A group of local Coral Shores graduates are hoping to bring the sport of lacrosse to even more athletes in the Upper Keys.
Dominique Hickory said many young kids in the area are introduced to lacrosse in sixth grade, where other areas see kids starting earlier. As a former coach for the Hurricanes girl’s lacrosse team, Hickory said she saw how much their rival to the south, Key West, was excelling at the game. She later learned they had a program for boys and girls that began at an early age.
Recently, Hickory created the nonprofit Upper Keys Youth Lacrosse League for kids 4 years old to eighth grade to learn and love the sport. Hickory is starting up the program alongside board members and locals Austin Armstrong, Hector Benedi, and Hickory’s husband, Tyler.
Hickory said she hopes the UKYLL feeds the Panthers lacrosse program for middle schoolers and eventually the Coral Shores girl’s and boy’s teams. She said the league is dedicated to developing skills, sportsmanship, teamwork all while providing a fun environment.
“Lacrosse brings something that all other sports don’t. It brings definite determination. It’s a little hard with hand-eye coordination,” she said. “For little kids, it helps them build coping skills. It’s not just kicking a ball around. They actually have to think about it and process what they’re doing.”
Having recently launched the program, Hickory said the interest has been well beyond what she imagined. She said there are parents who want to be involved, and there are others who are interested in knowing more about the sport.
“It’s been an interesting response. You have half the community that knows what lacrosse is and half the community that has no idea what it is,” she said. “Where everybody thinks it’s a violent sport, I’ve had to reiterate and calm some parents down who think they (their child) can’t do the sport.”
Registration for youth lacrosse is open now through Jan. 10. Parents can sign up their kids in person on the final day of registration at Founders Park between 5 and 6 p.m. Hickory said the Panthers lacrosse is part of the UKYLL. They’ll continue to play Key West and other teams they decide to play.
As for the younger ones, Hickory plans 6-on-6 games for the older kids and 3-on-3 games for the little ones. Hickory said they’re looking to practice and hold games at Founders Park, which Panthers lacrosse plays, as well as Friendship and Key Largo parks.
“On the registration, kids are getting a choice of north or south,” Hickory said.
UKYLL is seeking sponsors to help young athletes get geared up and properly taught the game. All sponsorship donations are put into the program, which help provide the athletes with lacrosse sticks, jerseys, gear and more. Sponsorships will also help with covering costs for officials, coaches, field maintenance, and game provided equipment.
“With this being our kickoff season, we are going to be able to show our community just how impactful this game really is,” Hickory said.
For more information, visit upperkeyslax.com.
