FAQs
When does the season start? End?
Our season starts when the local high school Spring season ends. We anticipate the first weekend of May to be when we start practicing.
Both seasons will go through their 3rd tournament. Dates TBD.
When/Where are practices?
We will likely not have the final practice schedule established until sometime in March. But we can promise that every team will have 2 evening practices during the week + 1 Saturday practice every weekend leading up to our tournaments. We are still finalizing field locations, but they will be held throught Columbia County. Barring any postponements/cancellations, every team will have a consistent day/time/location.
What will the tournaments be like?
Every tournament is different, but here are a few things to give you a better feel of what to expect.
Tournaments are designed to provide multiple games in a day for teams against similarly skilled programs from different areas. In most cases, our teams will be playing up to 3 games on Saturday, with a potential to play 2-3 more on Sunday. Unless it is a 6v6 tournament, the games themselves are full field, 10v10, standard rules, but are shorter in duration than a typical EGYL/High School game.
They can certainly be chaotic, but also an incredible opportunity for the kids to compete, learn, and most importantly, bond together. This is also where the parents/coaches often get to know each other best. We will always organize ourselves so that the players are with their teammates between games, and ideally, all of the ALC teams are together as well (this is not always possible if different age brackets are playing far away from each other). Parents can arrange in advance who can provide snacks/drinks/etc. and we will also have plenty of great ALC gear to display by then as well!
Our philosophy with tournaments is that we will always compete, but they are also just another step in the process for kids in these age groups. These events can provide many different unique experiences for kids and we want to assist in providing them with as many of those as possible. This can't happen if we do not allow everyone on the tournament rosters the opportunity to participate.
What ages are eligible for tryouts?
Because club tournaments are currently structured by graduation year, we will follow the same model. For our inaugural season, we are able to provide coaches for kids currently in 3rd grade (2032s) through 8th grade (2027s).
Ideally, every class will have their own team, but because we are emphasizing quality coaching, we cannot yet offer this number of teams. The good news is players are allowed to “play-up”. This means our anticipated team structures for 2023* are as follows:
| Gender | ALC Team | Current Grade | Graduation Year | Competition Bracket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | 2031-32s | 3rd | 2032 | 2031 |
| 4th | 2031 | |||
| 2029-30s | 5th | 2030 | 2029 | |
| 6th | 2029 | |||
| 2027-28s | 7th | 2028 | 2027 | |
| 8th | 2027 | |||
| Girls | 2027-28s | 7th | 2028 | 2027 |
| 8th | 2027 |
*This is subject to change, dependent on player totals
What about teams that do not have coaches yet?
As you can see, we do not currently offer teams for girls currently in 3rd through 6th grade. We are still working on providing coaches at this level, so we have opened a "tryout" slot for this group on the same day as the 7/8th girls (February 12). Our intent is to use this to gauge interest level as well as get to know these players should we be able to establish any teams before the summer season starts.
How competitive will tryouts be?
Like any travel team, we have a limited number of roster spots available for tournament play and won’t necessarily be able to bring every player that comes out. We do, however, understand the landscape of lacrosse in this area and believe that we have a responsibility to help as many players develop their skills as possible. Because of this, we will consider offering “developmental” positions for certain players who might benefit from participating in all practices, while not committing to the tournaments.
Will there be anything aside from the travel teams?
We will be providing skills clinics throughout the year instructed by our current coaches and outside experts with high-level college and professional experience. As well, we will look to hold “open-play” events, viewing parties, and camps that will always be available for players regardless of their status with any of our competitive teams.
How much will the travel team cost and what will that include?
Prices will vary depending on the team and situation of the player, but our research has shown us we have some of the lowest player dues in the Southern region. These dues will cover everything needed for the summer season and will provide the player with a Reversible team uniform, game shorts, practice shorts, and shooter shirt. For further details, please reach out to info@augustalacrosseclub.com
