Fort Mill Lacrosse Club

Proposal and Donation ofLacrosse Equipment to Elementary and Middle Schools

for Integration in Physical Education Curriculum

Fort Mill School District #4

INTRODUCTIONLacrosse In The United States

Lacrosse is the fastest growing team sport in the United States. Youth participation in the sport has grown over 138% since 2001 to

nearly 300,000. No sport has grown faster at the high school level over the last 10

years and there are now an estimated 228,000 high school players. Lacrosse is also the fastest-growing sport over the last six years at the

NCAA level with 557 college teams in 2009. There are more than 500 college club programs, including nearly 200

women's teams that compete at the US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates level.

Lacrosse In South Carolina In October, 2009, The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL)

sanctioned the sport of lacrosse in South Carolina High Schools. Not only is lacrosse the fastest-growing sport in the nation, this

decision also reflects the growing interest in lacrosse in the State – which as of the 2011 season had 32 boys and 26 girls High School teams, and is continuing to add new teams. Lacrosse in the south has grown at all levels from youth to collegiate

programs. Scholarship opportunities are growing at a fast rate. Fort Mill High School lacrosse has produced four collegiate

scholarship student athletes. Fort Mill has executive board representation on the SC Chapter (

www.sclacrosse.com) of US Lacrosse (www.uslacrosse.org).

Lacrosse In Fort Mill In December 2009, the Fort Mill School Board approved that both

boys and girls lacrosse would be included as a Fort Mill High School sport and would be a self-funded sport as part of the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) for a probationary period of one year. In June 2010, Principal Dee Christopher went in front of the Fort Mill

School Board again and requested that Lacrosse remain a self-funded school sport. It was approved. Fort Mill and Nation Ford High Schools have played the past two

seasons as a combined team hosted by Fort Mill High School. In the 2010 season, four teams were fielded … Varsity and JV boys and girls. With financial backing and support from the Fort Mill Lacrosse Club,

Nation Ford High School is working toward a split and having their own lacrosse program.

Lacrosse In Fort Mill The Fort Mill High School Varsity Lacrosse team was the

2011 State Champion. The Varsity Girls team played in the State Quarter Finals. Fort Mill High School Lacrosse was honored with two Boys All-

Americans, a Boys Academic All-American, a Girls All-American Honoree and two Girls All-Academic Team.

About the Fort Mill Lacrosse Club The Fort Mill Lacrosse Club (www.fmlacrosse.com) was formed in

2006, supporting more than 125 players at the middle school and high school levels, and a growing number of younger players. Lacrosse has been established in Fort Mill – we have dedicated coaches, strong, supportive parents – and many experienced players. The Fort Mill Lacrosse Club is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit

organization. The Fort Mill Lacrosse Club is the proud host of the annual Catawba

Classic (www.catawbaclassic.com) lacrosse tournament hosted at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, SC. This tournament has become the primary funding for lacrosse in Fort Mill. The tournament, held in June, hosted 50 boys and girls teams in 2010 and grew to 61 boys and girls teams in 2011. This tournament was run and staffed completely by the volunteer efforts of the Fort Mill Lacrosse Club board, the local lacrosse community, families, friends and players. In 2011, the tournament had the support of 115 volunteers!

About the Fort Mill Lacrosse Club The Fort Mill Lacrosse Club is proud to announce that we will be

hosting our first fall tournament in October “The Van” named after and in honor of Fort Mill High School Varsity Head Coach Jim VanBlarcom. Coach Van was named the 2011 South Carolina Coach of the Year.

Fort Mill Lacrosse Club – Financial Partner To date, the Fort Mill Lacrosse Club through fundraising and hosting

tournaments has been able to provide direct financial support to the high school programs the following funds which total in excess of $76,000:

2010 Season Start-up funds for Fort Mill High School – 4 teams: $12,000 This past season, financial support $21,700 was provided to our high school programs including:• Equipment donation for Fort Mill High School boys and girls teams – 60

boys helmets, girls and boys goalie helmets, 40 girls goggles, 30 pairs of gloves for boys varsity - $12,000

• Game Goals Donated - $1,500• Donation to the Fort Mill High School Girls general fund - $2,000 • Charter bus for the Fort Mill High School Girls Varsity team during playoffs

- $1,200 • Fort Mill High School Boys Varsity State Championship Rings - $5,000

Startup Money Reserved for Nation Ford High School Lacrosse - $12,000 Allocation committed to purchase school aged lacrosse equipment for each of 7 elementary schools ($1,000 each) and 4 middle schools ($2,000 each) - $15,000.

FMHS Tom Stephen2008 $0 $02009 $340 $5442010 $935 $7,6672011 $0 $6,477

$1,275 $14,688TOTAL $15,963

In addition to this direct support of the program, we have also had Microsoft Matching Gifts made directly to the school which is deposited into the FMHSABC Lacrosse Fundraising account. One of the coaches of the high school program - Stephen Blanchard, and Tom Salerno both work for Microsoft and the company matches $17 for every hour of coaching, keeping stats on the sideline, helping at football games selling programs, etc. Since July of 2008, the total Matching Gifts on this behalf has been $15,693 (see detail below).

