Letter to the Editor: Parents Praise PAL Lacrosse Coaches

Dear Editor,

The parents of the fifth grade East Meadow PAL Lacrosse team would like to acknowledge the outstanding dedication of our coaches.  

For the third year in a row, our boys have had the unique experience of being the only PAL team coached by current and former members of the high school LAX team.  

Head coach James Skinner and Rick Piket (EMHS alumni), along with Nicholas Marinello, Lenny Volpe and Collin Skinner (current EMHS students and varsity lacrosse players) volunteer their time to teach these young boys the basic mechanics of lacrosse as well as help build their self-esteem and character. The coaches go to school, work, play lacrosse and also fit in time to coach three days a week.

These young men work to instill invaluable qualities in "their" boys; good sportsmanship, respect for themselves and others and the ability to win and lose gracefully. In their interaction with referees and adult coaches from other towns, they never fail to set a good example for our team. The boys on the team say that they don’t mind working hard because the coaches make it fun.  

The parents say that their kids lookup to the coaches, like big brothers. Over the past three years the boys have recruited additional teammates and the coaches have enlisted additional high school LAX players in an effort to expand the program. Certainly that is testimony to the fact that the experience is truly rewarding for both the players and the coaches.

As parents, many of us put our children in sports to help them develop athletically, emotionally, and intellectually. We want them to learn to be team players. These young men go above and beyond in helping our children grow by being such positive role models both on and off the field. In a day and age where everyone seems so busy—it is refreshing to see our young people giving back to the community. We are thankful for their time and effort-they are an incredible asset to the East Meadow lacrosse program. 

This letter was written and submitted by Laurie Osbern and Tara Smith.