by posted 05/07/2012
 
The Stillwater Lacrosse Association will have a 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th grade in-house spring league. Todd Arens will coordinate the 2/3/4 grade program.  He can be reached at or 612-723-8688 with any questions or concerns.

Eligibility: Stillwater Area Lacrosse rules states that players must currently be in 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th grade and live in the Stillwater Area School District.  
 
Teams: We play in an in-house league scheduling as many games as possible with surrounding communities. Our goal is to schedule 1 game for every two practices. Each team will have approximately 20 players.  We anticipate having two teams.

Season Start Dates: The Spring season will run from March 19^th to May 14^th.  Summer Season will run from May 14^th to July 30^th.

League Format: We anticipate having one experienced team and one developmental team. The experienced team will consist of the top 20 kids.  Being able to catch and throw on the run will be a minimum requirement for this team.  The developmental team will be working with kids on being able to master the skills of throwing and catching on the run.  
  
Practice Schedule: To Be Determined. We realize many of the players will be doing other activities and will make every effort to schedule around those activities.

Game Schedule: To Be Determined.

Equipment: Preferred that each player has a lacrosse helmet, lacrosse gloves, arm guards and shoulder pads.  It is mandatory for each player to have a helmet, mouth guard, cleats and a water bottle. We understand that for a beginner player, it may be acceptable to substitute some of the lacrosse equipment for already owned hockey equipment, although this should not be a long-term solution.

Cost: The registration fee of $250 per player will include a custom fit team sweatshirt, shorts and shirt to keep after the season ends. For players participating in the summer session as well, the fee will be reduced to $150 since the sweatshirt, shorts and shirt will have already been provided. If a player is first registering for the summer session, the same $250 fee will apply and the player will be provided with the apparel at that time. 

Registration:  You should register for the program at your current grade level by clicking the register online tab on the left tool bar of the main page.  Once the cutoff is reached for each grade level, we will not add any more players.

US Lacrosse Membership:  Required.
                                                                                                                               
Financial Aid:  If you are unable to pay and need help, please call Todd.  We are always looking for volunteers and we will try to make it work for your family.
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by posted 05/07/2012
 
Stillwater Lacrosse Association will again be participating in the MBLA administered spring and YLM administered summer leagues.  The 7/8 Coordinator is Tom DaBruzzi.  He can be contacted at

FORMAT

• Both Spring and Summer leagues are now structured with A and B teams.  Evaluations will be held in late March for the MBSLA Spring season and in May for the YLM Summer season . 
• All Players who want to play on an A team must attend the evaluation for that season.  Playing on the A team for spring does not guarantee you a spot on the A team for summer.
• Players not interested in trying out for A teams must still attend evaluations, as we want the B teams to be balanced for competitive play.

EVALUATION DATES

• Monday, May 21st - Tryout check-in & warm-ups
• • 6:00 - 8:00
  • Stillwater Jr. High East Field

• Tuesday, May 22nd - Tryout - Drill Stations
• • 6:00 - 8:00
  • Stillwater Jr. High Miller Field

• Wednesday, May 23rd - Tryout - Scrimmage
• • 6:00 - 8:00
  • Stillwater Jr. High Miller Field

• Thursday, May 23rd - Players notified of team placement
• • Coaches will notify players of date/time for first team practice.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

When your son checks in, he will need to indicate if he would like to be evaluated for the 7/8 A team.  Please discuss this with your son prior to tryouts. 

• • Additional commitment required for A team participation.
    • 4 practices per week.  (Summer – Expected that you attend all.)
    • 2 games per week. (Spring – 2 per weekend, Summer – 2 per week)
    • 2 tournaments
  • Necessary Skills
  • • Ability to throw and catch the ball reliably with left and right hands.
    • Ability to throw the ball reliably and accurately 15 yards or more with both hands Ability to shoot the ball overhand  (not side arm) while running with left and right hands.
    • High lax IQ including: off-sides, pushing, slashing, crease violations, backup on shots, faceoff play, clearing positioning, defensive techniques, proper stance, motion offense and man down defense.
• There is an Additional $50.00 fee for playing on the A team.

Questions - contact


REGISTRATION

• Register for the program at your current grade level
• Once the cutoff is reached for each grade level, additional registrants will be added to a wait list in anticipation of an additional team for that level.

ELIGIBILITY
YLM rules require that participants be limited to players residing (or open-enrolled) in the Stillwater Area School District. Waivers are possible - please contact for further information.
All players wanting to play for Stillwater who live outside the district will automatically be put on a waiting list until we know we have enough space.  
 
TEAMS

• SALA plays in the MBSLA. (Spring)
• SALA plays in the East District of the YLM.  (Summer)
• SALA is anticipating two 7-8th grade teams for spring and three for summer.  
• Each team will have approximately 22 players.  
• We may have the opportunity to add additional teams if the numbers warrant.

