Homegrown Lacrosse

Compared to sports like hockey, or soccer, lacrosse isn’t as well-known by kids or parents, in the state of Minnesota. Thanks to the Twin Cities’ nonprofit, Homegrown Lacrosse, that is all changing. Homegrown inspires kids around the state to get involved with lacrosse and in the meantime, they’re falling in love with the sport. 

 

Speaking with two of Homegrown’s senior staff, Jesse Brown and Colin Achenbach, it’s easy to understand why kids become so passionate about lacrosse and why they are able to succeed in this game over others.

 

Achenbach is Homegrown Lacrosse's co-founder and program director and like most boys in Minnesota, Colin grew up playing hockey. In eighth grade, he was introduced to lacrosse and he never looked back. And like Achenbach, operations director Jesse Brown was also a hockey player who made the switch to lacrosse 

Achenbach emphasizes that the goals of Homegrown is to build a community that inspires and empowers players to exceed in life and lacrosse. He coaches at a number of Homegrown’s programs, including summer camps and its In-School P.E. Program.  In this program time and time Achenbach sees kids playing the game for the first time, which reminds him why he switched to lacrosse and why it’s different than any other sport.

 

“Through good coaching and interaction,” Achenbach says, “kids fall in love with the freeness of the sport. Kids aren’t pushed by their moms or dads. They play the sport for themselves and it’s new for everybody.”

 

This makes lacrosse different from other sports. Kids have the option to get as involved as they want. They’re able to make mistakes and build their skills without the pressure of parents, who can often get too involved and suck the fun out of a game.

 

Not only is lacrosse different from other sports, but Homegrown makes their programs and camps different from others as well, which is why they’re so successful and a big reason why kids love the sport. 

 

“We have a small networked community here at Homegrown,” Achenbach states, “unlike most camps, where its pro players coming and leaving, we want to keep it in Minnesota, we want to see the sport grow, and we’re not going to leave.”

 

It’s the passionate coaches like Achenbach and Brown, who make Homegrown such an incredible organization. Players want to come back year after year because there’s a group of cool, young coaches, who truly care about them and want to see them succeed.  

 

“The point is to connect kids with the sport,” said Brown. “Hopefully they’ll want to play and become involved with after school programs in their community.”

 

One of these skills that Homegrown and lacrosse in general build is confidence. A common thing Brown and Achenbach notice, while introducing kids to lacrosse, is the sense of confidence that kids get. When everyone is equal and starting at the same level, they have the same opportunity for improvement.