Thomaston — It was hot. Sweating, sweltering, red-faced hot. But the small group of children would not be deterred or distracted. They were on a mission. Their goal was crystal clear. In this moment, heat or no heat, complete concentration was needed.

Like a mother bird with a precious egg, the youngsters cradled the ball in their hands, as they cupped the precious cargo in their palms as they knelt and then rose. Up and down. Walking around. And, in the meantime, doing everything in their power not to allow the ball to fall from their possession and drop to the ground.

Watch video and see nearly 50 photos below.

The specific activity or drill was to demonstrate to the youngsters how to cradle and carry a ball, eventually, not in their hands, but in the webbing, or basket/pocket, at the end of a lacrosse stick.

On this Tuesday afternoon, July 21 at The Thomaston Green (site of the former Maine State Prison), a handful of children turned out to learn about lacrosse from longtime Oceanside girls varsity coach Angie Vachon, who started the Mariner program.

Vachon offered the session free to youth and plans to continue the clinics/drills — and lacrosse fun — a few more weeks on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. at the same venue.

On the first Tuesday, youngsters learned how to pick up ground balls, cradle and carry the ball in the basket of the stick, to pass and, of course, how to shoot — and score.

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Enzo Citriglia, 7, of Camden. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Enzo Citriglia, 7, of Camden. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Coach Angie Vachon. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland, right, and Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Amos Winter, 8, of Owls Head. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Rhys Hatch 6, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Rhys Hatch 6, of Rockland, left, and coach Angie Vachon. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Amos Winter, 8, of Owls Head. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Enzo Citriglia, 7, of Camden. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Rhys Hatch 6, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Coach Angie Vachon. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Rhys Hatch 6, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Rhys Hatch 6, of Rockland, left, and coach Angie Vachon. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Enzo Citriglia, 7, of Camden. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Enzo Citriglia, 7, of Camden. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Amos Winter, 8, of Owls Head. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston, back, and Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston, back, and Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Coach Angie Vachon. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland, right, and Rhys Hatch 6, of Rockland. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston, front, and Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston, right, along with coach Angie Vachon. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston, front, and Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston, left, and Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Greta Stinson, 7, of Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston, left, and coach Angie Vachon. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston, front. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Caleb Stinson 6, of Thomaston, front. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. Asher Hatch 9, of Rockland, left, and coach Angie Vachon. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)

Scene from youth lacrosse on July 21 in Thomaston. (Photo by: Ken Waltz)