ThereB次元官网网址檚 a good chance girls who choose to follow in the footsteps of future Lindenwood University lacrosse player Paige Sutton will have an easier path towards success.

In response to a proposal by Paige and her father, Dean, and the efforts of lacrosse parent Cathy Kozina, Royal Bay secondary is moving forward with a plan to add a girls field lacrosse academy, the first of its kind in B.C., to go along with its boys program.

The academy will begin this fall, provided there is enough interest. B次元官网网址淲ith girls field lacrosse growing and growing, this is just awesome to help it grow even more,B次元官网网址� Kozina said.

According to Royal Bay vice-principal Mike Huck, 30 students will be needed for the academy to go ahead in September.

The idea for an academy came after discussions between the Suttons and Kozina on the sidelines at a lacrosse practice.

At that time Kozina, whose daughter will attend Royal Bay next year and plans to enrol in the lacrosse academy, had already gathered a list of interested girls.

Dean, as well as Paige, who recently accepted a full scholarship to play NCAA lacrosse for Lindenwood, eventually put together a proposal that highlighted the growing popularity of the sport. They met with Royal Bay administrators to get a sense of how they could make it a reality. The entire process came together quickly from there and the Suttons presented their proposal at the Sooke School DistrictB次元官网网址檚 academy information night on Jan. 19 at Belmont secondary.

B次元官网网址淭he questions werenB次元官网网址檛 about B次元官网网址榳ill it go or wonB次元官网网址檛 it goB次元官网网址�, people were already in B次元官网网址� which was very positive feedback from the community,B次元官网网址� Dean said, adding that heB次元官网网址檇 like to see 40 to 45 girls signed up. B次元官网网址淚 think we can hit that mark with a little bit of promotion and getting it out there. ItB次元官网网址檚 not well known yet.B次元官网网址�

Information sessions will take place at Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 feeder schools in the near future.

For Huck, the opportunity to establish an athletic academy for girls was a key part of his schoolB次元官网网址檚 interest. B次元官网网址淕irls lacrosse is a fast growing sport in the community B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a win-win for the girls and the school,B次元官网网址� he said.

Beyond the scope of athletics, Huck sees numerous benefits for those who end up in academies. B次元官网网址淎cademies teach kids about responsibility, community and ethics. For me, the academy is more of a character builder program as much as it is a sports program.B次元官网网址�

While itB次元官网网址檚 unlikely Paige Sutton will get a chance to enrol in the program for her Grade 12 year because sheB次元官网网址檚 in French immersion at Belmont, sheB次元官网网址檚 happy for the girls who will get a chance to sign up.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 extremely excited for the growth of the game and the opportunity this opens up for so many of the other girls that donB次元官网网址檛 have as much (chance) to play lacrosse outside of a weekly practice,B次元官网网址� she said.

More information on the academy will be available on Jan. 31 when Royal Bay hosts its own academy information night.

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com