New requirements for lacrosse club fuels need in Sandpoint

The Sandpoint Cutthroat Lacrosse Club youth and high school program for boys and girls is experiencing an increase in signups and scholarship applicants, simultaneously, while new safety gear is required for all boys’ players this year.

The community has stepped forward to offer much needed support to ensure every player has an opportunity to play lacrosse in the spring.

As of Jan. 1, USA Lacrosse will require all boys players to use chest protectors that follow the new guidelines for enhanced safety.

“This is a good step in the right direction for player safety,” Vice-president of the Sandpoint Cutthroat Lacrosse Club Nathan Kanning, said. “However, it does present a significant financial strain on our local club.”

The club put on its annual Pizza-4-Player silent auction at Powder Hound Pizza last month and it tripled its donations from the 2019 edition.

Items up for bid included; a Schweitzer Mountain Resort snow ghost chair, Pend Oreille Shores Resort 3-day and 7-day stays, Idaho Club golf foursome, plus donations from Sandpoint Furniture and other local items.

Local sponsors Bonner General Hospital, Sandpoint Surgical Association, John Aexel of Caliber Home Loans, and Outdoors Inn made the purchase of the new boys’ equipment possible.

Other sponsors included, All About Chimneys, Gription Tire, Sandpoint Furniture & Carpet One, Seven Bee Interiors, The Fat Pig, and 6 Star Automotive.

On Feb. 5, the club hosted its annual preseason youth clinic at the Bonner County Fairgrounds in the Strikers Arena had a record number of youth girls giving lacrosse a try for the first time.

“Each spring, local enrollment of over 140 of the boys and girls hit the fields,” President of Sandpoint Cutthroat Lacrosse Club Chad Cole said. “This spring season we are hoping for even greater participation.”

The club is dedicated to ensuring that every child that wants to play will have the chance to do so.

The club has never turned a player away due to lack of gear or the ability to pay. They also have a financial aid program that supports players in need.

“It’s been a club goal to supply good, safe equipment at very minimal cost,” Kanning said. “This breaks down a barrier so that all children in our community can play this sport.”

Practice for youth lacrosse is scheduled to start the week of March 14. For more information on Sandpoint Cutthroat Lacrosse Club, sponsorship, or registration, visit Sandsandpointlacrosse.org