Despite being cut from a local rep box lacrosse team, Faith Blacklock is still passionate about giving back to the sport known as the fastest game on two feet.
Blacklock, 13, gave her best effort at Orillia Minor Lacrosse Association rep tryouts earlier this spring, but didn't make the grade to play with the boys.
“At first, I thought I would just turn my focus to other sports,” she said. “Some of the parents of the players on the team were upset because they thought I was better than some of the boys who made it.”
Blacklock, a Lions Oval Public School student, had an opportunity to play on an all-girls team in Barrie, but couldn’t commit to the travel involved.
While Blacklock wanted to forget about lacrosse, she couldn’t deny her love for the sport, which is why she volunteered to coach the U5 lacrosse program.
“I really wanted to stay involved with lacrosse,” she said. “I also saw it as an opportunity to help the community.”
Blacklock says coaching has given her as much satisfaction as playing once did.
“I just love being involved with the community that’s at the arena,” she said. “It’s nice that I’ve been able to stay a part of that."
While the age group she's helping can be emotional, teaching players who are new to the sport the basic skills has been a lot of fun for Blacklock.
“It’s taught me a lot of new skills, too,” she said. “You have to have a lot of patience with them.”
Seeing them improve has also been rewarding.
“When the season started they didn’t know how to do anything,” she said. “It’s really awesome when you start to see progress and when they start being able to pick up the ball and shoot.”
Blacklock can’t help but smile when she sees youth having fun on the floor.
“I think I’ll coach again next year,” she said. “It’s just so much fun and it also keeps me active and involved with the sport.”
Blacklock hopes her coaching efforts will inspire others to get involved with coaching minor sports.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it at first,” she admitted. “It’s really fun being able to teach.”
Since the COVID pandemic, the Orillia Minor Lacrosse Association is lacking referees and coaches, Blacklock says.
“We need volunteers,” she said. “It would be really helpful if others would get involved.”
Blacklock isn’t sure if she will ever return to the floor as a player. Her lacrosse future may solely be in coaching because of how much she enjoys it.
Blacklock also volunteers at Dream Valley Ranch and with numerous initiatives at her school.
“When it’s something you love, it’s not work anymore,” she said. “I don’t see volunteering as a job or a task. It's more of a fun activity that allows you to give back to the community.”
Blacklock is looking forward to getting involved with the school community at Orillia Secondary School in the fall when she enters Grade 9.