 
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Spring (A & B teams) 2 practices per week
Summer (A team)  4 practices per week
Summer (B teams)  2 practices per week

GAME SCHEDULE
Spring – (A & B teams) 2 games each Saturday or Sunday.
Summer – (A team)  Weekday games, 2 weekend tournaments.
Summer  - ( B teams) Weekday games, 1 weekend tournament.
 
EQUIPMENT
Lacrosse helmet
Lacrosse gloves
Arm guards
Shoulder pads
Mouthguard
Cleats
Water bottle
 
US LACROSSE MEMBERSHIP
Your son is required to have a current membership with US Lacrosse to participate.  If you are not currently a member, go to www.uslacrosse.org to register.  $25.00 annual fee
 
COSTS
$200 for Spring
$200 for Summer
Additional approximate $50 fee for A team
 

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by posted 05/04/2012
 
Registration for Summer boys 9/10 prep team will open the first week of May. 

We will have 2 teams (North and South) and will be playing in the Homegrown Lacrosse league.  Games will be on Monday nights between 5:30-9:30pm at Hamline University.  Season starts June 11th and goes until August 11th. 

There will be one practice per week which will be determined shortly.
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by posted 04/11/2012
 
This is a great video on Harvard,  I think is would be valuable for all players, parents and coaches  to watch it

The day-to-day life of a Division I lacrosse player is a unique and challenging one, hard to totally imagine or understand unless you've been close to it. That's additionally, or perhaps even more true, at an Ivy League institution, particularly one with the world-renowned reputation that Harvard has.
The Men of Harvard Lacrosse is a short documentary film about the Harvard Men’s Lacrosse Team. The short doc features the strenuous schedule of a Harvard lacrosse player. Through all of the training, studying, and travel, the men learn to overcome adversity and excel at the highest level. The biggest thing to take away from the short doc, which captures a lot of the team’s hard work, is their will to persevere. Nothing is taken for granted. And, oh yeah, the Harvard bus better have Wi-Fi.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvpt3Z-hRMA&feature=youtu.be&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

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by posted 04/10/2012
 
The Homegrown lacrosse summer camps are excellent opportunities for your son or daughter to further their lacrosse skills locally in day and overnight camps...

Homegrown Lacrosse Summer Camps:

This year our programs have been expanded to offer full weeks for each age group. We have separate weeks for youth, middle school, high school freshman, and varsity prep players (based on 2012-2013 school year) which will allow us to focus our entire staff’s attention to unique needs and developmental goals of each age level.

June 25 - June 28: Girls Middle School Overnight, Grades 6/7/8
July 16- July 19: Youth Day, Grades 5/6
July 20- July 23: Middle School Overnight, Grades
7/8 July 23 - July 26: H.S. Prep Overnight, Grade 9
Aug 3 - Aug 6: Boys College Prep Overnight, Grades 10/11/12

You can find more information about the Summer Camps at www.homegrownlacrosse.org under our Camps & Clinic section.
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by posted 03/06/2012
 
Pictures:
If you have taken pictures and want to put them on the Stillwater lacrosse share site or if you are interested in ordering pictures that have been taken, go to http://stillwaterponiesboyslax2012.shutterfly.com

For team and individual pictures taken by Countryside Photo go to www.countryside-photo.com Under Galleries go to Stillwater High school events then Spring 2012.


TEAM PASTA DINNERS
April 12th after practice at Cody Holsten's house
May 3rd after practice at Sam Mathieu's house
May 8th after practice at Charlie Register's house


Fundraising
Family and Friends are invited to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings on the dates listed below.  If you hand our team flyer to your server, the Lacrosse Booster club will earn 10% of your bill.

• Wednesday, April 25th
• Wednesday May 16

 
Family and Friends are invited to eat at Applebee's on the dates listed below.  If you hand our team flyer to your server, the Lacrosse Booster club will earn 10% of your bill.

• Tuesday, April 10th from 4pm-9pm

Cub Bagging is on Saturday May 5th.  Every player must sign up for one shift.  For available shifts please email Kris Bromback at


Gerten's Flowers: Plants can be picked up at the SAHS Cafeteria on Friday, May 11th from 5-7:30pm.  They must be delivered by Mother's day.

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by posted 03/05/2012
 
 Lacrosse Coaches are needed for the 2012 Spring and Summer Lacrosse seasons.  If you have a son registered to play this season please consider joining the ranks of SALA Coaches. 
 
The thought of coaching lacrosse is intimidating for many of us to some extent.  This most likely is due to being unfamiliar with the sport given its relatively recent expansion into the area.  If you have any interest in helping out, inspiring young athletes, teaching this generation of youth, giving back time to your community- then this is your opportunity.
             
Lacrosse is a fast-paced game with a steep learning-curve.  In this game there is a place for just about every kind of athlete and players of various sizes, shapes, and abilities can easily share the field.  The sport has many unique characteristics while sharing many similarities to several other sports including hockey, soccer, and basketball.  If you have coached any other sports before this may be a chance to expand your experiences.  Successful coaches are good teachers- their success does not always correlate directly with their success as former players.
 
