When it comes to high school girls lacrosse in greater San Diego, the Coronado Islanders are in the mix as one of the best teams in the area.
They belong in the Open Division—the best in San Diego—and narrowly lost to the No. 1 seed in the San Diego CIF Championship semifinals this spring.
So what’s the secret to the Islanders’ success?
Perhaps it’s because girls on the island are being taught lacrosse at a high level as early as kindergarten.
Elite level coaching
Meet the Coronado Lacrosse Club, a program that provides top-level teaching for girls of nearly all ages. And it has been developing talented female athletes for six years.
Starting at kindergarten and going all the way to eighth grade, the Coronado Lacrosse Club welcomes players that vary in both age and lacrosse experience.
According to the club’s president, Nicole Belong, there are two teams at each age group during the spring season.
Pipeline to Coronado High School
Belong said younger players, such as those from kindergarten to second grade, are grouped together.
Once the athletes reach fifth grade, they transition to full field action and the level of play gets increasingly more competitive.
Starting the girls so young is extremely important to the success of the Islanders, as Belong and the club’s Director of Coaching Caroline Carlson – who doubles as the high school coach – see the program as a pipeline to Coronado High.
“We have dedicated, knowledgeable coaches who have extensive experience coaching lacrosse or playing at the collegiate level.”
-Director of Coaching Caroline Carlson.
“We have dedicated, knowledgeable coaches who have extensive experience coaching lacrosse or playing at the collegiate level, and are excited about developing the girls to be ready for the high school level,” said Carlson.
Competitive at young age
According to Carlson, when she began playing lacrosse on the island; youth and middle school teams weren’t as popular.
She was able to play for the middle school team, but since her playing days, the growth of teams for girls not yet in high school has been huge.
Through her time being involved with both the club and as the varsity coach for the Islanders, Carlson has seen the importance of getting the girls acclimated to competitive lacrosse at a younger age.
Carlson’s strong ties to island
In the six years the club has been around there have been four different directors of coaching, according to Belong.
The president of the club spoke highly of Carlson however, and noted her strong ties to the island and decorated background in the sport have served the club well.
“The girls are lucky to have her.”
-Club President Nicole Belong on Caroline Carlson.
“The girls are lucky to have her. She has done an excellent job of finding coaches and volunteers that follow her philosophy and want to prepare our players for high school,” said Belong.
Belong added that the Coronado Lacrosse Club is thriving now more than ever thanks to a growing group of volunteers.
Just an idea
The thought of a club program for girls’ lacrosse had been nothing more than a floating idea before the creation of it six years ago.
According to Belong, boys lacrosse had established a solid club program but the girls side was always in the works.
But she said numerous volunteers have helped the girls program make a name for itself.
Belong said she’s a prime example going from simply a club supporter to vice president to being voted club president.
The efforts of these volunteers, and Carlson’s ability to recruit quality coaches, has drawn in a fair amount of players, Belong said.
She added the club has around 70 players in the fall offseason and over 100 players in the spring regular season.
Part of something special
Carlson is encouraged by this growth.
As Director of Coaching, she said she loves to see young girls enjoy the game of lacrosse.
Carlson said she sees lacrosse as a way to be a part of something special in the community.
And as the varsity coach of the Islanders, Carlson said she’s thrilled to see younger talent prepping to play for her once they reach high school.
“The club is instrumental to not only grow the game of lacrosse in Coronado, but to also sustain the success of our high school program.”
-Caroline Carlson.
“Being a feeder program to the high school, the club is instrumental to not only grow the game of lacrosse in Coronado, but to also sustain the success of our high school program for years to come,” said Carlson.
