Below is some information to help answer the frequently asked questions about registration and the fall 2019 season.  We know this is a long email, but it is packed with important information and should answer most of your questions.  Please read through the entire email.

When does the fall season start?  How long is the fall season?

Practices for our fall season will begin and end on the dates listed below.  The youth season will end after the TurLAXin Tournament in the first week of November, and the HS season will end on November 21st.  While Lovejoy Lacrosse has both a fall and spring season, the spring season is traditionally considered the main lacrosse season. 

·         K / 2nd Grade Team(s):  First practice is August 26th & last practice is October 28th  

·         3rd / 4th Grade Team(s):  First practice is August 26th & last practice is October 28th

·         5th / 6th Grade Team(s):  First practice is August 26th & last practice is October 28th

·         7th / 8th Grade Team(s):  First practice is August 26th & last practice is October 28th

·         High School Team:  First practice is September 9th & last practice is November 21st

* Special Optional practice for 7th/8th/9th starts on September 11th and ends on November 20th

On what days do the teams practice in the fall?  How long are practices?

·         K / 2nd Grade Team(s):  Monday & Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

·         3rd / 4th Grade Team(s):  Monday & Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

·         5th / 6th Grade Team(s):  Monday & Thursday evenings from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

·         7th / 8th Grade Team(s):  Monday & Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

·         High School Team:  Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

* Special optional practice for 7th/8th/9th graders Wednesday evenings 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Where do practices take place?

Practices will primarily be at Willow Springs Middle School.  Due to HS football, we will not be practicing at the High School this fall, and all of our boys’ and girls’ teams will practice at Willow Springs.  We know this will create some crowded practices and is less than ideal, but with everyone’s cooperation, we will make it work during the fall season.  We are currently looking into other options for the spring season.  From time-to-time, there may be a conflict with the field at Willow Springs as LISD events have priority.  If there is a conflict, you will be notified via email or text that practice is being cancelled or moved to a different location, which will usually be Sloan Creek Intermediate School or “The Hill” in Lucas or Fairview Soccer Park.

Do we practice on school holidays?

No, in the fall, we will not hold official practice on these school holidays:

·         Monday, September 2 – Labor Day.

·         Monday, October 14 – Fall Break

What is the special optional practice for 7th/8th/9th graders?

This fall we are implementing a new program for our 7th, 8th, and 9th graders.  Each Wednesday, beginning September 11th and continuing through November 20th, our three HS coaches will be holding a special 1-hour practice session.  This practice will be held at Willow Springs from 6:30 – 7:30.  This practice is ONLY for our 7th, 8th, and 9th graders.  This practice is NOT open to younger boys or to upperclassmen – no exceptions, please don’t ask.  This practice is designed to help our 7th, 8th, and 9th graders as they transition to varsity level players.  This practice is purely optional, and no player will be penalized for not attending.  Additionally, this practice is not to be used in lieu of attending your team practice.  During this practice, the coaches will focus on offensive, defensive, and goalie skills.  As a club we are very excited to offer this special practice as we are always looking for ways to improve and grow our program and bring added value to our families.

What is Lovejoy Lacrosse’s policy on cancelling practices and games for inclement weather?

Our website has our full inclement weather procedures and policies.  In short, the Lovejoy Board will make the final call on practice and game cancellations due to inclement weather.  Lovejoy Lacrosse is not an “official” LISD school sport so LISD’s guidelines for cancellations may be different than those of Lovejoy Lacrosse.

How will I know if a practice has been cancelled or the location or time have been changed?

We communicate with parents primarily via email.  Any practice or game cancellations or changes to practice and game schedules will be sent to the email address you provided during the registration process.  Cancellations and changes may also be sent out via our text notification system through our website.  This year we will also try to send out cancellation information via social media.  Please be sure to follow Lovejoy Leopards Lax on twitter.

We ask that you PLEASE log in to your Lovejoy Lacrosse account and make sure that the boxes that allow you to receive emails and to receive texts are both checked under “Manage Preferences”.

Additionally, several of our coaches will also be using the GroupMe App or the Sports Engine App to communicate with their teams.

Where are the games played?

Lovejoy home games are played at Willow Springs Middle School or Sloan Creek Intermediate School.  Away games will be played at locations throughout in the Dallas / North Texas area.

On what days do the teams play games in the fall?

