Learning Lacrosse: Youngsters Suit Up For Lessons

If you're passing by Upper St. Clair High School this week, you might see youngsters out on the field, dressed in their gear, honing their skills while getting quite a workout.

Too early for football season? They'll agree, because they're learning the sport of lacrosse.

Pittsburgh Lacrosse is holding its South Hills Summer League through Thursday at the high school, with morning sessions for children in kindergarten through fourth grade, and afternoon for fifth through ninth.

Among those in the younger group are Benjamin Dawson, who's going into third grade at Cecil Elementary School. His dad, Jeremy, doesn't mind the drive from Cecil Township each day: He can sit in the shade under a tree and watch Ben do all the work.

"He's been playing for about two years," Jeremy said, explaining that Ben participated in a program last summer.

The Pittsburgh Lacrosse camps are directed by Mike Messina and John Lambert, head coaches at Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park, respectively. Joining them are collegiate lacrosse players as counselors.

Tyler Digby, a senior attacker for Robert Morris University, is imparting his knowledge to the aspiring athletes.

"With these younger guys, probably at least half have played before, and the older guys, most of them have," said Digby, whose hometown is in British Columbia.

For more information about Pittsburgh Lacrosse, click here.