WHAT IS "CLUB LACROSSE" ALL ABOUT?

CLUB LACROSSE AND TOWN CLUBS - THE DIFFERENCES

We know a lot of people want to know about Club Lacrosse, so hopefully this clears things up a bit.

Maplewood Lacrosse Club is the Maplewood/South Orange boys lacrosse town program.  We provide the opportunity for all (SOMA resident) K-8 athletes to learn and play lacrosse.  3rd-8th grade teams play against other local town clubs in the spring.  MLC is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers.   All players must be residents of Maplewood or South Orange and all are welcome.  We do not "cut" players.  

"Club Lacrosse" programs like Tri-State, Evo, Riot, Patriot and BBL are (for-profit) businesses that provide an opportunity for kids from various towns to practice and play lacrosse together in a competitive environment throughout the year.  Club lacrosse programs play most of their games in tournament settings in late fall and early summer (after the town season ends) and don't typically conflict much with the MLC season and many encourage kids to prioritize their fall/winter sports while playing club.

Club can be a great experience for certain kids who really love the sport, want to play more and have a strong drive to get better.   This information is intended to give parents of 3rd-8th graders a general idea about club lacrosse in our area,  but of course each club is different.  Club lacrosse also changes as kids reach high school so this was not written with high school in mind.  Please reach out anytime if your player is interested in club.  We are happy to share what we know and our experiences.

We are interested in Club Lacrosse.  Which clubs should my kid should try out for?   There is no one answer so do lots of research!  Read the clubs' mission statements to determine whether a club's values and expectations match closely to yours.   Ask questions.  Can your kid still play fall and winter sports?   How many practices are typical?  Do they charge extra for skills sessions?   (sometimes they are not all that forthcoming with that info)    How many kids do they invite to each team?   How many do they invite for each position?  How does playing time work?   What do they charge?   What kind of training do their coaches receive?    If my kid is placed on a B team, what are the chances he will be moved up to an A team?    Definitely try out for more than one club so you can get a feel for the coaches and kids and so you have a better shot of making one.

Can anyone join a club team?   Not exactly, but many kids (even kids who are just getting started) are able to.  Club teams have try-outs and a certain number of kids (18-23 or so) are invited to join each team.   Some clubs are known to be more competitive and very demanding and have a single (elite) team per grade.  Some have multiple teams, and really encourage players of all skill levels to try out.  

At what age can my kid join a club team?  Some clubs start as early as second grade (but that's very young) and others start later.  Many families wait until 5th or 6th grade to join a club.  Only you can decide what age is right for your kid. 

How much do club teams cost?  Most clubs in our general area charge roughly $3500-$4000/year for players up to grade 8.   What is included in the fees varies a fair amount, but typically fall and spring practices, 2-3 (single day) fall tournaments, 4 summer weekend tournaments, a uniform and sometimes winter practices fit into that number.   They all require a deposit and have payment plans.  You'll be required to to sign a contract in JULY (or whenever your kid joins)  committing to the club that year (even though the main tournament season is June) unless your athlete joins later in the year during a supplemental try-out.  Travel cost are on top of that.   Most clubs charge around $75 just to try out.   

How much of a time commitment is it?  Can my kid do other things?   It's probably less than you think.  If your kids play other sports and you are used to club teams having 2+ practices and a tournament most weeks, lacrosse will be a breeze (except in June).  For some clubs, fall is very light with a practice less than once/week, and then 2 or 3 single day tournaments likely in NJ/PA and for others, practices are twice a week with 2-3 single day tournaments.   Winter might mean no (required) lacrosse or a few scattered practices in winter and early spring may also be fairly light.  Once late-spring starts, clubs practice a bit more to get ready for the June-early July tournaments season.

Where are the tournaments?  Most clubs in our area seem to compete in a lot in or around NJ, Allentown and West Chester, PA, Middletown/Hudson Area, NY,  Long Island, Delaware and sometimes Maryland (especially as kids get older).  Clubs enter tournaments and brackets based on their team's ability that year so which tournaments they enter will vary year to year.   Elite National teams travel farther but that's a different thing altogether.  

Just a note:   There are plenty of ways kids can enjoy more lacrosse and get better a lot better without joining a club.  It may sound obvious but playing catch with a friend and hitting the wall a bunch is a great way to improve.   (This is where MLC alum and lacrosse pro Jules Heningburg used to practice in town)   For more formal training, check out the club lacrosse programs websites.   All clubs host skills sessions throughout year and you don't have to be part of the club to join.  There are also box lacrosse leagues, winter leagues, and summer camps.  

We want our players to be well-rounded athletes and humans.  We want them to play other sports and enjoy their non-sport interests too.  While club lacrosse can be a really great experience for athletes who really love the sport and want to enhance their skills and  extend their season in a challenging environment, it's not for everyone due to the expense, time commitment or intensity.  

Early/Mid-July:  Tryouts (plan on at least 2 sessions) for the following year's team 

August:  Supplemental try-outs if teams have any spots left

Sep-Oct:  Fall Practices and Skills Sessions (Some clubs include 6-10 fall practices.  Some include fall practices 2x/week.  Some charge for skills sessions and others include them)

Late Oct:  Nov: 2-3 Tournaments (Fall tournaments are usually 1-day)

Winter:  Some clubs include winter practices and others take a break.  Some offer a chance to participate in optional indoor or box leagues.

Early Spring:  Practices resume once or twice a week and get more frequent as the town season wraps up.

June/Early July:  Practices around 2x/week plus Tournaments | Clubs usually participate in around 4 weekend long tournaments

*Some clubs host supplemental try-outs in Fall or Spring if they need players.  Some may need extra players for 1-2 tournaments in June and will allow kids to come to a practice as a try-out.  This can be a nice way to get a feel for Club Lacrosse without the commitment.

Here are some, but not all, of the clubs in the area that our players have played for:

Tri-State Lacrosse | Practice in Wayne 

Evolution (EVO) Lacrosse | Practice in Wayne, Verona etc

BBL (Central) | Practice in Florham Park, Madison

Riot | Practice in Morris Plains

Patriot | Practice in Morristown, Parsippany

Steps | Practice in Randoph

Leading Edge | Practice (varies a lot) in Piscataway, Summit etc

*Practice locations change all the time.  Always ask.