Lacrosse Community

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/sports/21lacrosse.html

The New York Times has recently put out an article about the growth of lacrosse across the country. One of the biggest newspapers in the country is now taking notice of the growing love for the sport. “The number of high school lacrosse players more than doubled in the last decade and 21 states now host championships, including North Carolina and South Carolina beginning this year. Illinois has added it for 2011,” the New York Times stated. Also, the NCAA is admitting 20 new women’s teams and 12 new men’s teams this year across all three divisions and 24 are expected to join next year. This has grown by so much in the past as it has sprung up 105% in the past 20 years to about 15,730 college athletes. This article just expands on how many teams are being admitted to universities as respected varsity programs. Youth programs and growing high school recognition are to blame for these expansions across the NCAA. This can easily be seen through the Bronxville youth program.

Bronxville didn’t even have a youth lacrosse program until I was in 3rd grade (9 years ago). Since then, BYLA (Bronxville Youth Lacrosse Association) has grown a program that has children starting at the age of 5. The whole community acknowledges the program and wants to get their children involved right away. Kindergarteners have a scheduled practice every Sunday on the Bronxville High School Turf, where they work on stick skills and learn the game through the help of parents and former lacrosse players. There are travel teams for each grade up to 8th. The total number of people registered in BYLA is about 350 children from Kindergarten to 8th grade. The people that coach are great role models and wonderful people that everyone respects through the town. The lacrosse community is not only great in Bronxville but everywhere around Bronxville as they have similar programs in towns like Greenwich, New Fairfield, Manhasset, Darien, etc.. The total membership count for US Lacrosse is up 8.2% from last year (uslacrosse.com). With my experience I have met people all over the country that share the love for the game, which leads to easy friendships.