SARAH McCOLGAN Scott Buchanan, 8, of Freehold, passes the ball at the Freehold Recreation Lacrosse league’s final meeting of the summer on Sunday at Liberty Oak Park.
Drills, skills and thrills. That’s the way the Freehold Township Recreation boys lacrosse league describes its activities. Now in its second summer of action, the league, which calls itself Wolfpack Lacrosse, has attracted 92 players. Some of those participating in the Sunday evening league at Liberty Oak Park have experience, but most do not.
Lacrosse, which is the fastest-growing sport in the country, has reached the Freehold area. In the spring, Freehold Township High School fielded its first boys and girls varsity teams, and next school year, Howell High School is set to offer the sport there.
This is the second year for the Freehold Township Recreation league, and the number of boys taking part is a reflection of the growing popularity of the sport.
"The league is bigger and better this year," said Stephen Shinners, the league’s supervisor. "I’m impressed by how eager the kids are to learn."
The increased participation has led to expansion. There are now three age group levels: 8-10, 11-13 and 14-17. And unlike last year, the league isn’t just a clinic. Yes, the fundamentals are taught over and over, but the players get to see what it’s like to play the sport under game conditions.
In describing the "drills, skills and thrills" logo, Shinners said the drills are designed to help players master the skills of cradling and carrying the ball as well as catching and throwing it. The thrill is when they put those skills to test in scrimmage games, where they are really introduced to the speed of the sport, he said.
"The eye-hand coordination of our players is very good," Shinners said. "They picked up on the throwing and catching while they were standing still very well.
"However, catching and throwing while you are running and under pressure from having people running at you or whacking at you with a stick is an added complexity," he added. "It’s important when moving upfield that you use both your right hand and your left hand. We teach them to use both sides."
Right now, most of those participating in the league play other sports. Lacrosse has not become their top priority. Shinners noted that the strength of lacrosse is that it has a lot in common with so many other sports.
"Lacrosse is a combination of hockey, basketball and soccer," he explained. "It has a lot of running, passing and positional play.
"Football players migrate to the sport because of the speed and contact of the game," he added. "Others are looking for another sport to play in the off-season."
Shinners said he can see the time when lacrosse becomes a top priority sport, the one an athlete chooses to put the most into.
"Right now the sports is catching on and growing through word of mouth," Shinners said. "I think that central Jersey is going to be the next hot pocket for the game."
The Wolfpacks’ goal now is to sustain the growth it has enjoyed in just two summers and eventually become a club team that competes with other clubs in central Jersey.
Lacrosse may soon have its own summer league, just as baseball and basketball do. That would be a sure sign that lacrosse is here to stay.

