Steps for Building a Women's Lacrosse Programme

Start with a Welcoming Taster Session

Every successful women's lacrosse programme in the South West begins with a single session that feels easy to walk into. Whether you are based in a sports hall in Exeter, a school field in Truro, or a leisure centre in Bristol, the first hour matters more than any long-term strategy document. Aim for a taster session that requires no equipment, no prior knowledge, and no commitment beyond turning up.

Practical steps that work well:

• Borrow before you buy. Approach local clubs, county sports partnerships, or university sports unions about loaning sticks, goggles, and balls for a six-week block. This removes the biggest barrier for newcomers.
• Advertise where women already are. Posters in leisure centres, community noticeboards, workplace wellbeing groups, and local running or netball clubs often reach people who never considered lacrosse at school.
• Run the session in two halves. Begin with simple stick skills and a modified game such as soft lacrosse or pop lacrosse, then finish with a short, friendly match. People stay when they have fun in the first session.
• Name a friendly face. Have one coach or volunteer whose only job is to greet newcomers, learn names, and pair people up. That single role transforms retention.

Keep the tone relaxed. Many women arrive worried they are too old, too slow, or too inexperienced. A session that celebrates effort over ability will spread by word of mouth faster than any paid advertising.

Build Bridges with Local Schools

The South West has a growing school games network, and lacrosse fits neatly into it. Primary schools often welcome pop lacrosse as a curriculum or lunchtime activity because it is safe, cheap, and quick to teach. Secondary schools are more likely to take on the full game if you offer to run the first few sessions yourself.

Useful approaches include:

• Offer a free six-week block to one or two schools, then hand over lesson plans and equipment lists so staff can continue independently.
• Link school sessions to your club nights. Pupils who enjoy the sport at school need an obvious next step, usually a Saturday morning or midweek evening session nearby.
• Support school tournaments. Even a small inter-school festival in Somerset, Dorset, or Gloucestershire gives young players a goal and gives you a captive audience of parents and teachers.
• Train interested teachers. A single enthusiastic PE teacher can sustain a school programme for years, and they often become your best advocates.

Remember that school partnerships take time. One committed teacher who feels supported is worth more than ten polite emails to head teachers.

Develop Coaches and Volunteers

A programme cannot grow on one pair of shoulders. Developing coaches is the difference between a session that runs for a term and one that runs for a decade. Start by identifying players who show patience and enthusiasm, and encourage them to take a recognised coaching qualification.

Practical steps:

• Fund one or two coaching courses each year. Local authorities and national governing bodies often part-fund qualifications, particularly for women and for volunteers working in underserved areas.
• Create an assistant coach role. This lets newer coaches build confidence by leading warm-ups and small-sided games before taking a full session.
• Mentor rather than abandon. Pair new coaches with an experienced one for their first term, and review sessions together afterwards.
• Value the non-coaching roles. Fixture secretaries, kit managers, social media volunteers, and first-aiders all keep a club running. Thank them publicly and give them clear, bounded tasks.

Aim for at least two qualified coaches and a handful of helpers before you enter league competition. It protects against burnout and gives players consistency when life gets in the way.

Offer Competitive Fixtures at Every Level

Competition is what turns a weekly session into a club. The South West has a range of options, from university leagues and county tournaments to friendly fixtures and regional development days. The key is matching players to the right level rather than throwing everyone into the same match.

• Start with friendlies. Arrange informal matches against neighbouring clubs or university teams before entering a formal league.
• Run internal games. A short intra-club league gives new players match experience without travel or pressure.
• Enter development festivals. These are designed for beginners and mixed-ability squads, and they build confidence quickly.
• Plan a progression route. Beginners move to friendly fixtures, then to league matches, then to regional competition if they want it. Make each step visible.

Transport is often the biggest obstacle in a rural region, so consider car-sharing rotas, minibus hire, or scheduling fixtures alongside other clubs' home games.

Keep Players Coming Back

Retention is quieter than recruitment but far more important. Simple habits make a real difference: publish a clear term calendar, communicate through one reliable channel, celebrate small milestones, and make sure every session ends with something social.

Ask players what they want every few months, act on the answers, and be willing to change the format. A women's lacrosse programme in the South West will not look identical to one in London or Manchester, and it should not try to. Build around the people who turn up, and the programme will grow with them.