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OCEAN SPRINGS -- Steeped in Native American tradition, lacrosse is thought to be North America's oldest sport. French settlers and missionaries in Canada picked up and spread the sport natives called the "creator's game."

While lacrosse remains popular in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states, it's never quite caught on in Mississippi. Mark Rocco is trying to change that.

The Rocco family moved to Mississippi from New Jersey, where his son, Nick, and daughter, Ashley, both played for club teams.

"My kids were going through lacrosse withdrawal," Rocco said. So he decided to start his own team in Ocean Springs.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, 30 interested children signed up for a clinic sponsored by a grant from U.S. Lacrosse. Division One coaches and one professional player traveled to Ocean Springs for the weekend.

Since then, Rocco has held weekly practices on Saturdays at Freedom Field, located on Porter Street.

"They love it," Rocco said. "It's basically hockey without the ice." Right now practices are co-ed and open to all ages. Rocco hopes to organize a series of jamborees at the sportsplex in Gulfport.