Youth: Report on the successes of Oakland Lacrosse Club

This report from Oakland Lacrosse Club's Kevin Kelley makes me happy. Thanks to those of you who contributed to the cause after reading my post here!

Oakland Lacrosse Supporters: Last July we had a vision of making it possible for all youth attending Oakland public schools to be able to play the sport of lacrosse. Now, eight months later, because of your dedication and support we are well on the way to making that happen. We are just about to wrap up our spring season. Here is some important information about our youth program From September to February we partnered with 7 Oakland Public Schools and exposed lacrosse to over 800 Oakland Public School students through P.E. classes and after school programs This spring we had 55 6th and 7th graders participate in our comprehensive spring program   54/55 participants had never played lacrosse before88% of our students receive a scholarship to participate75% qualify for reduced lunch In addition to learning the basics of lacrosse, we conduct nutrition workshops and provide healthy snacks at each practice and game. We have established a mentor series, which features local leaders discussing their careers with our players. We also have our kids tour local colleges with current lacrosse players. Here are a few quotes from our kids: From our mentor series: " I learned that when you want to do something you should not let what other people say put you down. When you want to do something just do it to the best of your ability and you probably get what you want." Jeremiah Vaughn, 7th Grader From our nutrition workshop: " I learned energy drinks have a lot of sugar and that you can make your own healthy energy drink without spending a lot of money." Glendy Santos 7th Grader From the field: "I scored two goals, but I want to work on not getting so mad when a penalty is called on me."     Jake Norman, 7th grader  An email from one of my players asking me to change the summer schedule so he can participate:     "Please coach is it possible to change time, because a summer to me without my new favorite sport is like me throwing away the most precious thing I love and that's lacrosse. Is there anything you can do?" Henry Guo 7th grader Once again thank you for your support and making it possible for kids in Oakland to be part of our program. If you want to check us out on the field here is our schedule: Boys: Saturday, May 4 pm @ Morton Field San Francisco Saturday May 11 am @ Treasure Island(TBD) Girls: Saturday May 4 9 am & 11 am @ Tech Saturday May 18th in Danville (TBD)

Oakland Lacrosse Club

A well-organized Lacrosse Club has emerged to serve Oakland. The time is right, the people are right, and a little monetary assistance would go a long way to opening up this East Bay community to our sport.  Skyline Lacrosse Club has been very helpful to this effort, and those efforts have resulted in a new club and will produce new Boys and Girls NCJLA U13 teams this Spring. Here's the press release:

Introducing Oakland Lacrosse Club Registration Now Open

The burgeoning enthusiasm for and success of the lacrosse teams at Oakland Technical High School and Skyline High School spurred parent volunteers to form the Oakland Lacrosse Club during the summer of 2012. When the high school teams were initially established, they functioned as a special program of Skyline Lacrosse Club entitled Skyline Lacrosse HS. Under the umbrella of the Skyline Lacrosse Club the teams were able to grow and develop. Additional teams were added to accommodate student interest. As we contemplated future development of lacrosse in the Oakland public schools, the time was right to spin off from Skyline Lacrosse and establish a new club.
With the blessing and support of the Skyline Lacrosse Club, parent volunteers formed the Oakland Lacrosse Club; to this end bylaws were drafted, Articles of Incorporation were filed, a board of directors was elected, our membership in the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association was approved and a website, Oaklandlacrosse.org, was established. The newly launched Oakland Lacrosse Club will support the high school teams and we have added a comprehensive middle school program. Our phenomenal new Oakland Tech JV Boys’ head coach, Kevin Kelley, with the army of volunteers he recruited has put lacrosse sticks in the hands of over 500 Oakland middle school students this fall! We are now well on our way to fielding U13 boys’ and girls’ teams in the 2013 spring season! Many of these new players will eventually attend Oakland Technical or Skyline High School. Experienced players will strengthen our high school teams.
Registration is now open for Oakland Tech boys’ and girls’ teams, Skyline High boys’ and girls’ teams and the new boys’ and girls’ Middle School (U13) teams. Click here to register Oaklandlacrosse.org
Do Not Delay. Teams may fill up. Registration closes November 25, 2012. Questions? Contact info@oaklandlacrosse.org 

Kevin Kelley

Kevin played NCAA DI Lacrosse at Providence, was the Head Coach at Piedmont High School, is a coach at UC Berkeley, and has been the Coach of the Oakland Tech Boys' Lacrosse team.

As with all new enterprises, funding is necessary. Fund raising is off to a very good start, but they still need a few more contributors.Here is an opportunity to put Oakland Lacrosse on a solid footing:
http://www.indiegogo.com/oaklandlacrosse

This is the infrastructure and leadership team that can pull this off! I've made a contribution and hope readers will consider doing the same.

Organized Lacrosse in Oakland Public Schools

Lacrosse has had its ups and downs in Oakland, with early efforts to launch the game going back more than twenty years. Despite great effort and dedicated coaches most of those early efforts failed. But efforts continued and it may be that Oakland's large school population may be on a path to critical mass. Here is a terrific story about the Oakland Lacrosse Club and Kevin Kelley, who are organizing a major effort to expose Oakland boys and girls to our sport. I wish them the very best of luck:


Kevin played Division I lacrosse at Providence College, where he graduated in 2000. After graduation he moved to the Bay Area and helped start the Piedmont high program. He was assistant coach in 2002 and 2003 and head coach from 2004-2009, compiling a 73-42 record and three straight NCS appearances (2006-2008).


Oakland Lacrosse Club