Proposal and Donation The Fort Mill Lacrosse Club (FMLC) proposes to donate $15,000 to the

Fort Mill School District to purchase school aged-appropriate lacrosse equipment for all seven elementary and four middle schools with the intent for lacrosse to be incorporated into the physical education rotation.

PROPOSAL SUMMARY

Objectives Nationwide, lacrosse is the third-largest revenue generating sport in

high school, after football and basketball. It is important to build a strong feeder program at a young level for our high school programs to be successful. The Fort Mill Lacrosse Club currently fields teams at the middle school

(7th & 8th grade) level. Having lacrosse as part of the physical education rotation would dramatically increase awareness and subsequently, participation in the sport for both boys and girls.

Key Benefits Increased awareness and participation in the sport at a young age. Provides another opportunity for students to participate in athletics. Drastically increasing opportunities for scholarships for student

athletes.

Curriculum Lacrosse can be applied directly to the curriculum/standards as

detailed on the following pages. In addition, lacrosse can be used for teaching the following basic skills:

Tossing/ThrowingG.5.1 - to a wallG.5.2 - throwing with different trajectories to a moving partner Striking/Paddle/Racket - (extensions)G.5.3 - hitting a ball to a partner against a wall and over a 3' net Lacrosse could be applied to similar objectives from basketball and soccerG.5.4A - can the learner maintain possession and control ... against an active player?G.5.4B - can the learner defend against an offensive player?G.5.4C - can the learner use their offensive abilities to create an advantage?G.5.5 - can the learner play two-on-two ... with a direction goal without dribbling and demonstrate: accurate lead pass, cutting into the open space to receive a pass? G.5.10 - can the learner demonstrate the defensive tactics of the goalkeeping in two-on-one setting?B.5.11 - can the learner work in groups of two-on-two plus goalkeepers to alternate from offense to defense as needed in a game setting?

Curriculum Standards Elementary – Kindergarten:

STANDARD 5: Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings.• know rules, procedures, and safe practices for participation and respond

appropriately• share space and equipment with others

STANDARD 7: Understands that physical activity provides the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression,and social interaction.• be aware of the feelings resulting from challenges, successes, and

failures in physical activity• willingly try new activities

STANDARD 1: Demonstrates competency in many movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms.• demonstrate controlled traveling, rolling, and balancing actions• travel with control forward, backward, and sideways using a variety of

locomotor patterns and change directions quickly• move with awareness of others in general space;• kick, throw, catch, and strike objects under simple conditions

STANDARD 2: Applies movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills.• identify fundamental movement patterns • identify beginning movement concepts (BSER) in body management,

games, dance, and locomotion • apply appropriate movement concepts (BSER) to performance

STANDARD 3: Exhibits a physically active lifestyle.• engage regularly in moderate to vigorous physical activity outside of

physical education class• identify social and psychological benefits from participation in physical

activity

Curriculum Standards Elementary – Grades 1 and 2:

STANDARD 3: Exhibits a physically active lifestyle.• engage regularly in moderate to vigorous physical activity outside of

physical education class• identify social and psychological benefits from participation in physical

activity

STANDARD 5: Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings.• follow directions, apply rules, procedures, and safe practices with few or

no reminders• work cooperatively with another to complete an assigned task• work independently for short periods of time

STANDARD 7: Understands that physical activity provides the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression,and social interaction.• be aware of the feelings resulting from challenges, successes, and failures

in physical activity• willingly try new activities

STANDARD 1: Demonstrates competency in many movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms.• demonstrate mature form in locomotor skills • demonstrate smooth transitions between combinations of locomotor

movements and combinations of manipulative patterns• sequence weight bearing, rolling, balancing, and traveling activities

with control, both with and without equipment;• adapt kicking, striking, and throwing patterns to simple, changing

environments • throw a hand-sized ball overhand with force (e.g., to hit a wall thirty

feet away)

STANDARD 2: Applies movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills.• identify the critical elements of basic locomotor and manipulative skills

(e.g., jump two feet to two feet, skip-step-hop with a continuous pattern, opposition in throwing, and reach and give to catch)

• apply movement concepts (BSER) and principles of movements to a variety of basic skills (e.g., catching at different levels, skipping in different pathways)

• use feedback to improve performance (e.g., choosing appropriate hand positions for catching at different levels)

Curriculum Standards Elementary – Grades 3 thru 5:

STANDARD 3: Exhibits a physically active lifestyle.• identify personal interests and capabilities in regard to his or her own

physical activity,• select and participate regularly in physical activities for specific purposes

(e.g., to improve skill or health or for personal pleasure)• identify opportunities in the school and community for regular participation

in physical activity

STANDARD 5: Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings.• participate in the establishment of rules, procedures, and standards of

etiquette that are safe and effective for specific activity situations• work cooperatively and productively in a small group to accomplish a set goal

in both cooperative and competitive activities• work independently and utilize time effectively to complete assigned tasks

