POLICIES
Our practice times are limited, so it is expected that players are FULLY GEARED UP and ready to go at the start of practice. It is recommended that players arrive 15 minutes early so they have time to get themselves ready.
Players represent themselves, their family, our community and our program when on the field. Our expectation is that each player do this with pride, respect and positivity. If there is an on-field issue, players will be notified by the coach and playing time will be affected. Foul language on or off the field is not acceptable.
We expect our players to treat each other and our tent area with respect while at jamborees and tournaments. Throwing food, using foul language or disrespecting others will result in players being directed to their parents' care or not being allowed in the common area between games. We also expect players to clean up after themselves and use the trash bags set up around the common area.
Our goal is for everyone to enjoy watching their players play! Please be positive and supportive on the sidelines and refrain from making negative comments about players and coaches from either team.
Remember that it also difficult for coaches to communicate with players during games, and it can be very confusing for the players to hear instructions from parents on the sideline. Please do not coach or give advice during a game.
Bad calls happen during games, referees make mistakes, but we ask that our parents not engage with or disrespect referees under any circumstance. Our head coaches will handle any issues with referees on the field.
You represent our program, and, just as we expect players to be respectful and have good sportsmanship, we ask our parents to do the same.
Our coaches are volunteers who dedicate their time to giving your player the best lacrosse experience possible! Feel free to ask if you have encouraging words or general questions about lacrosse.
Refunds will only be available until uniforms are placed. After uniform orders are placed, no refunds will be issued. If the season cancels, tournament and jamboree fees will be refunded.
Late registrations are handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact Commissioner Nicole Maneen at commissioner@nicevillelax.com to inquire.
You can find an overview of lacrosse rules on the USA LAcrosse website.
Parents: As a parent of a Niceville Eagles Lacrosse Club player, I will be supportive of my son/daughter while allowing he/she to play for themselves: his/her success(es) and failure(s) will be his/hers alone. I support the coaches’ decisions regarding my athlete. I will be a positive fan and will refrain from addressing officials before, during, and after games. I will be a positive supporter of the Niceville Eagles Lacrosse Club.
Player: As a player of the Niceville Eagles Lacrosse Club, I agree to conduct myself in a sportsman-like manner at all times while representing the club. I understand and support the idea of respecting the game of lacrosse. I understand that my behavior will be sportsmanlike during practice, games, and club-sponsored events. I will play for Niceville Eagles Lacrosse Club with the understanding that I represent myself, my teammates, the Niceville Eagles Lacrosse Club, and most importantly, my family.
As a player of the Niceville Eagles Lacrosse Club, I will:
- Always play to the best of my abilities.
- Listen, learn, and put forth my very best effort.
- Be an exceptional teammate.
- Display positive characteristics as a player.
- Refrain from using foul language.
- Read and understand the Code of Conduct.
- Always respect my parents, my team, my opponent, and myself.
PLAYER INFORMATION
All communication from the league comes via email or the TeamSnap app. During the season, it's almost always through the app. Download TeamSnap on your mobile device! https://www.teamsnap.com/mobile
See the US Lacrosse Equipment Guide for detailed information about required gear for your player. The stick is the most important piece of equipment you will purchase for your new player. For a stick tutorial and recommendations on what stick to purchase see the following video: POWLAX Stick Recommendation
*Note This video is for BOYS sticks
You can purchase your equipment through these vendors:
Online Vendor Options:
Local Vendor Location
Dicks Sporting Goods Pensacola- 5100 N 9th Ave, Pensacola, FL 32504
We separate our teams by school grade. We believe it is best for players to play with their peers and build relationships with the players they will play with through high school. Simply being ahead of peers in skill or athleticism is not a valid reason to play up. Learning to take a leadership role on a team and work with others to elevate team play is a valuable attribute that can be gained from playing with their peers. In very rare circumstances, the NELC will consider requests for your child to play up in age group. The request must be initiated with a recommendation by the losing head coach to the gaining head coach and approved by the gaining head coach.
Due to age requirements, kids will not be allowed to play down if they age out of the age group under any circumstance.
All players require a USA Lacrosse number for insurance purposes. Our players and coaches are all registered with USA Lacrosse providing umbrella insurance for our program. You must have a valid USA Lacrosse number to register for NELC programs. You can enroll at USA Lacrosse.
We welcome all skill levels. If we have enough for two teams in any age group, an evaluation might be held to determine which team players will be assigned.
The NELC attempts to maximize playing time for all players by limiting team size and separating into two teams for age groups with large numbers of players. However, sometimes we are in the unfortunate circumstance of having more than the optimal number of players for one team, but not enough for two teams.
Please understand that it can be difficult to manage the playing time of each player when that occurs, but be assured that our coaches are doing their very best.
During jamborees, the goal is to get each player evenly distributed playing time as much as possible.
The tournaments are generally single elimination, so coaches must manage the games to ensure teams win and have additional opportunity to play. Therefore, during tournament games, we cannot guarantee the playing time of any individual player.
- Gear (labeled) including stick, mouth guard (not white or clear), goggles, helmets, and pads (for boys)
- Water jug/bottle
- Money for parking and food
- Wagon for carrying gear
- Chairs
- Tent/umbrella for shade
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Wipes
- TP
- Hand sanitizer
- Band-aids/first aid
- Snacks
- Cooling towels for heat
- Camera
- Phone
- Portable Charger
- Layers of clothes for change of temperature
In case of rain:
- Garbage bags for muddy clothes/shoes
- Change of clothes/shoes
- Umbrella/tent
- Rainboots/jackets
GENERAL INFORMATION
Our fall season begins in mid September and runs through early November. Practices for the fall season are held twice per week on Sundays & Wednesdays at Twin Oaks Athletic Complex. Individual team practice times are posted after registration.
