Jamaica Lacrosse clinics focusing on players, referees

With Jamaica Lacrosse set to host their women’s clinic tomorrow at St Hugh’s High, along with their men’s open play day on Sunday, Jamaica Lacrosse president Calbert Hutchinson said their focus would not only be on developing players, but also the sport’s officials.

Speaking ahead of their weekend of events, Hutchinson shared that the aim is to improve the sport on the island across all facets.

He said the initiative is part of the association’s goal of improving the quality of lacrosse locally.

“The upcoming clinic is a major part of the association’s ongoing mandate to provide capacity building for not just our players but our coaches and officials as well,” he said.

“It is our intention to build capacity that will ultimately impact the growth of lacrosse in Jamaica, so we are hoping that we will get a good turnout.”

Hutchinson said the association would be on the lookout for persons who present a working understanding of the sport and its rules.

These identified individuals will then be earmarked as prospects to increase the pool of officials available to work alongside Jamaica Lacrosse in the future.

“The activities will be focused on officiating based on the men’s and women’s field rules. Jamaica Lacrosse will be looking out for those who possess the basic knowledge and skills to become future officials with our various programmes.”

The women’s clinic will be held in two age-groups: an U17 category for younger players who are getting into the sport and a senior women’s category.

The senior women’s category will be held as a player-identification camp as the association hopes to scout prospective players for the Pan-American Lacrosse Association (PALA) Women’s Qualifiers set for June.

Spearheading the women’s clinic will be Jamaica Lacrosse head of officiating and former senior women’s team captain Corina Mahorn.

Mahorn said the senior women’s clinic will work alongside team tryouts being held in the United States to select the players to represent Jamaica at the PALA Qualifiers.

“For the ID camp, we want to identify players who have the skills, the athleticism, and the grit to play for Jamaica Lacrosse at world events,” she stated.

“There will also be tryouts in the US running around the same time. So after those weekends, the coaches will have a better idea of what the team will look like and can start narrowing down players and putting together training packages for those players.”

The women’s clinic will start at 10 a.m. for the under-17 players before the senior women take to the field at 1 p.m.

For the men’s open play, the event will start at 11 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.