STANDARD 7: Understands that physical activity provides the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression,and social interaction.• recognize physical activity as a positive opportunity for social and group

interaction• recognize that participation in physical activity is a source of self-expression

and meaning (e.g., aesthetic, challenging, pleasurable, fun, social)• seek personally challenging physically active experiences• celebrate the successes of others along with personal successes and

achievements

STANDARD 1: Demonstrates competency in many movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms.• demonstrate mature form for all basic manipulative skills (e.g.,

overhand throw pattern, underhand throw pattern, kicking a moving ball, catching a ball thrown overhand) combinations of locomotor skills

• use basic motor skills of invasion (e.g., soccer, basketball), net (e.g., volleyball, pickle ball), striking/fielding (e.g., baseball, whiffle ball), and target (e.g., bowling) activities in increasingly complex situations

• demonstrate basic offensive and defensive strategies for invasion, net, and striking/fielding activities in limited settings (two on two, three on two)

STANDARD 2: Applies movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills.• use critical elements to improve personal performance and provide

feedback to others in fundamental and selected specialized motor skills (e.g., making a triangle to set a volleyball)

• describe and use basic offensive and defensive strategies in limited settings (e.g., one-on-one, two-on-three)

• recognize and apply basic concepts from the disciplines that impact the quality of increasingly complex movement performance (e.g., absorbing and producing force, the relationship between practice and the improvement of performance, the importance of warm-up and cool-down).

Curriculum Standards Middle School – Grades 6 thru 8:

STANDARD 5: Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings.• work cooperatively with a group to establish and achieve group goals in

competitive as well as cooperative settings

STANDARD 7: Understands that physical activity provides the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression,and social interaction.• enjoy the aesthetic, skilled, and creative aspects of performance;• identify the potential of various physical activities for personal challenge,

enjoyment, self expression, and social interaction; and• engage in physical activities that provide for challenge, problem-solving,

decision making, and appropriate risk-taking

STANDARD 1: Demonstrates competency in many movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms.• demonstrate competence in the basic motor skills of modified versions

of a variety of movement forms • demonstrate competence in basic offensive and defensive strategies in

team and dual activities

STANDARD 2: Applies movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills.• observe and identify characteristics of highly skilled performance that

enable success in an activity• describe processes of learning and conditioning for specific physical

activities• describe and use offensive and defensive strategies in modified

settings (modifying rules, equipment, space or number of players, e.g., five-on-five).

STANDARD 3: Exhibits a physically active lifestyle.• participate regularly in health-enhancing physical activities to

accomplish personal physical activity goals (in and out of the physical education class)

• identify and participate in new physical activities for personal interest in and out of the physical education class,

Boys Area Competition The middle school boys team play a schedule to include games with:

Hammond School (Columbia)Queens GrantCuthbertsonMarvin RidgeLake Norman UnitedUpstate (Greenville)Heathwood Hall

Turn & Burn (Matthews)Country DayCharlotte LatinWeddingtonCHYLL

Heathwood Hall Play Day

Girls Area Competition The middle school girls team play a schedule to include games with:

Turn & Burn (Matthews)Lake Norman UnitedCharlotte LatinSouth Charlotte CyclonesAlexander Graham

Queens GrantCHYLLMarvin RidgeCLASH (Concord)Providence Day

2010 MS Boys Actual Expenses*Line Item Amount Notes

Field Rentals $ 1,200$750 YMCA and $450 Elon

Coaches Stipend 1,000

Referee Fees 540

Field Paint and Goal Maintenance 170Play Day Fees 145

Balls (1 Case) 145

TOTAL $ 3,200

*Based on 32 players

Benefits to Student Players Like other middle school sports, the middle school play level is the

foundation for a strong high school program. The Fort Mill High School boys and girls teams had a very strong

inaugural season, both teams making it to the State quarter-finals. As the fastest growing sport in the nation, numerous scholarships are

offered for college play. Lacrosse provides an additional option for our students to participate

in a team sport which is different than many of the more individual sports. The team sports teach the lessons of respect, trust, cooperation and shared goals. It builds strong bonds that our kids maintain for years.

CLOSINGFinal Notes

Fort Mill Lacrosse Club is an established organization that has run a successful middle school program for four years. Following suit with the high school, we expect interest in the sport to

continue to grow with the backing of the MS Booster Club. In the high school, it was clear that players wanted to play as a part of their school. Fort Mill Lacrosse Club has a passionate and dedicated group of

parents ready to help out wherever necessary. The Club is looking to hand over a “turn key” operation. Coaches

have already expressed their interest in coaching the teams next season and we are prepared to make their recommendation. Lacrosse has been called the “fastest game on two feet” and is the

fastest growing sport in the nation, in South Carolina and Fort Mill.

Submitted by This proposal is submitted by The Fort Mill Lacrosse Club. If you have questions or require additional information, please

contact Rena Blanchard, Secretary, at rena.blanchard@live.com or 803-371-2123. The Fort Mill Lacrosse Club 2010-2011 Board of Directors is as follows:

Stephen Crutchfield, PresidentLisa Russell, Vice President BoysJo Vandiver, Vice President GirlsGeorge McKemey, TreasurerRena Blanchard, Secretary/Communications