A Message to HopLax Community on Select Team

Dear Hopkinton Youth Lacrosse Parents and Participants,

I wanted to make you aware of an exciting new program for next Spring’s lacrosse season. With the growth of lacrosse in Hopkinton and across Massachusetts, a number of towns have been expressing interest in Select Lacrosse teams. Based on the demand, MBYLL (which HopLax is part of) has created an MBYLL Select program for U13 and U15 to be offered next Spring. Additionally, we are looking into a U11 Select program with NESLL.

What is it?

The following is some info from MBYLL’s Select website:

Establish this new MBYLL Select Lacrosse Program for these reasons:

• Improve the overall program and positive experience for all involved in the MBYLL;
• Enable more experienced middle school youth players to play together on a unified town team;
• Simplify parent/player travel & carpool logistics w/ local practices/games;
• Improve the competitive level of lacrosse, competition & capabilities in all players, teams & towns;
• In sync with, and complementary to, the mission & goals of the traditional MBYLL Town program;
• A natural extension and logical progression of a growing MBYLL.

At this time, MBYLL is finalizing some of the details of this new program. We are fortunate to have Nikolai Markovich not only help coordinate the Hopkinton Select program but he also sits on the MBYLL Select Committee.

If you have any questions, please contact Nikolai (nikolai@elllc.com) or checkout the MBYLL Select site.

Player Criteria

While Hopkinton will continue having the traditional Orange, White and Green teams in which all boys can participate, the Select Team has criteria for players:

1. Boys who play on a Select Team must play for an Orange, White or Green team, including attending team practices and games.
2. For U15, players must have a minimum of 3 years of experience and/or two Coaches’ recommendation.
3. For U13, players must have a minimum of 2 years of experience and/or two Coaches’ recommendation.
4. For U11, players must have a minimum of 1 year of experience and/or one Coach’s recommendation.

NOTE: In the event we have a big turnout for the Select team, we may hold tryouts to finalize the team rosters.

Practice & Game Schedules and Cost

MBYLL is still working out schedules, but they are planning to have games on Friday nights or Saturdays so as to not conflict with traditional season games (i.e. Sunday games). We would have one extra practice a week for the Select teams. Players would have practices twice a week with their Orange, White, or Green team and one with their Select team. The season will run roughly the same as the traditional season, March to June. We are still determining cost, which we estimate to be somewhere between $100 and $150 and would also include Select team uniform. This fee would be above and beyond the traditional spring fees.

Registration

During the Registration for Winter Skills and traditional Spring season, you will also be able to pre-register for the Select team. Note that having your son play on a traditional Orange, White or Green team plus a Select team would mean 3 nights of practice and 2 games a week. With boys playing other spring sports (i.e. baseball and soccer), we anticipate schedule conflicts, particularly with Saturday games. Additionally, some boys might be looking to participate in Club/Select teams which may also have schedule conflicts. Please take these other activities into consideration when pre-registering for the Select team.

Thank you for your continued interest and support of Hopkinton Youth Lacrosse.

Remember to:

Pick up a stick, grab a ball, find a friend, play Lacrosse.

Burt White
President, Hopkinton Youth Lacrosse