Dorf bringing more than family down from Virginia
. New resident to put on lacrosse clinic next week
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News scott@gulfbreezenews.com

Dorf

The South is known for its love of football. More kids play soccer, but football is widely considered the most popular sport in this region. A new Gulf Breeze resident is, however, hoping to bring the young locals a new athletic opportunity.

Matt Dorf, who recently moved to Gulf Breeze from northern Virginia, has decided that his love for lacrosse is too great for him not to share it with his new neighbors.

Lacrosse is a team sport that is played with either 10 or 11 players. Each participant uses a netted stick (the crosse) to pass and catch a hard rubber ball, with the aim of scoring goals. The team scoring the most points after two halves, of varying length from competition to competition, and overtime if necessary, wins the match.

There are similarities to other sports, such as soccer and hockey. Obviously, the concept of scoring goals bears strong similarities to hockey and soccer. The positions are similar to that of a soccer team: forwards, midfielders, defenders and a goalkeeper. Also the running and the pace of the game is similar to soccer. Much like hockey, lacrosse players are equipped with pads and helmets, and body checking is an integral part of the game.

Scott

Dorf's 12-year-old son Johnathan played lacrosse in the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League, and has helped his dad to spearhead an effort to introduce the sport in Gulf Breeze.

The Rec Center will host a lacrosse clinic this Saturday, Dec. 8. FSU lacrosse coaches and players will instruct the clinic.

"My son and I came up with the idea," Dorf said. "So, I organized the clinic myself, through a lot of hard work."

Most kids, and even some parents, around here probably don't know much about the sport, and have never been interested in it. Dorf feels confident that excitement will grow once people experience the sport first-hand.

"It seems that most people here have only read or heard about lacrosse," Dorf said. "But that isn't the same as seeing and playing the sport. I feel like this clinic will create interest in lacrosse."

Rodney Scott, a Gulf Breeze resident, seconds Dorf's opinion.

"Lacrosse is a great game because it allows kids of all sizes and athletic abilities to compete," Scott said. "Once it gains some exposure, a lot more people will be interested."

Scott played defender for the Morgan State, Baltimore, Md., lacrosse team in the 1970s. He will be instructing at Saturday's clinic. He feels that this is a great opportunity for local kids.

"They have a chance to gain exposure to a great game," said Scott. "These kids will then have the opportunity to be pioneers in the effort to bring lacrosse to the Gulf Coast."

Although lacrosse is new to Gulf Breeze, its origins are centuries old. In fact, the original game was played by Native Americans and was called a variety of different names. French missionaries introduced the name lacrosse.

The original game was noticeably different in several ways. The field of play could stretch up to a mile long. Also, early balls were made out of the heads of the enemy, deerskin, clay, stone and wood.

Native Americans used the game for several purposes, such as conflict resolution, warrior training and religious ritual. Players entered the competition with the spirit of a warrior, and many participants were often gravely injured or even killed. Of course, that was before the protective equipment and rules we utilize in modern lacrosse were available.

Modern lacrosse is much more fun and less dangerous than the serious version played by Native Americans. Consequently, it can be enjoyed by athletes of all ages.

Eventually, Dorf would like to see the formation of a Gulf Coast league.

He plans to have an instructional league in 2008, from February to May, in order to get kids further involved and experienced.

"Only time will tell, but I think the sport will take off," said Dorf. "I would like to see some other local communities come onboard and form a league."

Scott shares this vision.

There is no reason why lacrosse shouldn't be in every school in this county, state and region," Scott said.

As for now, the hope is that the this weekend's clinic will generate the enough interest to make all this possible.