Judging from the response from the community, Stettler looks certain to have a minor lacrosse association next year.
The camp which was announced by a group of parents a few weeks ago gathered dozens of kids from various age groups at the red rink of the Stettler Recreation Centre on Monday, April 25, consolidating plans to go ahead with creating an organization that will ensure that the sport takes root in the community.
Marma Merkley, one of the parents leading the effort to create a minor lacrosse association, said they were encouraged by the high level of interest shown by kids and their parents in the initiative.
“We had a big group of children aged five to eight, now the group aged nine to 12 are practising and an hour later the 12 and up age group will start to practice,” Merkley said during the practice Monday evening.
She added that some parents had already made arrangements to take courses to become certified coaches by the time the next lacrosse season starts next year.
Some parents are going to Red Deer and some are going to Drumheller to take coaching courses,” said Merkley.
As a sport more physical than hockey, lacrosse continues to build a following among youth in central Alberta communities.
Stettler parents believe they could come up with at least two teams to join the provincial lacrosse leagues next year.