A LOCAL sports association is looking to start a new after-school sports programme at interested primary schools throughout the island. The Bermuda Lacrosse Association (BLA) is working to form lacrosse clubs at the local schools in an after-school setting for both boys and girls starting in January.

Lacrosse, often referred to as the quickest game on two feet, is the fastest growing sport at the youth level in North America.

The sport combines all the athletic elements of other popular sports in Bermuda, including soccer, basketball, rugby, field and floor hockey, as well as cricket and baseball. It is played with a stick, called the crosse, which must be mastered by the player to throw, catch and scoop a ball.

According to the BLA, lacrosse is the only true North American sport as Native American Indians developed the game long before Europeans settled on the continent.

The French Canadians subsequently created a set of rules that would eventually develop into the modern game.

Male and female members of the lacrosse organisation plan to volunteer their time at each interested school to teach the skills of the game to children between the ages of ten and 12, one day a week.

"The goal is for the children involved in the programme to learn the basic fundamentals of lacrosse and fair play while enjoying the social interaction of such a great team sport," said Mike Totman, the Bermuda Lacrosse Association president.

The BLA is now contacting the primary schools in hopes of introducing the programme and providing information on how students can become involved.

"We believe this programme will be a great addition to the youth sports scene," said Kirk Bridgewater, who attended Warwick Academy for a time and is one of the BLA's founders and current secretary. "I have played a few contact sports in my time; the speed, finesse, the thin line between individual effort and teamwork is what draws me to lacrosse."

While girls and boys lacrosse is a fundamentally different game, Mr. Totman believes both groups will love playing the sport.

"Girls' lacrosse by nature is a limited-contact sport and we will teach the regular field game in this setting," he explained. "While boys' lacrosse is traditionally a full-contact sport, we will start by focusing on the stick skills and finesse required to learn the game in a limited-contact environment."

There will be a registration fee that will cover the cost of bringing in the playing equipment, including lacrosse sticks, balls, and reversible Bermuda Lacrosse jerseys.

"The registration fee is strictly to cover the cost of bringing the equipment to Bermuda," said Mr. Totman. "Association members are volunteering their time to coach and spread the love of the game."

While lacrosse, like field hockey, requires players to have their own equipment, which can be pricey, the BLA has hooked up with U.S. distributors Harrow Sports and Riddell to keep prices down.

"We're working with suppliers within the industry to offer great equipment at affordable prices, acknowledging the added expense of bringing the equipment to Bermuda," said Mr. Totman. "We are looking to encourage as many children as possible to participate and don't want the cost of equipment to deter any interested players."

The ultimate goal, he explains, is to reach out to children in a structured yet fun environment and to grow the sport of lacrosse from the ground up.

"At the end of the programme we are hoping to hold a youth lacrosse jamboree as a competitive, yet fun, tournament between the clubs at other schools around the island.

"Each week we will practice in anticipation of this event, and parents will be able to watch as their child improves their lacrosse skills," he said.

The club will also be holding skills clinics on the weekend for any players of any age to participate in.

For more information about the upcoming programme or the skills clinic, contact the Bermuda Lacrosse Association at bermudalacrosseyahoo.com or 331-3275.