MORGANTOWN AREA - MIDDLE SCHOOL LACROSSE - BOYS and GIRLS - INFO 2006
Organizational Meeting Outline - Feb. 3, 2006 at Suncrest Middle School
(Coach's comments in red italics)

Head Coach:   Jeff Dreisbach at  wvulax@verizon.net    Cell: 216-4966    
Other coaches to be added
    I am willing to give up my weekends this spring to get the middle school programs going. We have to spread the word, because there are coaches out there. They just don't know we exist. We have to find them. If not, parents will have to step up. Lacrosse, though different, is not a difficult sport to learn to coach.

Parents: ??
    We need parents to volunteer to help organize this. I'm not asking for a major commitment, but I cannot do it all by myself.  I need HELP! We will need help in the concession stand when we have home games. More importantly, we'll need a treasurer for both boys and girls programs. Also, we shouldn't have the same parent or set of parents doing everything. Remember, many hands make light work . Already, one parent has said he has played lacrosse and can help the girls, since his daughter will be there. We need others.
    Keep in mind that the teams we orgainize this year will grow and split into seperate teams feeding the UHS & MHS programs. I predict, with good parental involvement, we will have boys and girls teams representing all four middle schools in a couple years.
               
Check out: LacrosseInWestVirginia.com     High School Info:  WPSLA.org
    I set up LacrosseInWestVirginia.com to help us communicate. Not just the Morgantown folks, but the entire state. If you know of anyone who has the remotist interest in lacrosse, tell them about the site.

Practice & games will be Sat. & Sun. at Pony Lewis Field starting the March 11-12 or March 18-19 weekend and go until May 13-14.  Saturday times will be TBA since they will be worked around the high school schedules. Sunday times can be set in the afternoon, after discussion with coaches involved, and after knowing the schedule of WHAM, the semi-pro football team.

Equipment to buy in order of need:  
    All boys and girls need to get a lacrosse stick and a ball to practice with and a pair of soccer shoes. Moulded cleats are best, because they can be used on different surfaces. No metal cleats are allowed.Girls will need to get a set of goggles before they start playing in games.
    The next purchase boys should make are gloves. Boys going to UHS should get red gloves and kids going to MHS should get blue. If a boy does not have gloves when practice starts, he may use any type of glove. (Those aluminum handles get cold !)
    As for the other required equipment: helmets, arm pads, and shoulder pads, I will take orders at the end of February and order everything at once, in order to get team prices.
 I suggest checking out Queen City Lacrosse, Bridgeville, Pa. (www.qclax.com) 800-240-0178. They have good selection of sticks & prices.

Fees 2006 Season    Dues: $50
    
Team expenses: Balls, for home games Trainer & Referees (home team pays $50/ref, need 2)
    The team will have expenses, depending upon how many home games we have.
Boys join the WPYLA ? - $50 dues/team
    This is a youth league in Pittsburgh, similar to the one our high school teams play in (wpsla.org).
Make checks payable to: Who?
and send to: Where?
    
Pullovers - All players will receive one practice pullover for them to use for their career. The pullover is considered part of their equipment. It must be worn at every practice. If a player loses his pullover, he can buy another one at the current replacement cost.

Game shorts - Each player will be issued or buy a new pair of game shorts.

Game jerseys – We will ask one of the local middle school teams if we can borrow jerseys for games.  

Fundraisers – The team can participate in fundraisers. Sell Hats, t-shirts, sweats, etc., but they require a lot of time.  Any parent or player who has any ideas should advise the Team Parents.

Mouthpieces are required for games and contact in practice. Drs. Lindsay & Hawkins at the Morgantown Dental Group (292-7307) will fit them for you if you want them professionally done, charging for materials only (approx. $20). Otherwise, they are available at Wal-Mart or Kmart and cost about $1.00.

Protective Cups – boys are to acquire a protective cup and learn to wear it properly.

Vendors:  Go to LacrosseInWestVirginia.com and click on the “LINKS” page. Check out Bacharach, Queen City, Good To Go, etc. If you see an item you want, let me know by the end of February so I can make a big order on or around Mar. 1 and get team prices.

Helmets: White  (Do not get a “Gait” helmet) , Gloves: Red for players going to UHS, blue for MHS.
    Helmets are sized. The hard shell is the same, but the foam inserts are different. When you go get your stick, try on helmets and see what fits. Note the size for the team order. After a little more thought, I think it best to get a white helmet. White will be more universal for the team colors for the future 4 middle school teams. Though UHS wears gold and MHS wears white helmets, new helmets should be acquired for high school. Both high schools have helmet stickers and they are best applied on new helmets that are not dirty and all scratched up. Plus, a player may grow. Helmets are more durable than the gloves and can be reconditioned. They can be given to a little brother or sold to a new kid next year.

Forms – All forms must be completed and turned in before a player will be allowed to practice, except the Emergency Medical Form. It will be available at the first practice for the parent to sign. The other forms are available at your school. Ask at your office.
    Parental Consent (Everyone must have. Part of the Physical form)
    Physical - (only first time athletes this school year)
    Insurance verification - (only first time athletes this school year)
    Emergency Medical Form (Everyone)

Finally, send me an email to wvulax@verizon.net . Put “Middle School Lacrosse” in the subject.  State parent contact name, address, phone numbers, player name, grade, school, and whether or not it is your personal or work email. You will be added to the distribution list.  

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