FREDERICA, Del. – After a successful launch last month of a new boys youth lacrosse program, The Bucks, starting next Spring, DE TURF Sports Complex officials announced today the launch of a brand new girls youth lacrosse program merger with Central Delaware Diamonds Lacrosse, formerly of Dover. Diamonds Lacrosse will feature opportunities for youth in grades Kindergarten through 8thgrade to experience one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. 

Diamonds Lacrosse is an instructional/travel program that competes in the Eastern Shore Youth Lacrosse Association League (ESYLA). The ESYLA membership features teams from across the Eastern Shore including Kent County, Queen Anne’s, Dorchester, Caroline, Atlantic, Talbot, Beach Lacrosse, Fruitland and Camden Mid State. Practices will be at the DE Turf Sports Complex (4000 Bay Road, Frederica, DE 19946) on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Games will be on Saturdays. The program will run March through May. 

“Central Delaware Diamonds Girls Lacrosse Club is excited to have a new home facility at DE Turf,” said Ben Todd, Head Coach of the Diamonds. “For over 15 years Central Delaware Diamonds Girls Lacrosse Club has helped to expand girls lacrosse in Kent County, with over 100 members we expect to continue to grow. Our goal is to continue to improve the quality of lacrosse and provide a quality experience for all players, at all levels, while competing in the Eastern Shore Youth Lacrosse League. The premier facility at DE Turf will provide an excellent opportunity to improve and grow girls Lacrosse in Delaware.”

“The merger with the Diamonds will create a tremendous opportunity here in Kent County to develop the sport in the area,” mentioned, DE Turf executive director Chris Giacomucci. “With the combined launch of the girls and boys programs next spring we fully expect to have over 200 kids playing lacrosse at our facility.” 

Registration opens January 1, 2019. For more information, visit www.DETurf.com/diamondslax or call 302-330-8873.  

Diamonds Lacrosse Coaching Staff: 

K-2ndGrade (U8)           Danielle Coffield Smith

Danielle Coffield Smith is a teacher at Lake Forest High School, and the mother of four active children who are/were involved in both school sponsored athletics and club/travel team sports. Danielle has dedicated countless hours to supporting and developing athletic programs for children in Kent County. 

Danielle also founded the first girls’ lacrosse team at LFHS, where she is currently the head coach. She wrote and was awarded the US Lacrosse Diversity Grant, and with two boys playing local club and travel lacrosse, she remains an active member of the local youth lacrosse community.  She is also the assistant field hockey coach at LFHS.

3rd– 4thGrade (U10)     Eben Roberts 

Coach Roberts is a Kent County Delaware native. His lacrosse playing career started at Caesar Rodney High School in the early 90’s.  Those High School years were highlighted by being a part of back to back state championship teams in 1996-97.  He went on to play at the University of Delaware for two seasons before changing paths and beginning his boys lacrosse coaching career at St Marks High School as the assistant coach.  He continued coaching at St Marks until graduating college and returning to his hometown.  Once home he returned to coaching boys lacrosse for the Camden Revolution Rec Program. 

After starting his family a few years later, it was the search for a sport for his young daughters that brought him to the CDEL Diamonds girls lacrosse program in 2010.  Since that date he has continuously coached multiple levels of girls lacrosse, has become US Lacrosse certified, and has completed the Positive Coaching Alliance coursework.  His love for the game, the great players/families it attracts, and all that it has given to him is what drives him to continue to coach the youth in our area.

5th– 6thGrade (U12)      Tony Ruggiero 

Tony Ruggiero has been coaching the Central Delaware Diamonds since 2011 for age groups U9 to U15. His experience includes coaching high school age indoor lacrosse teams, the Central Delaware Diamonds winter lacrosse clinic, and Learn to Play Hockey at the Centre Ice Rink in Harrington, DE. Tony’s older daughter, Noelle, played U9 through U15 for the Central Delaware Diamonds and currently plays varsity for Caesar Rodney High School and Eastern Shore Lacrosse Club. Noelle represented the Eastern Shore Region in the US Women’s National Lacrosse Tournament in Long Island, NY. Currently, younger daughter Ava, is playing for the Central Delaware Diamonds. Tony received his BA in Sociology from Bemidji State University in 1993 and MA in Applied Social Research from West Virginia University in 1997.

7th– 8thGrade (U14)     Ben Todd 

Originally from Manchester, England, Coach Todd is a US Lacrosse men’s and women's certified coach with over 10 years of coaching experience, he also has over 30 years of playing experience at college, club and international levels.

Coach Todd played college lacrosse for local Wesley College in 1998, where he would later go onto to be a part of the Team England indoor and outdoor national teams. Coach Todd is still heavily involved in lacrosse community, currently playing for The Rebels Lacrosse Club and currently coaching the Delaware Diamonds Girls lacrosse, and Lady Blue Crabs lacrosse teams. Coach Todd is currently the Polytech assistant girls lacrosse coach.