"Sick lax."

Like a baby’s first words, it was repeated over and over.

For six Japanese lacrosse players, the phrase defined their three-week spring vacation in Ann Arbor. The players lived with senior midfielder Nick Standiford and other members of the Michigan lacrosse team.

It was all about experiencing the life of an Wolverine lacrosse player — the grueling practices, the long hair, the glamorous gear, the parties and the undefeated record.

“Sick Lax is a clothing company that my roommate started,” Standiford said. “And (the Japanese players) got T-shirts, pink T-shirts. They’re pretty cool. And it’s also a term to describe good lacrosse play, so the first thing I taught them was the phrase 'Sick lax.' ”

Michigan hosts players from the University of Tokyo each spring as part of an initiative to help fuel the sport’s rapid growth, especially in Japan. The country has around 100 teams compete on a collegiate level. And Michigan coach John Paul visits the University of Tokyo each summer to facilitate the development of its growing program.

Few Japanese high schools have lacrosse teams, and most players are new to the sport when they come to the collegiate level. College students coordinate the teams and fill their coaching slots with former players. The Blue Bullets at the University of Tokyo are one of the best teams in Japan and excel at an academically oriented school.

“University of Tokyo has very weak sports, because we always studied in high school,” Bullet midfielder Tokeiji Michitoshi said. “In Japan, (we) all start lacrosse in college, so we have no disadvantage, and we are not so weak compared to other sports."

Despite their lack of experience, players are expected to learn the game quickly. When Paul first arrived on the scene, the young Japanese team routinely held five-hour practices each morning before class. Players and coaches spent much of their time discussing strategies and simulating game situations through conversation. But now, their practices are much more efficient.

“I think having eight years of involvement, especially with the Tokyo team, we’ve had a lot of influence on how they do things and what they do," Paul said. "Tactically, they run a lot of the things we run, so they learn a lot of their systems from us.”

In the last three weeks, the Japanese players practiced with the Wolverines. Their lacrosse skills surpass those of an average lacrosse player, a testament to the focus and dedication of the Tokyo team.

Michigan coaches also gave each player individual coaching sessions outside of practice. They held weight-lifting sessions, form-shooting drills and game-speed exercises as part of their training program.

“I stay in touch with their coaches throughout the year, and a lot of their alumni, and I hear a lot that coming here really influences a lot of their players,” Paul said. “Especially when they send us over some of their better players. A lot of those guys can take a big leap after playing here for a few weeks.”

Standiford and junior midfielder Svet Tintchev also coordinated a social schedule to complement the strict lacrosse instruction. Michigan players gave Michitoshi and his teammates the opportunity to drive on the right side of the road, attend a Detroit Tigers game, go bowling and experience Ann Arbor's nightlife.

“Every year, they get more and more excited about living the lifestyle of a college lacrosse player, which they love,” Tintchev said. “They think it’s so cool that we go to class, have a social life, play lacrosse, and just so easygoing compared to their lifestyle, which is just way more strict.”

When asked how he would describe the experience to his teammates back home, Michitoshi responded with a big smile.

“Very fun. There is no party like America.”