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Valley lacrosse pilot takes an all-female approach
An all-female approach to a sport pilot is taking place in two Valley recreation centres through March and April.
Lacrosse Nova Scotia is a successful recipient of one of only a handful of national Gender Equity in Recreational Sport: Community Grants Initiative grants, through the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association. The program is supported by the Government of Canada to help meet its commitment to achieve gender equity in sport at every level by 2035. LNS hopes to do even better than that timeline, and the Valley projects are a huge “win” for community recreation, female sport and the growth of lacrosse in the province.
“Lacrosse NS is excited to be the recipient of a gender equity grant because achieving gender equity in our sport is an important goal for our provincial sport organization,” says Donna Goguen, LNS executive director. “We have 25 per cent female participation in our sport, and are aiming for parity within five years.”
LNS offers female provincial team programming, indoor box sector and field sector, and is training a team for the 2022 Canada Games. LNS sanctions the Sirens’ female program for the under-12 category, in the Metro area, and clubs and programs around the province offer varying numbers of all-female or co-ed teams in both box and field lacrosse.
The March 6 to April 3, free, five-session program running at the Credit Union Rec Complex in Kentville is in partnership with Kings County Recreation; Berwick Recreation will host its sessions at the town hall gym. Female athletes new to lacrosse, or with experience, are welcome to register for either community program. LNS has a number of female coaches lined up to facilitate the programs and build their own leadership and coaching skills to higher levels, but new and less experienced community female coaches are encouraged to attend, and take advantage of mentorship opportunities. This will be an introduction to lacrosse skills and drills for program participants.
Both programs are free, with sticks and balls provided (no extra gear required). Participants should dress for gym activity, and will be informed of program and facility public health guidance. The Credit Union Rec Complex program in Kentville runs March 6 to April 3, with participants ages eight to 12 on the turf between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., and ages 13 to 17 running 11 a.m. and noon. To register, contact Nichole Gilbert, 902-690-6124 or ngilbert@countyofkings.ca. The Berwick town hall gym program runs March 6 to April 3, ages eight to 12 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., and ages 13 to 17 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Berwick sessions are limited to 20 participants for each age group. To register, contact Taylor Boylan, tboylan@berwick.ca.
Adult females interested in joining the programs to develop coaching skills should contact LNS executive director Donna Goguen, lacrosse@sportnovascotia.ca.
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