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Step, throw and follow through are just some of the fundamental mechanics of lacrosse young players learned from the men's lacrosse team Sunday.
The team conducts six Sunday youth clinics throughout the semester, sparking interest in the sport, head coach Paul Rocchio said.
Neighboring Chico schools are beginning to create new lacrosse programs, and the university's clinics will help eliminate the early development of bad habits, he said.
Many of the participants have never played organized lacrosse, Rocchio said.
Participants showed up wearing other universities' logos while others wore football jerseys, but everyone was presented a Chico State lacrosse T-shirt.
The clinic started with Rocchio's words, "Let's get active," before teaching basic passing techniques.
The 'Cats lacrosse players assisted the young players by identifying the "throats" and "pockets" of their sticks as the first order of business.
"It's good for us to be involved at this level in the community," Rocchio said.
The team hopes two or three kids a year in the program will decide to play in Chico, he said.
"Anytime we can get our guys to teach the sport they love is great," Rocchio said.
Junior Josh Roden, outdoor education major, followed in his father's footsteps and began playing lacrosse in England in the sixth grade, he said.
Roden, who coaches lacrosse during the summer, could be heard throughout the green fields with his English accent, yelling, "Control is in your fingertips."
"I love coaching - it's fun," Roden said. "At this age, any one-on-one attention is brilliant."
These clinics give everyone the time to correct any mechanical mistakes they may have, he said.
Roden hopes these clinics will give the young players confidence and the basics to continue to play at any level, he said.
"With our team we can't spend hours on mechanics and individual work,"he said.
Learning the basic fundamentals of any sport early on is crucial, Roden said.
Sixth-grader Zachary Nussdorfer, of Hooker Oak Elementary School, learned dodging mechanics to avoid a defender and throwing techniques to avoid hitting the poles, he said.
Zachary played baseball and has transitioned well as a left-hander to the new sport, he said.
Lacrosse isn't like baseball, but the throwing part is, he said.
"I do fit in like everyone else," Zachary said. "I can play right-handed just as well - like everyone else."
With just his second day playing and learning the sport, Zachary has learned to eliminate his jump when throwing, he said.
"It's a lot better than learning from any other coach," he said. "They're real coaches."
To learn more about the clinics please contact Rocchio at www.csuchico.edu/mlax.
Natalia Ferruggia can be reached at nferruggia@theorion.com
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