Lacrosse Archives - Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk: The Magazines for New and North Castle

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!

Wolfe demonstrates use of the stick. Photo by Matt Smith.

Are you the parent of a girl lacrosse player, worried about your daughter in the frigid winter weather? Or are you a player yourself, who finds your hands freeze as you grip the stick…and it affects your playing altogether?! Well, all those worries can soon be put to rest, thanks to the brains and talent of local Chappaqua resident Samantha Wolfe.

At just 17 years old, this former lacrosse player–and proud Greeley senior–has designed an unprecedented heated lacrosse stick, trademarked FingerFire, which aims to prevent loss of dexterity and function in the hands when playing lacrosse out in the cold.

“You could wear gloves, but they don’t really work, because [the womens’ gloves] are so thin,” Wolfe explains. “When I played, my hands would always be freezing, and I’d always comment to my parents about how cold they were. So, I thought a heated lacrosse stick would be a great solution.” After repeatedly bringing the idea up to her parents–“I was very adamant and passionate about it, so I wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” she says, with a laugh–her father, Bruce, finally agreed to be her partner and make her dream a reality.

The stick itself is quite a marvel. As Wolfe explains, it looks and feels just like a normal lacrosse stick, save for the USB adapter and “on/off” switch at the butt of it, which is where one would recharge the stick after using it.

The heated stick takes only about ten minutes to fully heat up, and will then maintain a 70-degree temperature for the length of a game (approx. one and a half to two hours). Additionally, when a player puts their hands on the stick while playing, it further helps the stick to stay warm. Of note, Wolfe also mentions the stick has been specifically designed for female players, but hopes to eventually move into a design for men as well.

While there is no doubt this process has been fun and creative, Wolfe can’t dismiss how arduous it can get, at times, speaking of the lengthy process, which began in earnest roughly three years ago. “I was very naive. I thought this whole process would be done in a couple of months,” she confesses. “It’s been, like, years now. I honestly had no idea [of the scope of it all].” She speaks specifically to hiring an intellectual property attorney to check if a similar patent didn’t already exist, looking for product development companies to create their prototypes, and contacting the CEO of US Lacrosse, Steve Stenersen, to ensure that her invention did not violate any US Lacrosse guidelines. (She explains the FingerFire design does add a bit more weight toward the end of the stick– “though you can’t really feel it when you’re holding it,” she insists– but luckily, it wasn’t even close to surpassing the official weight limit as dictated by US Lacrosse).

Today, Wolfe currently has a patent pending for her stick and has reached out to local Division I Women’s Lacrosse teams, who have agreed to test the prototype during their winter season and offer feedback. Wolfe looks forward to hearing their various comments, making necessary changes, and hopefully, then closely partnering with a sports brand to have her design commercialized and sold in sports stores across the country.

And when it eventually does, there is no question it’ll be a game-changer. “I think this stick will absolutely change the game of lacrosse,” Wolfe comments. “If [players] can have circulation in their hands throughout the game, they will be able to catch and pick up ground balls [more easily], and they will be able to move better…. When it gets so cold, it affects your playing ability [and] you are not able to play to your full potential. This stick will allow everyone to play to their full potential, not to mention younger children will be much more eager to play, and parents will hear fewer complaints from their children about freezing hands!”

Surely, much to be excited about. But while Wolfe looks toward the future with certainty, her head chock-full of additional thoughts and ideas, she’s happy, for now, taking it one day a time. “It’s been a long process, but it has been totally worth it,” she concludes, with a smile. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Samantha Wolfe is a 17-year-old Greeley senior and Chappaqua resident. If you have any further questions about the FingerFire design or how it will change the face of lacrosse, she encourages you to contact her at FingerFirelax@gmail.com.

Matt Smith is a writer and contributor to The Inside Press. For further information or inquiry, please visit www.mattsmiththeatre.com.