SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Learning a new sport is always fun, and the students at Pacific Beach Middle School are learning lacrosse.
The kids have the perfect instructors to learn from, as members of the San Diego Seals teach the sport as part of the national Elevate28 program.
“We try to show them what it’s like to dress like us and learn the basics of lacrosse. The kids like it, which is good because lacrosse is a difficult game. They’re starting to get the hang of it” , Seals defenseman Zack Deaken said.
Lacrosse has traditionally been an East Coast sport, but little by little the sport is starting to gain popularity in the West. For these children. it is their first introduction to the game.
“I just knew there were goalies and you could like body people and stuff,” said 8th grader James Atic.
“I didn’t really know how to play, but I expected there to be these kind of rackets and stuff and there to be goalies,” said 8th grader Jackie Kottke.
Through the Elevate28 program, the Seals provide 15 high schools in San Diego with lacrosse sets that include sticks, balls and goals. Physical education from every school
teachers receive a curriculum to teach their students the game.
“We focus a lot on teamwork,” said Jennifer Henehan, a teacher at Pacific Beach Middle School. “This fits right into our standards where they learn to collaborate, work in a team and work with people with different abilities.”
While the professionals are on the schoolyard teaching the game, these kids will learn a whole new sport while at the same time giving the Seals some exposure.
“It’s definitely growing, which is a good thing, it’s all we can ask for, and competing in the Olympics is a big part,” Deaken said.
“It’s really important for us to introduce as many sports to students as possible and to have professional athletes come out and make that introduction even more exciting,” Henehan said.
Lacrosse will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028