Games in the fall have traditionally been played on Sundays.  However, many programs have also shifted to Saturday games in the fall as well.  Tournaments will be played on both Saturdays and Sundays.  Dates and times of games for the fall season will be set very soon.  Game information will be posted on our website as the information becomes available.

How many games will we play in the fall?

All youth teams will play 4 – 5 regular season games and two tournaments this fall.  Each tournament should consist of a minimum of four games.  Each youth team will play in the TurLAXin which will be held on November 2nd – 3rd in McKinney and one of the two following tournaments:

·         Cowbell Classic held in Frisco on October 5th – 6th

·         Pink Out October held in Frisco on October 19th – 20th

The high school schedule will be provided as soon as it has been finalized.

Who will be the Coaches?

·         High School team:  Andrew Hodgson, Chris Selva, Peyton Myles

·         7th / 8th Grade Black team:  Peyton Myles & Craig Friesland

·         7th / 8th Grade Red team:  Joe Hannigan

·         5th / 6th Grade Black team: Craig Friesland & Adam Sussman

·         3rd / 4th Grade Black team: Chris Selva

·         K / 2nd Grade team:  Korey Manley

Will my son be able to borrow lacrosse equipment for the season?

Yes, we do have player loaner equipment available for beginning players to borrow.  The Lovejoy Lacrosse program has a total of 40 sets of boys’ loaner equipment, in various sizes.  The equipment is loaned out on a first come, first serve basis.  The loaner equipment requires a deposit of $200.  $150 of the deposit will be refunded at the end of the season, if the equipment is returned in good condition and not damaged.  The loaner equipment package includes:  helmet, shoulder pads, elbow/arm pads, gloves, and a stick.  Loaner Equipment does not include:  mouthpiece (required), athletic cup (required), rib pads (optional), shoes with cleats (required - football, soccer, or lacrosse shoes are all fine), a reversible team practice pinney (required), and team uniform (required).

Our two loaner equipment distribution days will be at the home of Joellen Dechant, 2710 Bauer Court, Allen, TX 75002 on (1) Thursday, August 22nd from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and (2) Saturday, August 24th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for anyone.  PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO GET LOANER EQUIPMENT THIS FALL.

My son plays another sport or has another school activity that conflicts with one of the practice days. Is it okay if he misses some of the practices?

Yes.  We understand that there are players that play multiple sports or are involved in other school activities.  Because of this, our coaches know that there will be some players that may miss some practices.  All we ask is that you make every effort to attend as many practices as possible and to notify either your coach when your son will be missing a practice.

Can my son get Off Campus PE credit?

Yes.  For players in middle school and in high school, your son can get Off-Campus PE credit for playing lacrosse.  Lovejoy Lacrosse is an “approved” off-campus sport.  The credits are 1/2 credit per semester, and the student can earn up to 2 credits maximum.  However, please note that lacrosse is a Level 2 off-campus PE program.  Level 2 means that the student cannot be dismissed from school early.  If you are interested in Off-Campus PE for your son, then you will need to fill out and turn in the Lovejoy ISD Off-Campus PE application found on the Lovejoy ISD Athletic website under “forms”.

Bantam & Youth Team Uniforms & Jersey Number Assignments

All BANTAM & YOUTH players are required to purchase a Lovejoy Lacrosse uniform AND a Lovejoy practice pinney.  The only exception is for K/2 players – you are only required to have a pinney.  Lovejoy Lacrosse uniforms and practice pinnies are purchased through Team LAX in Frisco.  The price for the uniform is $85, which includes a reversible red and white jersey and shorts.  The practice pinney is $25 and is also reversible.  Please order ASAP if you need a new uniform.  We are still using the sublimated reversible jerseys that we began using a couple of years ago, so you only need to order a jersey if you are new to Lovejoy Lacrosse, if you need a larger size, if you have lost your uniform, or if you haven’t played during the last two seasons.

New Players:  When ordering your uniform and practice pinney – DO NOT INCLUDE a jersey number. LEAVE THAT BOX BLANK.  The club will assign the jersey numbers.  Every effort will be made to give new players one of their three preferred jersey numbers.  However, we need to make sure there are no conflicts with any of the returning players on the same team or a grade below or above the new player. We will let you know your son’s jersey number within the next two weeks.  

