How to gauge interest in lacrosse in your community. What are the steps to secure financing for a new lacrosse club. How to officially register your lacrosse team. What are the key components of successful lacrosse club management. How to recruit players and coaches for your lacrosse team. What equipment is essential for starting a lacrosse club. How to promote and market your new lacrosse program.
Gauging Lacrosse Interest in Your Community
Before diving into the logistics of starting a lacrosse club, it’s crucial to assess the level of interest in your area. This initial step will help determine the viability of your project and guide your future decisions.
Effective Methods to Measure Interest
- Organize informal meetings after school
- Collaborate with existing local sports programs
- Develop a strong brand identity
Hosting informal gatherings after school hours provides an excellent opportunity to introduce lacrosse to potential players and volunteers. During these sessions, you can share information about the sport, its benefits, and your vision for the club. To gather valuable data, consider conducting a brief survey to collect contact information from interested parties.
Reaching out to coaches and volunteers from other local sports programs can significantly expand your network. Focus on sports with seasons that don’t conflict with lacrosse to maximize potential interest and avoid scheduling conflicts.
Creating a compelling brand identity, complete with a logo, can generate excitement and lend credibility to your nascent program. A strong visual presence can attract players eager to be part of something new and exciting, while also aiding in fundraising and sponsorship efforts.
Assessing Costs and Securing Finances for Your Lacrosse Club
Establishing a lacrosse program requires careful financial planning. Understanding the costs involved and developing strategies to secure funding are essential steps in ensuring the longevity of your club.
Estimating Lacrosse Club Costs
According to US Lacrosse, the average cost per player ranges from $350 to $780 for males and $115 to $310 for females. These estimates encompass various expenses, including:
- Field rental fees
- Transportation costs
- Coaching salaries
- Officials’ fees
- Equipment and practice tools
- Uniforms
- Website development and maintenance
- Marketing and promotional materials
When setting your registration fee, it’s crucial to account for all these factors to ensure the club’s financial stability.
Innovative Financing Strategies
To supplement registration fees and create a more robust financial foundation, consider implementing the following strategies:
- Seek local business sponsorships
- Launch fundraising campaigns
- Invest in soft stick equipment for introductory programs
Many local businesses are eager to support youth sports programs. Approach potential sponsors with enticing offers, such as logo placement on uniforms or website recognition. Fundraising campaigns can also rally community support and generate additional income for your club.
Investing in soft stick equipment can be beneficial during the early stages of your program. This equipment allows you to introduce lacrosse to newcomers and helps identify committed players before they invest in full gear.
Creating a Sustainable Budget
Develop a comprehensive budget based on your anticipated number of registrants and projected fees. It’s advisable to plan for at least two seasons to ensure long-term sustainability. Careful budgeting will help you avoid overcharging athletes while maintaining financial stability.
Official Registration and Insurance for Your Lacrosse Team
Once you’ve established a solid financial plan, the next step is to officially register your lacrosse team. This process not only legitimizes your program but also provides essential insurance coverage.
US Lacrosse Membership Benefits
Registering with US Lacrosse offers several advantages:
- Official recognition of your program
- Access to a Certificate of Liability
- Proof of insurance for facility requirements
Many facilities require proof of insurance before allowing teams to use their premises. By registering with US Lacrosse, you’ll be able to provide the necessary documentation to secure practice and game locations.
Essential Equipment for Starting a Lacrosse Club
While players are typically responsible for their personal equipment, your club should consider investing in certain items to support the program’s growth and development.
Club-Owned Equipment Recommendations
- Soft stick equipment for introductory programs
- Practice goals
- Cones and agility markers
- First aid kits
- Ball bags and extra balls
Soft stick equipment is particularly valuable for introducing new players to the sport without requiring a significant initial investment. This approach allows potential players to try lacrosse before committing to purchasing their own gear.
Recruiting Players and Coaches for Your Lacrosse Team
Building a strong roster of players and a dedicated coaching staff is crucial for the success of your lacrosse club. Implementing effective recruitment strategies can help you attract talented individuals to your program.
Player Recruitment Techniques
- Host open tryouts and skills clinics
- Collaborate with local schools and youth organizations
- Leverage social media and online platforms
- Offer introductory lacrosse camps
Organizing open tryouts and skills clinics provides an opportunity for potential players to showcase their abilities and learn more about your program. Partnering with local schools and youth organizations can help you reach a wider audience of potential players.
