LACROSSE

For new players, it is mandatory that they participate in Fall Ball practices in order to be eligible to play in the spring. The reason for this requirement is that it is impossible to play lacrosse (or any sport) without mastering the fundamentals and Fall Ball is when we teach fundamentals - cradling (keeping control of the ball in the stick), throwing, catching, shooting, ground balls and defense.

For boys, the gear consists of the following (all lacrosse specific)
- Helmet
- Lacrosse Stick
- Shoulder Pads
- Arm/Elbow Pads
- Gloves
- Mouth guard (the kind that attaches to the face mask)
- Cleats (any kind with rubber cleats. No metal spikes)

Total costs can vary, but run about $200-$250 initially for the boys and less for the girls as they don't require a helmet. The most expensive items - helmet and stick - will not wear out and can allow for multi years of use. The youth helmets are expandable, so they can be used as the boys grow older/larger.

For the girls, the gear consists of the following (all lacrosse specific)
- Lacrosse Stick
- Eye Protection
- Mouth Guard
- Cleats (any kind with rubber cleats. No metal spikes)

In addition to the gear, there is a participation fee for the fall program ($125 in 2020) and another fee for the spring program ($175 in 2020). There are some out of town games and tournaments, but only one that requires an overnight stay (Lafayette). The girls travel a little more in search of competition, so their travel costs are slightly higher. 

From the fees, we pay for uniforms, balls, equipment, referee fees, tournament fees, and field expenses for Carrollton.

We are fortunate to have a wonderful facility at our disposal, Avenger Field in Audubon Park (behind the tennis courts/next to Children's Hospital). Avenger is lighted and has field turf, so we can practice in the evenings and play in all but the worst weather conditions. Avenger also has rest rooms and a concessions stand for game days.

The boys play against teams from across the city, south Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.

The younger teams compete in the newly formed Louisiana Youth Lacrosse Association (LYLA) which will include Carrollton, Christian Brothers, St. Catherine's, St. Martin's, Northshore, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Christ Episcopal of Covington. 

The high school boys compete in the Louisiana High School Lacrosse Association at both the junior varsity and varsity levels. There are over 25 schools and clubs in the state association.

At this point, the local competition is very limited for the girls, but there are a handful of programs on the Gulf Coast as well as tournaments in which the girls’ team competes.

Like all Carrollton sports, lacrosse looks to involve the parents in coaching as much as possible. Given the fact that lacrosse is new to the area, we have recruited over a dozen former college players who volunteer as our coaches. Their collective knowledge and experience are what has fueled the success of the program. We have more coaches, with more collective experience, than any program in the area.

Our coaches are primarily teachers, as almost all of the players come to the sport as beginners. The ability to teach the fundamentals properly and quickly aids in the development of the players and teams. Their college experiences also make them great “in game” coaches and allow for a continually improving level of play.

While our seasons (fall and spring) do overlap with several other sports, we do our best to keep things in balance. We practice in the evenings which cuts down on conflicts with school sports. We practice twice a week (and play games each weekend in the spring) which again should allow for participation in school sports. We are flexible in working around school sports and other scheduled activities (music, plays, etc.)