• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
    • Subscribe/Donate to Inside Press Magazines During the COVID-19 Crisis
    • Issue Archives
    • Site Map
  • Cover Stories
    • Chappaqua Cover Stories
    • Armonk Cover Stories
  • Happenings
    • Westchester
  • Inside My New Castle
  • Just Between Us
    • Chappaqua Just Between Us
    • Armonk Just Between Us
    • From the Editor
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Health & Fitness
  • Single & Smart
  • Et Cetera
    • Worth a Thousand Words

The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

  • New Castle News
    • New Castle Releases
  • North Castle News
    • North Castle Releases
  • Subscribe/Donate
  • Gotta Have Arts
    • Book Excerpts
  • Lifestyles with our Sponsors
    • Sponsor News!
    • Words & Wisdoms From Our Sponsors
  • Advertise
    • Answers to Your Questions, or Contact Us!
    • Subscribe/Donate to Inside Press Magazines During the COVID-19 Crisis
    • Online Advertising

Byram Hills Youth Lacrosse

Don’t Call it a Comeback, Lacrosse Has Been Here for Years

March 8, 2018 by Shauna Levy

Coach Milim with past lacrosse participants

When one thinks of America’s greatest pastimes, lacrosse is seldom top of mind. In truth, however, lacrosse is the oldest North American team sport, with roots dating back to Native American competitions. Despite its rich history, lacrosse has not enjoyed the same enthusiasm as its counterparts such as soccer, baseball and football. Rachel Milim, recently named president of the Byram Hills Youth Lacrosse (BHYL) board, also the Girls Grade 3/4 coach, is seeking to change that and is forecasting a surge in the program’s popularity.

Milim is embracing her new leadership position and optimistic for the season ahead. She says, “The board has recently turned over to a new generation of families who are enthusiastic about getting our children, their friends and the overall community involved. We are approaching this year with a flexible philosophy that focuses on having fun and enables children to play multiple sports, which I believe will encourage participation.” According to Milim, fall clinics have already been packed, indicating that BHYL’s trend of steadily increasing registration will continue. Rob Manowitz, co-director of the Boys BHYL program and Boys Grade 6 Coach, adds, “Lacrosse is amongst the fastest growing sports in the country. Some refer to it as the best combination of soccer, hockey, and basketball.”

(L-R): Sydney Hecht, Ryan Milim and Emery Matusow

For Milim, athletics is not only a pastime, but a passion that has played center stage in her life since childhood. She played multiple sports throughout childhood and was captain of her lacrosse and basketball teams in high school. She also captained her lacrosse team at Cornell University and was an All-American on a final four team. These experiences parlayed into her current role as the director of Brant Lake Sports Academy, a 3.5 week summer camp for sports-loving girls. Milim clearly understands first-hand the positive impact that playing multiple sports can have in shaping a child’s future. She, along with the entire board, is committed to sharing their love of the game with the community.

Manowitz explains how lacrosse skills are gradually introduced to the children. “Our great parent-volunteers and paid coaches teach our kids age-appropriate competitive lacrosse skills. At the earliest ages, we focus on basic catching-throwing and cradling. As the kids age, the game migrates to a team-unit approach where we focus on offensive ball movement, off-ball positioning and team-oriented defense.”

While teaching the basic techniques of the sport is a major focus of practices and games, the overarching BHYL philosophy is centered upon having fun. Jon Schneider, co-director of the Boys BHYL program and Boys Grade 5 Coach says, “Most importantly, as a parent run organization, we emphasize the life lessons that youth sports provide; winning and losing, teamwork, community and confidence. Respect for one another, our opponents, coaches and referees are also emphasized. Our main hope is for the kids to have fun, be competitive, be challenged and grow mentally.” Milim concurs, “Our number one priority is for the kids to have fun. The skills will develop without them even knowing it. If the kids are having fun, the skills will organically follow.”

It appears that the coaches’ philosophies are successfully infiltrating the league’s culture. Ava Gitler, a 3rd grader says, “It’s fun to be challenged on the field and to work with my teammates to get better each game. I love running behind the crease to find players open and trying to score. Besides lacrosse, I play travel soccer and tennis. Sports are my life!”

Luke Weiss, a 4th grader, has been playing lacrosse since kindergarten and radiates the same positive attitude, “I like playing lacrosse because it’s fun to play a game with my friends that we all love. One of the best things I have learned is teamwork. We play as a team and support each other and I like that. It’s also fun when the high school kids come and teach us skills. I hope to play at Byram Hills High School one day.”

Whether your child plays lacrosse or not, BHYL strongly advocates exposing children to as many sports as possible at a young age. Milim says, “Kids need constant change or they will burn out quickly. It’s also important that they develop different muscles.” Schneider agrees, “While our program has gained ground, we try to coordinate scheduling with other town-based sports to minimize conflicts and reduce the need for youth athletes to choose a sport to focus on at too early of an age. There is a lot of research that concludes our children are physically and mentally better-off playing a combination of sports throughout the year.” The bottom-line is that children benefit from being active and learning good sportsmanship. “Beyond the physical benefits, team sports build social skills through the unparalleled camaraderie that develops, increases confidence and develops time management skills. And, let’s face it, for older kids, it keeps them out of trouble!” laughs Milim.

BHYL registration for the spring 2018 season is currently open. Please visit byramhillsyouthlacrosse.org!

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: Byram Hills Youth Lacrosse, girls, kids, Lacrosse, sports

Primary Sidebar

Support The Inside Press

Follow our Social Media

The Inside Press

Instagram

Visit Our Sponsors

Desires by Mikolay
William Raveis – Chappaqua
William Raveis – Armonk
Hickory & Tweed
Houlihan Lawrence – Armonk
Houlihan Lawrence – Chappaqua
Annie B. Shop
Compass: Miller-Goldenberg Team
Compass: Natalia Wixom
Compass: Kori Sassower
World Cup Gymnastics
Northern Westchester Hospital
Douglas Elliman Chappaqua
Douglas Elliman Armonk
Your CBD Store
Sotheby’s – Stacee Massoni
Mount Kisco Child Care Center
Modern Traditional Kitchen
The Westchester Bank
Amy Singer – Houlihan Lawrence
First Congregational Church
Le Jardin du Roi
Houlihan: Alicja Bohmrich
Houlihan: Danielle Orellana

Download our Latest Issues

Inside Chappaqua PDF Inside Armonk PDF Inside Briarcliff PDF Inside Pleasantville PDF Discover New Castle PDF

Join Our Mailing List


Search Inside Press

Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe

Footer

Recent Posts

  • VIRTUAL DUMPLING CLASS WITH DALE TALDE OF GOOSEFEATHER
  • Two Holocaust Education Events Planned for Late January
  • Governor Cuomo Announces Impaired Driving Crackdown During Holiday Season
  • Westchester County Announces Additional Funding for Local Businesses, Nonprofits
  • Tara Mikolay Jewels and Generosity Add a Special Sparkle through the Holidays
  • Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center Memory Keepers: GenerationsForward Speaker Series-Sandra Mehl

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Did you know you can subscribe anytime for the print editions of either Inside Chappaqua, Inside Armonk–or both?

Voluntary subscriptions are most welcome, if you've moved outside the area, or a subscription is a great present idea for an elderly parent, for a neighbor who is moving or for your graduating high school student or any college student who may enjoy keeping up with hometown stories.

Subscribe Today

Copyright © 2021 The Inside Press, Inc. · Log in