Coaching Staff Recruitment
- Reach out to former lacrosse players in your community
- Connect with local college lacrosse programs
- Offer coaching clinics and certifications
- Create a volunteer coaching program for parents and enthusiasts
Former lacrosse players in your community can be excellent resources for coaching positions. They bring valuable experience and passion for the sport. Collaborating with local college lacrosse programs may provide opportunities to recruit recent graduates or current players interested in coaching.
Effective Management Strategies for Your Lacrosse Club
Implementing sound management practices is essential for the long-term success and growth of your lacrosse club. By focusing on key areas of club operations, you can create a thriving and sustainable organization.
Organizational Structure and Roles
Establish a clear organizational structure with defined roles and responsibilities. Consider the following positions:
- Club President or Director
- Treasurer
- Coaching Coordinator
- Equipment Manager
- Fundraising Coordinator
- Team Managers
Clearly defining these roles helps distribute responsibilities and ensures all aspects of club management are adequately addressed.
Communication and Information Management
Develop effective communication channels to keep players, parents, coaches, and volunteers informed. Consider implementing the following:
- Club website with regular updates
- Email newsletters
- Team management apps for schedules and notifications
- Social media presence for announcements and engagement
Consistent and clear communication helps build trust and keeps all stakeholders engaged in the club’s activities and progress.
Player Development and Retention
Focus on creating a positive and enriching experience for your players to encourage long-term participation. Consider implementing:
- Age-appropriate training programs
- Regular skills assessments and feedback
- Off-season clinics and conditioning programs
- Team-building activities and social events
By prioritizing player development and fostering a sense of community within your club, you can improve retention rates and build a strong foundation for future growth.
Promoting and Marketing Your New Lacrosse Program
Effective promotion and marketing are crucial for attracting players, sponsors, and community support to your new lacrosse club. Implementing a comprehensive marketing strategy can help raise awareness and generate excitement about your program.
Digital Marketing Strategies
- Create a user-friendly website with essential information
- Utilize social media platforms to share updates and engage with the community
- Develop email marketing campaigns to nurture leads and keep stakeholders informed
- Consider targeted online advertising to reach potential players and families
A strong online presence is essential in today’s digital age. Ensure your website provides easy access to registration information, schedules, and club news. Regularly update your social media accounts with engaging content to maintain interest and attract new followers.
Community Outreach and Partnerships
- Organize lacrosse demonstrations at local schools and community events
- Partner with local businesses for cross-promotion opportunities
- Collaborate with other sports organizations to reach a wider audience
- Engage with local media outlets for coverage of your club’s activities and achievements
Building strong community relationships can significantly boost your club’s visibility and reputation. Actively participate in local events and seek opportunities to showcase lacrosse to new audiences.
Branded Merchandise and Spirit Wear
Develop a line of club-branded merchandise to promote team spirit and generate additional revenue. Consider offering:
- T-shirts and hoodies
- Hats and visors
- Water bottles and equipment bags
- Car decals and bumper stickers
Branded items not only provide a sense of unity among club members but also serve as mobile advertisements for your program.
Ensuring Long-Term Success and Growth of Your Lacrosse Club
Building a successful lacrosse club requires ongoing effort and adaptation. By focusing on key areas of development and continuously refining your approach, you can ensure the long-term viability and growth of your program.
Continuous Improvement and Feedback
- Conduct regular surveys to gather feedback from players, parents, and coaches
- Analyze participation trends and adjust programs accordingly
- Stay informed about lacrosse developments and best practices
- Encourage open communication and suggestions from all stakeholders
Regularly soliciting and acting on feedback helps you identify areas for improvement and ensures your club remains responsive to the needs of its members.
Expanding Program Offerings
As your club grows, consider expanding your programs to cater to a wider range of players and skill levels:
- Introduce beginner clinics for new players
- Develop advanced training programs for competitive players
- Create recreational leagues for adults or casual players
- Organize summer camps and off-season training opportunities
Diversifying your offerings can help attract new members and retain existing ones by providing opportunities for continued growth and engagement.
Building a Strong Volunteer Base
Volunteers are the backbone of many successful youth sports organizations. Cultivate a strong volunteer base by:
- Creating clear volunteer job descriptions and expectations
- Offering training and support for volunteer roles
- Recognizing and appreciating volunteer contributions
- Developing a volunteer recruitment and retention strategy
A dedicated group of volunteers can significantly enhance your club’s operations and contribute to a positive community atmosphere.
