How are youth lacrosse tournaments evolving in the winter months. What types of events are being offered for young players across the country. Which tournaments stood out this winter season and what were the highlights.
The Rise of Winter Lacrosse Tournaments for Youth Players
The landscape of youth lacrosse has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, particularly during the winter months. Gone are the days when young players had limited opportunities to compete and hone their skills during the off-season. Today, a plethora of tournaments and events cater to youth, middle school, and junior varsity players across the United States, providing year-round engagement in the sport.
This surge in winter lacrosse tournaments has several benefits:
- Continuous skill development
- Increased competition experience
- Opportunities for player exposure
- Maintenance of fitness levels during the off-season
- Enhanced team bonding
While some may argue that the abundance of tournaments could lead to burnout, the overall consensus is that as long as young athletes are enjoying the sport and staying active, these events serve a valuable purpose in the lacrosse community.
Spotlight on Notable Youth Lacrosse Winter Tournaments
Several tournaments stood out this winter season, showcasing the talent and enthusiasm of young lacrosse players across the country. Let’s take a closer look at some of the notable events:
Chumash Shootout U15 3v3 Lax Tournament
This exciting tournament took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, featuring a unique 3-on-3 format for under-15 players. The Brighton/Starz 1 team emerged victorious, demonstrating their skills in this fast-paced, high-intensity version of the game. The 3v3 format encourages quick decision-making, improved ball handling, and enhanced spatial awareness – all crucial skills for developing lacrosse players.
Tri-State Lacrosse Holiday Shoot-Out Tournament
Held at the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, this three-day indoor tournament catered to elite freshman and sophomore teams. The event featured a 7v7 format, striking a balance between full-field play and the more condensed 3v3 style. In a thrilling championship match, the No. 2 seed Tri-State Lacrosse Red team (NJ) faced off against the No. 1 seeded Dukes Lacrosse Club Green squad, ultimately securing a 6-3 victory.
King of the H.I.L.L.: Houlagan Lacrosse
This league, hosted at the Seacoast United Indoor Arena in Hampton, NH, offers both high school and youth divisions. Running from November to March, the tournament provides players with consistent competition throughout the winter months. The league incorporates both traditional head-to-head match-ups and CHUMASH play for smaller groups, ensuring maximum player engagement and skill development.
The Impact of 3v3 and Indoor Formats on Youth Lacrosse
The popularity of 3v3 tournaments and indoor leagues during the winter months has had a significant impact on youth lacrosse development. These formats offer several advantages:
- Increased touches: Players get more time with the ball, improving stick skills and confidence.
- Faster decision-making: The condensed playing area forces quick thinking and reaction times.
- Improved spatial awareness: Players must constantly move and create space in tight quarters.
- Enhanced conditioning: The fast-paced nature of these formats provides excellent cardiovascular benefits.
- Versatility: Players often rotate positions, developing a more well-rounded skill set.
How do these alternative formats compare to traditional field lacrosse in terms of skill development? While they cannot entirely replace full-field play, they serve as excellent complements, especially during the winter months when outdoor play may be limited.
The Role of Pick-Up Lacrosse in Off-Season Development
While organized tournaments play a crucial role in youth lacrosse development, the importance of informal pick-up games should not be overlooked. These casual sessions offer a relaxed environment for players to experiment, take risks, and enjoy the sport without the pressure of formal competition.
Benefits of pick-up lacrosse include:
- Creativity: Players can try new moves and techniques without fear of failure.
- Cross-age learning: Younger players often benefit from playing with more experienced athletes.
- Reduced burnout: The casual nature helps maintain enthusiasm for the sport.
- Community building: Pick-up games bring together players from different teams and backgrounds.
How can parents and coaches encourage participation in pick-up lacrosse? Organizing regular meetups at local fields or indoor facilities, promoting these events through social media, and emphasizing the fun and developmental aspects can help foster a thriving pick-up lacrosse culture.
Emerging Trends in Youth Lacrosse Equipment and Gear
As youth lacrosse continues to grow, equipment manufacturers are developing innovative products tailored to young players. One notable example is the middle school helmet wrap by ZimaGear, which allows players to customize their helmets with eye-catching designs.
Other trends in youth lacrosse gear include:
- Lightweight, youth-specific sticks designed for proper technique development
- Protective gear with improved breathability and range of motion
- Custom team apparel, enhancing team identity and spirit
- Training aids focused on fundamental skill development
How do these equipment innovations impact player performance and safety? While flashy gear can boost confidence and team morale, it’s essential to prioritize proper fit, protection, and functionality when selecting equipment for young players.
The Growth of Box Lacrosse in Youth Development
Box lacrosse, traditionally popular in Canada, has been gaining traction in the United States as a valuable tool for player development. This indoor version of the sport, played on a hockey rink-sized field, offers unique benefits for young players:
- Improved stick skills due to tighter spaces and more frequent contact
- Enhanced physicality and toughness
- Developed off-ball movement and pick-and-roll plays
- Increased scoring opportunities and shooting practice
- Year-round play, regardless of weather conditions
How does experience in box lacrosse translate to success in field lacrosse? Many coaches and players believe that the skills developed in box lacrosse, particularly in terms of stick handling and quick decision-making, provide a significant advantage when transitioning to the outdoor game.
Balancing Competition and Player Development in Youth Lacrosse
As the number of youth lacrosse tournaments and leagues continues to grow, it’s crucial to strike a balance between competitive play and overall player development. While tournaments offer valuable experience and exposure, they should not come at the expense of fundamental skill building, enjoyment of the sport, and long-term athletic development.
