New Season, New Space
Left to right: (kneeling) Rodney and Ty; (standing) Lavor, Zy, Tiedrell and Marcus
The Covid-19 pandemic limited our training program last spring through the summer at the Boys and Girls Club. Typically, our summer program spans two months for a larger community of kids (several hundred), but this summer we were limited to just two weeks with a smaller group of kids (about 50) to meet corporate guidelines to ensure a safe environment for our kids.
During the summer, one of our players, AJ, joined 7 Flames, an elite travel LAX team based out of the metro Atlanta area, under Coach Drew Petkoff. The team played in three tournaments during the summer.
This fall, the All Access LAX’s Monroe Bruins team (6th - 8th grade players) was paused partially due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year (the team’s second year of existence), the Monroe Bruins played up a division in the Gwinnett LAX League (GLL), the recreational league that hosts all fall tournaments, and went undefeated. Coach Petkoff felt that the players were ready for a new challenge this fall. At least four of the players have joined the 7 Flames travel LAX team to play in a more competitive league this fall. The remainder of the players are playing with the George Walton Academy LAX team in the GLL, while all continue to train with Coach Petkoff at the Boys and Girls Club. After practice each Wednesday night, they share a family dinner in their newly renovated (and much needed) space which features a full kitchen, a team gathering room, office space, and an impressive locker room to house all of their gear. We’ll share more on the space when it’s completed.
All Access LAX team gathering space for shared meals and fellowship.
“Our goal, in the next couple of a years, is that all of the boys will be ready to have an opportunity to play on the 7 Flames elite travel team. That team was among the top three in the state, out of all age groups, so it’s extremely competitive,” shares Coach Petkoff.
The Monroe Bruins team (seven-eight players) will come together to play in at least one travel tournament this winter in Atlanta, or potentially a farther destination. Coach Petkoff is exploring the idea of tying the tournament to a collegiate visit for the boys to give them some exposure to the idea of playing lacrosse at the college level. We’ll share more as plans finalize later this fall/early winter.
After a long day of lacrosse on Saturday, October 3, the boys enjoy a picnic together.