It started, as many good things do, with a few friends and a ball. In 2022, a small group of lacrosse enthusiasts gathered on a football field in Beijing. Among them were members of the Chinese National Team, and Rebekah Liu — someone who had just discovered the sport and was already completely hooked.
Curious passersby kept stopping. Football players, frisbee players, families out for a walk all wanted to know one thing: what is that thing they’re holding? The sticks, they joked, looked like nets for catching dragonflies. So the group earned a nickname: the Dragonfly Catching Squad.
That curiosity never really went away; it actually worked in their favor. As curiosity grew, so did the group. Before long, what started as a few friends throwing a ball around became BUX, Beijing’s first lacrosse club.
If you’ve never seen lacrosse before, you’re not alone. When BUX first started, very few people in Beijing knew what it was. But that unfamiliarity turned out to be an advantage. People were intrigued. They wanted to understand. And once they tried it, many of them stayed.
Still, getting people through the door was only half the battle. The other half was helping them get past the fear.
Lacrosse is fast. It’s physical. And yes, there is contact.
For beginners, especially teenagers and adults, the idea of getting hit can be intimidating. So BUX changed its approach. Instead of diving into the competitive side, they introduced the sport using rules that limit intentional contact. Suddenly, it wasn’t about toughness anymore. It was about the rhythm of passing, the satisfaction of a clean catch, and the feeling of the ball landing perfectly in the pocket. Once people fell in love with that, their hesitation melted away and made space for newfound confidence.
That’s the kind of space BUX has built. Whether you’re a national team player or someone who has never held a stick before, you’ll find your place amongst them.
The training is structured so that beginners learn the basics in a safe, supportive environment, starting with how to hold the stick, how to cradle, and how to catch. And when that first catch happens? That’s usually the moment people get hooked.
More experienced players train at a faster pace, working on tactical drills and full-field scrimmages. But the groups aren’t kept separate. During games, veterans are spread across teams to play alongside newcomers. The beginners learn fast. And the veterans get the quiet satisfaction of watching someone else grow under their guidance.
Off the field, that same spirit carries through. Lacrosse is still niche in China, so finding each other feels a little like fate. Teammates become friends. They grab dinners after practice, host watch parties for NCAA games, and hang out on weekends. People who show up just to “try it out” often end up staying because of the warmth of the community. Watching someone go from their first catch to making their first tournament roster that never gets old.
For parents, there are always practical questions. What about the cost? What about the physical side of the sport?
The answer might be more reassuring than you expect. For first-timers, BUX provides everything. All you need to do is just show up in sportswear. If your child wants to continue, a beginner stick costs a few hundred RMB, similar to a decent pair of soccer cleats. And because the community is so close-knit, experienced players often pass down their old gear to newcomers for free or at a low cost.
As for the physical side, lacrosse is far more approachable than it looks. For young beginners, the focus is on skill, not contact. Kids learn in a safe environment, building confidence before they ever have to think about checking or body contact. And here’s something worth noting: in North America, where the sport is biggest, you see many Asian faces on high school and even NCAA Division I teams far more than in basketball or football. That’s because lacrosse isn’t about height or weight. It’s about technique, vision, and smart movement. It rewards what you build through practice.
The age range at BUX is broad. Members include young teens, high school students, working professionals, entrepreneurs, and even people who travel from other cities to train.
For younger kids, BUX partners with clubs that offer programs for elementary through high school students so for a complete beginner, the first session is about fundamentals: holding the stick, catching, passing. Game-based activities, no pressure, just fun. That moment a child catches the ball for the first time? That’s when the spark ignites. From there, they’re placed in the right group based on age and level. And it’s not just about skills but also about goals, and also learning to communicate, to trust, to bounce back. Lacrosse teaches things that stick with you long after you leave the field.
As with the most important life experiences, the best way to understand it is to try it. Bring your child to a free session. Let them run, pass, and feel the game. You’ll know within ten minutes if it clicks.
If Rebekah can bust just ONE single misassumption about lacrosse, it’s that it’s not rough. “Yes, there’s contact—but it’s controlled, rule-bound, and for beginners, entirely optional. We teach in a way that prioritizes safety and fun. If you’re curious, watch a session. Better yet, try it. You’ll see that lacrosse is a sport of skill, speed, and strategy,” she says.
To get in touch, add Rebekah on WeChat at wenxuan_jj or call her at 18510677142.
Images: Rebekah Liu
