Since 1976, the Anne Arundel Youth Lacrosse Club has co-hosted an England Boys Youth Lacrosse Exchange Program - for boys and girls - with the Stockport Metros Organisation in England.

It involves sports, cultural exchanges and friendships that transcend boundaries.

This year, among the exchange students is Scott Dagnanleach, 12, of the northwestern English county of Greater Manchester. The eighth-grader from Hazel Grove High School in Stockport, along with other students there, wears a pale blue cotton shirt, dark pants and a maroon and blue striped tie to class.

Scott is visiting with fellow lacrosse player Peter Jacobs, also 12, who lives in the Ulmstead Estates community of Arnold. Peter will be in seventh grade at Magothy River Middle School in a month.

The Jacobs family are members of the Anne Arundel Youth Lacrosse Club.

Both adolescent boys had many similarities, including an affinity for their sport. Yet they come from different cultures - and countries.

Forty Maryland youth visit Manchester in odd-numbered years. Last year, four teams of 10 members each flew to England, departing from the Philadelphia airport, along with a cadre of coach-chaperones.

The boys and girls each fielded an Under-13 and an Under-15 team. Once there, they lived in homes provided by local hosts and played a roster of six games against local lacrosse teams. They also took a train to London for a long, one-day sightseeing spree, and toured the Manchester countryside.

Beginning July 17 and continuing for two weeks, it was the Brits' turn to send 40 across the Atlantic to Anne Arundel County.

The young Manchester athletes play a schedule of games against five local athletic associations, including teams from the Broadneck Peninsula, Severna Park, Annapolis, Gambrills, Odenton and Edgewater recreation councils.

Most games are followed by cookouts or trips to restaurants. The final game today, is a Friendship Game: the Stockport youth compete against their hosts in a friendly match. Peter and Scott will be on opposing, congenial teams.

"My big brother wasn't playing trials at my age," Scott said, explaining why his older brother had not participated in the program. "I played trials. Two or three players from all the teams in Stockport come together on one girls or boys U-13 or U-15 team."

For Scott, this is not his first trip outside England. He has taken the Chunnel twice to France, to ski in the Alps. He's also been to Spain and, closer to home, to Wales.

"It's fun to try talking like you," Scott grinned, as he tried out his version of an American accent.

In between the games, Peter's parents and three siblings are pulling out the stops to showcase America for their young visitor.

Jennie Jacobs, who is director of patient care for surgeon

Dr. Kelly Sullivan, has taken the two boys on a tour of the White House and the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum and American Indian Museum in Washington, D.C. "I saw some old lacrosse sticks in the Indian Museum," Scott noted.

They've also had a trip to Baltimore. They visited the Johns Hopkins University Lacrosse Museum and peeked inside the team's locker room with Coach Dave Pietramala and met legendary player Paul Rabil. "He just got drafted to the MLL (Major Lacrosse League). He's a really good midfield," said Peter.

"We went to Lax World, too!" said Scott. His face lit up at the memory. "It was so huge! Lacrosse things are cheaper here than in Stockport. I purchased a helmet, two sticks, string kits, lacrosse balls ... " It was, easily, the best part of his trip.

For the ultimate Maryland experience, for the first time in his life, Scott has paddled a kayak and picked a crab.

"I'm also hanging out with a lot of Peter's friends, kayaking and at the pool," said Scott. He's amazed "the houses are all big here." He lives in a neighborhood of row townhouses, joined two-by-two. His mum, Jane, works in a clothing shop and his dad, Karl, builds scaffolding on an oil rig. In addition to his older brother, he has a younger brother and toddler sister at home.

He's also discomfited that Americans "drive on the wrong side of the road." Like our homes, our cars are vastly larger than those back home, too.

Peter is the youngest of the Jacobs clan. He has two brothers, Dan, 24, and Christopher, 22, plus sister Caroline, 17, a senior at Broadneck High. Their dad, Mark, works for the State of Maryland Department of the Environment.

"It's very exciting to see two kids who didn't know each other bond in 24 hours," said Mrs. Jacobs. "Our older two sons went to England years ago. Christopher went in '98. We had kids stay here 12 years ago, and coaches have stayed here with us. The international exchange part is cool - and it's a nice group of boys and girls. The whole lacrosse community of Anne Arundel County gets involved in this program."

Next year, Peter is hoping to win a berth on the team and stay at Scott's house. "And, the year after, Scott will come back here," he said.

"I certainly hope to come back again," Scott said with a big smile.

Wendi Winters is a freelance writer living on the Broadneck Peninsula.