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Bridgewater Patch
- June 17, 2011
Memorable Season Adds to Bridgewater Lacrosse Legacy
Bridgewater lacrosse has been the hot program in the state after the 2011 season resulted in a Group IV State Championship and a Tournament of Champions title.
However, it is not a program that has just seen recent success, but instead one that has produced multiple All-Americans and various state championships.
After defeating Summit in the Tournament of Champions, the Bridgewater-Raritan boy’s lacrosse team finished an improbable run that will only benefit the youth lacrosse programs in town.
James Eckert, a former player and All-American for Bridgewater, is the Youth Boy’s Program Coordinator for Bridgewater Lacrosse. He said he knows that a season such as this one can only help his sport get exposure in the town that he has resided in for many years.
“I think our program is one of the most family friendly programs that we have in the town,” he said. “Despite this, there are still a lot of people that do not know about our youth programs. With this latest state championship, we will probably get more exposure and residents will hopefully hear about us.”
The youth programs in Bridgewater Lacrosse have been offered for more than 20 years, and have helped develop talent in the town. The Pee-Wee program, a basic introduction to the sport, is offered during the fall and spring for kids ages three to five.
By the time they are in first grade, the players are in full equipment and are playing full lacrosse. The reason they can start that young is because many of these players participate in the Pee-Wee program and are “itching to play” according to Eckert.
Eckert said he knows this strategy is essential to keeping kids hooked on lacrosse so they keep playing to the high school level. However, he also acknowledges that the high school program goes hand in hand with the youth programs.
“Although our youth program is a feeder program for the high school, the two programs work together,” he said. “We look at it as a lacrosse community in Bridgewater. The idea with the youth program is to make the kids have a lot of fun and really enjoy it so they want to practice more. If practicing is a chore, then it’s tough for coaches to get kids to be enthusiastic. Also, if they enjoy it, they will continue to play.”
“We like to think that if we start the kids young, by the time they get to high school those coaches can start teaching the more advanced part of the game,” Eckert added. “If we develop a good strong core of basic skills and fundamentals, we feel like we have done our job. “
The experience is even more rewarding for Eckert, who was an All-American in 1984. Seeing the high school team perform against the top teams in the state is a special feeling for Eckert and the other alumni who played for Bridgewater.
“All of the alumni take a great deal of pride in our school and our program,” he said. “To see these boys play at the level they are playing at is really great. The support of the alumni has always been outstanding. At all of the championship games this year, there was always a large alumni contingent that has been in attendance. We are really proud of the guys and the special season that they had.”
The next step for the Bridgewater program is to maintain the level of success that it has achieved this season and in years past. This year’s team had three All-Americans in seniors B.J. Grill and Tyler Barbarich, and junior Ryan Hollingsworth.
The program will look to build off this season with a strong nucleus of returning players for 2012.
Eckert knows the formula for success and believes that the Bridgewater lacrosse community can maintain this level of play.
“The thing that is most important is to make sure that these kids have fun,” he said. “By getting them involved at a young age, they want to get better and push themselves. By having good coaching and making the program very fun and family friendly, the more these kids push themselves and strive to get better. It’s sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way where the more you practice, the better you get and vice versa.”
Eckert also thinks that although it is also very popular in Bridgewater, the sport is growing especially in the area.
“I always say to people ‘Bridgewater lacrosse is the best kept secret in Bridgewater,’” he said. “Even though we have had lacrosse in Bridgewater since 1980, the sport is growing in popularity especially in other towns. Lacrosse is still an immature sport in terms of participation levels. People don’t get the opportunity to play or watch a game, but when they do, they become hooked.”
The future is bright for this already storied lacrosse program. As the sport grows in popularity, the Bridgewater lacrosse legacy looks to grow with it.
- June 17, 2011
Memorable Season Adds to Bridgewater Lacrosse Legacy
Bridgewater lacrosse has been the hot program in the state after the 2011 season resulted in a Group IV State Championship and a Tournament of Champions title.
However, it is not a program that has just seen recent success, but instead one that has produced multiple All-Americans and various state championships.
After defeating Summit in the Tournament of Champions, the Bridgewater-Raritan boy’s lacrosse team finished an improbable run that will only benefit the youth lacrosse programs in town.
James Eckert, a former player and All-American for Bridgewater, is the Youth Boy’s Program Coordinator for Bridgewater Lacrosse. He said he knows that a season such as this one can only help his sport get exposure in the town that he has resided in for many years.
“I think our program is one of the most family friendly programs that we have in the town,” he said. “Despite this, there are still a lot of people that do not know about our youth programs. With this latest state championship, we will probably get more exposure and residents will hopefully hear about us.”
The youth programs in Bridgewater Lacrosse have been offered for more than 20 years, and have helped develop talent in the town. The Pee-Wee program, a basic introduction to the sport, is offered during the fall and spring for kids ages three to five.
By the time they are in first grade, the players are in full equipment and are playing full lacrosse. The reason they can start that young is because many of these players participate in the Pee-Wee program and are “itching to play” according to Eckert.
Eckert said he knows this strategy is essential to keeping kids hooked on lacrosse so they keep playing to the high school level. However, he also acknowledges that the high school program goes hand in hand with the youth programs.
“Although our youth program is a feeder program for the high school, the two programs work together,” he said. “We look at it as a lacrosse community in Bridgewater. The idea with the youth program is to make the kids have a lot of fun and really enjoy it so they want to practice more. If practicing is a chore, then it’s tough for coaches to get kids to be enthusiastic. Also, if they enjoy it, they will continue to play.”
“We like to think that if we start the kids young, by the time they get to high school those coaches can start teaching the more advanced part of the game,” Eckert added. “If we develop a good strong core of basic skills and fundamentals, we feel like we have done our job. “
The experience is even more rewarding for Eckert, who was an All-American in 1984. Seeing the high school team perform against the top teams in the state is a special feeling for Eckert and the other alumni who played for Bridgewater.
“All of the alumni take a great deal of pride in our school and our program,” he said. “To see these boys play at the level they are playing at is really great. The support of the alumni has always been outstanding. At all of the championship games this year, there was always a large alumni contingent that has been in attendance. We are really proud of the guys and the special season that they had.”
The next step for the Bridgewater program is to maintain the level of success that it has achieved this season and in years past. This year’s team had three All-Americans in seniors B.J. Grill and Tyler Barbarich, and junior Ryan Hollingsworth.
The program will look to build off this season with a strong nucleus of returning players for 2012.
Eckert knows the formula for success and believes that the Bridgewater lacrosse community can maintain this level of play.
“The thing that is most important is to make sure that these kids have fun,” he said. “By getting them involved at a young age, they want to get better and push themselves. By having good coaching and making the program very fun and family friendly, the more these kids push themselves and strive to get better. It’s sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way where the more you practice, the better you get and vice versa.”
Eckert also thinks that although it is also very popular in Bridgewater, the sport is growing especially in the area.
“I always say to people ‘Bridgewater lacrosse is the best kept secret in Bridgewater,’” he said. “Even though we have had lacrosse in Bridgewater since 1980, the sport is growing in popularity especially in other towns. Lacrosse is still an immature sport in terms of participation levels. People don’t get the opportunity to play or watch a game, but when they do, they become hooked.”
The future is bright for this already storied lacrosse program. As the sport grows in popularity, the Bridgewater lacrosse legacy looks to grow with it.
