LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. Starting A New Lacrosse Program Brian K. Southern Girls Varsity Head Coach Center Grove High School Director Center Grove Lacrosse Club Greenwood, Indiana

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. So You Want to Start Lacrosse… Do it for the right reasons –Love of the Game –For the Players –Fitness and Outdoor Activity Lacrosse is Infectious and Contagious It’s Just a Game

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. What Market are you Serving? Community Youth Program –In House School Program –Supported by school programs –PE –After School Official Athletic Sport –Part of Athletic Department –Sanctioned by State High School Association

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. High School Athletics Program Status –Depends on Area of Country State High School Sanctioning –Club Status vs. Varsity Status –Provisional Period 2 Years Competition –Spring Sport Other Sports – Track, Softball, Baseball, Tennis –Year Round Sports

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. Competition If Lacrosse is new to the community and especially to the area, you will have some resistance –Spring sports will have athletes leave and come to lacrosse –Year round programs will resist having athletes compete in a different sport Football, Basketball, Soccer Academic High School Athletes – Work

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. Development Program

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. New Program Goals Development –Focus needs to be on development of fundamental skills –Do not expect too much too soon –Establish program at different age levels Winning –Expect winning to be part of the equation –Human Nature –Wanting to Win is good… …just not at any cost

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. Coaches The number 1 reason youth sports programs succeed or fail is Coaches! –Get good role models –Adults that want to help –Adults that care about development of all kids, not just their own –HAVE ENOUGH COACHES! –Knowledge of the sport

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. Coaches Coaching Pre-Requisites –Background Check (All adults) –US Lacrosse Coaching Education Program Level 1 (CEP) –Positive Coaching Alliance – Double Goal Program –First Aid/CPR Training –US Lacrosse Level 1 Field Training (As opportunity permits)

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. I Love Lacrosse and I Am Still Going Forward! Establish Local Lacrosse Club –Get Help!!! Contact Local State/Area Chapter Contact Any Local Leagues/Associations –Youth Leagues –High School Leagues Contact US Lacrosse –Contact Sheet at end

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. What Do I Need to Do? To Do Checklist –Part of Handouts and electronic version can be downloaded at: Are you going to be part of school system? –Meet with Athletic Director to establish intention and get criteria –Get school sponsor –Follow checklist Are you going to be a youth club? –Determine where you will play –Determine ages you want to serve –Follow checklist

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. Starting A Lacrosse Program Checklist

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. Timeline Pre-Season By October: Start-Up Club, Level of Interest, Local Chapter Contact, US Lacrosse Contact, League Contact By December: First Call Out Meeting, Recruit Coaches, Equipment Providers By January: Begin Registration, Skills Sessions, Fields, Schedules, Uniforms, Spirit Wear, Team Meetings By February: Fundraising, Sponsorships, Field Equipment, Officials Training, Coaches Training Season Mid March to End of May Post Season Next Season Planning Summer Camps

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. US Lacrosse Contacts US Lacrosse – Sport Development Program – New Start Sarah Newman – Program Coordinator Ext. 104 Membership Information Mark Kamyszek – Ext. 176 General Information – Ext. 102 Local Chapter Relations Erin Sturgis – Ext. 132

LEARN. LEAD.INSPIRE. Thank You! Speaker Contact Info: Brian K. Southern Head Coach Center Grove High School Presentation, Checklist, Handouts at: