Starting A New Lacrosse Program

1. Starting A New Lacrosse Program Brian K. Southern Girls Varsity Head Coach Center Grove High School Director Center Grove Lacrosse Club Greenwood, Indiana

2. So You Want to Start Lacrosse… • Do it for the right reasons • Love of the Game • For the Players • Fitness and Outdoor Activity • Lacrosse is Infectious and Contagious • It’s Just a Game

3. What Market are you Serving? • Community Youth Program • In House • School Program • Supported by school programs • PE • After School • Official Athletic Sport • Part of Athletic Department • Sanctioned by State High School Association

4. High School Athletics • Program Status • Depends on Area of Country • State High School Sanctioning • Club Status vs. Varsity Status • Provisional Period • 2 Years • Competition • Spring Sport • Other Sports – Track, Softball, Baseball, Tennis • Year Round Sports

5. Competition • If Lacrosse is new to the community and especially to the area, you will have some resistance • Spring sports will have athletes leave and come to lacrosse • Year round programs will resist having athletes compete in a different sport • Football, Basketball, Soccer • Academic • High School Athletes – Work

6. Development Program College Program High School Program Travel Club Program Middle School Program Youth Travel Program Youth Program In-House League School/PE Program

7. New Program Goals • Development • Focus needs to be on development of fundamental skills • Do not expect too much too soon • Establish program at different age levels • Winning • Expect winning to be part of the equation • Human Nature • Wanting to Win is good… …just not at any cost

8. Coaches • The number 1 reason youth sports programs succeed or fail is Coaches! • Get good role models • Adults that want to help • Adults that care about development of all kids, not just their own • HAVE ENOUGH COACHES! • Knowledge of the sport

9. Coaches • Coaching Pre-Requisites • Background Check (All adults) • US Lacrosse Coaching Education Program Level 1 (CEP) • Positive Coaching Alliance – Double Goal Program • First Aid/CPR Training • US Lacrosse Level 1 Field Training (As opportunity permits)

10. I Love Lacrosse and I Am Still Going Forward! • Establish Local Lacrosse Club • Get Help!!! • Contact Local State/Area Chapter http://www.uslacrosse.org/chapters/index.phtml • Contact Any Local Leagues/Associations • Youth Leagues • High School Leagues • Contact US Lacrosse www.uslacrosse.org • Contact Sheet at end

11. What Do I Need to Do? • To Do Checklist • Part of Handouts and electronic version can be downloaded at: www.centergrovelacrosse.org • Are you going to be part of school system? • Meet with Athletic Director to establish intention and get criteria • Get school sponsor • Follow checklist • Are you going to be a youth club? • Determine where you will play • Determine ages you want to serve • Follow checklist

12. Starting A Lacrosse Program Checklist

13. Timeline Pre-Season • By October: Start-Up Club, Level of Interest, Local Chapter Contact, US Lacrosse Contact, League Contact • By December: First Call Out Meeting, Recruit Coaches, Equipment Providers • By January: Begin Registration, Skills Sessions, Fields, Schedules, Uniforms, Spirit Wear, Team Meetings • By February: Fundraising, Sponsorships, Field Equipment, Officials Training, Coaches Training Season • Mid March to End of May Post Season • Next Season Planning • Summer Camps

14. US Lacrosse Contacts US Lacrosse – 410-366-6735 www.uslacrosse.org • Sport Development Program – New Start Sarah Newman – Program Coordinator Ext. 104 • Membership Information Mark Kamyszek – Ext. 176 General Information – Ext. 102 • Local Chapter Relations Erin Sturgis – Ext. 132

15. Thank You! Speaker Contact Info: Brian K. Southern Head Coach Center Grove High School brian@centergrovelacrosse.org Presentation, Checklist, Handouts at: www.centergrovelacrosse.org