Financial Sustainability and Growth
Ensure the long-term financial health of your club by:
- Regularly reviewing and adjusting your budget
- Exploring new revenue streams and sponsorship opportunities
- Implementing cost-saving measures without compromising quality
- Building a reserve fund for unexpected expenses or future investments
Sound financial management is crucial for sustaining and growing your lacrosse club over time.
Starting a lacrosse club is an exciting venture that requires careful planning, dedication, and community engagement. By following these comprehensive guidelines and adapting them to your local context, you can create a thriving lacrosse program that provides valuable opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels. Remember that building a successful club takes time and patience, but with perseverance and a passion for the sport, you can make a significant impact on your community through lacrosse.
How to Start a Lacrosse Club
Lacrosse is a growing sport, offering nearly all ages and skill levels an opportunity to play. Although, with so much demand there has to be enough supply to match it. You can help continue the growth of the sport by learning how to start a lacrosse club in your community.
Starting lacrosse program may seem like a daunting task on first thought, but by following our 4 Steps to Success you’ll be well on your way to fostering a new generation of future lacrosse players.
Step #1: Gauge Lacrosse Interest Levels in Your Area
Being able to commit to a whole lacrosse season is no small task. There are many things on the checklist that need to be done before you able to create your team. Most importantly you need to gauge the interest level of players, coaches and volunteers in your area. Without them, the club won’t be able to function properly.
There are a few easy routes that you can take to help you gauge the interest levels:
Hold informal meetings after school – By holding an informal meeting after school, you’ll be able to speak directly to the attendees about your mission in bringing a lacrosse team to your local area.
We recommend you share some information about the sport, and also to take a quick survey. This will help to collect some contact information from those who are interested in either playing or volunteering/coaching.Ask other local sporting programs for help – By asking coaches and volunteers from other sports in your local area, preferably ones whose seasons does not conflict with the lacrosse season, you’ll be able to quickly get the word out about your mission to your area and help secure you a head start on recruiting when the time comes.
Create a logo and brand – Creating a brand and logo not only can help with credibility, but it can also breathe excitement and realism into the program. Often times players want to be a part of something new and exciting and a strong brand will only help to convey that message. A strong brand and logo can also help you when attempting to raise funds or get sponsorships.
We recommend you share some information about the sport, and also to take a quick survey. This will help to collect some contact information from those who are interested in either playing or volunteering/coaching.Not an artist? When you sign up for a website at Jersey Watch we’ll help design one for you!
Step #2: Assess Costs, Secure Lacrosse Team Finance and Budget
Creating and financing a lacrosse program can be a very challenging task.
With lots of upfront and hidden costs, not having a manageable budget can be deadly to the success of your program. Below you’ll find a few tips on how you can realistically manage these costs.
Assessing Costs – US Lacrosse estimates the average cost for a player ranges somewhere in the area of $350-780 for males and $115-310 for females. Most of these costs boil down to field time, transportation, coaches, officials, practice lacrosse equipment and tools, uniforms, a website and marketing/promotions. We recommend taking all of these factors into account when you set your registration fee.
Although the club isn’t necessarily required to provide equipment, we recommend that you invest in some soft stick equipment. The soft stick program can be very helpful in the early stages to help you weed out the athletes who are serious interested in playing during the season and the athletes who aren’t quite sure.
Securing Finances – Besides simply setting the registration fee, there are a few things you can do to help secure more financing for your club.
Many local businesses around your area would likely love to sponsor youth sports programs and help them succeed. We recommend getting in contact with a few businesses in your area and seeing if they would be interested in sponsoring your club. You can give them many incentives to do so such as offering a logo spot on your uniforms, a spot on your website and much more. Another good strategy is to run a fundraising campaign. Just like the local businesses in your area, there are a ton of people who would love to help your club get off the ground and donate to your program.Budgeting – After taking into account all of the potential costs and fees of running your program successfully, we recommend creating a budget based around the total number of athletes you expect to register and the amount you expect to charge them. Also, it’s a good idea to remember that long-term planning is critical for your program’s success and sustainability, so we recommend attempting to budget for at least two-seasons worth of play.
Many local businesses around your area would likely love to sponsor youth sports programs and help them succeed. We recommend getting in contact with a few businesses in your area and seeing if they would be interested in sponsoring your club. You can give them many incentives to do so such as offering a logo spot on your uniforms, a spot on your website and much more. Another good strategy is to run a fundraising campaign. Just like the local businesses in your area, there are a ton of people who would love to help your club get off the ground and donate to your program.
