Olds' novice Stingers qualified for the Alberta Lacrosse Provincials, held the July 8 weekend, for the second straight season.
The team is comprised mostly of first-time players and tykes playing up an age level.
Coach Walter Murray coached the tykes last year and said he knew which ones could handle playing at the novice level.
"If I didn't tell you which were the tyke kids, you wouldn't figure it out," he said.
He added that the first-time players were still familiar with the game, learning it from friends. They arrived already knowing basic skills like how to cradle a lacrosse ball.
"They might be first-year players but a lot of them have definitely held a lacrosse stick before," he said.
The Stingers play in the Central Alberta Lacrosse League and went 11-1 in the regular season.
Murray said defence and "boxing up" has been the team's key to success, only giving up 23 goals in those 12 games. He encourages players to stay in position rather than giving in to the temptation to chase the ball.
Provincials were held in Lloydminster this year. Sherwood Park won the championship.
"They might be first-year players but a lot of them have definitely held a lacrosse stick before." WALTER MURRAYCOACHOLDS NOVICE STINGERS LACROSSE TEAM
