Ten years ago, if you asked a group of 100 kids if they played lacrosse, you’d be lucky to find more than one. Now, you could probably find at least five.

The participation rate has more than doubled over the past decade. Among sports with at least 10,000 high school players, lacrosse has had the highest growth rate since 2009.

So, the big question is, why has lacrosse suddenly become so popular?

“It all comes down to the lacrosse community in L.A. and many other cities across the country,” freshmen varsity player Reicher Bergstein said. “Most people who do play lacrosse are some of the most passionate people I know. Lacrosse players are always going the extra mile to recruit friends and family to play the sport. The more that people play, the more fun they have, and the more the sport continues to grow.”

“It’s not like any other sport, and kids are looking for sports like that,” Alessandro Caso, another 9th grader on the Dolphins’ varsity lacrosse team added. “The feeling you get scoring a goal is amazing, and you meet lots of great people.”

But lacrosse is more than just a sport kids play for fun, Bergstein says.

“My favorite part of lacrosse is the sense of family that is brought to the field every single day,” he added. “Because the community is still growing, the small amount of people that play are closer than many other sports. My teammates are not only my best friends on the field, but my family on the streets. No other sport that I’ve ever played has given me the sense of community and heart that lacrosse has.”

Will lacrosse ever be as popular as sports such as basketball, football and soccer?

“If the sport continues to grow at the rate which it is currently, then yes, maybe one day it will be as popular as those sports,” Bergstein responded. “With enough effort from the community, the sport will continue to spread nationally. The publicity will continue to grow, teaching kids how fun this game is. At this rate, soon enough most of the country will want to pick up a lacrosse stick.”

Caso agrees, but says, “It’ll be a while before that happens.”

Lacrosse is growing as fast as any other sport out there. You see kids idolising athletes such as Kobe Bryant, Lionel Messi and Odell Beckham Jr. No lacrosse player is currently on that level, but one day – who knows when – you’ll see kids looking up to them.