All in all, there are many ways to help finance the club, just ensure you stay inside of your budget and don’t over charge the athletes.
Step #3 – Officially Register Your Lacrosse Team
Once you build your financial plan, you should be ready to officially register your lacrosse team with a US Lacrosse Membership. Doing so not only validates your program, but it allows you print off a Certificate of Liability to show proof of insurance, which many facilities require to see before you can access their fields. After registering your teams, you will then have to manage a personal group through US Lacrosse and require that all players and coaches purchase an annual membership in US Lacrosse as well.
Create a website – a website will give parents and potential players all the information they need about your mission, schedules, necessary forms and most importantly, the registration process. Your website will be the one-stop shop for all things lacrosse for your team.
Setting up a website can be a great way to build credibility for your program, manage administrative tasks like scheduling and payment collection, and promote your teams in future seasons.
Never built a website before? Try a simple website builder made for sports like Jersey Watch
Create a Background Check Policy – We also recommend that you run a quick background check on any potential coaches or volunteers to verify they are qualified to interact with young athletes. A quick background check can help you confirm their identity and verify a clean criminal record which is very important for the athlete’s safety. You can learn more about creating a background check policy.
Step #4 – Create a Lacrosse League or Find One to Join
After gauging interest, budgeting for your season, and registering with US Lacrosse you’ll need to find a league and tournaments to participate in. Below are some tips that would be helpful to consider as you schedule your season.
Join a local lacrosse league – Getting in touch with lacrosse leagues in your surrounding area would be the best way to secure competition for your program. Often times an established league will already have field locations, referees, potential coaches and volunteers at their disposal, saving you a ton of time from having to construct that infrastructure all by yourself. You can use the US Lacrosse Chapter site to help put you in contact with other programs around your area.
Contact your local youth centers – In the case that there are no lacrosse leagues in your area, you can get in contact with your local park and recreations program, boy & girls club or YMCA. By creating a partnership, you could get the word out about your new lacrosse program much quicker and likely already have a solid infrastructure in place to build off of.
Create your own league – Although creating your own league is always an option if there are no other foreseeable options in your surrounding area, doing so would require a ton of work and communication with like-minded individuals.
We recommend attempting to avoid this scenario if you’re looking for the smoothest/quickest upstart.
We recommend attempting to avoid this scenario if you’re looking for the smoothest/quickest upstart.Setting up a new lacrosse program doesn’t need to be a painful process. Running your own team takes a lot of hard work and planning but spreading your love for lacrosse to young athletes in your area can be a very fun and rewarding venture.
Who knows? One day you may end up being the reason why one of your athletes received a scholarship to college.
Additional Resources
How to Build a Website for a Youth Sports Program
How to Recruit More Youth Lacrosse Players
How to Create a Background Check Policy for Youth Sports
How to Find Companies That Sponsor Youth Sports
How to Manage a Budget for Youth Sports
How To Start A Lacrosse Program
Starting a lacrosse program from scratch can be tough…make sure you set the groundwork for lacrosse to get off to a solid start in your area. There’s a ton of things you have to accomplish when trying to start a program, but these are some of the important points when getting things going.
1. Find your wing (man/woman)
–The sooner you realize you can’t do this alone the better. Parents always are a great help, you’ve got the lacrosse knowledge so that doesn’t mean your number 2 person has to as well. People who are simply good at organization and coordinating events are your best candidates.
2. Ask and you shall receive
–There are several lacrosse companies that are willing and able to provide you with some starter sticks. Contact as many as you can… so that when you start getting the word out there you will have equipment for those who are just looking to try it out.
3. Schools are your best friend
–At the youth level…your organization will live and die by the relationship you establish with the schools. Parents are always great resources to contact and can positively influence administrations that may not be very knowledgeable about lacrosse.
4. Marketing
–Make flyers, make signs, create a logo, make t-shirts, WEAR THEM (people will see them and as questions, trust me), make car stickers, branding is key.
Most importantly…make a Facebook page.. We live in a time where everyone is connected through social networks. If you’re not taking advantage of them to promote your organization, you’re not doing enough.
