The fastest game on two feet steps out large this Saturday. Recreational lacrosse programs from Gulf Breeze, Pensacola, and Perdido, as well as players from NAS Whiting Field are converging on the Guy Thompson Community Center for the first ever Pensacola Lacrosse Association for Youth (PLAY) pre-season Scrimmage Jamboree, consisting of a whole day of lacrosse on two fields. Various levels of youth teams from U9 to U17 will be showing Milton what this game is all about.
MiltonHigh School student, Seth Barlow, has championed lacrosse coming to Milton for over a year. Thursday, he said, “This game, Saturday, is a great opportunity for the Milton community to see what lacrosse is all about and why it's the fastest growing sport in America, even the world. The game that is being held at the Guy Thompson Community Center will be the first lacrosse game played in Milton. Thanks to John Norton and the community center staff who helped put this together. Ray Coleman, a Marine at Whiting Field has been a massive help. He is a coach at PLAY while at the same time helps with bringing lacrosse to Milton.”
Kevin Harmon, commissioner for Pensacola Lacrosse Association for Youth (PLAY), said the purpose of the exhibition is to demonstrate the sport while tournament play begins in about two weeks. He noted some of the pilots coming to play are also on the Pensacola men’s lacrosse team, the Pensacola Rip Tide.
The Blackwater Bistro is one of the sponsors for Saturday’s day-long exhibition providing discounted lunch to participants. Manager Glenn Hill said, “This is a huge step to making lacrosse a valid existence in Milton. (There will be) multiple teams from across the region.” He said this is the beginning of large lacrosse tournaments in Milton bringing along a high economic impact. “That’s exciting.”
According to a press release from Whiting Field, this is the first ever youth lacrosse tournament in Milton’s history and helped by NAS Whiting Field members’ participation including Helicopter Training Squadron 18 (HT-18) Commanding Officer, Lt. Col Rafford Coleman.
Coleman has coached youth lacrosse in the Pensacola area since 2006. Having played lacrosse on the scout team for RutgersUniversity, Coleman’s experience and understanding allows him to share his love for the sport with the kids he coaches.
“Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. especially in the Pensacola area and it is great to be a part of it” Coleman said.
PLAY and NAS Whiting Field share a connection with over five kids participating whose families are attached to NAS Whiting Field as well as many other military youths from the greater Pensacola area. The HT-8 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. J.D. McBryde coaches for one of the lacrosse teams as did former HT-28 Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Pavelko.
“Coaching youth lacrosse is harder than you would think as you have to be creative in different ways to keep it focused and fun. It is extremely rewarding to have coached this many years and I am really excited to be able bring the sport into the Milton area,” McBryde said.
Want to go?
What: Milton’s first ever Pensacola Lacrosse Association for Youth (PLAY) pre-season Scrimmage Jamboree
When: Saturday, February 6 starting 9 a.m.
Where: Guy Thompson Community Center
Cost: Free to the public
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Lacrosse exhibition to happen Saturday