LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

It's fast and furious

Lacrosse is hot. And with a growing league in New Tampa, you don't even have to head to Wesley Chapel to play.

By JOEL POILEY
Published November 20, 2005

NEW TAMPA - It's their game.

Not their parents' game and not the game of their friends playing another sport across town.

It's fast, furious and involves elements of many familiar sports. But for New Tampa kids playing lacrosse for the first time, it's a sport they have embraced as their own.

They're learning about its American Indian origins as America's oldest sport and its status as the fastest-growing youth sport in America. That's according to Sports Illustrated, as well as U.S. Lacrosse, the sport's governing body.

But while kids like being on the cutting edge of trends, all they really care about is donning pads and stick-checking that hard-rubber lacrosse ball from an opponent's grasp.

As more and more Northerners leave the cold climes and settle in Florida, they're bringing their sport with them, one they played since their youth in upstate New York, south through Maryland and Delaware. That's how lacrosse first took root in the Wesley Chapel area five years ago.

But the buzz about the game that involves elements of other fast-paced contact sports such as hockey, football and soccer seeped into New Tampa.

"I like rough sports - I play football," said 10-year-old Greg Klein, who attends Pride Elementary. "I like this because you get to hit people and score goals."

In addition to the contact, Greg likes the different skills used such as picking up ground balls with the stick, catching and throwing.

Brian Baker witnessed all the New Tampa kids, including his son Bret, 13, heading north to Wesley Chapel to try this new game.

"I realized it was time to start a league in New Tampa," said Baker, who with help from Dan McCall and Rob Betchley formed the New Tampa Lacrosse Association Raiders. They will play in a spring league as part of the West Florida Lacrosse Association.