FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

REGISTRATION

How can I get on the list to be notified about upcoming lacrosse opportunities and the spring season?  Sign up for our Newsletter

When can I sign up for the Spring 2026 Season?  NOW!  

Do I need a USA Lacrosse Membership to register?  How can I get one?   Yes, every player must have a valid USA Lacrosse membership in order to register.  (No exceptions).  Click here to join or renew your membership. 

What is USA Lacrosse and why do I need to be a member?  USA Lacrosse is the governing body of lacrosse in the US.  It makes rules, certifies coaches, and is a great source of information to lacrosse clubs, coaches and players.  USA Lacrosse also provides accident insurance for players and coaches if they are injured on the field.  All players must be members and all coaches must be USA Lacrosse certified for those benefits to fully work.  

Will players be getting new uniforms this year?   Yes, and we have a whole new look!   Uniform orders will be part of registration.

Do you offer financial assistance and help sourcing equipment?   Yes, and it is part of our registration. No extra steps.

How can I contact someone at Maplewood Lacrosse Club about registration?   Just reply to an email we sent out or fill out this form.  (We used to leave an email address here but things got real spammy)

Where are some of the things the registration fee pays for?

• Referees

• Field Rentals - MLC pays our school district and towns rental fees and security guard fees

• Tournament Fees: Each team plays in 2-3 tournaments per year.

• Equipment: Balls, goalie equipment, goals, nets, practice supplies, game clocks, our own scorekeeper board for Underhill.  (The club supplies, refurbishes and replaces many of the goals, nets and backstops at the district and towns fields we rent).  Purchasing discounted and used gear for players who need it.  

• Health & Safety Equipment:  First aid supplies as well as big ticket items.  Last year the club purchased an AED and hired a trainer (in case of an emergency) for Underhill Sundays when possible.  Our field rental does not come with the use of the AED, but we felt it was important that we have one. 

• Misc:  TeamSnap and website fees, end of the year pizza party, rain jackets for coaches (a once every several years purchase)

• Supporting Columbia Lacrosse:  Maplewood Lacrosse Club and Columbia Lacrosse support each other in different ways each year.  Columbia players volunteer their time at our clinics and in other ways.  In the past, MLC helped Columbia with the purchase of upgraded helmets and Columbia has donated their refurbished helmets to the club. 

• Our volunteer coaches pay for their own USA Lacrosse membership, certification and some of their own practice gear.  This year we are hoping to pay for CPR certification for some of our coaches.  

LOGISTICS

Where do you play?  We typically practice and play our home games against other towns at Underhill and Ritzer Fields in Maplewood.  Away games are played in other towns in the area.   Most away games are a 15-30 minute drive from Maplewood/SO but a few may be a bit farther away.

When is lacrosse season?   Lacrosse is a spring sport.  Our club also hosts a clinic in the fall, and teams from some grades might have an opportunity to participate in an optional winter league once/week, but those are off-season, and optional. 

What is the commitment?  When are games and practices? 

For K-2 players, during our main season, we offer a Spring Clinic on Sunday Mornings.  It typically starts after SOMSD spring break but may start earlier if Spring Break is late.  In addition, 2nd graders have the option of play in a few scrimmages against other times if they sign up for Sunday Scrimmagers.  In addition we offer a fall clinic.

3rd-8th graders typically start mid or late February with weekly pre-season indoor practices, but the season really gets going with outdoor practices in March. (We understand some players may not be able to make pre-season practices due to other sports but we ask that you come whenever you can).  

How will I know about practices and games?  We use Team Snap which is an easy to use app most teams use to post schedules and request player availability.   We require a parent or guardian sign up for Team Snap and join their team on behalf of their athlete.

Will you schedule games during SOMSD Spring Break?  No!  Please enjoy family time or your vacation during Spring Break.  (It is possible that some coaches may host an optional practice during Spring Break) 

Mothers Day?   No!  MLC will continue the tradition of keeping this all too important day completely off-limits.  No getting up early to search for jerseys, fill water bottles and check field locations.  Whether you choose to sleep past 9 and enjoy Mickey Mouse waffles with your kids,  take a solo jog or drive upstate to visit your family is up to you.   You will not have to factor lacrosse into your plans.

Memorial Day Weekend?   No games or regular practices but we do march in the Maplewood parade so join us if you are in town.

Father's Day?  Our season ends before Fathers Day, but we hope all the lacrosse dads have a special day too.

WEATHER

What is the Weather Policy?  Do you play in rain?

Think "There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing."    Lacrosse is an outdoor sport that starts just before winter ends and ends just before summer starts, and we play through most of its varied conditions.   Unless fields are closed by the town or district, games and practices may be held when it is raining, cold or hot.  Of course we would never play if there is lighting, dangerously high winds, unsafe temperatures or if our area is issued warnings by the National Weather Service.  

Cancellations for other adverse weather or field conditions will be at the discretion of MLC team coaches and the town or district depending on which fields we are playing on.  In the event of thunder or lighting, fields must be closed for a minimum of 30 minutes after the last occurrence before play can resume. Players will be directed to wait in vehicles or in a suitable shelter as available.  Coaches, referees, and/or local officials have the authority to delay or cancel play at any time that conditions may be deemed unsafe.

