Tara Linton | Board Member, TRYlax Youth Lacrosse
For Tara Linton, sports have always been about more than the scoreboard. From her first swings as a T-ball home run champ to walking on to the Division I softball team at the University of Connecticut, she’s lived the lessons of hustle, discipline, and teamwork. Now, as a leader in the TRYlax youth lacrosse program in Massachusetts, she’s working to make sure the next generation of athletes get those same opportunities — and that every kid who picks up a stick feels like they belong.
From Softball Diamond to Lacrosse Sidelines
Tara grew up surrounded by sports. With three older sisters and a father who refused to let the boys in town get the better fields, gear, or opportunities, she learned early that hard work and persistence matter. “My dad raised money, found fields, and started our own softball club,” she remembers. “He just wasn’t going to take no for an answer.”
That commitment carried Tara through years of softball and field hockey, eventually to UConn, where she was recruited to play field hockey and walked onto the Division I softball team. And while her own kids didn’t inherit her love of baseball and softball — choosing lacrosse instead — Tara saw another chance to step up and give back.
“I can’t say enough about how sports impacted my life,” she says. “The friendships, the discipline, the motivation — those are qualities you want in day-to-day life. I wanted my boys, and every kid in our town, to have that same experience.”
Growing Lacrosse in Small-Town Massachusetts
TRYlax serves five small towns in the Tantasqua school district, far from the big-city clinics and clubs that many kids in Boston take for granted. When Tara joined the board, she knew that accessibility and visibility would be key.
Her focus became twofold: spreading the word and lowering barriers to entry. She launched a stronger social media presence, posting not only on TRYlax’s channels but also in town pages, PTO groups, and anywhere parents might be looking for youth sports options. “It wasn’t just about talking to the people who signed up last year,” she explains. “We wanted grandparents, neighbors, and new families in town to know lacrosse was here.”
At the same time, the board made participation easier. They introduced free clinics, created an equipment swap page, offered loaner gear, and even covered registration fees for families in need. The impact was immediate: girls’ participation jumped 20% in a single year.
“We never want someone not to play just because they couldn’t pay for registration,” Tara says. “That flies in the face of what youth sports are supposed to be about.”
Fun First, Winning Second
For Tara and the TRYlax board, success isn’t measured in championships — it’s measured in how many kids sign up again next season.
“Winning is fun, sure,” she says. “But the greatest accomplishment is when kids say, ‘I had so much fun, I want to play again next year.’”
That philosophy shows up in everything from pre-season coaches’ meetings to end-of-year celebrations. Coaches hand out game balls for sportsmanship, not just goals scored. Volunteers organize inflatable-costume scrimmages where kids get to score on T-Rexes and unicorns. Families gather for parent-player games and eighth-grade recognition ceremonies that honor years of participation.
The goal is simple: make the sport fun and welcoming, so every player — no matter their skill level — wants to keep coming back.
Building Something Bigger Than a Program
Tara knows firsthand that running a youth sports program is hard work, and that it takes more than a handful of board members to make it happen. Her advice to others: get as many parents and community members involved as possible.
“Not everyone can be on the board, and that’s okay,” she says. “But maybe they can help at the end-of-year party, take photos at a game, or run a special project. When you bring more people in, you create a stronger experience for the kids and families — and you grow the program.”
When even volunteer slots like the snack shack proved tough to fill, Tara and the board got creative, recruiting high school National Honor Society students who needed service hours. “Filled it up in a heartbeat,” she laughs.
For Tara, that’s what it’s all about: solving problems, building community, and creating a program where kids — and families — feel connected.
Why It Matters
Sports taught Tara how to hustle, work hard, and adapt. Now, through TRYlax, she’s passing those lessons forward — not just to her three sons, but to hundreds of kids across her community.
“Kids aren’t going to come back if they didn’t have fun,” she says. “So we focus on making it positive, making it welcoming, and making sure every player has a reason to say, ‘I want to play again.’”
In Sturbridge and beyond, that mindset is helping grow the game — one kid, one family, and one season at a time.
Get Involved with TRYLax
Today, TRYLax brings together athletes from five towns across Central Massachusetts — Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland, Wales, and Brookfield — to play in the Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse League.
Families who want to get involved can start by exploring trylax.com, where you’ll find registration info, program details, and upcoming events.
You can also keep up with the community on social:
Instagram: @trylax_tantasqua
Facebook: Trylax
And if you want to see the bigger picture, check out the league itself at @mass_youth_lax on Instagram and Mass Youth Lax on Facebook.
