FishHawk Coyotes Lacrosse Launches Fall Program

While most children were riding bicycles with training wheels at age 3, Brian Lemon was already playing lacrosse.

Lemon and his four sisters received early training from their late father, Elias "Cy" Lemon, a member of Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, who made certain his son would go far. In fact, he did.

Lemon began a pro lacrosse career in 1989 and spent the next seven years with the Baltimore Thunder, Detroit Turbos and Rochester Knighthawks in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

He retired at the young age of 30 in 1996 and has served as vice president of operations for the NLL for the past six years.

In his spare time, he keeps busy directing FishHawk Coyotes Lacrosse, a children's lacrosse organization he founded in 2009.

"The FishHawk Coyotes Lacrosse board decided to run a fall program due to the great demand of our players wanting to continue to work on their skills and their enjoyment of the game," Lemon said.

There were 42 registered young athletes that first year. Two years later, there are 220 players for the fall program.

Their summer, fall and spring programs offer different playing skill levels — less, more and highly competitive, respectively. They are planning to add an elite travel program, their fourth and most competitive level, next year.

The program held its first practice day Sept. 11 at Fishhawk Sports Complex, 16120 Fishhawk Blvd, Lithia.

"Welcome to the Coyotes fall program," said Lemon to his young recreational players. "Make sure you have lots of water on the sideline. You should have a gallon jug of drinking water. Hydrate all day today. This heat will give you a shock to the system if you haven't been exercising. Fifth-graders go over there. Sixth-graders go here. Don't be the last man or you'll do push-ups."

Lemon constantly gave his young players advice and a lot of encouragement. One of his other coaches, Jimmy Christmas, is a U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel.

"Just because the ball hits the ground, it doesn't mean the game stops. We don't ever stop moving," Christmas said. "Hey, you're OK! That's a good pass," he said after one of his players passed a ball to his teammate before the whistle blew.

Lemon said the fall program will focus on skill development and incorporating team play. The fall season will also serve as a foundation for players who may choose to develop their skills in the spring season, when the Coyotes compete in the the West Florida Lacrosse League against Tampa-area lacrosse clubs and schools.

"Some of the best lacrosse players started out playing at your age," Lemon told the players at the season-opening practice.

"Some players in that group may be playing 1 1/2 years longer than you are," he said, while pointing to another middle school group across the field, "but you'll catch them up with a lot of practices. We're ready to have fun!"

Coyotes Fall Program Format

BOYS: Fall players will be divided into divisions based on grade: Rec 1 (Grades 1-2), Rec 2 (Grades 3-4), Youth (Grades 5-6), Middle School (7-8) and High School.

Grades may be further broken down based on registration numbers. 

GIRLS: Fall players will be divided into divisions based on grade:
Youth (Grades 1-5) and Middle School (Grades 6-8).

Visit the Coyotes website and click on the link titled "Coyotes Late Registration - Fall 2011" if you would like to be notified of an opening in the fall program. They will notify you if a spot becomes available.

If you have any questions, contact Lemon at 813-689-2070.