 US Lacrosse, the main governing body for the sport in the United States, offers many coaching materials including practice plans, drills (videos and diagrams), and most importantly a coaching education program to help you learn the game, the necessary skills, and game tactics/strategies to be competitive.  US Lacrosse is a tremendous resource and it continues to expand its offerings to both coaches and players, alike.
 
 I volunteer as the SALA coaching coordinator and will be helping through coaching clinics, practice planning, and practice assistance (schedule permitting). Coaching clinics are being planned so continue to check the SALA website for information.
 
We are looking forward to a great season and to the ongoing development and progression of our young lacrosse players and the sport in the Stillwater area.
 
Sky Sanderson
Coaching Coordinator, SALA
651-414-1966
 
Coaching Job Requirements:
1. Patience
2. Enthusiasm and positive attitude
3. Good organization
4. Good communication
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by posted 03/05/2012
 
As we head into this season, I wanted to share a quick story with you.  As parents and coaches, we are all excited to see our children continue progressing as young athletes.  Some of them are just starting out and others have played before.  No matter where they are now we hope to see them continue to grow in the sport.   As we cheer in the stands I would like you to consider the following story from my past when I played the game.

When I was a senior in high school, I was a captain and the goalie on my varsity lacrosse team. Brad Rothman, a teammate of mine, was also a senior and played attack.  That meant that Brad and I were at different ends of the field, all the time.   I don’t stay in touch with Brad and haven’t seen him in over 20 years.  But, I think about what he taught me almost everyday.

We were playing on our home field during a light drizzle and it was early in the first half.  We were up by one goal.  As the goalie and the captain, I felt it was my duty to do a lot of talking during the game.  Cheering on my teammates, calling out commands to the defense, and offering what I thought would be helpful comments (scoop the ball!  Run!  C’mon, go to Goal! Faster!  No, don’t drop the ball!). Well, Brad had the ball and was down in our offensive end of the field.  He was pretty fast and had a good shot, although he had missed several shots in this game already.  He made a dodge on a defender, got around him, pulled back his stick and let the ball fly towards the net.  It was a good shot except it went over the top of the cross-bar.  Of course, I am at my end of the field and was growing frustrated because he wasn’t scoring.  I continued shouting out commands to my team, and to Brad directly, “Brad, put the shot on the net!” 

My comments made perfect sense to me.  He should shoot so that the ball goes into the net- not miss it.  Missing the net doesn’t do us any good, obviously.  Nor does running slowly, making a bad pass or dropping the ball.   The first half came to an end.  Brad never did get another shot off before the whistle blew.  The team ran over to the sidelines and I proudly jogged to join them after a good first half in net.  Before I ever made it to the sideline, Brad Rothman ran down the field to meet me.  What he said to me at that moment was simple and powerful.  It truly altered my life and helped shape my own personal character- right there on that lacrosse field.

He said to me, “Do you think I’m trying to miss the net, Sky?”
I didn’t know what to say.  I stood there and stared at him as my mind struggled to find an answer to this simple question. Of course I knew he wasn’t trying to miss the net.  I was a captain and a leader but had nothing constructive to offer him.  I thought I was doing the right thing when I made that comment, all my comments.  But his question made me realize what I had told him, better yet, what I had yelled at him, was completely ridiculous.  I finally answered him with a simple and somewhat defeated, “No”.  I’m sure every one of my teammates felt the same way, but Brad actually took the time to call me on it.  I shouted, “…put the shot on the net”.  Brad heard, “You’re trying to miss the net”.

Think about it.  The stuff we say to our players, these children, during games can be completely meaningless at times.  If you have a chance during the next game, spend just a few moments and become a spectator of the spectators and listen to what they are saying.  I think you will have a Brad Rothman story to tell.  Listen for the comments, the instructions, and the criticisms we offer these kids at many levels of play.  The hockey rink is a great place to start.  But you can do the same in any arena, on any sideline, or in the stands just about anywhere.  You’ll probably hear:  “Ice it”, “Shoot it”, “Pass it”, “Get up”, “Get the puck”, “Go faster”… It is a list that can go on and on.  Think about it.  Are we helping with these commands?  Are they really trying to underachieve, to actively disappoint their parents and fans?

The athletes will all have more games to play and we all hope for more growth and progress in our children.  Mistakes are going to be made by our team and by our opponents- that’s the game. These players are trying to do their best.  Nobody wants to make a mistake on the field, ice, or court.  I hope you realize a Brad Rothman story of your own.  If you still feel the need to be a fan with critical comments and commands, remember the qualifications you’ll need to cast that first stone.

Please support our players.  Foster the growth of our children.  Enjoy the game. 
 
Sky Sanderson
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