Registration is open for the 2016 lacrosse season, and club organizers are encouraging students of all skill levels interested in the sport to sign up. No lacrosse experience is necessary.

“We are recruiting at all levels,” said Greg Martin, a member of the club’s board.

Practices will begin in February for players in grades three though high school. To field teams and provide coaches for all age groups, organizers are encouraging players to register by mid-December and are inviting islanders with lacrosse experience who may be interested in coaching to step forward.

Most of the teams will play on and off the island, though a girls’ team for the younger grades will only play on-island unless enough players sign up to make a traveling team possible. Additionally, there are small-sided, low-gear introductory games being planned for children in first and second grade; families can sign up online for that program as well.

Club representatives say they are increasing their recruiting efforts this year and will go to both McMurray Middle School and Vashon High School to encourage participation.

At the high school level, the boys’ team, the Vashon Vultures, coached by Daniel Macca, lost five seniors last year, but will welcome a strong group of freshmen, Macca said. The girls’ team, the Valkyries, had 11 seniors graduate last year but has a strong core returning, according to coach Larry DuBois. He added that the middle school girls’ team is also competitive and that new players are always welcome.

To help keep the cost of the sport down, the club has a rental program, especially for those in their first or second year and trying out the sport, Martin said. Playing costs typically run higher for the boys, as more equipment is needed than the in the girls’ game.

Lacrosse is fast and fluid like soccer, though with more scoring, and it also shares some characteristics of football and hockey. For girls and younger boys, it is a non-contact sport. While many young players and their parents are new to the game, organizers say that newness can be an asset.

“Kids like it,” Martin said. “Kids can bring it to their parents rather than parents bringing their sport to their  kids.”

The island club, entering its 25th year, is committed to developing players into capable competitors on and off the field in a fun-filled environment, Martin noted.

The cost of registration varies by age group; for more information, email info@vashonlacrosse.net, or to register, see vashonlacrosse.com.