If a practice or game in progress must be cancelled due to weather, a coach will remain at the field until
all players have been picked up. If weather advisories are in effect prior to commencing a practice or game, please be prepared to pick up your player early, or arrange for his transportation home.  While we do our best to reschedule games cancelled due to weather, it is not always possible.

Please ensure that your player is dressed appropriately.  Players should wear lightweight layers when it is cold, and quick dry fabrics if rain iS in the forecast.   A cotton hoodie is no match for a downpour!   A personal water bottle is mandatory for all practices and games.  Sunscreen is advised.   (Some players swear by wearing latex gloves under their lacrosse gloves when it is extra cold).  

While our season typically ends before extreme heat sets in, we follow the appropriate guidelines (many water breaks, shorter practices in the earlier or later part of the day etc) to keep kids safe and will cancel games or practices if we need to of course.  

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and flexibility with respect to any schedule changes that may be required due to inclement weather.

GENERAL LACROSSE QUESTIONS

How is boys lacrosse played?  Check out this 5 minute video to get a better idea with visuals.

How can my kid get better at lacrosse before the season starts?    Check out our Player's Corner.

Are boys lacrosse and girls lacrosse the same?   No.  In both games of lacrosse, teams of players use sticks with net baskets (but not the same sticks) to get the ball in their opponent's lacrosse goal and score a point.  Players run with the ball and pass the ball down the field.   Once they reach a certain age group, they can "check" their opponent's stick and try to force them to lose the ball.   They are similar skills-based games with the same goal (literally and figuratively), but with different rules, strategies, field sizes, number of players and equipment.  By a certain age, boys lacrosse allows much more (but still limited) contact so players are required to wear a helmet, pads, gloves, cup, and a mouthguard.  Girls lacrosse does not allow much contact at all so players are only required to wear eye protection and a mouthguard (and some wear a girls lacrose helmet).    

What is the difference between Maplewood Lacrosse Club and "Club Lacrosse"?  Good question.  Head here for more information on that.

Will my kids years of playing basketball/hockey/football/soccer etc. help with lacrosse?   Absolutely.   Skills like coordination, agility and game-time thinking are all crucial to lacrosse and it may surprise you to know that basketball is very similar to lacrosse. 

Can I play lacrosse and also play fall and winter sports?  Please please do!!!   We strongly encourage lacrosse players to play other sports and activities even if lacrosse happens to be their favorite sport.  

Should my child specialize in lacrosse?    Nah.  We know there is a lot of pressure to have your kid play a sport competitively all year round and/or specialize in a single sport.  The youth sports industry has $40 billion reasons to make us all think that if our kid is really good or wants to be really good or even just wants to keep up and make the next team, they need to specialize at a young age.  It's a LOT of pressure and we all just want to help our kids pursue their passions.  We also know the research shows that all that intensity and single-sport focus and pressure leads to more injuries and burnout.  It also heavily contributes to the fact that 70% of kids quit sports by age 13.  Even college coaches prefer to recruit well-rounded multi-sport athletes.  So please, don't let your child specialize only in lacrosse.  

Can my kid play baseball and lacrosse in the spring?    Probably.  Lots of K-2 kids in our Little Laxer clinic do.  While conflicts arise, many 3rd - 5th graders play Rec baseball and lacrosse too.  As athletes get older, it becomes especially important that players attend lacrosse practices and games as it is the only way to grow as an individual, and really play together as a team.  As checking becomes a bigger part of the game, learning to check and be checked in the proper way is also very important for the safety of your child.  

Is boy’s lacrosse a contact sport?  First and foremost Lacrosse is a skills-based sport.  How much contact is involved depends on the age.  As players get older, there is more (but still limited) stick and then later body checking, but definitely not in the same way as football or hockey.  

Up to 5th grade, body checking is prohibited (in our league, but not necessarily in Club Lacrosse).  Bumping, boxing out and screening (similar to basketball) with 2 hands on the stick is allowed - within specific limits and is never allowed from behind. Stick checking is allowed with 2 hands on the stick, but never above the shoulders. Slashing is not allowed.

6th through 8th grade - Specific, limited body checking below the shoulders is permitted, but taking a player out is never allowed -and should never be the intention - even at the highest levels.  

Do players sometimes unintentionally or intentionally break these rules?   Like in every sport, unfortunately, yes.   Of course there are penalties.  Lacrosse, like most sports, involves a level of risk.   

Learn more about the NJJLL lacrosse rules by clicking www.njlacrosse.com/rules. 

MLC QUESTIONS

Who runs Maplewood Lacrosse Club?  President Damon Webber and Michael Doody lead the club's day to day operations along with other board members, our dedicated coaches and parent volunteers.

Can I volunteer to help with the club?   We would love your help!   We will soon be looking for volunteers to spread the word about the spring season!  If you are interested in running our (pretty low key) social media pages, please reach out.  On game days, we rely on volunteers to set-up, clean-up, keep time, line fields and sometimes mow the field (yup, we often have to do that ourselves) and help with the snack/swag stand.   (And more).  We may also be looking for parent who are interested in coaching their kid's grade, especially for our younger players.   We are also looking for volunteers to spearhead our players' service project.   More to come on volunteer positions.  Please contact us and let us know you'd like to help in a more specific manner.