BOYS FAQ | GIRLS FAQ What does the Registration fee cover? This fee covers: field and facility rentals, referee fees, team equipment and balls, coach background checks, website, end-of-the-year parties, coach gifts, team photographs and tournament fees. What equipment do the boys need? Boys must have the following equipment to play lacrosse: helmet with the NOCSE safety seal, mouth guard, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves, cup, cleats, sneaks, boys lacrosse stick. Kelly’s Sports in West Chester has the most comprehensive selection of equipment. Kelly’s gives our athletes a 10% discount. Lacrosse Central on the Kirkwood Highway gives our athletes a 5% discount. Check out the Links or Equipment pages for more options. Can we get help with the fees? Wilmington Lacrosse has funds set aside to assist families. We do not want the cost of this sport to prevent young athletes from enjoying this game. If you need assistance, we urge you to email info@wilmingtonlacrosse.com and type HELP on the subject line. Check out the Equipment page for used equipment. Why must my athlete join US Lacrosse? Besides membership offerings like Lacrosse Magazine, US Lacrosse provides insurance coverage (beyond personal coverage) to our young athletes and their coaches. This coverage is a mandatory requirement for the facilities that we use and for all tournaments, clinics and camps. Athletes must join or update their US Lacrosse membership before registering to play with Wilmington Lacrosse. I do not understand the team levels. Please refer to Programs/Boys for a detailed description of team levels. How do the Evaluations work? Only athletes in grades 5 - 8 must participate in evaluations. First year players (5-8)are encouraged to participate. Athletes are evaluated among their grade peers. Our goal is to make team assignments where the athlete will have the most opportunity for success. Athletes are given numbered jerseys that are used only for evaluations. This allows an objective evaluation of skills, speed and athleticism. There are two evaluation sessions. The best way for athletes to ensure consideration by the coach whose team they aspire to join, is to attend the required sessions. Every effort is made to offer two opportunities on different days for each evaluation session. Team coaches will determine placement of individual athletes based on multiple factors considered in their observation of the evaluations. Participation in evaluation sessions will greatly enhance the opportunity for the athlete to be properly placed. Failure to participate in the evaluations due to injury or other commitments will not preclude assignment to a particular team. Team placement is subject to final review by the Director of Coaching. What do I do if my son is distressed about his coaches and/or his team assignment? We urge parents to encourage their athlete to go to their coach and discuss any issues. If there is still no resolution, the next step is for the parent to talk with the coach. Parents and athletes always have the option to contact the Director of Coaching. When will the game schedule be available? The schedules are available on-line on your son’s team page by the last week in March. What days will my son play? Southeastern Pennsylvania Youth Lacrosse Association: 5/6th grade teams typically play on Sundays (although the B1 team will play most games on Saturdays). 7/8th grade teams play on Saturdays. There are occasionally situations when a 7/8th grade team will play on a Sunday or a 5/6th team will play on a Saturday. In addition to the SEPYLA schedule, tournaments will be scheduled. May weeknight games (with Delaware teams) may also be scheduled. Games for second, third and fourth grade teams typically play on Sundays. My son has allergies and sometimes needs an inhaler. How should I handle this? Coaches need to be informed regarding ALL health issues. We recommend that athletes give their team manager an inhaler marked with their name, to be kept in the team first aid kit. In addition, athletes must bring an inhaler to each practice and game. A list of allergies for all athletes is kept in the team first aid kit. Why can’t my son choose his jersey number? WLAX assigns jersey numbers because: We want to insure that no one in your son's grade, or the grade above and below his grade, has the same number. This allows our players to have the same number throughout their years with WLAX and allows players to substitute on other WLAX teams of their current grade level. This also eliminates duplicate numbers on off-season teams, winter league, etc. In addition, players enjoy having their number imprinted on bags, sweats, etc. Past experience has proven that a few requested numbers are very popular and it is impossible to fairly decide who gets "the number". My son played for WLAX last year. Do I need to purchase a new uniform? You do not need to purchase a new uniform, if your son’s uniform still fits. PLEASE check for fit, BEFORE you go online to register. WLAX’s uniform order is placed in early January, so you are only guaranteed items if you order by January 1st. I am confused about the sizing. How do I decide what to order? Grades 5 – 8 Game Jersey: select one size larger than the size of a mens polo shirt that fits your son. Grades 5 – 8 Practice Jersey: only medium and extra large sizes. Order the same size as your game jersey --- or the next larger size. Grades 2 – 4 Practice Jersey: one size fits all. There are no uniform shorts at this level. Grades 5 – 8 Game Shorts: NEW STYLE short - made of Dryflex - is being ordered for 2008. The short will continue to be orange so there is no need to order new shorts if last year’s fit. The following is a guideline for ordering shorts. (Measures are for an un-stretched waist.): Small = 22”, Medium = 26”, Large = 30”, X-Large = 34” What is the difference between the game jersey and the practice jersey? Game jerseys for the 5th through 8th grade teams have sleeves plus the player's number on the front and back. They are not reversible. Practice jerseys for the 5th through 8th grade teams are blue and white reversible tanks, without the player's number. Practice Jerseys for the 2nd through 4th grade teams are blue and white reversible tanks, with the player's number on the back. These are used for both practice and games. If this practice jersey will fit your player in 5th grade, he is welcome to continue using it as his practice jersey. What is the weather policy? Spring weather can be fickle. We do not play in a downpour, but we DO play in light rain. Play will be suspended immediately with the threat of thunder and lightning. How will I know if practice or a game is cancelled due to weather? PRACTICE Your coach will email and/or post a notice on your team page by 4:15 before a 5:45 PM practice if there is a schedule change. Please be forewarned that it can be beautiful at 4:15 --- but when you arrive at practice, the skies open up! Use your best judgment in these circumstances. GAMES Games may be cancelled because of the weather and/or because the fields are saturated and unplayable. Please check your team page before EVERY GAME. The field or time for your game could be changed or a game cancellation notice could be posted. Often, the decision to cancel is not made until early game day. In this situation, a cancellation notice on your team page will be posted NO LATER THAN TWO HOURS before your game.