First played by Native Americans on horseback, lacrosse has evolved into a largely suburban sport. According to the United States Lacrosse Organization, lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports at both the high school and college levels. Now it has found its way into the urban location of Stuyvesant High School.
Assistant Principal Health and Physical Education Martha Singer filed an application with the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) to add lacrosse to Stuyvesant’s athletic department.
“Some students came to me last year, and said they were interested [in playing lacrosse],” Singer said. This past spring, nearly 35 sophomores and juniors passed around a petition, obtaining almost 50 signatures, to create a lacrosse team at Stuyvesant.
Stuyvesant has never had a lacrosse team. “We just never really had enough kids that were interested,” Singer said.
CityLax, an independent non-profit organization founded in 2005, works with New York City public schools to bring lacrosse to their athletic programs. “CityLax is promoting lacrosse all around New York City,” Singer said.
In September 2007, she met with a Armando Taddei, a CityLax spokesperson, to discuss the logistics of bringing lacrosse to Stuyvesant. Convinced by the organization, which was eager to help establish both boys’ and girls’ varsity teams, Singer sent an on-line application designated for spring sports requests to the PSAL.
In its first year, Stuyvesant’s lacrosse teams will compete in the PSAL’s Developmental League, which includes South Shore, Christopher Columbus, Frederick Douglass Academy, James Madison, and Herbert H. Lehman High Schools.
Although much progress has been made, there are still some logistics that are yet to be determined .
While the boys’ team has selected varsity football coach Brian Sacks as their coach, the girls’ team is still without one.
Sacks played lacrosse throughout middle school and high school.
“I’ve coached high school lacrosse for three years. One at Plain View [High School] and two at Roslen in Long Island,” said Sacks.” Since tryouts are predicted to be relatively low, Sacks has encouraged many of his varsity football players to join the lacrosse team. “It’s a good crossover sport. Athletes should play numerous sports throughout the year to develop different skills. There are a lot of similarities between [lacrosse] and football.”
The girls’ team has not yet found a coach but Singer remains hopeful.
Furthermore, according to Singer, setting up the teams will be “very expensive.” Equipment required for the boys’ team includes lacrosse sticks, helmets, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves and mouth guards. The girls’ team does not need helmets, shoulder pads or elbow pads because girls’ lacrosse contains far less contact is not nearly as physical. They are still required to have goggles. There is also optional recommended gear such as rib pads.
Neither the PSAL nor CityLax are prepared or willing to fund the school in building the teams. Singer said lacrosse is “a heavy investment.” Exact prices are yet to be decided upon. More information on the teams’ specific needs will be addressed in an interest meeting that will be held in upcoming weeks.