Fort Mill Lacrosse Club

1. Fort Mill Lacrosse Club Proposal and Donationof Lacrosse Equipment to Elementary and Middle Schools for Integration in Physical Education Curriculum Fort Mill School District #4

2. 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. INTRODUCTION Lacrosse In The United States

3. 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).

4. 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.

5. Lacrosse In Fort Mill • The Fort Mill High School Varsity Lacrosse team was the2011 Boys 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.

6. 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 is established in Fort Mill – we have dedicated coaches, strong support of families – 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 held 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!

7. 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” (http://thevanlax.com/) 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.

8. 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 with 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. 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 their behalf has been $15,693 (see detail below). While Microsoft Funds have been an excellent fundraising stream for the high school program, we recognized that this money would at some point need to be replaced. The now established “Catawba Classic Lacrosse Tournament” along with our new fall tournament “The Van Lacrosse Tournament” are the primary sources of funds for lacrosse in Fort Mill.

9. PROPOSAL SUMMARY 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.

10. 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, increased participation in the sport for both boys and girls.

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

12. 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/Throwing G.5.1 - to a wall G.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 soccer G.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?

13. Curriculum Standards • Elementary – Kindergarten: • 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 • 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

14. Curriculum Standards • Elementary – Grades 1 and 2: • 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) • 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

15. Curriculum Standards • Elementary – Grades 3 thru 5: • 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). • 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

16. Curriculum Standards • Middle School – Grades 6 thru 8: • 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, • 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

17. Elementary Equipment • The Fort Mill Lacrosse is proposing to purchase elementary school age equipment similar to the following set from the Spring 2010 Gopher Catalog. The Club would make an equipment purchase for each elementary school for an approximate donation of $1,000 per school. • Warrior Mini Lacrosse GamePlayPack – 3 sets at $289 each set includes: • 2 Performer Mini PVC Goals (3’ x 3’ x 3’) • 12 Mini Evo Pro Sticks (33”L) • 2 Mini Nemesis Goalie Sticks (37”) • 12 dense-rubber balls • Practice “Soft” Lacrosse Balls – 5 dozen at $12.79/dozen • This purchase would include equipment for more than 36 players per class which exceeds the current physical education class size and accommodate for extra in the event of damage, etc. • In the event additional equipment is needed or replacement is necessary, please contact us.

18. Middle School Equipment • The Fort Mill Lacrosse is proposing the purchase middle school age equipment similar to the following set from the Spring 2010 Gopher Catalog. The Club would make an equipment purchase for each middle school for an approximate donation of $2,000 per school. • STX AV8 Lacrosse Sticks Pack (#GP38-559) – 3 Sets at $465 eachEach set includes: • 12 Attack Sticks (42”L) • 12 official white NCAA balls • Steel Lacrosse Goals – 2 at $199 each • STX Goalmaster Lacrosse Goalie Stick – 2 at $89.95 each • Practice “Soft” Lacrosse Balls– 5 dozen at $12.79/dozen • This purchase would include equipment for more than 36 players per class which exceeds the current physical education class size and accommodate for extra in the event of damage, etc. • In the event additional equipment is needed or replacement is necessary, please contact us.

19. Implementation and Goals of Program • The Fort Mill High School Lacrosse Coaches are committed to working with physical education teachers in integrating lacrosse into the physical education rotation. • High School coaches will hold one or more in-services for PE teachers on teacher workdays early in the school year. • Several PE teachers have already expressed interest in bringing lacrosse into the schools as part of the rotation. • Basic goals of the program would be to teach students: • Basic skills of throwing and catching • Attack, midfield and defense positions • Age appropriate rules of the game

20. Benefits to Student Players • Like other sports, starting at a young age is the foundation for a strong high school program. • The Fort Mill High School boys and girls teams have been very strong, making it to the playoffs two years in a row. The boys Varsity team took home the 2011 State Championship. • As the fastest growing sport in the nation, numerous scholarships are offered for college play and this number is growing rapidly in the Southeast. • 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.

21. Fort Mill Lacrosse Club is an established organization that has run a successful middle school program for five years. • Following suit with the high school, we expect interest in the sport to continue to grow with the ongoing support of the Fort Mill School District. • With the potential split of the high school program to have Fort Mill High School and Nation Ford High School lacrosse teams, it’s increasingly more important to build the number of players from youth on up in order to feed this growing program and keep it successful. • Fort Mill Lacrosse Club is committed to providing financial support to implementing lacrosse in the elementary and middle schools as needed. • 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. CLOSING Final Notes

22. 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 (incoming officers noted for 2011-2012): Stephen Crutchfield, President Lisa Russell, Vice President Boys Audra Palmer, Vice President Girls George McKemey, Treasurer (Terry Gibson, Treasurer Elect 2011-2012) Rena Blanchard, Secretary/Communications (Scott Namowics, Secretary Elect 2011-2012) Submitted by