Frequently Asked Questions about Laxachusetts Girls
What is Laxachusetts and why play club lacrosse?
Laxachusetts is a highly competitive lacrosse club for student-athletes in Massachusetts. LXC provides a positive environment where players can grow and develop their lacrosse skills and learn the game of lacrosse while developing leadership, teamwork and good sportsmanship. LXC teaches and reinforces excellence in the execution and fundamentals of the game of lacrosse. Our game will be imbedded with integrity, hard work and intelligence.
Club lacrosse gives players an opportunity to play year round against a higher level of competition that you will see at the town or high school level. The purpose is for top players from around the state, region and country to compete at organized tournaments. Laxachusetts chooses the top youth and high school tournaments to play in that will allow our teams to develop. All of our high school teams are registered for the top recruiting showcases for players to get seen by Division I, II and III college coaches.
What can we expect from Laxachusetts Coaches?
We believe our coaching staff is truly the best around. Our coaches come from a variety of backgrounds with current/former college coaches at the Division I, II and III and/or top Massachusetts High School coaches. Our coaches believe in an energetic, positive yet demanding coaching style with high expectations for our athletes. We pride ourselves on finding like-minded, experienced coaches with an up-beat style of instruction who possess the SAME passion we hold for the game of lacrosse. We want all of our players to have a lacrosse experience, like we did, which have helped mold us into the people we are today!
How many players do you choose for each year of graduation?
Depending on the number of girls that tryout, the number of girls in each year of graduation varies. Each year, we typically have 2-3 full teams per YOG. The top team is typically Laxachusetts Black followed by Laxachusetts Yellow and Navy.
What can I expect from tryouts?
The tryout process will be intense and we give all candidates a fair evaluation. Players participate in stick work, skill stations, small sided games, fitness testing and full field games. We hold three tryout days and players are able to participate in as many tryouts as they can make. We understand that August is a busy month for families and conflicts may arise. Directors may schedule a tryout with your daughter either earlier in the summer or early September. Players may also be invited to try out for LXC throughout the year if one of our coaches has recruited a specific athlete. Current Laxachusetts players must tryout every year as our club is constantly recruiting and evaluating top players around the state. We expect our players to continue to put in the time and effort to improve each year.
What do we look for specifically?
Our motto during tryouts is: Be the player we NEED to coach. LXC coaches are look for SPEED, Passion & Personality and Work Ethic & Grit. The rest, we can teach. It’s that simple.
For more on this topic see our blog from last year’s tryouts: https://laxachusetts.wordpress.com/category/from-the-coaches/
What is the team practice and tournament commitment?
Laxachusetts offers year round training. Our hope is to keep travel minimal for our families. We encourage ALL Laxachusetts players to play multi-sports, participate in afterschool activities, family functions and maintain the best grades they can achieve. Players are expected to participate in as many practices and tournaments as possible. We understand conflicts arise and just expect communication with the directors. Players that are the most committed to our program have been the most successful on their high school, town teams and ultimately, the college level. These players take advantages of all of our programs and what we have to offer.
How many practices and tournaments are scheduled?
We offer weekly practices during the fall/winter and summer months. During the winter, we offer position specific shooting/stick work days. Our youth teams participate in an In-House Spring Youth League that players may sign up for a la carte.
Youth: Typically we offer 1-2 tournaments per month that players may sign up for. Players may choose what tournaments they can attend depending on their schedule. Tournaments require an additional fee. Laxachusetts requires that players participate in at least two summer tournaments unless arrangements are made before taking a spot in the program.
High School: We are asking all players participating in our high school program and selected for the green/black teams to fully commit to our practices and fall/summer recruiting tournaments. There are typically 4 fall & summer recruiting tournaments.
How are teams chosen for the tournaments?
Teams are assigned by the athlete’s year of graduation. Depending on the number of players that sign up for a particular tournament, the roster size may vary. Laxachusetts plays in some fall/winter tournaments that are 7v7 and 5v5 as well as full field 12v12. There may be multiple teams per grade level and players will be assigned teams depending on their ability, work ethic, position and commitment to the program.
Laxachusetts tries to have consistent coaches with each age group so players are receiving constant feedback about their progress. Players may also have the opportunities to play “up” for a more advanced team because of their skill, willingness to play any position work ethic, team play and field sense.
Can players play for more than one club team?
No. Laxachusetts expects all players to make a commitment to our program.
What does the Laxachusetts Program fee cover?
The Laxachusetts program feel is paid annually. This fee covers fall, winter and summer practices, fall and summer tournaments, field rental fees, web site administration, coaches, scrimmages, utility expenses, insurance, conferences, professional fees and other operating expenses. All registration must be completed online and payment must be made in full before fall practices. Players whose program fees have not been received will not be able to attend practices or tournaments. Program fees are NONREFUNDABLE.
Who makes up your Coaching Staff?
Laxachusetts coaches are assigned to specific age groups for fall/winter and summer practices. Coaches are assigned to the same team as much as possible for that year as we believe it is extremely beneficial for the coaches and players to get to know each team. However, the coaches have busy lives as well and conflicts may occur. Summer LXC teams can expect a LXC full time coach as well as a current college lacrosse player working with our program over the summer.
Players should expect their coaches to change from year to year as we have found a good balance as to who works well with each age group. It is important that our athletes learn to play for any coach or any coaching style as those are the players that make the strongest, toughest college athlete.
How do you select players for your top team?
It is imperative for a club program to put forth the most competitive teams at each tournament. It is our goal to consistently compete against the best club teams around the country. If we do not challenge those opponents, Laxachusetts will be unable to register teams for the most competitive brackets. Laxachusetts coaches are constantly ranking, evaluating and discussing player development. Rosters are formed after players register for tournaments. In most situations, there are 8-10 players that stand out to belong on our top team. The next tier of players is a very large group with similar skill level. It is a VERY difficult process to make the determination as to team assignments. Players are usually placed on the top team to that show a commitment to games/practices, are willing to play any position and are very coachable! We look for those players who show the most improvement to try and build the best teams possible.
A player’s development, skill, lax IQ and fitness can change tremendously each year. Player’s spots on specific teams WILL change. Each player must earn their spot within the program as well as on your team. There are times where we may combine grades (example: 5th/6th, 7th/8th ) or allow players to play “up” if the opportunity presents itself. However: most High School tournaments require players to play with their year of graduation.
How does Laxachusetts help with the recruiting process?
Laxachusetts will help student-athletes and families every step of the way through the recruiting process. LXC offers a College Information Night in the fall to help prepare incoming freshmen and new high school team members about the recruiting process and what you can expect from our program. Laxachusetts has specific Directors for each high school level that will schedule a recruiting meeting with you and help answer any individual questions you may have.
As involved as we are through the recruiting process, ultimately, it must begin and end with the student-athlete. This is YOUR process. Emails, phone calls, in person campus visits must come from the athlete, not the parent or LXC coaching staff. Laxachusetts will set up our teams in the most competitive tournaments to be evaluated by college coaches. LXC can offer advice as to which camp, clinic and prospect day might be the best fit for you. Players must take a proactive approach to college recruiting. It is VERY rare a coach will find you! Make sure you get out in front of coaches playing lacrosse as much as possible, visit their schools, ask questions and participate in any clinics they might have to offer.
Laxachusetts coaches want to reiterate that the process BEGINS and ENDS with your high school grades and test scores. There are a ton of lacrosse players out there, however, the ones that are the easiest most reliable to recruit AND who will have a successful career academically and athletically in college are those with the strongest academic profile.