The youth of Long Island would benefit if there was a single organization administering all the leagues and tournaments. PAL tries to do this in the Spring but there are a multitude of other leagues, tournaments and travel clubs all vying for lacrosse dollars being spent in what is now a year round sport.
With all these separate entities managing the experience for the kids we see rules change, competition change and the quality of officiating can vary greatly.
Let them create 3 divisions for all age groups –developmental (1-2 years experience), competitive((3+ years) and Elite (3+ years) and promote it that way. Kids want to play so find a way to match kids of similar talent against one another. Make all kids get US Lacrosse # when they begin the sport, require all towns/travel teams register with US Lacrosse. Their numbers are required on all subsequent registrations for any youth lacrosse tournament, camp, league etc. That would give the organizers the ability to ensure kids of similar talent are matched.
You’d see competitive lacrosse on all levels. You would no longer see “travel team “X” playing in a novice/developmental town league tournament masquerading as a team from Town Y throttling kids with their matching helmets and sticks so they can feel success because when this very same travel team enters tournaments with Elite competition, the outcome is usually different.
People would understand what to expect when registering, things could be easily promoted and most importantly, a single entity could manage and promote all of these opportunities to families. The kids benefit, the organizers benefit, the facility owners and operators benefit. Just something to consider.
Excellent post. Well thought out concept. Let's do it. It would be great. Let parents and children who are all about scholarships play on the YJ's and offer this opportunity to the masses.
That is a great idea. It should be run as similar to [lacrosse] as possible, with divisions based on skill level, and their own picture ID cards, with DOB, renewed each year, with birth certificates required, to get the card (vs. US Lax card, which you can get any age you want, no picture ID, you can use someone else's, etc). The ref can check the kids in before each game, like soccer. Only takes a few mins, including any rules clarifications, before each game.
