North Shore Youth Lacrosse Honoring the Game

Spring is right around the corner and North Shore Youth Lacrosse is gearing
up for what they hope will be both a fun and successful 2012 season. Harland Cook, player and coach for over 20 years, has been the Director of North Shore
Youth Lacrosse  for seven years. He has watched the program expand rapidly
during the last few seasons.

The league is expected to have more than 70 participants from second through eighth grade when practices start Feb. 19. Boys of all experience levels, from beginner to advanced, are encouraged to try their hand at this team sport first played by Native Americans. 

The North Shore Blue Jays will begin practicing indoors next month at and move outdoors in April. The league’s home and practice fields are conveniently located at . The season runs from February through June with about a dozen games played on the weekends. 

The league is a member of the Milwaukee Area Youth Lacrosse Association
which will consist of 13 programs this Spring. It features divisions for third through fourth-graders (Bantam), fifth through sixth- graders (Juniors) and seventh through eighth-graders (Seniors), with varying degrees of instruction and physical contact  at each level. Second graders are also allowed to play for the Bantam team since this level is no contact.

Cook and his volunteer coaching staff emphasize the fundamentals of the game like picking up ground balls, proper throwing and catching, rules and the basics of offense and defense. Cook is proud to be part of a program that offers such an exceptional opportunity to boys in the community. 

"I am thrilled to be a part of the development of youth lacrosse on the North
Shore," he said. He said he hopes that this program will enrich players' lives for years to come.