Windham Youth Lacrosse middle school teams gear up for new season

By Matt Pascarella

The Windham Youth Lacrosse Organization (WYLO) has been preparing for the upcoming spring season since early last month. The program aims to teach lacrosse skills from kindergarten to eighth grade. The middle school teams started their final week of practice on Monday, April 27. As they work up to the season opener, the boys fifth- and sixth-grade and girls seventh- and eighth-grade teams are finetuning skills and getting ready to begin the season as prepared as possible.

Windham sixth grader Coby Lane, left background, works on
passing during a Windham Youth Lacrosse Organization 
practice at Manchester School in Windham on Monday,
April 27. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

“I’ve had a majority of these girls since third grade,” said seventh- and eighth-grade girls’ lacrosse coach Dena Tompson, who has been coaching WYLO for six years. “A lot of these girls have been playing together since kindergarten. I feel like WYLO’s goal is to build more of a community; working together with positive energy, improving skills and skill level.

WYLO does a lot to work to connect high school and middle school players, and Windham High girls lacrosse varsity coach Matt Perkins has shared a lot of their drills and practice structure, so when the eighth graders reach high school, they know what to expect at the varsity level.

The varsity players spend time coaching and practicing with the younger players and Tompson said it’s cool for her to see the varsity players act as role models, and to see her team’s enthusiasm.

“I like having a good group of people to play a sport with and it’s fun to be with another family,” said WYLO eighth grader Brooke Winslow. “I’m hoping to accomplish wins and have fun. I’m looking forward to having a few goals and having people learn how to play – we have a lot of new people, so I hope we teach them well.”

Amy Bissel, a fifth- and sixth-grade girls’ WYLO coach said she believes exposure to the game this early on already puts them at an advantage to understanding the game at a deeper level. In addition to this early experience, to effectively prepare the athletes to one day play the game at a higher level, they prioritize fundamentals, communication, accuracy and patience. As coaches, they aim to build up player’s confidence.

“The goal is fundamentals of lacrosse,” said boys’ fifth- and sixth-grade WYLO coach Ben Sinclair. “We want to get kids excited about the sport, learning the sport. Teaching them the fundamentals and then progression from there. We’ve been growing every year. Commitment starts now.”

Sinclair said he wants his players to end the season with a team mentality. It can be hard to do things all by yourself, so having a team you trust around you makes a big difference.

“I like how it’s physical, we run a lot and it’s just fun,” said WYLO sixth grader Coby Lane. “I’d like to play varsity and go to college to play lacrosse. My goals for this season are starting on midi or offense and getting three goals a game.”

Regardless of age or skill level, coaches want their players to have fun, learn the skills of lacrosse and gain confidence while learning to be part of a team.

The teams will play their season openers on Sunday, May 3; visit https://www.windhamlacrosse.com/home for more details. <