5. Become a 5013(c) Non-Profit
–You’re going to want to go ahead and fill out the paperwork to become a Non-Profit Organization. This is going to make your organization tax exempt with the federal government which is always beneficial to your organizations bank account. The IRS has the proper forms to fill out on their website: http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96109,00.html
6. Say Yes
–Starting out you may get odd requests here and there…a lacrosse themed birthday party, an after school program asks for a clinic, a church youth group wants to give it a try…Always be open to helping out with ANYTHING lacrosse related in the community. This is where you’re going to network with parents, teachers, and administrators.
7.
Create a Board
–Once you have involvement…you will want to create a board. This is going to consist of parents, players, etc…but this is the group that is going to be key to brainstorming the direction of the organization. Set up weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly meetings. This is a great opportunity to assign specific jobs to people within the board (Treasurer, Director of Coaches, Director of Field Management, etc)
8. Understand this is a Start
–You may want involvement from the 14-18 age group, but starting out your bread and butter is going to be the 8-10 year olds who are still trying to find their sport. High school youth have already committed to their activities, you may get a few but if you focus on your younger kids they will be your star lax players in 5 years.
9. Find a field
–Lax
We hope you found this article helpful. If you have anymore questions please feel free to email us at [email protected] Thanks.
“Philadelphia Wings” (Philadelphia, PA) » AllLacrosse.org
20:11
01 August
The “Philadelphia Wings” are a professional box lacrosse team playing in the Eastern Conference of the National Lacrosse League. The Wings play their games at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Wings were one of the first four teams in the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League to play in 1987 and the only team to revert to their 1974-75 identity and retain the original “Philadelphia Wings” logo.
This is the only team that has played 27 seasons in one city. The Wings have the most titles in league history with the Toronto Rock, with just six: four MILL Cups and two Cups since the formation of the NLL.
On July 11, 2014, it was announced on the team’s website that the Wings were relocating after 28 years in Philadelphia. On September 19, 2014, the team moved to Uncasville, Connecticut and became known as the “New England Black Wolves”, and since last season the team has settled in Albany under the name “Albany FireWolves”.
On September 14, 2017, the NLL awarded the Philadelphia expansion franchise to Comcast owner Spectacor. It was announced that the new franchise would use the Wings name to give the impression that the Wings were “back” in Philadelphia.
Thus, at the moment, a new team is playing in the NLL, which has nothing to do with the old regalia and cups. But the fans are the same. And these are fiery people known for their passionate support of their team and not too hospitable attitude towards the opponent’s players.
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Two times we tried to do lacrosse and two times we missed
Andrey Mikhalev (vk.com)
Head coach of Dynamo-Shinnik Andrey Mikhalev summed up the home series in the JHL championship after losing to the Sakhalin Sharks (2:3 B).
– Lost in shootouts. Why didn’t you win this match?
– Did you see the lacrosse in the second and third periods that the guys tried to do? You do not score – they score you. Two times we tried to do lacrosse and two times we missed. I don’t have any excuses. The team must bring the game to its logical end, to victory, and not allow itself such actions.
– Did you have to invent something?
– You just had to play your hockey and follow the coaching instructions.
Some have decided otherwise.
– It was necessary, probably, to use the majority that was in the first period?
– Yes. These two games have shown that the majority needs to be worked on. For some reason we didn’t manage to realize it, although everything was fine in training and we scored good goals.
– What did most people do wrong?
– We played tight and the opponent played tight. Lots of nuances.
– They say that the score 2:0 is unpleasant. Think you’ve already won?
– Yes, slippery. Perhaps they believed in victory early.
– In terms of performance, the previous match turned out to be more successful, but what about the quality?
– In terms of quality, they played great for two periods and did what was required of them: they lifted the puck up, covered the goalkeeper. The first puck turned out so well that we closed the goalkeeper, made a throw at the gate and scored./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60794897/LXM18_PENN_037_.0.jpg)
– Three players have joined the team. How have they adapted?
– I have already said that for Egor Klavdiev, adaptation is easier, because he played both overseas and for the extra league. The guys who came from the Belarus U18 team need some time, although both Sasha and Daniil showed themselves well. There were moments when they could throw. They played well.
– Home series ended. What results can you sum up, and are you satisfied with the score?
– We lost to the Amur Tigers, although we played well and could have pulled out at the end. Today two periods dominated, but the third failed. There is a residue, of course. There is such a league here that everyone plays to the end, so if you relax even a little, you immediately get a goal in your own net. We need to play all sixty minutes – we talk about this with the guys every day.
– We lost the second matches with the “tigers” and “sharks”.
– It’s always harder to play the second leg, even look at the extra league.
