Registration is under way for the 2001 lacrosse season and all indications point to another year of record participation. PAL lacrosse runs two programs for boys in first through eighth grades, the Saturday Intramural League and the Travel Team Program. Lacrosse has a long and rich history in Manhasset and much of the success for the program has its beginnings in PAL lacrosse. Interested players can sign up at Phil's Manhasset Sports Shop on Plandome Road or at one of two sign-up sessions to be held on the evenings of Jan. 22 and 29. These sign-up sessions will be at the Shelter Rock School cafeteria from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Saturday Intramural Program is for children of all skill levels from beginning to advanced. Every Saturday morning from March through June, coaches teach the fundamentals of lacrosse, with intramural games to follow. Every child plays at least half of each game and gets an opportunity to play all positions. The Travel Team Program fields teams from third through eighth grades and plays teams from programs of other towns such as Garden City, Port Washington and Rockville Centre. The Travel Teams are for those players willing to make a deeper commitment to lacrosse, including two weekday practices and a travel game on Sunday. All Travel Team players also participate in the Intramural Program.

Manhasset's lacrosse program is fortunate to benefit from a broad array of local coaches, many of whom have excelled at the collegiate level. It is not unusual to have former All-Americans coaching and working on improving the skills of each player. In fact, many of the coaches participated in the PAL program in their youth and have returned to contribute to the program. Most importantly, all participants enjoy the program and learn about the fundamentals of an exciting sport. Lacrosse is a unique game, combining teamwork, speed, stick handling skills and endurance.

Players interested in participating should sign up at Phil's Manhasset Sports Shop or at one of the Shelter Rock sign-up sessions (Jan, 22 and 29 from 7 to 9 p.m.). A birth certificate and registration fee are required to sign up. The Intramural Program fee is $75 per player and the Travel Program fee is $125 per player. More detailed information on the program, including a description of required equipment, will be available at registration. We all look forward to another successful lacrosse season.