POLICIES
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.
All of our coaches are volunteers who are dedicating their time to give your player the best lacrosse experience possible! If you have encouraging words or general questions about lacrosse, feel free to ask. However, if you have questions or concerns about coaching philosophies, playing time or policies, please direct any issues to our Parent Advocate, Michelle Kirkland.
Full refunds will be issued until uniform orders are placed, approximately one week after registration closes. After uniform orders are placed, partial refunds will be issued (excluding uniform item fees). No refunds will be made after the first practice in the fall or first jamboree/tournament in the spring. If the season cancels, tournament and jamboree fees will be refunded.
Late registrations are handled on a case by case basis.
PLAYER INFORMATION
PLAYER INFORMATION
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 Options:
Over The Edge- 1094 E John Sims Parkway, Niceville, FL 32578
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.
All players require a US Lacrosse number for insurance purposes. Our players and coaches are all registered with US Lacrosse providing umbrella insurance for our program. You will be required to have a valid US Lacrosse number in order to register for NELC programs. You can enroll at US Lacrosse.
The NELC attempts to accommodate all players who wish to play lacrosse. However, to ensure practice quality and adequate play time, the NELC conducts player assessments prior to registration to determine player placement on competitive or developmental teams for boys lacrosse. In addition, we limit team size to facilitate adequate play time. If we do not have enough volunteer coaches to facilitate 2 teams for a specific age group, the assessments will function as tryouts and the number of players will be limited.
Each player is initially assigned to an age appropriate team based on their school grade.
For boys teams, based on the large number of players and widely varying experience levels, we generally seek to separate each age group into two teams. Our ability to do this is dependent on the number of committed coaches for each age group. If we have the requisite number of coaches and players we will split each age group into two teams.
Prior to registration for each season, the players are evaluated based on ability, experience and aptitude and assigned to one of the teams appropriate to their skill level and position.
We do this for several reasons. First, it allows us to reduce team size to ensure all players get adequate time on the field during games. Second, it allows coaches to tailor drills and game play to the skill level and experience of the players. Finally, it reduces idle time and enhances opportunities for one-on-one instruction during practices.
We understand that you may feel your player should be on a different team than assigned, but please be assured our coaches spend a considerable amount of time ensuring the evaluation process is as objective as possible. They deliberate placement based on the objective assessments along with needs of each team and the best fit for the player. Sometimes they elect to play players on the less experienced team to allow them the opportunity to lead a team as a starter vs. play as a 2nd or 3rd line sub on the more experienced team.
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.
GENERAL INFORMATION
GENERAL INFORMATION
A jamboree is a one-day event where teams play up to 3 games against randomly selected teams in their division. They are usually held on Saturdays anywhere from Panama City to Mobile. NELC teams generally do not play in any jamborees during the fall season and play up to 6 jamborees during the spring season.
A tournament is a two-day event where teams play up to 3 games of pool play on the first day to determine second-day seeding and single elimination games on the second day. NELC teams usually play at least one local tournament each season.
Our fall season begins in mid September and runs through early November. Practices for the fall season are held once per week on Sundays 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 does not make any 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 you have any questions about registration fees, please reach out to a board member.
Registration fees do not include any uniform items.
NELC teams keep the same uniforms season to season.
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.
All of our coaches are volunteers who are dedicating their time to give your player the best lacrosse experience possible! If you have encouraging words or general questions about lacrosse feel free to ask. However, if you have questions or concerns about coaching philosophies, playing time or policies, please direct any issues to our Parent Advocate, Michelle Kirkland.
COACHING INFORMATION
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 US 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.
