Winter lacrosse keeps kids learning year-round

INNISFAIL - Lacrosse is a sport you can learn in any season.

The Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association (IMLA) has partnered with Flow Bros Lacrosse in Innisfail for about six years to condition players and teaches the sport year-round.

The weekly winter lacrosse program runs every Sunday from January to March.

"Every year it's a different challenge," said Trey Christensen with Flow Bros Lacrosse. "The kids really seem to like it and it's always amazing to see how much lacrosse has grown."

Christensen coaches all age groups with IMLA, from tykes to midget levels and noted the development and progress he's seen in players over the years.

"We work on conditioning, we work on a lot of shooting skills and fundamentals," said Christensen. "We've better prepared the players for their season."

The regular lacrosse season begins in April and runs until June.

The winter lacrosse program also focuses on improving techniques and skills in the game, noted Christensen, pointing out several aspects of the sport that may attract young players to lacrosse.

"It's a very unique sport. As kids get older it starts to become a very technical sport," he said. "It also becomes a very systematic game. It does get very competitive as you get older."

Lacrosse is Canada's national summer sport said Christensen, and kids of all ages can benefit from learning the history and the importance lacrosse has played in Canada.

"You get to work on a lot of different skills and develop yourself as an athlete," he said, noting that many lacrosse players today also excelled at several different sports when they were younger.

"I played a lot of sports growing up and I believe it's not good for an athlete to just play one sport especially when they're a kid," added Christensen. "Lacrosse is the fastest sport on two feet that has elements of football, hockey, basketball; there's literally everything in it."

Christensen said the winter lacrosse program in Innisfail is also a way to share his love and passion for the game and his knowledge of the sport.

"I absolutely love the sport but more than anything it's awesome to see kids develop (on and off the floor)," said Christensen. "We can motivate a kid all we want to, but it's great when you get kids that are genuinely excited about coming out and developing themselves (as athletes and individuals) and take that away from the sport."