There's a sport that combines several of the best aspects of some of the most popular games in America, and comes out with a winning formula.

Lacrosse is growing, including in Hawai'i.

The Aloha Youth Lacrosse Association, for youth ages 7 to 18, is part of the local chapter of U.S. Lacrosse — the governing body of the sport — and is making a push for the sport to be embraced at a local level, much like soccer.

Jeff Overton, a member of the AYLA and U.S. Lacrosse Hawai'i Chapter board of directors, estimates the sport went from about 180,000 players nationwide five years ago to more than 300,000 today.

Aloha Youth Lacrosse Association's numbers also have grown from a handful of players in its inaugural year (two seasons ago) to more than 100.

And there's plenty of room for more, even for those unfamiliar with the sport.

The game is best likened to a fusion of several sports: the outdoor field play of soccer, the pace and teamwork of basketball, and gear and physical play similar to hockey and football.

The association is offering a pair of free two-hour clinics, Sunday and Nov. 20 at Kapi'olani Park, aimed at newcomers. The new season begins in February.

Overton said even youths who have no organized sports experience can pick up lacrosse.

"(We teach how to) shoot it, catch it, and learn some basics about how to run with the ball — called cradling — and how to move it so it wont fall out," said Overton, also a 12-under age group coach for AYLA. "We spend a lot of time with the kids on these things.

"Baseball players are really good at this because they have the whole 'step, throw, follow-through thing.' "

About 60 kids turned out for a clinic last month.

The AYLA season is played during 10 weeks in the spring.

Standard gear calls for light shoulder pads, gloves, arm protectors, and helmet with mouth guard.

And of course the stick, called a crosse.

Ten players on each team — 12 in the ladies' game — compete by whipping a hard rubber ball from a mesh pocket on their sticks to each other in rapid succession, in order to set up a shot at the goal.

Players can run as much as they want while cradling the ball, but leave themselves vulnerable to getting checked and having the ball jarred loose. Between five and 10 goals are scored per team in a typical AYLA game, Overton said.

Some of the boys like the physical play.

"I would say it's a great game because it's very fast-paced and you think quickly, and gets hand-eye (coordination) pretty good," said 14-year-old Matthew Murayama, a freshman at Iolani who's played since he was 9. "And you hit people. That adds a lot of fun to the game."

Parents of youngsters needn't worry too much, as body checking isn't legal until the boys' 13 to 15 age bracket. In the girls' game, it isn't legal at all — except stick-to-stick checking a safe distance away from the face.

Matthew's little sister, Sarah, 11, took up the sport after watching her two older brothers on the field.

" I like to play because it's just fun and it's so fast-paced, and we don't hit each other (like the boys)," she said.

Some of the sport's appeal for kids stems from parents often having no clue what's going on on the field.

"(The parents) just cheer because they don't know whether the kid is doing good or bad," Overton said.

Joey Durso, 13, also likes the hitting, but appreciates the finesse aspects of the sport as well.

"No matter how you're built, you don't need to be tall," said the Iolani freshman. "You just need to put a lot of time into it, and get better with your stick."

Overton said he is hopeful there will be organized lacrosse games in Hawai'i high schools within five years.

For now, those interested in the game can watch the adults play in the 15th annual Hawai'i Lacrosse Invitational Tournament. The event features 32 men's and women's teams from around the world, Oct. 29 and 30 at Kapi'olani Park.

Lacrosse has long been considered a niche sport of the Mainland's East Coast, but its popularity has been spreading.

Durso plans to stick with the sport. "There's a lot of good soccer, basketball, football players ... but there's not a lot of good lacrosse players," he said.

That may change soon.

MORE CLINICS

Hawaiian Islands Youth Lacrosse also will be holding youth clinics, 1 to 3 p.m., at Central O'ahu Regional Park (Sunday, Nov. 6, Dec. 4) and 'Ewa Park on Renton Road (Oct. 23, Nov. 20). There is no cost (equipment provided except shoes, mouthpiece and water). For details, call, 685-1773 or 681-5394.