Sachem Sports Club Girls Lacrosse & Field Hockey

"Best Girls Youth Sports Program in the Sachem Community"

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A PARENTS GUIDE TO YOUTH LACROSSE



Patience: Our goal at Sachem Sports Club is to teach girls the great sport of lacrosse in a positive, safe, and fun environment. Keep in mind... Some kids "get it" right away, others take time. We ask parents to be patient and supportive with their players, and our coaches. ALL of our coaches and coordinators are volunteers and are dedicated to teaching the fundamentals and needed skills of lacrosse. We ask parents to follow the basic rules:
  • Let the Coaches Coach
  • Let the Players Play
  • Let the Refs Ref

Commitment Matters: We know and understand girls are involved in multiple activities and sports, but girls are required to make practices and games. Girls who don't make practices fall behind their teammates in terms of basic skills and understanding. Most families juggle multiple kids and their activities and that's normal, do the best you can. That being said, if you can't commit to making most practices and games, then don't sign up. It isn't fair to your daughter or the the coaches who put in endless hours teaching and training the girls.

FYI - Soccer is a FALL sport. If you are going to make spring soccer a priority over lacrosse than don't sign up! If you are willing to give lacrosse equal time and energy, then we will work with you and your player.

GIRL'S GAME OVERVIEW
The Following is from US Lacrosse, the sport's governing body.

Girls’ lacrosse is a non-contact game played by 8 to 12 players (depending on age group): a goalkeeper, five attackers and six defenders. Eight players may cross the restraining line into the opponents offensive zone and four stay behind. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent’s goal. The team scoring the most goals wins.

Draw:
Girls’ and women’s lacrosse begins with a draw, which is taken by the center position. The ball is placed between two horizontally held crosses (sticks), placed back-to-back, at the center of the field. At the sound of the whistle, the ball is flung into the air as the crosses are pulled up and away. The sticks must come up over
the players’ heads. A draw is used to start each half and after each goal, and it takes place at the center of the field. Only five players from each team are permitted between restraining lines at the time of the draw. Once the signal for the draw occurs, the players behind each restraining line may cross over.

Basic Skills:
Field players may pass, catch or run with the ball in their crosse. When a whistle blows, all players must stop in place. Rough checks, and contact to the body with the crosse or body, are not allowed, however, incidental body contact may occur.

Rules:
The girls’ youth rules are divided by levels (A, B and C). Levels B and
C do not allow checking and do allow certain stick modifications to make throwing and catching easier for the beginning or younger player. Level A rules allow for modified checking and require the use of a regulation crosse and pocket. Leagues, tournaments and programs with players below the 5th grade level must either use
Level B or C rules. Players from the 5th grade through the 8th grade should progress from Level B or C to Level A rules.

To get a complete copy of the rules for girls’ lacrosse, please
visit the US Lacrosse website at www.uslacrosse.org/store

Player Positions

Attack (3 per team):
• Great ball handling/stick skills
• Set up and assist teammates to score
• Defend when the opposition goalie is trying to clear the ball

Midfield (3 to 5 per team):
• Speed and endurance, strong stick work and versatility
• Play both attack and defense
• Role as an attacker: Transition ball onto the
offensive side, create fast-break opportunities
• Role as a defender: Stop offensive team from
creating a fast break

Defense (3 per team):
• Defend the goal by “marking” opponents in the
critical scoring area (the arcs)
• Strong communication skills, solid field vision,
exceptional footwork
• Understand angles to be successful at seeing the ball and girl
• Create and cause turnovers and get the ground ball

Goalie (1 per team):
• Protect the goal by stopping shots
• Excellent communicator
• Strong mental disposition
• Lead the defense

Required equipment

Lacrosse stick: A legal stick must meet the following standards:
• Made of wood, laminated wood or synthetic material with a shaped net pocket at the end. Stick must be 35.5-43.25 inches.
• Pocket must be strung traditionally. No mesh is allowed and must have designated stringing holes.
• The pocket is legal when the ball is pressed down into the pocket (then quickly released) and the top of the ball remains above the sidewalls.

Mouthpiece: Must fully cover the upper jaw teeth. The
mouthpiece must be of any visible color other than clear or white.

Protective Eyewear (mandatory): All field players must wear properly fitted eye protection that meets the ASTM specification standard F803 for women’s/adult youth lacrosse for the appropriate level of play. For a complete list of approved eyewear, visit www.uslacrosse.org.