Middle Township Youth Lacrosse Program Receives Grant

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township is the recipient of a grant through US Lacrosse, the national governing body of lacrosse in the United States. The new grant program will provide equipment and benefits for the youth lacrosse programs in Middle Township in advance of the new season that is scheduled to begin March 22, 2014. Middle Township was one of only 50 youth girls’ lacrosse programs in the United States to receive this grant.
The Department of Recreation announced that it successfully applied for a First Stick Program Grant through US Lacrosse in July 2013. The grant award is the first of its kind in Middle Township and creates a two-year partnership with US Lacrosse. During the first year of the grant program, the Middle Township Youth Lacrosse Program receives goalie equipment including a new helmet, goalie stick, pads, gloves, goggles, and 24 sticks for girls’ lacrosse along with US Lacrosse membership discounts with training and education provided for a head coach.
Year two of the agreement with US Lacrosse will provide the same equipment for a dozen players and one goalie along with training and education for one head coach and an assistant coach. In addition, US Lacrosse offered a soft stick equipment grant to the Township. This additional grant provides 30 soft lacrosse sticks and 30 soft lacrosse balls along with an instructional DVD that will enable the Township to teach youngsters the basic skills associated with lacrosse. This equipment will help promote the Township’s “Scoops” program for children between five and eight years of age.
First Stick Program Grant recipients enter a two-year partnership with US Lacrosse, during which time the national organization will help to develop a self-sustaining lacrosse program that operates by US Lacrosse’s national standards and best practices. One of the program’s primary goals is to help break down the barriers to participation by providing free and/or discounted resources to new teams. Applicant groups were required to demonstrate a financial need and verify their status as a community based youth team or organization, or an elementary, middle or high school team in order to be considered.
Registration is currently underway for the Middle Township Youth Lacrosse Program. Registration is ongoing at the Clarence Davies Sports Complex in advance of the season opener on March 22nd. The cost is $45 per child for children in 2nd through 4th grades; $65 per child for children in 5th through 8th grades. This will be the second year for the boys’ program in Middle Township.
For more information, visit www.middletownship.com or www.uslacrosse.org.