TRURO - Mark Lindsay is a happy man these days.
Truro Minor Lacrosse Association teams are in the thick of their seasons and there are eight more players registered under the association than last season. Sure, it's a modest increase at best, but any increase is a good one in Lindsay's eyes.
"Oh most definitely," the association's president said. "It's not up a lot over last year, but it's a growing sport."
That's exactly what's been happening in Colchester County since the association was formed in 2003 when it featured just one midget squad. The team has since been joined by girls senior and junior squads, a junior boys team, midget, bantam and peewee level teams.
Lindsay, in his third season as president, is also excited about the success of the association's mini program for players as young as nine. The program started last year and is already providing benefits to the rest of the association allowing it to reintroduce its peewee program using players who have graduated from the mini ranks.
Lindsay said he feels the formation of the peewee squad is responsible for the small jump in numbers this season and added getting players introduced to the game early is key.
"If they get involved when they're young, a lot of them stay with it," Lindsay said. "It's harder to start at the higher levels, although every year there are some."
The association is celebrating its mini program Saturday at Colchester Legion Stadium with Mini Lacrosse Day. The event gets underway at 1 p.m. when the Truro Bearcats take on the Northwest Rebels in the Metro Minor Lacrosse League's junior girls division. That will be followed by a mini Level 1 match before the senior girls Bearcats take the floor to face the Sackville Wolves at 2 p.m. The peewee Bearcats take on the Sackville Wolfpack at 3 p.m. There will also be a fundraising barbecue for players competing at national championships this summer and prizes will also be drawn.
"It just gives the kids a chance to see the real game and how it all works," Lindsay said. "And hopefully it'll get a few more kids into the program."
The $55 registration for the mini program is an excellent deal Lindsay said.
"It gets the kids out and running," he said.
The teams started their season in early May after some began training through March Break. The respective seasons wrap up by mid July.
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