Future lacrosse stars grow up in youth program

Date: 6/8/2009

By Rick Sobey

Staff Intern

LONGMEADOW Year after year, it seems that Longmeadow High School is always at the top of the lacrosse totem poll. The boys' program has won 17 state championships since 1970, and they have had 33 players selected to the All-American team.

Why is Longmeadow such a strong powerhouse in high school lacrosse? Why do they continuously have the best talent in Western Massachusetts and the state? The source of Longmeadow's success can be traced to the elementary school level.

Longmeadow's youth lacrosse program is significantly larger than the other programs in Hampden and Hampshire counties. Instead of going to the batting cages, Longmeadow children pick up lacrosse sticks at an early age. As a result, the high school teams have a bottomless supply of talented young players.

Ron Gordenstein, an assistant coach for one of the fifth and sixth grade teams, believes that the Longmeadow program is well ahead of surrounding towns. "Longmeadow clearly has the largest lacrosse program," he said. "Most towns only have one team in an age group while Longmeadow has three teams. Longmeadow boys are becoming more proficient and skilled at an earlier age."

Longmeadow children are quickly learning basic skills, and as a result, coaches can teach the advanced areas of lacrosse. "While we always concentrate on the fundamentals of passing, catching and scooping, we can work on the strategy more at earlier ages as they can handle the basics," Gordenstein said. "They are coming into the program with a better foundation."

According to Jay Rubman, coaching is an important part of the youth program. "We, as coaches, have created a tight unit of players, constantly helping one another out on and off the field," Rubman, the head coach of Gordenstein's team, said. "We have set the table for our kids to thrive in lacrosse as team players, and as individuals maturing into young adulthood.

"Whether the kids go on to play for the Longmeadow High School program and beyond, or whether they thrive in the classroom and go on to be doctors and lawyers, I feel that they are learning the basics and principles to being an all-star, a team player and a positive youth," Rubman continued.

The Longmeadow youth lacrosse program is a Park and Recreation Department program. There are three age divisions with three Longmeadow teams in each division. Teams play 15 or 16 games with other towns (Wilbraham, East Longmeadow, Northampton, etc.), as well as one or two games against the other Longmeadow teams in their division.

Rubman's team is having an unforgettable season. His team is in the fifth and sixth grade division, and as of press time, are currently undefeated with 12 wins. The team's goal is to finish the season without a loss and win the league championship.

However, if Rubman's squad fails to accomplish these goals, the season will still be a success. "Our motto and goal is to become better as a team and as individuals, each and every day," he said. "And we have honestly improved in all aspects of the game every day. That is what's most important.

"We win with grace and lose with grace," Rubman continued. "There is no shame in losing if we give a 100 percent effort all the time. If we give all of our effort and are outmatched one of these days, we cannot let it bring us down or make us distraught."

The Longmeadow youth lacrosse program is teaching the children how to win and how to react to losing. This latter lesson will help the kids in the future react to adversity in their lives. The lacrosse program is not simply creating the lacrosse stars of tomorrow; the program is also developing young boys and girls into young adults.