Fields Of Dreams

Young City Athletes Talk Spring Sports By Gavriella Mahpour We're at the tail end of a cold-ish winter that hasn't yielded much in the way of outdoor snow play. It's no wonder many city children (parents, too!) are looking forward to the fun and physical elements that spring sports programs have to offer. To kick off the season, we spoke with several young athletes who shared their thoughts and aspirations regarding their spring sport of choice. LACROSSE Nigel Andrews, 14, Doc's NYC Lacrosse What made you want to play lacrosse? When I was seven, my uncle brought me to a UVA lacrosse game. It was the semifinals of the national tournament and it was a great game; it went into overtime. Afterwards I started looking into the game and found that I actually liked it and I started playing for Doc's. How often do you have to practice? I try to practice every day, because I have a little backyard and I have a rebounder wall so I hit the ball off the wall. I also have team practices twice a week. Who is your favorite professional lacrosse player? Probably Kyle Harrison who played lacrosse for Johns Hopkins. He was actually playing against UVA at the first lacrosse game that I saw, which I didn't know at the time. Is lacrosse a good sport for kids to consider playing? I think it's helpful for kids in terms of schools. A lot of good academic schools also have great lacrosse teams, so if you're good at lacrosse it can help you get into a good school. What has lacrosse taught you about life? It's taught me that academics are much more important than sports. As I said before, a lot of great schools have great lacrosse teams, so if you're not into academics and you don't think it matters, then you probably aren't going to go to a great lacrosse school. ------ SOFTBALL Julia Britt, 15, Yorkville Softball League for Girls What do you enjoy most about softball? The fact that everyone has to work together.We need to rely on each other, whether we play well or not. It's nice to have people behind you no matter what the outcome is. What advice would you give other kids who are considering signing up for the sport? Don't be afraid to try it.A lot of girls are in the same boat as you. Do you play any other sports? Softball and basketball at school, and soccer and volleyball at summer camp.I also enjoy snowboarding, when there's snow! Who is your favorite athlete? Shaun White. He works really hard which allows him to push the limits of the sport. Why do you think that softball is good for kids living in the city? It's a great opportunity to play outdoors while getting the chance to meet kids from all over. Do you plan on playing softball in the future? I would love to play in college and know I will continue to play every chance I get. To read the full New York Family article click here.