You would think in a town where the college has a Quidditch team and the farmers’ market frequently hosts a juggler on a 6-foot unicycle, a sport like lacrosse wouldn’t be so uncommon. Fortunately for those lacrosse fans in San Luis Obispo, this may be about to change.

The Central Coast’s youth lacrosse association, 805 Lax, will be holding a free lacrosse clinic on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Bishop Peak Elementary School. The clinic will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and is open to all players ages 8 and up, regardless of gender or experience level. The coaches of both 805 Lax and the Cal Poly men’s and women’s lacrosse teams will be there, as well as Cal Poly’s men and women lacrosse players.

“There’s a reason that the sport is being played everywhere but the Central Coast,” said Cal Poly lacrosse coach Bobby Dabrieo. “There are currently 269 high school teams in the state of California and it’s the fastest growing sport.”

• PHOTO COURTESY OF 805 LAX
• GAME OVER: 805 Lax players huddle up after a game. Spring season starts in March and the club is hosting a free lacrosse clinic on Jan. 28 at Bishop Peak Elementary School in SLO.

According to Jerome Jones, who does marketing for 805 Lax, they decided to hold the clinic not only to promote the sport, but also to provide a place where lacrosse players and their parents could ask questions about 805 Lax’s upcoming spring season.

“This is the first free clinic that is held by 805 youth lacrosse,” Jones said. “The 805 Lax board members wanted to get more kids involved in the game of lacrosse and to show the community how fun the sport can be.”

In addition to being a source of information, the clinic will also have a variety of activities, including drills and teamwork games. Participants are encouraged to bring friends, and there will be opportunities to win prizes.

Though the clinic is open to experienced players as well as newcomers, Dabrieo said that they will be teaching the basic fundamentals of the game.

“I’d say this is more geared toward beginners and future laxers,” he said.

For Dabrieo, coaching lacrosse and participating in the clinic gives him the chance to give back to something that has done a lot for him personally.

“I have met a lot of great people and friends through lacrosse and think it’s important to expose the Central Coast to the game,” he said. “I love that I can help create life-lasting memories and friendships for the players I coach. It’s also very gratifying to see players grow as players and as people.”

Registration is now open for the spring 2017 season for youth of all skill levels aged 8 to 18. Games start in March and end in May. For more information about Central Coast youth lacrosse or to get in touch with 805 Lax, you can check out 805lax.club. 

New Times intern Katrina Borges can be reached through the editor at [email protected].