The Arizona Chapter of US Lacrosse is led by President Marie Baca with help from 11 other board members. Their chapter is the only chapter residing in the "Southwest Region." Their mission is to offer a non-partisan resource for the support and growth of lacrosse in the Southwest Region of the United States.
The Arizona Chapter helps promote the growth of the sport through youth players. One of the focuses throughout 2010 has been the Fast Break Initiative. US Lacrosse partnered with the Arizona Chapter to host a beginner girls’ youth clinic in conjunction with the US Lacrosse Women’s Division Intercollegiate Associates (WDIA) National Championships in Scottsdale in May. Each player received a new lacrosse stick and pair of goggles in addition to expert instruction.
Later this fall, continuing the Fast Break Initiative events, US Lacrosse will bring a Coaching Education Level I Program clinic and men’s and women’s officials’ clinic to the region. Plus, the U.S. Men’s National Team will offer a players’ clinic in November during the Fast Break Weekend. Another aspect of the weekend’s events are to provide "breakout sessions" for parents, coaches and team administrators, making the weekend inclusive to everyone involved in lacrosse while focusing on the goals of sportsmanship and safety, concussion awareness, AED awareness and use, and post high school play.
Continuing with the goals of safety and sportsmanship, the Chapter was involved in the recent Four Corners Lacrosse Tournament in Winslow, Arizona, where the Chapter banner found itself "standing on the corner in Winslow, AZ." Safety and sportsmanship were stressed at the tournament which was a great event for all teams. A sportsmanship award was made at the end of the tournament, emphasizing sportsmanship as an important aspect of lacrosse. The Arizona Youth Lacrosse League (boys division) also awarded sportsmanship trophies (as voted on by their peers) to one program in each division as part of their annual banquet.
Arizona Chapter board members will also present at the annual Arizona Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AZAHPERD) Conference in October. The focus of the presentation will be to increase the awareness of lacrosse to statewide PE teachers, giving them the opportunity to learn a new sport to include in their PE curriculum. Follow up will be made with those PE teachers seeking further information and instruction through on site clinics held by board members.
Even before the presentation has been made, several clinics have been held at elementary, middle and high schools throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. One of the schools in which a presentation was held applied for the Equipment Grant as part of the Fast Break Initiative and was awarded a combination boys and girls grant. That school plans to begin implementation of a boys and girls afterschool program with assistance from the Chapter.
Responding to the needs of the Arizona Girls Lacrosse Association, which has seen limited growth in the past few seasons, the Chapter itself awarded another grant to an emerging high school girls program, which hopes to be up and running for the 2011 season.
Realizing that an increase in lacrosse players and programs requires an increased number of qualified referees and umpires, the Chapter has allocated funds to support additional official’s training for the Arizona Lacrosse Officials Association (ALOA) and the Arizona Women’s Lacrosse Umpire Association (AWLUA.)
Not only has the chapter been highly involved in promoting lacrosse in Arizona, but they have also supported the efforts in their neighboring state, New Mexico. The Arizona chapter marketed the New Mexico player’s clinic to the AZ members, as well of those residing in New Mexico. The Chapter serves as a resource to New Mexico coaches by assisting and supporting the needs of their players, coaches, and teams. New Mexico lacrosse players, coaches, and parents have also been invited to actively participate in the events at the Fast Break Weekend.
Finally, the Chapter plans to continue its goal of increasing communication among members in Arizona and New Mexico, by publishing a newsletter which will serve to inform and educate interested parties with respect to the events, goals, and needs of lacrosse in Arizona and New Mexico.
For more information about the Arizona chapter, please visit http://www.arizonalacrosse.com or contact chapter president, Marie Baca at Pbaca@aol.com.