There’s a lot happening in the Juan de Fuca Lacrosse scene.
On Sunday, June 23, for example, 11 teams joined together to play in the U7/U9 Debbie Cooper Memorial Jamboree.
That box lacrosse tournament was held in honour of Debbie Cooper, whose longtime volunteer efforts formed an invaluable contribution to promoting and supporting the sport.
“There was game after game and all the kids had so much fun,” said Jessica Lejeune the association secretary and marketing director for Juan De Fuca Lacrosse.
But the tournament was not a one-off.
The sport is experiencing significant growth these days after seeing a drop in registrations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization currently has about 400 players registered for Spring Box Lacrosse and another 225 registered for Fall Field Lacrosse.
“It’s taken us three years to recover but we’re bouncing back now,” said Lejeune. “It’s one of the most affordable sports to get into. You don’t need to get fancy cleats or shoes, there’s minimal equipment and, let's face it, it’s a lot of fun.”
And, although the sport has historically been played primarily by boys, that’s changing too.
From July 30 to August 2, Juan De Fuca Lacrosse will be hosting an all-girls lacrosse summer camp for children born between 2012 and 2019. It’ll take place at the Juan de Fuca Velodrome field. The cost is $175 for the week, and both new and existing players are welcome to come out and develop new skills.
“This is a great game,” said Lejeune. “Kids with a lot of energy love it and it can actually bring the whole community together. Out East, where the game was invented, they used to call it the ‘medicine game’. It’s a family.”
Dr. Dawn Ranns, and her husband Adam Ranns, the current president and former JDF alumni, reside in the West Shore and are dedicated to growing the sport of Lacrosse.
“The camaraderie among teammates is palpable, as they coordinate plays and support each other throughout the game,” said Dr Ranns. “With a focus on both offense and defense, matches are fast-paced and thrilling, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.”
She added that Juan de Fuca female field lacrosse is inviting new and returning players to participate in the sport this Fall.
“We typically practice two days a week with one to two games on Saturdays and Sundays and will try for one to two tournaments on the mainland for most teams,” she said.
For more information on Juan de Fuca Lacrosse, visit jdflacrosse.com.