Returning Players:  If you are ordering a new uniform – DO NOT CHANGE YOUR SON’S UNIFORM NUMBER.  LEAVE THAT BOX BLANK.  If you want to change your son’s jersey number, please let us know ASAP.  We need to make sure there are no conflicts with any of the returning players.

If you want to try on a sample uniform, you can go to Team LAX to do so. We recommend this, so you can make sure to get the correct size.  Team LAX is located at: 9201 Warren Parkway, Frisco, Texas 75035; (469) 362-8529

High School Uniforms

If your son is a High School player, you do not have to order a uniform.  The club will provide uniforms and a helmet to each high school player.  There is a $200 refundable deposit required for the helmet.

If there is more than one team at my son’s grade level, which team will my son be on?

For our teams, we cap the size of our teams to ensure that everyone gets playing time.  If you register after the rosters are full, players will be placed on a “waiting list.”  If we have enough players, we will have multiple teams at each level.  Players will be placed on a team by the coaches after coaches have concluded player evaluations.  To those of you who are new to Lovejoy Lacrosse, we typically have a Red team and a Black team at each level.  The Black team is our more experienced and skilled team.  However, we attempt to level our K / 2nd grade teams. 

My son – and I – are new to lacrosse, what can we expect?

Expect to have fun and expect to become hooked on lacrosse.  There’s a reason why lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the United States (and in North Texas).  It’s a fun, exciting, and fast paced sport and every player on the field is involved and active throughout the game.  It’s been said many times, once someone picks up a lacrosse stick and plays the game, they are hooked!  Parents love it because the action is non-stop and exciting to watch.

Don’t worry if you do not have any lacrosse experience.  Lacrosse is an easy game to learn.  Make sure to check out our “Lacrosse 101” webpage on our website (www.lovejoylacrosse.com).  You will find a lot of information on the game of lacrosse, such as the rules, the lingo, player positions, the field, and penalties. 

We are excited to announce our 2nd annual LAX A RITA Parent fundraiser on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at Nine-Band Brewing in Allen.  Last year’s event received a lot of positive feedback, and the Lovejoy Lacrosse Club wanted to kick-off this year’s season for parents of all age groups for a night of fun, food, drink and prizes.

Click link above to register now.

There will be food, beer and a theme bar outside.  Drink tickets will be provided, or we’ll have our bottomless Margarita Lovejoy Lacrosse commemorative cups for purchase to celebrate the night.  Please don’t forget to check out the raffles and baskets, as all proceeds from the raffles will benefit the Lovejoy Lacrosse Club.

This fundraiser is open to anyone who loves lacrosse - parents, friends and family. So please share this message, and come join us for a fantastic night out.

2nd Annual Lovejoy Lacrosse Golf Classic Tournament

4 Player Team Scramble Format

 

Monday, October 21, 2019
Eldorado Country Club
2604 Country Club Dr., McKinney, TX 75070

 

Check-In Begins – 12:00 pm
Putting Contest – 1:00 pm
Shotgun Start – 1:30 pm
Awards Dinner – 5:00 pm

Can I still register my daughter to play this Fall?

Yes. Registration is still open. Just visit our website at: www.lovejoylacrosse.com

We have a new website and we are still working out the kinks, so the registration process will take a few minutes. If you run into any problems, just let us know and we will get someone to assist you. 

When does the Fall season start?  How long is the Fall season?

Practices for our Fall season will begin on Wednesday, September 11, 2019. The Fall season will end on November 16, 2019.

On what days do the teams practice in the Fall?  How long are practices?

The practice schedules for each Lady Leopard teams are:

K / 2nd Grade Team:  Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

3rd / 4th Grade Team: Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

5th / 6th Grade Team: Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

7th / 8th Grade Team: Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

High School Team: Tuesdays & Wednesdays & Thursdays from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm 

Where do practices take place?

Tuesday practices will take place at the Fairview Soccer Park, located at 3761 CR317, McKinney, Texas 75069. Click HERE FOR MAP

Wednesday and Thursday practices will take place at Willow Springs Middle School.

Occasionally, a conflict may arise with the field(s) on a certain practice day. If that happens, you will be notified of the conflict and whether practice will be cancelled or moved to a different location.

My daughter also plays other sports during the lacrosse season. Will that be a problem if she cannot make some practices or games?  

