New To Lacrosse?

History

Lacrosse is a sport with a rich tradition and history.

Lacrosse is part of the cultural tradition of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) people, inhabiting what is now New York and Pennsylvania. Lacrosse may have been developed as early as 1100 AD among indigenous peoples in North America.  By the seventeenth century, it was well-established and was documented by missionary priests in the territory of present-day Canada.

In the traditional aboriginal  Canadian version, each team consisted of about 100 to 1,000 men on a field that stretched from about 500 m (1,600 ft) to 3 km (1.9 mi) long. These games lasted from sunup to sundown for two to three days straight and were played as part of ceremonial ritual, a kind of symbolic warfare, or to give thanks to the Creator or Master.

Lacrosse played a significant role in the community and religious life of tribes across the continent for many years. Early lacrosse was characterized by deep spiritual involvement, befitting the spirit of combat in which it was undertaken. Those who took part did so in the role of warriors, with the goal of bringing glory and honor to themselves and their tribes.  The game was said to be played "for the Creator" or was referred to as "The Creator's Game."

* From Wikipedia - Click here to learn more about Lacrosse in general.

LOCAL LEAGUES, TEAMS, AND PROVIDERS

LaxKC Beginner's Leagues (Youth Boys K to 8th Grade)
To make it easier to try the sport, LaxKC will host beginner's practice/play leagues for various age groups that will entail a 1 hour practice each week with a practice/scrimmage session on Saturdays.  Please keep an eye on our Registrations page for more information.  We may do both No Equipment and Full Equipment versions depending on interest.


UNITED LACROSSE ASSOCIATION (Youth Boys and Girls and High School Boys) - www.ULacrosse.org
Lacrosse is primarily a Spring sport, with a boys league operating throughout Kansas City.  If you live in the southeast area of KC and beyond, you would be playing for United Lacrosse Association.  United is a 501c3 that offers Spring opportunities for boys and girls in grades K through 12.  Registrations for the Spring season typically start around the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Lees Summit West High School Girls - http://lswtitanlax.teampages.com/
Lees Summit West High School Boys - http://lswtitanlax.teampages.com/
Lees Summit High School Girls - https://www.facebook.com/LSHSgirlslacrosse/
Lees Summit North High School Girls -

TYPICAL COST

Cost to play youth lacrosse can range from $50 for skills only no equipment needed program to $150 for leagues.  High school Spring registration can range from $250 to $400.

Youth and High School US Lacrosse Membership # - $30 youth or $35 high school (you can get this at www.USLacrosse.org).  US Lacrosse membership is required by most providers in the area as well as our Spring leagues.  It provides us with our liability insurance.

Boys Equipment - If you are just starting, we recommend that you first get a stick and some balls from your local Dicks Sporting Goods.  The cost should be about $50.  As you progress in the sport, you will need to purchase a full set of equipment which can range in cost from $179 to $299+ (helmet, gloves, arm pads, shoulder pads, stick).  As an alternative, United Lacrosse Association (www.ULacrosse.org) rents out equipment to new players for $20 per season (Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter) so you can "try" before you buy.  You will also need cleats (football or lacrosse work best) a protective cup and supporter, as well as a mouth piece (any color except white or clear). Players seem to like the Sisuguard and Battle Oxygen mouth guards the most as they allow for easier breathing. A complete set of boys equipment would include a stick, gloves, arm pads, shoulder pads, and a helmet.  New equipment can be purchased from a discount online vendor such as www.dickssportinggoods.com or www.lacrossemonkey.com.  Just perform a search for "lacrosse starter set" and you should see some options.

Girls Equipment - a set of girls equipment (stick and goggles) typically cost between $60 and $150 and can be purchased from the same places as described above.

PARENTS, THE LACROSSE COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU
PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO COACH

For more information about the sport, you can go to www.USLacrosse.org.  US Lacrosse is our sport's national governing body.  They provide extensive training for coaches and officials. If you wish to get involved in learning the game with your children, United Lacrosse Association (www.ulacrosse.org) will reimburse the cost of a coach membership number which provides interested parents with the ability to go through level 1 coach training and then act as head or assistant coaches for league teams.  Level 1 training is very comprehensive and will provide parents with a solid base of knowledge from which to guide their teams.

New Players

Welcome to the game of Lacrosse.  Lacrosse is a fantastic sport filled with action, speed, physicality, and skill. I hope you find the same happiness and excitement that I found in the sport over 30 years ago when I first started playing.  It combines elements from multiple sports such as the offensive and defensive movement of basketball and soccer, the hand/eye skill and man-up / man-down features of hockey, and the physicality and footwork of football.  It truly is the fastest sport on two feet.

Individual Skills

Lacrosse is a complex sport that requires a tremendous amount of skill to perform successfully at higher levels. Skills that are important at every level include: hand placement on stick, cradling, ground balls / scooping, passing / catching, dodging, shooting, defensive position / footwork, stick checking, and proper body contact.  If you are just starting out and have time before you play in your first spring season, it is recommended you purchase a stick/balls and practice cradling, ground balls, dodging, shooting, and “Wall Ball”.  If you improve enough, you will be well ahead of all the players just picking up a stick for the first time in the Spring.  To see more information on all of these individual skills as well as drills to help improve, click here to open the "Video Coach" page.  We provide instruction and links to other youtube instructional videos that we like.

Team Skills

Many team offenses operate on principles rather than set plays.  Important team offensive concepts are moving the defense from one side of the field to the other, back-cuts and clearing for the ball carrier, dodging at full speed while heads up looking for pass opportunities, staying spread out to make it difficult for opponents to help each other, and being able to pass quickly.  Defensive principles include maintaining good position while NOT chasing the opponent’s stick, playing from the inside out in gunner stance, acting as a shield protecting the hole/paint, being ready to provide help depending on what type of defense playing (zone, man/zone, tight man to man, backer zone, etc.).  Some of these concepts might sound confusing when you first hear about them, but they will become easier to understand and apply as you get more repetitions with them.  Check out the "Video Coach" page for more information on team concepts.