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5th and 6th Grade Program Description

Parents,

Boys that are selected for the 5th and 6th grade GC Committed teams will have the opportunity to participate in a competitive program that spans the winter, spring, and summer seasons.  This offering will include indoor winter training sessions/clinics/scrimmages, a competitive spring Saturday game schedule, a Sunday PAL game schedule, and a 6-week summer tournament season.  It is expected that professional coaches will be identified in the fall that will stay with the teams for the winter training sessions, the spring season, and through the summer season.  We have seen that this continuity with coach and teammates provides the boys the opportunity to effectively compete against the top “travel” teams in the tri-state area during the summer season.

 

For the spring 2017 season, boys entering 5thand 6th grades as of September 2016 will have two opportunities to participate in the Garden City Youth Lacrosse program. 


I. Committed Teams -- Tryout Required
The objective of the committed teams is to create an opportunity for boys who are committed to lacrosse as their primary sport in spring and summer and who are able to compete at a high level.

  • Teams will be selected based on a tryout (see details below). 
  • Teams will play a Saturday schedule (Sat tournaments/round-robin events/games that will total approx. 10 games), Sunday schedule (8 PAL league games), and a summer schedule (4 tournaments).
  • Saturday games will be against a variety of highly competitive teams from the tri-state area. Most Saturday games will be played at St. Paul’s, but could include other tri-state venues.
  • Sunday games will be in the competitive Nassau County P.A.L. league.
  • The teams will participate in 10-12 winter indoor training sessions/position clinics/scrimmages.
  • During the spring and summer, there will be two practices during the week with games on Saturday and Sunday (4 day per week commitment).  
  • Those wishing to play on these teams will be asked to commit to lacrosse as their primary spring sport.  
  • Attendance:  Since the intent of this program is to have player continuity through the spring and summer seasons, players that choose to participate on these committed teams will be required to commit to participating for both the GCYL spring and summer lacrosse seasons. Players that participate on these committed teams would be asked not to participate on another travel lacrosse team out of respect for both teams.  Keep in mind that game/tournament schedules often change in the spring and summer due to unforeseen circumstances.  In these circumstances, players would still be expected to honor their commitment to the Garden City team.  We understand that some boys participate in other sports during the spring.  Boys that play multiple sports in the spring would be permitted to miss up to two games during the spring/summer season to accommodate the occasional conflict.  As in years past, we will continue to work other GC sport offerings to try to minimize scheduling conflicts.  Note that this applies to other non-lacrosse activities only.

 

II. GC YOUTH LACROSSE “PAL” TEAM -- No Tryout Required:

This offering is intended for those players that are new to the game or are still developing their lacrosse skills.

  • Any player who wishes to participate is eligible to play.
  • Players intending to participate on the “PAL” team are not required to register for or participate in a tryout.  Those players that are not selected for a committed teams will play on the “PAL” team.
  • This team will participate in a full 8-game Sunday schedule in the Nassau County P.A.L. league.
  • There will be two practices during the week at St. Paul's.  It is expected that players will attend all practices and games.
  • The “PAL” team will compete in an appropriate division to ensure that each player has a positive lacrosse experience.

 

ALL PLAYERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE ON THE COMMITTED TEAMS MUST ATTEND THE 2-DAY TRYOUT.  PARTICIPATION AT BOTH TRYOUT DATES IS MANDATORY.

 

Teams will be selected by six independent and impartial evaluators that have extensive lacrosse experience. The evaluators will have absolutely no affiliation with GCYL and will not be residents of the Village.  In past years the evaluators were Varsity Coaches from Suffolk County.  The evaluators will be rating the boys based on general lacrosse ability.

 

Evaluations for the 5th and 6th grades WILL BE by position – offense (attack/midfield) or defense.  Defensemen should plan to bring long poles.  Goalies should bring goalie sticks and equipment.

  

While we are aware that we are asking for a high level of commitment to this program, we are very much aware that this is still about the boys playing a youth sport. We are not asking anyone to miss their cousins wedding, an academic obligation, their family summer vacation, or other similar event. In addition, this is not intended to preclude participation in other fall and winter sports and activities.  That is not the point or the spirit of the commitment whatsoever.

 

Tryout / Evaluation Details for Committed Teams:
Who: Boys entering 5th and 6th Grade as of September 2016
Where: St Paul’s, Garden City, NY
Dates: Boys entering 5th Grade (2024) as of Sept 2016 - Monday, July 18, 2016 and Tuesday, July 19, 2016;  6:30 – 8PM

Boys entering 6th Grade (2023) as of Sept 2016 - Wednesday, July 20, 2016 and Thursday, July 21, 2016; 6 – 7:30PM

 

Attendance at both evaluations is required to be eligible for selection;

 

Time: Check-In 6 PM for 2024, 5:30 PM for 2023, Specific details to be provided in subsequent communications.

Registration: Please go to the GCYL website at the following link and click on “Register Online”:  GCYL Tryout Registration    Registration deadline is Friday July 8th.  There will be a $25 late fee thereafter.

 

Tryout Fee: $75 includes a new GC Lacrosse reversible pinnie (which the boys keep), and covers the cost of the five independent evaluators and a medical trainer.  

Season Cost: 

Committed Team Approximate Annual Cost: 

The annual cost of the committed teams will include the following: professional coaching in the summer (A Team only), winter training sessions, positional clinics, GCYL Spring PAL registration fee, spring Saturday schedule, and summer lacrosse season including tournaments.  Players will also receive 2 game shooting shirts, and 2 pairs of team socks in the spring and summer. Approximate total cost will be $1875 for the Committed A team and $1200 for the Committed B team.

Payment: Once the teams are announced, payment instructions will be provided.  Players will be required to make partial payment within 5 days.

If your son decides not to participate or is not selected for one of the committed teams this year, tryouts are held annually and you can register the following year for the respective grade tryout.  You also have the have the ability to sign up for the spring GCYL PAL season.