During the COVID-19 pandemic, lacrosse participation throughout the country took a major hit. However, according to a statement by the National Lacrosse League from 2023, lacrosse is beginning to see a substantial rise in enrollment. High School lacrosse coach Jim Laselva expects the same enrollment increase for Hamilton-Wenham.

In the midst of quarantine, youth athletics programs were put on hold in order to minimize social interactions. After restrictions were lifted, bringing back pre-pandemic numbers of enrollment posed a major obstacle, especially for lacrosse. According to a report by the National Federation of State High School Associations, from 2019 to 2021, lacrosse lost 5,837 participants.

Despite this, Laselva feels good about the upcoming season, saying, “The youth program dipped right around COVID.” However, “right now the youth program for lacrosse is thriving, there’s a ton of kids”. He adds that “the future looks bright.”

Laselva had this to say to any newcomers playing lacrosse this season: “We’re open to new players all the time…it is a welcoming sport.”  Laselva went on to explain the expectations, “to be a new player in lacrosse, it really requires a growth mindset…and a lot of kids don’t have that, [whether it is] the fortitude or the self-discipline to wanna be at the bottom rung of a sport.”

Laselva also explained the financial aspect of protective gear for this sport: “Kids are going to need a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, and a stick… and that can be upward to three hundred dollars,” but “you can also have those pads for the next 2-3 years.”

To any aspiring athletes still on the fence about joining the team, Laselva offered this advice:, “We’re a team that supports one another… I like to call it a family,” he goes on to explain that “there’s a brotherhood or a sisterhood, let’s just call it a bond among a team and a friendship that you have the opportunity to experience… and it’s fun, you get to represent your school.”