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GAME TIME

Giant strides A game rich in tradition and history, lacrosse is the latest team sport to take hold in SoCal youth athletics. By Jenelyn RussoPublished: February, 2012

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It may be the oldest sport in North America, but lacrosse has only recently enjoyed a surge in popularity in Southern California. The team sport, whose name is derived from the French term “the stick,” dates back as early as the 1600s, when Native Americans used the game to either help settle tribal disputes or as a ceremonial ritual to give thanks to the Creator.     The sport of lacrosse is distinguished from other “stickball”-type sports by the unique netted racquet that is used to pick up, pass and catch a ball, all while trying to get it into a goal to score points. And although there are variations to the game, which even include different men’s and women’s categories, the ball cannot be touched by the hands.     Popular all across Canada and in other U.S. regions, lacrosse was adopted in this country in the late 1800s primarily as a regional sport. It took hold on the East Coast, with strong ties to Ivy League colleges. The latter part of the 20th century saw it spread across the country, with the Midwest and West Coast areas experiencing significant growth.     Today, lacrosse is the fastest-growing team sport in the U.S., with participation expanding at an amazing 37.7 percent in the past year and 218.1 percent in the past 10 years, according to the 2011 “Sports, Fitness & Recreational Activities Topline Participation Report,” published by The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.      And within those numbers, the sport is booming in O.C. Dan Perry, the Orange County Chapter president of US Lacrosse, says the local branch is currently the fastest-growing in the country. US Lacrosse, the national governing body of the sport, is committed to helping local communities grow the sport at every level, with a focus on safety and education.     Participation in youth club league programs is available locally for all ages through organizations like the Orange County Lacrosse Association (OCLA). Denise Eidt, who serves as OCLA’s Girls’ Commissioner, says that the sport’s main season runs in January and February, with league play stopping at that point for high school play. For younger players, both spring and fall recreational programs are available as well.     About seven years ago, after a large push led by families of young athletes, lacrosse became a sanctioned sport at the high school level within the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS). Now, with close to 140 men’s and women’s teams being fielded each season, the sport has become very visible alongside high school sport mainstays such as football and baseball. The game is strongly represented in Orange County, among public and private high schools alike. The Tustin Unified School District’s Foothill High School men’s team has won five consecutive CIF-SS titles spanning from 2007 to 2011.     There has also been an increase in the amount of scholarships offered in the sport at the collegiate level. Perry says, “The opportunities have increased dramatically for Division I scholarships, both in California schools and nationally, especially on the women’s side.”     But beyond the scholarships, both Perry and Eidt agree that there are plenty of benefits to playing lacrosse at the youth level for both boys and girls.     “It’s a great aerobic workout for the kids, giving them an upper body workout as well,” says Eidt.     Perry agrees: “The passing and catching required of the game go a long way in the development of superior hand-eye coordination skills in kids.”     Additionally, Lacrosse offers the chance for athletes to build unique skills in a high-paced, fun and intense competition environment. oclax.com ocuslax.org uslacrosse.org

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