Growing lacrosse in Cambridge
Hills Road Sixth Form College based in Cambridge has a reputation for high-achievement in both A-level academic courses, as well as in a broad range of sports – with many of its students representing the East of England region at the Association of Colleges (AoC) Sport national championships. https://www.hillsroad.ac.uk/sixthform/student-life/sport
In 2020, the College requested a grant from TLF to enable them to set up a Girls Lacrosse team, and to add the sport to those offered to all students. We were pleased to provide a grant of £1700 for an initial stock of 24 sticks & balls. Whilst the introduction of lacrosse was delayed slightly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the response was good with 15 students signing up, and the regular sessions being run by one of its own students who had previous experience of lacrosse.
For the 2021/22 academic year, more students (25) wanted to join these lacrosse sessions – but this in turn prompted the need to get some of those involved to complete lacrosse coaching courses.
The student who had led the sessions in the first season (Christina Hitchin) had moved on to University in Cambridge, and although keen to continue to help, the College requires her to have a Level 2 qualification to coach at the College;
The Hills Road staff had been in contact with two people with lacrosse-playing experience who were looking to develop the sport in Cambridge, and who were keen to become qualified; and
The Sports department wanted to establish a rolling programme, to encourage students to get basic qualifications which would help establish Lacrosse at Hills Road, and also continue after they leave the College and move on to university.
As the number of those registering interest in a course (21 plus 2 staff) reached more than twice the initial expected number, we approved a further grant of £1000 towards the cost of coaching courses which were delivered at the College by EL’s Nik Roberts in March 2022.
Linda Swain (Sports Activator/Netball coach) who is leading the development of Lacrosse at Hills Road, is also developing a partnership link with Cambridge Mixed Lacrosse club to extend the Lacrosse experience outside the College environment.
We are delighted to support the introduction of lacrosse into Hills Road College, and hope that it continues to prosper within the College, in the wider Cambridge area, and across the FE sector as a whole.