Don’t worry. It’s not a problem. We understand that players play other sports. We actually encourage players to be multi-sport athletes. We have several players that also play soccer, volleyball, hockey, and basketball. Players will not be penalized or punished for missing a lacrosse practice. All we ask is that you communicate to your daughter’s coach or to the appropriate board member when your daughter will be absent from a practice or a game due to a scheduling conflict so that they can plan their practices or game rosters accordingly.    

Other than the registration fee, are there any other additional fees or costs that I’m required to pay?

Yes, but not much. An annual US Lacrosse membership due and uniform cost are the two additional costs for our lacrosse players. All of our players are required to become a member of U.S. Lacrosse. The annual fee is $35. U.S. Lacrosse membership is good for 1 year (beginning from the date of original registration). Registration is easy. More information about U.S. Lacrosse membership can be found on their website at:  http://www.uslacrosse.org/membership.aspx  

If your daughter is already a U.S. Lacrosse member in current standing, then there is no need to re-register. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR DAUGHTER’S U.S. LACROSSE MEMBERSHIP IS CURRENT. You will need your daughter’s US Lacrosse membership number and the expiration date when you register with Lovejoy Lacrosse. If your daughter’s US Lacrosse membership expiration date is upcoming, you will re-directed to the US Lacrosse website to renew the membership before being allowed to continue with registration.

Who is the Coach for my daughter’s team?

All of our Lady Leopard team head coaches are former college level players and/or former college level coaches. Our coaches are:

Rainey Hodgson.  Head Coach for High School and 7th/8th Grade Team.

Kilee DeBrabander. Head Coach for 5th/6th Grade Team.     

Kelsey Mackin. Head Coach for K/2nd - 3rd/4th Grade Team & Assistant Coach for High School.

Who do I talk to if I have a question about one of the girls’ teams or about the Lovejoy Lacrosse girls’ program?

Lovejoy Lacrosse is made up of volunteer board members, with specific board members assigned to and responsible for certain teams. For the girls’ teams, those board members are:

Stacy Nichols (nicholsfam2822@gmail.com) – Girls K/2nd, 3rd/4th & 5th/6th grade teams

David Diaz (ddiaz0306@gmail.com) – Girls High School & 7th/8th grade teams.

If you have any questions whatsoever about a specific team or about the girls’ program in general, please feel free to contact either Stacy or David.

Where do I get my daughter a team uniform?

For the Fall season, all youth and high school team players will wear Lovejoy Lacrosse pinnies for games. Do NOT purchase a team uniform for the Fall season.  Lovejoy Lacrosse pinnies can be purchased at Team LAX is Frisco. The price for the pinney is $25. They normally have pinnies in stock and they will add your daughter’s number to the pinney while you wait. Team LAX is located at: 9201 Warren Parkway, Frisco, Texas 75035; (469) 362-8529   

*Jersey numbers are assigned by us. Please do not purchase a pinney and ask for a specific jersey number that has not been assigned to your daughter. Team LAX keeps a master list of all Lovejoy Lacrosse numbers and they are instructed to stick to the list.

**Information about team uniforms for the Spring season will be sent out to everyone later.

What is my daughter’s jersey number for her uniform?

All player uniform numbers are assigned by us – Lovejoy Lacrosse program. We will assign the jersey numbers to each player at all grade levels. Every effort will be made to give new players 1 of their 3 preferred jersey numbers (but it does not always work out that way). We need to make sure there are no conflicts with any of the returning players on the same team or on a team that a player may play “up” on. 

If you are a new player, please contact Jenn Meldrum regarding uniform number assignments. You can contact Jenn at:  mamameldrum@gmail.com

*When you got to Team Lax, please do not purchase a pinney and ask for a specific jersey number that has not been assigned to your daughter. Team LAX keeps a master list of all Lovejoy Lacrosse numbers and they are instructed to stick to the list.

On what days do the teams play games in the Fall?

Games in the Fall have traditionally been played on Saturdays. However, we may have some games on Sundays, but only if necessary. Dates and times of games for the Fall season have not yet been determined. Game information will be sent out to everyone after the schedule has been set.

Are there any Fall Tournaments?

Yes. We will play in the Turlaxin tournament in McKinney. The dates of the Turlaxin tournament are: October 19 & 20

My daughter attends Willow Springs or Lovejoy High School. Can my daughter earn off-campus PE school credit by playing lacrosse for Lovejoy?

