By Gary Curreri

Every Sunday afternoon, Deerfield Beach’s Andy Pollack and other coaches and fathers involved with the Parkland RedHawks youth lacrosse program get together and run around like they were young again.

Pollack, 46, who owns and manages a real estate firm,started playing the sport in junior high in Long Island. He said the men enjoy playing in the pickup games.

“We just like getting together and playing and having a good time,” said Pollack, who also played for the Buzzards men’s lacrosse team is based out of Parkland. Earlier this year, the Buzzards joined 35 other teams who played in the 12th annual Men’s Florida Lacrosse Classic at Tequesta Trace Park in Weston, which helped raise money for youth lacrosse players around the state.

“We like playing in it,” Pollack said. “It’s not the big picture. We could care less if we win or lose the tournament. We are competitive and like to win, but we want to have a good time and no one gets hurt.”

All of the money raised from the tournament goes to the Florida Youth Lacrosse Foundation. The tournament serves as a major fundraising initiative for supporting youth lacrosse programs throughout Florida. It is the largest non-profit post collegiate lacrosse tournament in the country.

Pollack was one of the founders of the RedHawks, which has grown to more than 400 players.

“Anytime a kid has a stick in his hand rather than a joystick, it’s a good thing,” Pollack said. “You get them off that computer.”

Pollack, like most of his teammates, enjoyed the camaraderie playing against teams from around the country in the tournament instead of locking sticks with each other.

“For me it is a mini vacation,” Pollack said. “I own my own business, so when I get on the field, you put everything on the sidelines, all of the stress in life, and you are just thinking about picking up the ball and making that pass. You are not distracted by everyday life, so, for me, that’s what attracts me to the sport.”