It's been called the fastest growing sport in the country, and South Brunswick kids are starting to get in on the action. The South Brunswick Youth Lacrosse League started about five years ago and has since grown in scope as the league is starting to become a feeder program for the middle school and high school lacrosse teams.

"This has really taken on a life of its own," said South Brunswick Youth Lacrosse Vice President Frank Cirillo. "A few years ago it was an effort just to get kids out to participate because we were butting up against sport powerhouses like baseball and soccer. But now it's evolved to where we just get the message out and there's an interest level that's inherent in a lot of kids. We're getting kids who found baseball boring and they just want to get out and run and hit."

The 2012 regular spring season for the South Brunswick Youth Lacrosse Club runs from March through June, with games played primarily on Saturdays at Rowland Park. Away games are usually within one hour of South Brunswick and each team participates in at least one away tournament. The club has three teams consisting of grades two through four, a 5th and 6th grade team, and a 7th and 8th grade team.

Cirillo said kids are rapidly discovering lacrosse as a way to scratch their itch for physical competition that's not normally available in spring sports.

"Lacrosse is an easy game to understand, there's not a lot of rules so kids pick up on it quickly," he said. "We've seen a progression with football and hockey players coming to lacrosse because they see a synergy between the physical aspect of those sports and lacrosse, so they excel at it."

South Brunswick Youth Lacrosse is part of the Central New Jersey Lacrosse League, which is affiliated with U.S. Lacrosse, so the squads typically play teams from places like Toms River, North Brunswick, Lawrence and Montgomery.

Cirillo said when he and Frank Hogan took over the program two years ago there were about 30 kids involved. That number has since doubled, and Cirillo said they hope to have about 80 kids sign up to play this year. Working with coaches at South Brunswick High School, Cirillo said the intention is to get the kids started young on running the same plays they will see once they begin competing on a scholastic level.

"We got involved with our boys at the start of the program and saw the good and bad over the years," he said. "Our objective is to develop a program the town can be proud of and to be a feeder program for the middle school and varsity programs. This gives kids the ability to play the game at a higher level with the goal of playing for the varsity program. Coaches at all levels have consistency and preach the same approach, so the boys know what to expect because at a young age they're running plays drawn up by the high school coaches."

With two sons who play lacrosse, Cirillo said the sport carries numerous benefits for young boys who get into the program. 

"It's such an incredible outlet for these boys, and we don't cut anyone regardless of their skill level they're always welcome to play because it's not about wins and losses," he said. "We just want kids to try it and we emphasize practice. The best benefit is the camaraderie they develop. There's a bond and friendship that develops between the players, and even the parents, so we're been bringing the community closer together through lacrosse."

Registration is still open for the spring season. Click here for more information.