Key considerations for maintaining this balance include:
- Emphasizing skill development and sportsmanship over win-loss records
- Providing equal playing time for all team members
- Encouraging multi-sport participation to prevent burnout and develop well-rounded athletes
- Implementing age-appropriate training and competition schedules
- Fostering a positive team culture that prioritizes personal growth and team unity
How can coaches and parents ensure that young players are not overwhelmed by the demands of year-round competition? Open communication, careful scheduling, and a focus on long-term development rather than short-term success are essential in creating a healthy youth lacrosse environment.
As youth lacrosse continues to evolve, with an increasing number of winter tournaments and alternative formats, the future of the sport looks bright. These opportunities provide young players with the chance to develop their skills, compete at high levels, and foster a lifelong love for lacrosse. By balancing organized competition with informal play and prioritizing player development, the lacrosse community can ensure that the next generation of players is well-prepared for success both on and off the field.
Youth Lacrosse Winter Tournament Recap
There used to be a much more limited offering of youth, middle and JV lacrosse over the colder months, but that’s far from the case today. It’s like a young gun lax tournament overload these days, but as long as the kids are being active, having fun and enjoying lacrosse, we’re all for it. The tournaments were held all over the country and we’ll run through the ones we know about. If you have a tourney recap, or a youth related piece of info, and a photo you want included in this post, or a future post, email it in to [email protected]!
Middle School Helmet Wrap by ZimaGear
Outrageous accessory right here. Outrageous.
These North Carolina middle schoolers will be balling!
Chumash Shootout U15 3v3 Lax Tournament
The Brighton/Starz 1 team won this U15 3 on 3 tourney out in Salt Lake City, Utah and then lined up for a pretty funny team pic. Congrats fellas!
Congrat on the Chumash win guys!
Tenacious Turtle Win Yet Another Tournament
Plus most of them are wearing Syracuse Nike Volt cleats.
These guys are better dressed than some college teams. But who cares about that when these kids can straight up ball?!?!?! I used to do private lessons at the same place as one of the Turtles, and this kid was legit. I was even more impressed when I learned he was only in 6th grade. Young guns.
Tri-State Lacrosse Holiday Shoot-Out Tournament
This three day indoor tournament (7 v 7) is for elite freshman and sophomore teams, and it took place on December 26th through the 29th at the Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ. In the championship game, the No.2 seed Tri-State Lacrosse Red team (NJ) faced-off against the No. 1 seeded Dukes Lacrosse Club Green squad, defeating them 6-3, in a very closely contested match of two very strong teams. The Tri-State Red team’s (3-1 in pool play) road to the championship was hard fought and also included a thrilling 8-5 win in the semifinals over the Dukes Blue team.
Tri-State Lacrosse Red (NJ) following their win over the Dukes Lacrosse Club.
Growing the Game with Pick Up Lacrosse!
All of the above tourneys were obviously very organized, which can be good. But it’s not the end all, be all for off-season lacrosse! Far from it! Pick up lacrosse can be a huge difference maker and if you don’t believe me, check out some of the players in the video below. We’ve got some talent on our hands! Great stuff from Andreas Gaynor out in Irvine, CA!!!!!
[fvplayer src=”https://youtube.com/watch?v=A9m7U0qBCgQ” splash=”https://i.ytimg.com/vi/A9m7U0qBCgQ/hqdefault.jpg” caption=”TLN Growing the Game: Irvine, California”]
Bonus Question: WHERE IS THIS?!?!?!?!??!
The description on the video says Charleston, and that’s it. South Carolina? Texas? Some other state? Where is this sweet box set up?!?!?!? It’s clearly South Carolina, a reader pointed out that it was in the tags. SC outdoor box. I can get with that.
Jovan Miller is there, making other people look like they are standing still.
[fvplayer src=”https://youtube.
com/watch?v=Qlu-TwHHlOw” splash=”https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Qlu-TwHHlOw/hqdefault.jpg” caption=”Top Left Box Lacrosse with Jovan Miller”]
2018 King of the H.I.L.L. : Houlagan Lacrosse
- Season:
- Fall 2017
- Starts:
- Nov 19 ’17
- Ends:
- Jan 21 ’18
This League is hosted on Sunday afternoons at the Seacoast United Indoor Arena in Hampton, NH. (311 Winnacunnet Rd Hampton, NH 03842). The High School and Youth Divisions play head to head match-ups and 1 week of playoffs to crown the King of The H.I.L.L. Smaller groups play CHUMASH to maximize the number of touches a player can get.
BOYS & GIRLS
Session 1: November 19th – January 21th ***8 Weeks***
Session 2: January 28th – March 25th ***8 Weeks***
Cost: $140 per player per session
Pinis will be provided for you at the first session.
Pinis allow you to participate. NO PINI, NO PLAY.
Teams provide their own parent/coaches to manage the bench. This is not a coached league.
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Lacrosse · Male All Skill Levels
9th thru 12th Grade
- Season:
- Fall 2017
- Starts:
- Nov 19 ’17
- Ends:
- Jan 21 ’18
- Registration Dates:
Oct 1 ’17
– Dec 4 ’17
regular- Location:
Seacoast United – Hampton
- Free Agent Fees
- Regular $140.
00
Lacrosse · Female A- Advanced
9th thru 12th Grade
- Season:
- Fall 2017
- Starts:
- Nov 19 ’17
- Ends:
- Jan 21 ’18
- Registration Dates:
Oct 1 ’17
– Nov 26 ’17
regular- Location:
Seacoast United – Hampton
- Free Agent Fees
- Regular $140.00
Lacrosse · Female All Skill Levels
Pre-K thru 8th Grade
- Season:
- Fall 2017
- Starts:
- Nov 19 ’17
- Ends:
- Jan 21 ’18
- Registration Dates:
Oct 1 ’17
– Nov 18 ’17
regular- Location:
Seacoast United – Hampton
- Free Agent Fees
- Regular $140.
00
