Boys lacrosse has been a sport associated with Chelsea High School athletics for many years, and has had lots of success with many kids in and out of the program as well as giving great scholarships to the players for their sports future. Now, the lacrosse program expands to the middle school girls team starting this upcoming spring. This makes CHS students wonder if this trend will continue to the high school; administrative assistant Shelby Sanders, the new middle school girls lacrosse coach, weighs in.
“I’m really looking forward to starting coaching,” Sanders said. “We’ll have around 20-25 girls on the team who I haven’t met yet, so I’m looking forward to our first meeting on Wednesday.”
Sanders, having never coached before, is going into her career completely blind, which has made her especially eager to learn about the sport, understand the team, and get to know the girls both on and off the field.
“This experience will absolutely help if I decide to coach for high school,” Sanders said. “I’m coming into this not knowing really anything about lacrosse. So this will give me an opportunity to learn as well as hopefully grow into a coach.”
As this team will give Sanders experience and training, looking toward the future, girls high school lacrosse has a good opportunity for becoming a part of the Chelsea sports system.
“The middle school age girls are able to play now, so then right after, and come up to high school and be able to play in high school. So I’m hopeful that in the near future, we’ll be able to have a high school team for the girls as well,” Sanders said.
Looking forward to this lacrosse team, there is a positive outlook forming, and hopefully it will create good relationships between the kids and Sanders.
“We have four try-out dates. So I’m hopeful that maybe we’ll have more girls show up that don’t know about the sport, try it, and maybe join the team.”
With Sanders stepping up to help coach the middle school team, there is a good chance that it will transfer into the high school environment.
“We are thrilled to introduce this new sport for young girls, providing them valuable opportunities, and look forward to seeing girls lacrosse offered at the high school level,” Sanders said.
