It’s been too quiet of a summer for Darcy Phillips.
The Ladner resident has been involved in box lacrosse his entire life, first as a player and more recently in an administration role, initially overseeing the minor association then the Delta Junior Islanders program. Typically late August would mean some well-deserved vacation time after a long season juggling his boxla duties with his work as a contractor.
COVID-19 has resulted in an unusually dark summer for himself and so many others involved in a game that has such a rich history here.
No sport has been hit harder by the pandemic. While baseball and fastpitch are at least back on the field now and can take their seasons into the early fall if need be, lacrosse doesn’t have such a window with ice returning to the local arenas by the end of the month.
“It’s definitely been weird. Everyone has been missing it. I thought we might go golf (with everyone) just to try and re-connect at some point but then you have to be careful with COVID just opening up your bubble even more.”
Phillips has been busy these days with other league governors sorting out a potential minor lacrosse age change that would impact junior. The adjustment would see midget become a three-year division up to 17. That could result in the junior graduate age moving up to 22 to keep it a five year division. The BC Lacrosse Association is asking the Canadian Lacrosse Association that nothing is done until the 2022 campaign.
“Our biggest concern would be our numbers. We are quite concerned, not about the junior ‘A’ team but at the Junior B2 level. We really rely on graduating midget players as our feeder system. We wouldn’t be able to put out three teams,” said Phillips.
At this point, Phillips is hoping COVID won’t disrupt the 2021 campaign although he is confident games could be played in empty arenas if need be.
“What happens if it is prolonged and goes into next spring?” We could play without fans,” Phillips added. “We have enough sponsorships and there is also gaming money as a non-profit organization.”
