This article appears in the Southeast version of the July/August edition of US Lacrosse Magazine. Don’t get the mag? Join US Lacrosse today to start your subscription.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
It’s a phrase that many have heard, and it quite effectively describes the success of a recent youth clinic in Atlanta.
The dream started with Brandon Perkins, a local lacrosse dad who wanted to expose the game that his family loves to more kids who have never played.
Shortly after moving to Kennesaw, Ga., in 2014, his son Bryce, now 10, was introduced to the game by a neighbor and began playing.
Quickly, the lacrosse passion consumed the entire Perkins family.
“I wish I had known about lacrosse as a kid. It’s amazing,” Perkins said.
He quickly built a team to support his dream.
One of his first contacts was Lou Corsetti, regional director for US Lacrosse. Corsetti committed to running the clinic and recruiting additional volunteer clinicians from the Georgia chapter of US Lacrosse. He also connected Perkins with Mark Rowley, director of operations with Major League Lacrosse’s Atlanta Blaze.
Perkins worked with Rowley to secure field space for the clinic at Kennesaw State University, home of the Blaze. The team also provided discounted tickets to its season-opening game against the Florida Launch, and allowed the kids to be part of the opening ceremonies on the field.
Working with his home church and the non-profit organization Spirit of Atlanta, Perkins was able to generate funding and infrastructure support for the event. The money was used to buy t-shirts and lacrosse sticks for all of the clinic participants, as well as a pizza lunch and the game tickets.
“Beyond just learning the new skills, we wanted the kids to have a stick and a ball to take home so they could keep practicing those skills,” Perkins said. “We also wanted the kids to see the game played at a high level, and to see how fun and exciting it can be.”
Despite inclement weather for much of the day, the turnout was good, with about 65 kids in grades 1-8 attending. More than 100 kids had originally signed up. Perkins worked with the Cobb County Foster Care Program and the Cobb County PTA to recruit participants.
“The kids were amazing,” Perkins said. “I sincerely hope that they enjoyed the event and have a newfound passion and desire to learn more about lacrosse. It was a phenomenal day.”
Corsetti credits Perkins for organizing a solid support team and pulling all the details together to create a memorable event for local kids.
“He’s an incredible individual in making things happen,” Corsetti said. “He raised all of the money on his own. Personally, I have done hundreds of clinics over the years, and the ability to give a stick to every player is incredible. It really makes a tremendous impact.”
Perkins is not ready to rest on the success of this first Atlanta event. His vision is to work with the Blaze to make the clinic an annual event, and to potentially expand into other markets. He hopes to work with the Cobb County Boys & Girls Club to develop a partnership that brings lacrosse access and opportunities to more youth.
“Hopefully, we can target the first or second Blaze game each season for this clinic,” Perkins said. “But the model could work with all MLL teams. Together, we can provide an experience that can change a kid’s life. We’re all in on lacrosse.”