Women's Lacrosse Pitches in at 2014 Special Olympics
Patchogue, N.Y. - For the fourth consecutive year, the St. Joseph's College women's lacrosse team operated a lacrosse station at the Special Olympics Games held at the John A. Danzi Athletic Center on the St. Joseph's campus in October each year.
As Special Olympians walked slowly, or were being pushed around in a wheelchair, they came upon a booth that might have been a little curious, as it contained a sport many of them were less familiar with - lacrosse! Indeed, when the Golden Eagles lacrosse team set this up four years ago, it was the first time that lacrosse had been a part of the Special Olympics Games in Suffolk County.
As each Special Olympian approached the booth one or two of the lacrosse team members greeted them and handed them their own stick to use - a "fiddlestick" - which is smaller and lightweight and perfect for the Olympians to handle. Then they gave them the special soft, lightweight ball and pointed them toward the full sized, portable lacrosse goal. The Special Olympians would shoot shot after shot, making adjustments to the shot trajectory, until they were able to shoot the ball into the goal, consistently, always to the cheers of the SJC lacrosse team helpers.
The crowd of Olympians this year was smaller than in year's past, which resulted in much more individualized and personal attention. The joy and happiness of the faces of the Special Olympians is well worth the time spent trying to get them involved physically in a new sport.
Watch the video below to see the program in action!
