Garden City Challengers
one of 400 teams at tourney
The Nassau Police Activity League (NCPAL) Youth Lacrosse Festival consisted of two big days of competition at the Farmingdale College campus to mark the end of the lacrosse season. According to NCPAL County Director of Lacrosse Operations Jim Howell, “It is the largest in the country.” More than 7,500 girls and boys, in grades 2 through 6, from 54 communities across Nassau County, made up 400 teams, with every community represented including Special Needs Unit teams: the Levittown Knights and the Garden City Challengers.
NCPAL Special Needs Lacrosse Director and PAL Festival Chairman Mike Nelson said, “This is the one time all the players come together in one place to compete in games that are scheduled throughout the day, girls competed on Saturday, boys on Sunday. The young people enjoyed playing the games and getting plenty fresh air and healthy exercise at the college in Farmingdale. It was an end-of-season celebration; the scores didn’t matter. I thank all the volunteers, coaches, referees and parents for all their efforts in making it a great weekend festival.”
This year the funds raised at the festival will be donated to Jill Howell Foundation Scholarship Fund and the NCPAL Special Needs Unit. In addition to the games and other festival activities, a drive to collect gently used sports equipment to be used in new sports programs was very successful.
For information about NCPAL youth programs visit www.nassaucountypal.org and for NCPAL Lacrosse Special Needs programs visit www.specialneedspal.org
