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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2010 25 OMLA introducing girls' field lacrosse this season By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Wally Tymkiv has a dream. "Hopefully in Oakville in years to come, there will be households where mom and dad both have lacrosse sticks," says Tymkiv, president of the Oakville Minor Lacrosse Association (OMLA). "Where lacrosse will be a family event, rather than just for the boys." The first step towards fulfilling that dream might be taken this season, as the OMLA introduces a girls' division to its field lacrosse program. Though some girls already play field lacrosse in the OMLA system, Tymkiv feels adding a division exclusively for girls will encourage new players to take up the sport while allowing the existing players to continue playing when they get older. Approximately 15 other centres in Ontario already offer girls' field lacrosse, he added. "Part of my reasoning for bringing this to Oakville is that I knew of a lot of girls, my daughter included, who were going to Burlington and other centres surrounding us to play girls' field lacrosse," Tymkiv said. "Mississauga has a great program. Burlington has a great program." Two age divisions The OMLA girls' field lacrosse program will be divided into two age divisions. An under-11 division will feature introduction to the sport, skill development and a miniature house league, with the top players forming a select team that will play in a few weekend tournaments. The under-15 grouping will be more competitive as the OMLA plans to form a rep team -- to be known as the Lady Hawks -- right away. "We may take our lumps initially, but we'll have some great athletes," Tymkiv said. "The stick skills might not be there, but the athleticism definitely will be." The popularity of girls' field lacrosse has taken off in recent years, much like girls' hockey. Girls' field lacrosse is far less physical than the standard game played by boys, thanks in part to the design of the stick. "A girl's stick doesn't have the deep pocket like the boys," Tymkiv said. "A lot of boys, when they pick up girls' sticks, say it's like a tennis racket. Because there's no pocket, even body positioning on defence -- forcing a girl to change direction -- can sometimes make the ball come loose. The amount of force needed to dislodge the ball is nothing." Box lacrosse might follow suit The OMLA anticipates at least 50 girls will sign up for the U11 program this season and hopes for another 30 or so in the U15 division. It is possible that the association may add a girls' division to its box (indoor) lacrosse program next season as well, Tymkiv added, if enough interest is shown. First-year players will have an opportunity to try out the sport in advance. The OMLA will hold a series of 10 weekly Saturday afternoon clinics at Burlington's Burloak Sports Centre, beginning Feb. 13. The OMLA is looking for volunteers to assist with the girls' field lacrosse program, particularly any women who have played the game at the college or university level. Early bird registration for the upcoming field lacrosse season begins later this month at Oakville Arena. Registration sessions will be held Sat., Jan. 23 from 1-5 p.m. and Wed., Jan. 27 from 6:30-9 p.m. For more information on the Oakville Minor Lacrosse Association's field lacrosse programs, visit www.oakvillelacrosse.com. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER BRING IT ON: Pictured clockwise from left, Tiana Tymkiv, Aurora Cordingley, Bryce Cordingley and Andrew Tymkiv can't wait for the start of the 2010 field lacrosse season. The Oakville Minor Lacrosse Association is introducing a girls' division to its field lacrosse program this year. Investments with an annual dividend rate of 5.50%*. Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too. Investment Shares are in limited supply and can sell out quickly. Visit your nearest branch or call 1-800-616-8878 to book an Investment Service Chat now. ThinkFirstNow.com *Dividend rates and payments are not guaranteed; however FirstOntario has historically always paid a dividend on its previous two series of Investment Shares. Past payment of dividends in no way predicts future ability to pay dividends.