“Greeley Youth Lacrosse is a privately funded youth lacrosse organization whose mission is to provide girls and boys youth lacrosse programs that inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the game and to provide the New Castle community with the opportunity to participate in the game of lacrosse.  We strive to help players develop their skills in a safe and fun environment while placing higher value on sportsmanship and learning, rather than solely on winning.  Through positive and effective leadership, we hope to provide every child the opportunity to discover, learn, participate and develop a love and passion for the game of Lacrosse.”

5 October 2018

Parents,

Greeley Youth Lacrosse Association (GYL) is pleased to announce the kickoff of our spring 2019 Lacrosse season. Each year, lacrosse continues to become more popular and our registration enrollment gets progressively larger. The GYL Board of Directors is excited to provide you with quality girls and boys youth programs that are specifically designed to assist player development regardless of their individual skill level. We feel this will benefit the larger group and help our players gain confidence across experience and ability levels.  The most important thing to remember is that GYL will ensure your son or daughter has the opportunity to play lacrosse this spring.

The first phase of our spring season is to conduct player evaluations for players who are registering to play on our girls and boys teams, Grades 3 and older for boys, and Grades 5 and older for girls. The evaluations will allow for proper assessment of a player’s skills levels to determine our teams.  Once again, in grades 3-6, there will be a spot made for any child that wants to play lacrosse.  For grades 7-8, if your child does not get assigned a team, the opportunity to play Modified on the Bell or Seven Bridges teams still remains.  

In order to participate, you must:

• Have registered on the GYL website for the spring 2019 season; 
• Have a current U.S. Lacrosse membership;
• Paid the registration fees. 

Registration for the Spring 2019 GYL season will open up on Monday, November 5^th.     

The GYL website will walk you through the required steps to properly complete the registration process.  Additionally, playing time expectations and team structures can be found on the website.  

Guiding Principles for Evaluations

GYL continues to support the following governing principals which we expect our lacrosse players and community to embrace for the upcoming season:

• Every player interested in playing lacrosse must be evaluated prior to being placed on a roster.  All children in grades K-6 will be placed on a GYL team that fits their skill level.

• We ask that in the spring, lacrosse be your number one sport. If you expect to have reasonable playing time on the team, then you are expected to attend every practice and game scheduled, except for school reasons, illnesses, and/or family events.

• GYL will have a minimum of 1-2 professional evaluators along with parent volunteers who will do their best to evaluate each player.  Parent volunteers will not evaluate their own teams or players. We ask that all parents respect the decisions of the selectors and not interfere with the evaluation process. 

• Players, coaches and parents are asked to sign a Code of Conduct. It asks, among other things, that you be respectful toward one another and that lacrosse is made a priority in the spring.  We spend a great deal of time coordinating the schedules of other New Castle based youth sports programs to avoid conflicts in the spring.

• Stress Free Zone -- Parents and spectators are not allowed to observe the evaluation process.

• Please arrive early as evaluations will start promptly at the below times. All players will be required to wear all required lacrosse equipment: helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, protective cup, and gloves for boys; goggles/helmet and mouth guards for girls. Bring your GYL practice pinney or team jersey.  For those who are new to GYL, a pinney will be provided.  

During the evaluations, GYL will assess the players based on US Lacrosse Grade Level Expectations:

3/4 Grade Boys

• General athleticism, effort, and attitude.
• Catching, Throwing & Shooting with dominant hand and is comfortable switching hands.
• Ground Balls & Cradling - Able to scoop the ball cleanly, good at positioning, and understand Man / Ball concepts.
• Dodging - Able to beat defender using a verity of dodges in appropriate situations.
• Offensive Positioning & Awareness - Understands spacing and looks to get open, shoot, and/or clear through.
• Defensive Positioning & Awareness - Understands positioning, help defense concepts and shows willingness to initiate contact.
• Overall Aggressiveness – Works hard, is always engaged, shows eagerness and takes initiative.
• Attitude / Sportsmanship – this is one of the most important components. We expect our players to hard and be engaged during practice and games.
• Understanding the rules of the game and the responsibilities of various positions.

5/6 Grade Girls/Boys

• General athleticism, effort, and attitude.
• Catching and throwing with dominant hand and is comfortable switching hands.
• Scooping and Cradling 
• Dodging using a variety and in the appropriate situations.
• Demonstrating field sense in live situations.
• Receiving and applying feedback from coaches.
• Working with various offensive schemes.
• Working with various defensive schemes.
• Playing under pressure.
• Specific positioning determined on offense/defense basis, still teaching close defense, offensive movement.
• Practicing on their own without encouragement.
• Understanding the rules of the game and the responsibilities of various positions.

7/8 Grade Girls/Boys

• General athleticism, effort, field sense, attitude.
• Catching and throwing with dominant hand and their off-hand.
• Scooping and Cradling 
• Dodging at full speed using a variety of dodges and in the appropriate situations.
• Demonstrating field sense in live situations.
• Receiving and applying feedback from coaches.
• Transitional situation tactics.
• Working with various offensive schemes.
• Working with various defensive schemes.
• Playing under pressure.
• Specific positions are used – select number of close defense, middies, close attack, and goalie.
• Practicing on their own without encouragement.
• Exhibiting off-ball skills and tactics in settled and unsettled play.
• Understanding the rules of the game and the responsibilities of various positions.

Evaluation Schedule.  Please review the following evaluation schedule. We have worked diligently to address as many conflicts as possible relating to other town youth sports programs and religious activities. In the event your son/daughter cannot make his/her assigned scheduled time, please contact your Team Manager for an opportunity to participate in the evaluation for the next grade level.  For those who cannot make any of these times, the coaches will meet and place your child based upon last year’s performance.   

We hope to announce team placements at the earliest opportunity thereafter and again appreciate you respecting the evaluation process.

Location: Armonk Indoor (205 Business Park Drive, Armonk, NY)

Schedule:

Saturday, December 1st

9:00am to 10:30am        Girls – 7^th/8^th Grades

10:30am to 12:00pm         Girls – 5^th/6^th Grades

12:00pm to 1:00pm         Girls – 3^rd/4^th Grades (Practice only)

1:00pm to 2:30pm         Boys – 7^th/8^th  Grades

2:30pm to 4:00pm         Boys – 5^th/6^th Grades

4:00pm to 5:30pm         Boys – 3^rd/4^th Grades

Greeley Youth Lacrosse Association Board of Directors