'No Boys Allowed': Park District Starts All-Girl Lacrosse Team

When it comes to lacrosse, there's a big difference between girls' and boys' games. Known to most as "ice hockey on grass," boys' lacrosse is fast-paced, packed with hard hits and heavy contact. It's described as "the fastest sport on two feet,"with players aiming to score by using a stick to hurl a rubber ball into the goal.

Girls do things a bit differently. It's just as fast, with the same scoring tactics, but a lot less equipment—and no contact.

It made sense to Joe Conway then, that as girls age (and boys grow), the girls began to back away from the Oak Forest Park District's co-ed lacrosse teams.

"The girls were dropping out of the program, because even though they were talented, they were getting knocked around too much by the boys," said Conway, a commissioner for the park district.

Conway, who began his role last April, set out to solve the problem by laying the groundwork for an all-girl lacrosse team. With the help of the Illinois Girls Lacrosse Association, this spring the park district will offer its first all-female team. Registration is Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Park building. For $170, the girls will play an eight-week season, with practices on Tuesday evenings and games on Sunday afternoons.

Any girls interested should sign up, Conway said. Don't be intimidated by the game. Conway's daughter Hannah began playing at the high school level, and has gone on to play at the collegiate level at Notre Dame College in Ohio. She knew little about the sport when she started.

"If you can run, if you can keep up with the other team, knock the ball away, you'll be fine at this game," he said.

The teams will be grouped by age: a third- and fourth-grade team, fifth- and sixth-grade team, and seventh- and eight-grade team. Practices will be held at Friendly Oaks Park in Oak Forest. The team is open to girls from all towns, at the same price for residents and non-residents. The girls will have to supply a stick and eye protection.

All games this season will be away games, but girls will be guaranteed a chance to play—even if Oak Forest can't fill out its own roster for a game. The girls will be floated to another area team, like Evergreen Park or Mokena.

If the girls have the desire to play, there will be a place for them, Conway said. He was inspired by a surge of popularity in the girls' version of the sport. High schools and colleges are starting to add the sport to their offerings. North Central College in Naperville, Augustana College in Rock Island, and Carthage College in Wisconsin all have girls' lacrosse programs.

"The opportunity is going to continue to grow," Conway said. "I would hate for our kids to miss out on this."

Oak Forest Park District Girls Lacrosse Team Registration

• Tuesday, Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. at Central Park building
• $170 fee, residents and non-residents