T.O. LAX Resource Guide

Resource Guide

Frequent Q&A’s 

  1)      What equipment is needed to play lacrosse?

• Uniform – for the 2011 season, there are new uniforms for all age groups….and they look awesome!  The price of the uniform was included in your registration fee.

o   Returning players will have first preference on their jersey number. 

o   New players will be assigned a number unless they preference a number either at the lax expo or you can send an email to Dean Ditto, Youth Director (dditto@ksea.com).  We will do our best to accommodate jersey number requests for new players.

o   There will be announcement via email regarding the opportunity to try on clothing samples to determine jersey size.

o   Uniforms will be available before the first season game.

• Helmet – There is a difference depending on your son’s age.  For the 2^nd-5^th graders, the Cascade CS is a good choice and it is affordable -- expect to pay about $110 for this helmet.  For the older players, the Cascade CPV ($140) or CPX ($190) models are good choices.  Helmets are not cheap, but are the most important piece of protective gear for your child.  
• Shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves – small, medium and large sizes.  For beginners, you can buy in a kit that contains all the pads.  Brine and STX are good brands. Pad kits cost about $80.  Size chart:

• Protective cup – for all boys, in all age brackets.  Most kids like the ones that fit into a pair of support underwear.
• Mouth guard – best to get the kind that attaches to the helmet.  Buy at least one extra for your coach to keep in the game day bag. 
• Rib pads – not all players elect to wear these.
• Stick – STX, Warrior and Brine are recommended brands.  Consistent throwing and catching is extremely important for youth.  There are many head (the “basket”) designs and there is more information below on this topic.  The key is to get a head strung with semi-hard or hard mesh that will hold its shape during the season, requiring minimal maintenance. 

o   For starters, it is OK to buy at Sport Chalet or Dick’s Sporting Goods.

o   For experienced players, you will likely buy the head separate from the shaft.  Brine Clutch, Brine Witness, Warrior Evolution, Warrior Razer, and STX Proton are all good models to consider.  Defense players and goalies may select position specific heads.

o   Sticks can cost between $35 and $150.

• Cleats – football or soccer cleats are fine if you already have them.  If you are buying new, football cleats are recommended. 
• Lacrosse balls – buy four or six for practicing.  Be prepared because they get lost easily.

2)      When is the lacrosse season?

• Registration has ended for the 2011 season and waitlist players are being considered.  An email will go to waitlist families before January 15^th.
• Informal practices may begin in January for the older age groups.  For the 2011 season, formal practices will start near the beginning of February. Practice days will vary by team and are typically from 4pm until dusk.
• Coaching clinics are offered during the year and will be announced by the Youth Director via email.
• Games begin in late February and run through the end of May.  Game schedules are published by the Southern California Lacrosse Association (use Google to get the link) and the Thousand Oaks Lacrosse club (www.tolacrosse.com).  Games will typically be on Saturday, with the exception of a couple weekend jamborees (tournaments).

3)      Where / when will practices be held?

• The TO program is waiting for confirmation of its fields, however we have requested fields at Peppertree Park, Wildflower Field, and California Lutheran University. 
• Some teams will practice on Tues/Thurs and some will be Mon/Wed.  While these dates are not set yet, they will be announced in January.  Once the practice schedule is set for a team, it typically does not change.  Practices begin at 4:00 and go until dusk.

4)      Where / when will games be held?

• In previous years, games were at Peppertree Park, however the league is expanding and there may be some travel games (Calabasas and Santa Clarita). 
• Games are planned for Saturdays however there will be some weekend jamborees.
• Game schedules will be published in late January / February.

5)      What will a lacrosse parent be ask to do as a volunteer?

• The coach is responsible for creating a schedule so parents can rotate these jobs.
• Field Setup/Teardown: if the first / last game of the day.
• Scorekeeper. Should be rotated between parents at “home” games.
• Timekeeper.  Should be rotated between parents at “away” games.
• Field Commissioner.  Responsible for overseeing the score and timing; also responsible for keeping parents on the correct side of the field.
• Team Mom/Dad: helps communicate between team parents: game schedules, any changes in schedules, etc..
• Snacks: drinks and snacks.  Sliced oranges are great for half time.

6)      Who do I call if I have questions?

• Reference the Thousand Oaks Lacrosse web site for the most up to date listing of club officers, coaches and resources. www.tolacrosse.com
• Regarding scheduling and the coaching program, call Dean Ditto: 310-733-9354.
• Regarding registration and financial questions email Mike Auger: mauger@trifecta-mg.com
• All other questions call Chris Reilly: 323-216-8271

7)      Where do I get equipment?

• Retailers: Sport Chalet on Moorpark Road, Sports Authority in Westlake or Dick’s Sporting Goods in Moorpark.  Sometimes Play it Again Sports has gear also.
• On Line: 

o   Lacrosse Monkey: www.lacrossemonkey.com

o   SportStop: www.sportstop.com

o   SouthSwell: www.southswellsports.com

o   Jimalax (stringing supplies):  www.jimalax.com

o   Plucking Corners (close out items): www.pluckingcorners.com

LACROSSE STICKS:

The lacrosse stick is one of most important pieces of equipment.  Choice of stick involves two pieces of equipment: the shaft (the stick) and the head (the “throwing basket”).  There are many methods for stringing the head and many choices of mesh to use.

The choice of stick and head is more about skill level of the player than it is about their age.  Also, there are position specific sticks – “long pole” sticks for defense and goalie sticks for the goal keeper.

Stick length – see table below.  Younger players 2^nd through 4^th grade many times find it best to cut down the shaft of their stick to minimum allowed length.  Older players probably don’t need to do this, however it is common for attack positions to have the shortest stick length allowed.

*Stick (“crosse”) length is measured from the tip of the scoop to the butt end of the shaft.   

Tips for selecting a stick based on skill level:

Learning the game:

A basic aluminum shaft will do the job – especially for the younger kids who may need the shaft cut down (don’t want to cut a $120 titanium shaft!). 

Choose a head with a wide scoop and a wide face to make it easy to pick up and catch the ball.  Soft mesh allows a pocket to form quicker, but hard mesh helps keep a consistent pocket shape. And, beginning players typically benefit from the harder mesh vs. the softer mesh.  Using a “pocket pounder” helps form a pocket with the correct shape. 

Basic shooting string configuration is best for players still learning to play (see below). Avoid traditional stringing using leather, pinch pockets, etc.

Intermediate Player:

Players start to get more specific about their stick (there are several materials for shafts), pocket shape and shooting strings.  Many players add colored shooting strings and dye the heads in their team color.  However, it is still best to use a stringing configuration like the example above. 

Advanced Player:

More advanced players typically specialize in a position and will choose a head that is designed specifically for attack or defense.  Midfielders and attack players frequently use the same heads. These players may also choose to experiment with various stringing configurations (there are web sites that provide step-by-step instructions).  

Web Resources:

Lacrosse Gear Companies:

http://www.warriorlacrosse.com/

http://www.brine.com/

http://www.stxlacrosse.com/index.html

Internet Retailers:

http://www.e-lacrosse.com/stech.htm

http://www.jimalax.com/index.aspx

http://www.lacrossemonkey.com/

http://www.pluckingcorners.com/

http://www.southswellsports.com/ 

http://www.sportstop.com/

Other Sites:

http://www.e-lacrosse.com/stech.htm

http://www.adrenalinelacrosse.com/2009/index.php