Pennridge Lacrosse Shares its Loves of the Game with Philly Girls in Motion
(Submitted article)
On Thursday, Oct 18, the Pennridge girls’ lacrosse team made the long bus trip to the Pennsport section of South Philadelphia to work with a group of young athletes from Philly Girls in Motion (PGiM). The event was a continuation of an association between the two groups that has been going on since Karen Schnurr began coaching at Pennridge five years ago. PGiM is an organization that teaches girls healthy habits through sports and other related activities. They are a member of the newly revised Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative.
Each spring, the girls’ lacrosse team runs a clinic and play day for the Deep Run Trailblazers lacrosse teams and the girls of PGiM on our local fields. This is now the fifth time the team had the opportunity to travel to the city and work with the Philly girls at their practice location, which is the outfield of a softball field in the shadows of I-95. During the one-and-a-half hour bus trip down through the city, the girls worked out a practice plan so they could get started right away.
On a bitter cold fall night, the Lady Rams ran a series of skill demonstrations and drills with girls but only after buddying-up with an individual Philly girl for the evening. The girls and their buddies warmed up together and went through the all drills together. The Pennridge girls’ lacrosse team ran drills focusing on perfect defensive position, mastering group balls, and putting the ball in the back of the net. The Philly girls ranged in ages from second grade to middle school and were at all levels of lacrosse skill. Each Lady Ram made an effort to connect with their buddy and help them through drills. The PGiM coaches continually remarked how much it means to the younger girls to see the older girls runs the drills and get instructions from their buddies.
The practice ended with an enthusiastic game of 'steal the bacon' with the Philly girls playing and the Lady Rams cheering. The energy was contagious, and the cheers could be heard through the narrow streets of South Philly that barely accommodated our school bus. As the evening concluded, the smiles and hugs from the young Philly girls showed how much they appreciated the time spent with the older girls. The energy in the girls’ conversations on the bus ride home showed how much the team really appreciated spending time with the younger girls. Each year the Pennridge girls’ lacrosse team drives to the city in the fall and winter to work with the Philly in Motion team. Each spring the Philly in Motion team is invited to have a play day with the Deep Run lacrosse program. Players of both teams remark how this is the highlight of their season.
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