Lacrosse FAQs

New to lacrosse...what equipment do I need?

Players in U9, U11, U13 and U15 programs need the following equipment:

Goalies also wear throat protectors, chest pads and use goalie sticks, which are all provided by the club. Defensemen may use long poles in U13 and above. U7 players will receive a beginners' stick as part of the program fee.
 

Are uniforms provided?

BYC's U11 and above are travel programs. As such a uniform is required. For the 2010 season, the uniform fee was $77, which includes a jersey and shorts. Additional shorts are also available for purchase for $28. Uniforms can be worn for multiple seasons. Your coach will coordinate uniform purchases.

Our U9 in-house program fee includes a team shirt, and the U7 clinic program requires no uniform.
 

What does all this U-stuff mean (U7, U9, U11, etc.)?

Our lacrosse league organizes players by age group.  The U stands for "Under". For any given season, your child will play in the age group that they would be UNDER as of 8/31 of the prior year. So if your child was 5 or 6 at the end of the prior calendar year they play U7 that spring. 7 and 8 year olds play U9. 9 and 10 year olds play U11. 11 and 12 year olds play U13, and 13 and 14 year olds play U15, unless they are playing for a high school program, in which case they are ineligible for league play. 

Where do travel teams travel to?

Our travel teams play in the Chester County Lacrosse Association. See cclalax.com for details of member programs. Most travel is under an hour, and usually a team will have one or two games a week with one on a weeknight and one on the weekend. Weeknight games start at 6:30pm. The season is usually 10 or 12 games long. Teams may also participate in single day and multi-day (overnight) tournaments in PA, NJ, MD and even VA. 

Is lacrosse a violent sport?

Lacrosse is a contact sport and requires protective equipment to prevent injury. As such, coaches must certify that their players are completely and legally equipped before the start of every game. According to studies published by USLacrosse, the governing body of the sport, the most common injury is a sprained ankle.
 

The image in a lay-persons mind of wild slashing and violent crashing is an incorrect image. Checking another player's stick with your stick is legal, and their gloves are considered part of the stick. Slashing anywhere else on their body or cross-checking is a penalty. Contact with another player's helmet is a penalty. Body checking is illegal at the younger age groups and always illegal from behind. Violent body checking is considered unnecessary roughness and is also a penalty. 

My son wants to try lacrosse, but he isn't ready to give up baseball. Is playing both feasible?

We highly recommend playing lacrosse! But we love the sport! BYC's lacrosse program is beginner friendly at any age, so we welcome new players. At the younger age groups, players can definitely play multiple sports. As their love of the sport grows and they desire to improve and compete for a coveted first-line position on the "A" team, some players will find themselves overcommitted if playing multiple sports. That can result in fatigue, injury, a hectic schedule and a general lack of FUN. And we fully believe sports should be fun. 

Do you have try-outs?

Yes. Our league specifies that U13 and U15 teams be separated into A, B and sometimes C levels. We hold try-outs, usually in the fall, to identify the top players who are placed on the A teams at these age groups. Ideal team size is around 18-20 players, so difficult decisions must be made to assemble these teams. Our policy is to use independent evaluators during these try-outs to make them as fair as possible.
 

In the winter, just prior to the season, we also hold evaluations so that all B or C teams and all U11 teams are created with equal strength rosters. We typically have between 1 and 5 teams at each age group. 

How long is the season?

Practices usually start in late February or early March.  League games usually start in early April and run to the end of May.  U13 and U15 typically have play-offs in early June, and BYC traditionally plays in one or more post-season tournaments in June. As with most sports these days, off-season play opportunities are on the rise and players can find summer tournament teams, camps, clinics, fall leagues and winter indoor leagues if desired. BYC sometimes participates in these, so let your coach know if you are interested in off-season play. 

What skills make a good lacrosse player?

Lacrosse is a running sport. It is often called "the fastest game on two feet." Prospective players should like to run and want to get better at it. Agility and hand-eye coordination are also key skills. Offensive play is much like basketball, so dodges, picks and rolls are common. Beyond that a positive, attitude and focus are essential. All of these skills improve with practice, so a willingness to work hard to improve is helpful. Players of all sizes and backgrounds can be successful at lacrosse.