Hart and his KSC teammates spent the morning teaching the fundamentals of the up-and-coming sport to over 50 young players who had assembled on the turf at Owl Athletic Complex.
“It brings back a lot of memories. I remember doing this when I was nine years old,” said Hart.
“We see these kids at our games and it’s an opportunity for our players to show them some basic skills and start building a relationship with the community,” said KSC Coach Mark Theriault.
A relatively recent arrival on the Monadnock sports scene, lacrosse is gradually netting a following among the area’s youth. Ian’s father, Rob Hart, an under-11 coach with the program, says that clinics like these help to build the interest. “The kids look up to the Keene State players,” he said. “Afterwards, they watch the players in the games and say, ‘Hey, I was just working with him.’”
“This is traditionally a baseball town, but lacrosse is slowly growing,” said Theriault. “It’s an easy cross-over from soccer and ice hockey.”
Rob Hart said having the sport at the high school level spurs interest in the youth program. "The younger siblings are picking it up. By the time they get to high school, they’ll be better players.”
The program began with basic stick skills. Ian Hart had a familiar partner – his nine-year-old brother, Timmy. “I was about the same age when I started,” said Ian. Lacrosse is a family affair for the Harts. “Ian is my oldest of eight," said Rob Hart. “This is my second time through the program.”
The program concluded with the young players being assigned to an offense or defensive group. Short in stature but big on enthusiasm, the players took turns charging the net in hopes of scoring a goal.
Nicknamed “Ant” due to his size, Anthony Mercometti, an 11-year-old from Winchester, said he had a good time learning from the Keene State players. “This is my first year playing lacrosse, so I’m having a lot of fun,” he said “I hope to play when I get older.”
Several of the players from the program, including Ian Hart, have gone on to make names for themselves at the high school and college level. Prior to joining the Owls, Hart was a four-year starter and team MVP at Monadnock Regional who earned All-State honors as a junior and senior. Asked if the youth program helped him, he quickly replied, “Absolutely. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the time other people spent teaching me the sport.”