Yes, Lovejoy Lacrosse is a Lovejoy ISD approved off-campus organization. You will find this on page 8 of the Off-Campus Physical Education form used by Lovejoy ISD. However, please note that we are a Level 2 Sport because we do not exceed the 15 hours a week of practice time necessary to be a Level 1 Sport. That means that the lacrosse students cannot leave campus early. Should your daughter wish to use lacrosse as her OCPE sport, please inform your daughter’s coach or her team’s Board Member VP. The coach or board member will be the one who signs the OCPE form and the one to turn in the reports each grade period.

My daughter attends a school outside of Lovejoy I.S.D. Can my daughter earn off-campus PE school credit by playing lacrosse for Lovejoy?

It depends. Please check with your daughter’s school district off-campus PE requirements. Each school district has different requirements and approved programs. If Lovejoy Lacrosse meets those requirements, then please feel free to send us the necessary paperwork and we will fill it out.

Will there be any "Try-It" Clinics before the Fall season starts?

Yes. We will have two try-it clinics for our girls’ teams. The clinics will be on Wednesday, August 28, 2019; and Wednesday, September 4, 2019. Both will be from 6:30pm – 8:00pm. These clinics are free and there is no need to register. We will have loaner equipment available.

Returning and registered players are also free to come to the try-it clinic. We encourage returning players to bring a friend; or to come out to shake off any of the summer rust.

How will I know if a game or practice has been cancelled or re-scheduled?

We communicate through emails and the GameChanger app. Notices will go out using one or both of these methods. Please make sure your current email address is correct on your Lovejoy Lacrosse website account. Before the season starts you will receive an invite to join your daughter’s team’s GameChanger account.

Where are the games played?

Lovejoy home games will be played at either Sloan Creek Intermediate School or at Willow Springs Middle School. Away games will be played at several different locations throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. There will not be any travel outside of the DFW Metroplex area for games. 

What equipment is required to play girls’ lacrosse?

The required equipment for girls’ lacrosse is a girl’s lacrosse stick, goggles, a mouthpiece, and cleats (either soccer or lacrosse cleats).

Note: Mouthguards CANNOT be white or clear. Mouthguards can be any other color you want (other than white or clear).

Where can I buy girls’ lacrosse equipment?

There are several local DFW area lacrosse stores that sell girl’s lacrosse equipment. We recommend Monkey Sports in Allen and LaxKong in Plano. You can also find used girl’s lacrosse equipment at stores like Play It Again Sports.

We have a boy’s lacrosse stick. Can my daughter use it?

No. A girl’s lacrosse stick is different than a boy’s lacrosse stick and cannot be used by girls in games.

My daughter has never played lacrosse before. Does she need experience to play for Lovejoy?

No. The Lovejoy Lacrosse program welcomes all players. No experience is necessary. We will teach your daughter how to play lacrosse and have fun while doing so.

Can my daughter play "up" or "down" on another Lovejoy team?

At the youth level (Kinder thru 8th grade), the Texas Girls’ Youth Lacrosse League allows younger girls to play “up” on other teams but prohibits older players from playing “down” on other teams. A member of our coaching staff will contact you individually and directly, if the coach would like for your daughter to play up on another team for a specific game.

At the high school, the Texas Girls High School League specifically prohibits 8th graders from playing “up” on the high school team.

How can I help out during the season with my daughter’s team?

There will be several opportunities for you to help out and volunteer throughout the season. Our biggest need for help is on game days. We always need volunteers to help set up the field before games, clean up the field after games, and work the game clock and score board during games. If you’ve played or coached lacrosse in the past and would like to help out as an assistant coach, then please contact one of the girl division board member VPs and let them know.

My daughter – and I – are new to lacrosse, what can we expect?

Expect to have fun and expect to become hooked on lacrosse.  There’s a reason why lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the United States (and in North Texas). It’s a fun, exciting, and fast paced sport and every player on the field is involved and active throughout the game. It’s been said many times, once someone picks up a lacrosse stick and plays the game, they are hooked! Parents love it because the action is non-stop and exciting to watch. Don’t worry if you do not have any lacrosse experience. Lacrosse is an easy game to learn.

Hope this information helps. If we missed anything or you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this email. Again, thank you for being a part of the Lovejoy Lacrosse family!

Go Leopards!!!!