Over the past two decades, youth club lacrosse teams have grown into a booming business and greatly changed the way our sport operates. Seeing this kind of change in just 20 years is, quite frankly, amazing for a thousand-year-old sport. In the 1990s, youth lacrosse team programs were rare, and most players were on the field during the Spring for their town or school, while camps and loose leagues ruled the Summer season.
Lacrosse programs for the youth club started to proliferate to fill the gap. Many were initiated by the high school head coaches’ friends or volunteer assistants, so programs found a way to stick together during the offseason, and coaches could still dictate what was being practiced, even if they were not involved directly. For the most part, getting teams together more during the offseason while complying with the rules of the state athletic association was just a workaround. In current circumstances of youth sports, parents can feel a bit overwhelmed trying to select the right and best lacrosse program for their children.
Joining a lacrosse club at an early age is a huge commitment from an individual which involves an entire family and a number of things to consider around. A deal between coach and player, practice sessions required, and obviously cost. Some lacrosse clubs are governed by US Lacrosse, which provides fledge training, funding for youth programs, and guidelines/tips on the safety and development of players. There are many youth lacrosse clubs that are committed totally to player development with add-ons as club players dedicated to training from renowned coaches with consistent instructions and planned tournaments for viewing each player’s progress.
The Youth Lacrosse Club encourages kids to work hard at the fundamentals, to stay positive, to have confident body language and to be a supportive teammate. Players learn the value of hard work and compete against the best. Clubs take a professional approach to train kids for a lacrosse tournament and they provide training all around the year to help the young players achieve their goals. The club also teaches them to make great friends, and memories and develop into well-rounded student-athletes.
Top-level youth lacrosse clubs use a box field hybrid development system to enhance skills mandatory for competition at the youth and high school levels. With the goal of forging a route for player upgradation path that will ultimately bring the best out of youth to play at the college level. These clubs are very confident in the strategies, and training provided by them and to prepare for the best competitions in the nation where they can show ultimate talent and passion to become a big match player.
The youth lacrosse club’s main mission is to develop individual players at their peak and for players in high school to make sure coaches know their ability for game and performance on the field. Some clubs have great connections with various lacrosse organizations, coupled with participation in nations’ top tournaments gives high school players a chance to showcase their ability and talent for selection by the nation’s top coaches and club scouts. On top of all, selected coaches provide mentorship to each individual and help them to grow mature with the game, while offering guidance that benefits throughout their career.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MODEL
5 STEP APPROACH TO AN IDEAL LACROSSE PLAYER:
1. Fundamentals: Training students all around the year to build their foundation
2. Team Strategies – Having an essential role within the team system.
3. Position-Specific – Strategies, Knowledge, and Skills
4. Decision Making – Small-sided games with fast-paced scenarios
5. Intangibles – Leadership qualities, How to hustle, Coachability, Healthy competitive spirit and being positive.
The Youth Lacrosse Development model helps in identifying players at an early stage allowing the best players to come out as they reach physical maturity.
Stages of development in LADM
Stage 1 – 0-6 years
The young students are given the opportunity to learn basic movement skills like jumping, running, kicking, landing, throwing, scooping, and catching in an enjoyable setting usually built around informal play. Kids explore movement through such types of physical activities.
Stage 2 – 6-9 years
Kids are taught the basic ABCs – Agility, Balance, Coordination, and Speed while focusing on fun, cooperation, and maximum interaction with the ball. There are lots of sample activities and sports for kids to learn.
Stage 3 – 8-12 Years
This is often called the golden age for learning and developing sports skills. Children are able to learn from their mistakes by this age and it is the best time to build lacrosse-specific skills and learn to pay in a fun yet challenging environment.
Stage 4 – 11-14 years
This is the stage where we make or break an athlete. Strong technical skills and tactical awareness are taught to young athletes. Players are taught concepts like mental preparation, goal setting, and sportsmanship spirit. Players are taught advanced technical skills and position-specific techniques. The major emphasis is on applying these skills and strategies to competitive situations. Athletes participate throughout the year in a variety of physical activities.
Stage 5 – 15-18 years
In this stage, players fine-tune their lacrosse skills under different competitive games that reflect an actual adult game. Players still work on developing their tactical awareness, discipline, and mental strength. They are improving their performance in each competition during this stage. Athletes may now start choosing one or two key sports or still play a variety of different physical activities.
Stage 6
Stage 6 – High Performance – In this stage, athletes focus on maximizing their fitness preparation and sport-specific skills. This practice will help them in optimal performance and it is wise if athletes focus on only one sport.
Participate and Succeed – For those athletes who do not wish for such an intensive path, they can choose this stage which focuses on performance excellence, fitness preparation, and position-specific skill performance.
Stage 7 – Lifetime
Lacrosse athletes can participate in these clubs whether for competition, or fitness, or also apply themselves as coaches, program leaders, or supporter of the sport.
Choosing the best club
To choose the right club from among the many clubs begin by asking questions that will help to achieve your personal goals and growth. What kind of involvement will you receive in a particular club – Coaching, Tournament play, college recruitment or simply building character by being part of a sports team?
