AUBURN - Girls lacrosse is in the midst of its second session at the Auburn YMCA.

And as the sport has been experiencing ever increasing popularity in recent years, so too has the youth oriented program initiated by Jeff Hanno, the Y's youth sport director.

“We started this in the fall,” Hanno said. “We just wanted to see if there was an interest there and maybe teach the girls some of the basics about how to catch and throw the ball.”

Not being sure what to expect from that first session, Hanno was pleasantly surprised with the response he received.

“We had about 17 or 18 girls that first session,” Hanno said. “That was a pretty good turn out considering we didn't really know what to expect or what kind of turnout we were going to get. It was a really good way to start this program.”

Players like Madison Bannister, 9, of Port Byron, enjoyed the first session of the camp so much they decided to return again for the spring session.

“I had a lot of fun,” Bannister said. “I got to play with a lot of other people and being able to work with others. I had a lot of fun playing and I just wanted to keep playing and learn more about lacrosse.”

Others like Bridget Moore, 9, of Auburn, have had some experience with the game playing at different camps, but decided to see what the Y had to offer.

“I really liked lacrosse,” Moore said. “But my best friend plays here, so it is nice to play with friends and I think I've learned a lot playing here.”

This response has encouraged Hanno in his efforts with the program.

“We got as lot kids that have come back from the first session,” Hanno said. “And some new ones for this session. That is nice to see. Lacrosse is really growing in popularity and if we can get kids involved when they are young there is a lot of potential for what they can do with the sport.”

Hanno has had a lot of support getting the program on its feet.

He has been working with Gait Lacrosse, which has donated items for the children involved in the program, as well as Charlene Squires of Liberty Lacrosse here in Auburn, as well as volunteer players like Robyn Clary, who plays for the Auburn JV team.

“There is a lot of support for this,” Hanno said. “I couldn't do this without all the support from all these people. They have all been a great help. Charlene has given us equipment and gives discounts to the kids in this program and everything. It is nice to see how supportive everyone has been for what we are doing here.”

In the second session, Hanno has still been focused on the fundamentals of passing and shooting, but has also been incorporating things like offensive and defensive positioning to give the girls a better idea of how things happen in game situations.

Getting the whole team experience has been a real benefit to the beginning players.

“I think this has helped me get a lot better,” Kara Hickey, 10, of Auburn, said. “I have a lot of friends who play here and getting to play together has really helped and I think it makes us all better players.”

As much as he definitely has a goal of teaching and instilling the fundamentals of the sport, Hanno never looses sight of that fact that it has to be fun.

“That is what it is all about,” Hanno said. “You have to keep it fun for the kids. You want them to learn the game, but you have to keep it fun and I think everyone has fun while they are playing here.”

With this approach, the game has not lost any of its appeal for the players in the program.

“I really like it,” Lindsay May, eight, of Auburn, said. “I like shooting goals and just getting to play with friends and have fun.”

Down the road Hanno hopes to expand the program to include small teams for competition and to one day perhaps build up a league.