A Growing Passion for the Fastest Game on Two Feet

Article by Elise Habel | Photos by Renata Haidle

 They call it “the fastest game on two feet.” A sport that was once only popular on the East Coast has grown in the last several years to become a favorite in the West, particularly in Billings. Kids all across our community are getting the opportunity to try out and fall in love with lacrosse thanks to the Billings Scorpion Lacrosse Club. Britin Cross and Beth Lusin are both volunteer board members of the club and have only one goal: to get the word out so that every kid in Billings and the surrounding area has a chance to play. “We just want kids to have something new,” Britin explained. “When my kids were young, we didn’t even know lacrosse existed, and that is something we want to change for everyone else.” 

What began in 2011 as a small handful of Billings families that wanted to get together and play lacrosse has now grown into a community-wide club that hosts teams for boys and girls from kindergarten through 8th grade. Because lacrosse is so new to the community, there is a spot for every player to join. If a team in Montana gets too full, a new team will be created! “A lot of kids come in who have never played before,” Britin says, “but the cool thing about these teams is that each teammate is always so excited to have new members, and they want to see everyone succeed and get better.” 

Lacrosse is a fast-paced sport in which every teammate plays a vital role for the entirety of the game. The constant flow and speed of play are fun for the players and the spectators. “For my girls, the draw is the physicality,” Beth says. “It’s not always acceptable for girls to show physical aggression, but lacrosse is definitely a great outlet!” Britin and Beth explained that men’s and women’s lacrosse are very different but share the same principles. More protective gear is required for the physical impact of men's lacrosse. Although women's lacrosse remains physical, the contact is less aggressive and requires less gear. “You are always watching something,” Britin added, “there is never downtime!”

 It can be nerve-racking to take a leap and try a new sport, especially if you know hardly anything about it. Luckily for kids in our community, the Billings Scorpion Lacrosse Club makes it incredibly easy, fun, and comfortable for every kid who wants to try it. “We host a lot of Learn-To-Play events for all ages. We have one this fall and will have two or three more before the season starts in the early spring.” These events are free for everyone, and all equipment is provided. “Everyone in the club just wants kids to play, so we want to make it easy to start!” Dates and locations for these Learn-To-Plays are available on the club’s website and Facebook pages.

The Billings Scorpion Lacrosse Club does everything possible to make the game accessible for every family. “We really try to keep our costs down and schedule boys and girls games in the same locations for families with multiple players,” says Britin. Beth added that scholarships are available, and the club has gear to rent, so parents don’t have to invest in the equipment immediately. “Again, we just want every kid to play!” Says Beth. “We’re also launching a program this year to introduce lacrosse to P.E. classes in Billings. As a club, we’ll deliver the equipment along with the curriculum to the teachers to share with their classes.”

The dedication of great volunteers, excellent coaches, and corporate sponsorships help the club expand and achieve its goals. “We are always in need of more volunteers and sponsors,” Britin says. “But more than anything, our coaches are phenomenal. They are the people who keep the kids coming back; they are so fun, and they really work with the kids. We really do have the best coaches.”

Britin, Beth, and the Billings Scorpion Lacrosse Club extend the invitation to every kid in Billings, Yellowstone County, or anyone in the area willing to travel to attend their next Learn-To-Play. “We have players all the way from Lockwood to Columbus.” Britin smiled. “My kids now have friends from all over the area, not just the Heights or the kids in their school.” The friendship created through the sport extends to parents, siblings, and whole families. The club celebrated the end of their last season in May with a barbecue and friendly scrimmages. “We’re just very ‘family’; everyone wants to see each other succeed, improve, and have fun.”

Be sure to check out the Billings Scorpion Lacrosse Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ScorpionsLacrosse/ and website https://www.billingsscorpions.com/ for details on all of their upcoming events; they would love to see you there!

Originally printed in the November 2024 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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