Beach Lacrosse Accepting Players

BERLIN- The Beach Lacrosse Club, a volunteer organization that has been around for 16 years and have introduced thousands of young players to the game, is accepting applications for its spring program through February 20.

Beach Lacrosse is seeking boys and girls for several teams at various age and skill levels including under-9, under-11, under-13, and under-15. There is also a 'scoopers' program where children as young as six years old can begin to learn the basics of lacrosse. The club belongs to the Eastern Shore Youth Athletic Association and plays against teams from programs all over the shore.

Practice begins later this month with games usually starting in March and continuing through May. Beach Lacrosse also participates in post-season tournaments in June in hotbeds like Baltimore and Annapolis and also hosts its own highly successful tournament in Ocean City each year.

The first Beach Lacrosse Club teams, a total of just three for boys, formed in 1993 by a group of parents who had played the sport and shared a love of the game. Girls' teams were added about three years later. They wanted to offer the children of Worcester County, including their own kids, the opportunity to gain exposure to the sport. The program started with about 50 kids participating, but has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and spawned a few other local programs along the way.

The teams have greatly improved over the years after an inauspicious first season when Beach Lacrosse played about 30 games and had one win and one tie. Today, more than 350 local lacrosse enthusiasts sign up to play each spring. Over the years, Beach Lacrosse has developed over 4,000 young players and has earned a nationwide reputation with many players going on to play at the top levels of the best college teams in the country.

Beach Lacrosse is a private, not for profit, volunteer organization.  The primary goal of the organization is to provide a safe, enjoyable environment in which children can learn to play the game, develop their skills, and have fun in an atmosphere where sportsmanship is stressed. 

'The environment we hope to maintain will not only produce great players, it will also produce future lacrosse league organizers, officials, and coaches,' said Beach director Chris Carroll.

Interested families may learn what is expected of players and what is expected from their parents at the Beach Lacrosse website.  Parents can register their players at Beachlax.org.  Registration is open until February 20. Those with questions about the program may call 410-213-0491.