Our spring season begins in early January and runs through early May. Practices for the spring season are held twice per week on weeknights at Twin Oaks Athletic Complex. Individual team practice times are posted after registration.
Twin Oaks Athletic Complex is located on the corner of Hwy 85 N and College Blvd W.
We are a completely volunteer non-profit organization. The club makes no money, and none of our coaches or board members are paid. Our registration costs are directly linked to the cost of the necessary field space and equipment for your players to practice and play.
Our board meets before every season to conduct a detailed budget analysis and forecast the costs required to administer the season. Costs include:
- Administration (web hosting, advertising costs, team registration and management platform, etc.)
- Field use and lighting fees
- Equipment (goals, balls, creases, cones, goalie gear, etc.)
- Jamboree and tournament fees
- Player shooter shirts and coaches shirts
- Coach certification fees
As our club has grown, so have the costs associated with running it. In the last two years, we have grown from 5 teams (2 girls teams and 3 boys teams) to 11 teams (4 girls teams and 7 boys teams).
This growth affects us in two ways. First, since jamboree and tournament fees are charged per team, our fees have more than doubled (jamboree and tournament fees are our largest single cost). Second, as we have expanded the number of teams, we have had to purchase additional goals, balls and other equipment to facilitate gear for each team.
In addition to the costs of additional teams, the city began charging the NELC for field use and lighting during our 2020 season. This is a new cost, we had previously been allowed to practice on the fields for free.
All athletes will purchase a new uniform for Spring 2023. Girls will purchase a reversible top and skort. Boys will purchase two tops and shorts. "We are switching to a uniform that will be better for the athletes and more functional. Keeping costs in mind, we will try to keep these uniforms for a few seasons.
If your family is experiencing financial hardship and you need assistance in order to participate, please email treasurer@nicevillelax.com to see if "scholarship" funds are available.
Registration fees do not include any uniform items.
NELC teams keep the same uniforms from season to season.
All athletes will purchase a uniform. Girls will purchase a reversible top and skort. The boys will purchase two tops and shorts.
If your family is experiencing financial hardship and you need assistance in order to participate, please email treasurer@nicevillelax.com to see if "scholarship" funds are available.
If it is a general question, you will contact your assigned team's mom/dad. If it is more serious, please contact (IN WRITING via email) the girls' director, or the boy's director, and always copy the commissioner.
Commissioner – Nicole Maneen commissioner@nicevillelax.com
Girls Director – Aireka Aikens girlsdirector@nicevillelax.com
Boys Director – John Dussault boysdirector@nicevillelax.com
The NGLA is a non-profit organization that is composed of local lacrosse clubs. The purpose of the league was to create competitive opportunities and tournaments for all the teams involved in an organized manner. NELC competes within the NGLA but is not limited to that and can opt to also compete in outside tournaments.
You can submit your photos and videos HERE
You can but NELC swag and gear here: https://www.eaglesnestfl.com/collections/niceville-eagles-lacrosse-club
COACHING INFORMATION
All of our coaches are unpaid volunteers who dedicate their time to give your player the best lacrosse experience possible. Most of our volunteer coaches are parents of players.
Our Boy's and Girls Directors manage training programs to ensure coaching continuity and provide mentorship along with helping develop practice plans for all of our coaches.
We are ALWAYS in need of additional coaches! If you are willing to help in any way please do, you DO NOT need to have played lacrosse to help coach. Please see our Volunteer page or contact the Boy's or Girls Director to volunteer.
During the fall season, we hold one practice per week on Sunday afternoons and participate in one local weekend tournament to end the season.
During the spring season, we hold two practices per week on weekday evenings and participate in up to 6 Saturday jamborees from Panama City to Mobile. During the spring season, we also participate in one local weekend tournament.
We appreciate that our volunteer coaches are busy with work, travel and parenting, so understand that you may not be available for every practice, jamboree or tournament. We simply ask that coaches are available to attend as many as possible and coordinate to ensure that all practices and events have the required number of coaches present for each team to be successful.
Our Boy's and Girls Directors manage training programs to ensure coaching continuity and provide mentorship along with helping develop practice plans for all of our coaches. They also host several coaches' clinics prior to each season.
We are ALWAYS in need of additional coaches! If you are willing to help in any way, please do. You DO NOT need to have played lacrosse to help coach. Please see our Volunteer page or contact the Boy's or Girls Director to volunteer.
Lacrosse is a quickly growing sport, but there is a very limited number of people with prior lacrosse experience in the local area. We are fortunate to have a few of them coaching and acting as our Boy's and Girl's Directors. With that limited experience available, we rely on the parents of our players WITHOUT lacrosse experience to be willing to step up and coach. We will ensure you have the resources and mentorship you need to be successful.
The only pre-existing requirement to coach for the NELC is a positive attitude and willingness to learn.
Our Boy's and Girls Directors manage training programs to help ensure coaching continuity and help develop practice plans for all of our coaches.
All volunteer coaches also need to register with USA Lacrosse and complete level 1 coaches training and a background check. NELC reimburses all volunteer coaches for the US Lacrosse membership fee which includes the background check and training.
Please contact the Boy's or Girls' Director if you have any questions about how to get involved as a volunteer coach.
The NELC provides all of the equipment coaches need to successfully hold practices and travel to jamborees and tournaments. This includes, but is not limited to goals, balls, creases, cones, goalie gear, tents and benches.
We are ALWAYS in need of additional coaches! If you are willing to help in any way, please do. You DO NOT need to have played lacrosse to help coach! Please see our Volunteer page or contact the Boy's or Girls Director to volunteer.
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish