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BRIDGE Hosts First Clinic for KIPP:TRUTH Academy in South Dallas

01/28/2010

BRIDGE hosted the first of what it hopes to be regularly scheduled clinics for students from KIPP:TRUTH Academy located in the Cedar Crest section of south Dallas. Approximately ninety 5th through 8th grade boys and girls attended the free clinic after school on Saturday, January 23rd. Approximately 30 volunteers from lacrosse programs and teams across north Texas introduced the KIPPsters, as they refer to themselves, to the rudiments of lacrosse. Davey Leach served as head coach for the clinic. He is a coach at Episcopal School Dallas, who played for Notre Dame. He said that he brought "101 sticks to the clinic. What an amazing turnout."

KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools in under-resourced communities through the United States. The Dallas school opened in 2003 and is one of 57 locally run schools in 17 states and Washington DC, which serve more than 14,000 students. More than 80% of KIPP students are low-income, and more than 90% are African American or Hispanic/Latino. Class starts at 7:30 a.m. and runs to 5:00 p.m. during the week. There are classes on some Saturdays too, plus a mandatory three-week summer school in June. To learn more about KIPP's Dallas campus, please follow this link: www.kipptruth.org.

KIPP's Physical Education coordinator Aaron Oliver told the assembled volunteers that, "I prepared the kids [for the clinic] by showing them film on the history of lacrosse and film from Morgan State's lacrosse program." Mark Roidopoulos of Hillcrest High School Lacrosse brought 12 of their players to help out. He stated that, "Working with KIPP was a great experience. I have never seen anyone so fascinated to see a lacrosse stick. My players and I can't wait until the next clinic. It's all that my players have talked about all week."

One of the approximately 30 girls who attended said that, "Using the stick was a lot easier than I thought it would be and I am having fun." One 5th grade boy said, "I am so happy to be learning this new sport. Coach Oliver has been telling us about it and now we get to play."

 

 



 
Testimonial

"The reason I like lacrosse is I'm a good defense.  I check people.  It's a good sport to play.  It makes me so happy.  It gets better and better."

-BRIDGE player, age 10
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