Frequently Asked Questions

Players in U7, U9, U11, U13 and U15 programs need the following equipment:

• Lacrosse helmet
• Shoulder pads
• Arm/elbow pads
• Lacrosse gloves
• Mouth guard
• Cleats
• Protective cup
• Lacrosse stick

Goalies will wear throat protectors, chest pads and use goalie sticks, which are all provided by BYC.  A Defensemen may use long poles in U13 and above.  U6 players will receive a beginners' stick as part of the program fee.

6U Cradle Clinic registration fee includes a BYC Shooter Shirt.

8U Intramural program registration fee includes a BYC Game Jersey.

10U and above are travel programs.  As such a uniform (jersey and shorts) is required and part of the registration cost.

Our lacrosse league organizes players by age group.  The U stands for "Under".  For any given season, your child will play in the age group that they would be UNDER as of August 31st of the prior year.  So if your child was 4 or 5 at the end of the prior calendar year they play 6U that spring.  6 and 7 year olds play 8U.  8 and 9 year olds play 10U.  10 and 11 year olds play 12U, and 12 and 13 year olds play 14U, unless they are playing for a high school program, in which case they are ineligible for league play.

Our travel teams play in the Chester County Lacrosse Association (CCLA).  See the CCLA website for details of member programs.  Most travel is under an hour, and usually a team will have one or two games a week with one on a weeknight and one on the weekend.  Weeknight games start at 6:30pm.  The season is usually 10 or 12 games long. Teams may also participate in single day and multi-day (overnight) tournaments in PA, NJ, MD and even VA.

Practices usually start in late February or early March.  League games usually start in early April and run to the end of May.  U13 and U15 typically have play-offs in late May, and BYC traditionally plays in one or more post-season tournaments in June.  As with most sports these days, off-season play opportunities are on the rise and players can find Summer tournament teams, camps, clinics, Fall leagues and Winter indoor leagues if desired.  BYC sometimes participates in these, so let your coach know if you are interested in off-season play.

Yes.  Our league specifies that 10U, 12U and 14U teams be separated into A, B and sometimes C levels.  We hold try-outs, usually in the fall, to identify the top players who are placed on the A teams at these age groups.  Ideal team size is around 18-20 players, so difficult decisions must be made to assemble these teams.  Our policy is to use independent evaluators during these try-outs to make them as fair as possible.

In the winter, just prior to the season, we also hold evaluations so that all B or C teams are created with equal strength rosters.  We typically have between 1 and 5 teams at each age group.

We highly recommend playing lacrosse!  But we love the sport!  BYC's lacrosse program is beginner friendly at any age, so we welcome new players.  At the younger age groups, players can definitely play multiple sports.  As their love of the sport grows and they desire to improve and compete for a coveted first-line position on the "A" team, some players will find themselves overcommitted if playing multiple sports.  That can result in fatigue, injury, a hectic schedule and a general lack of FUN. And we fully believe sports should be fun.

Lacrosse is a running sport.  It is often called "the fastest game on two feet." Prospective players should like to run and want to get better at it.  Agility and hand-eye coordination are also key skills.  Offensive play is much like basketball, so dodges, picks and rolls are common.  Beyond that a positive, attitude and focus are essential.  All of these skills improve with practice, so a willingness to work hard to improve is helpful.  Players of all sizes and backgrounds can be successful at the game of lacrosse.

Lacrosse is a contact sport and requires protective equipment to prevent injury.  As such, coaches must certify that their players are completely and legally equipped before the start of every game. According to studies published by USLacrosse, the governing body of the sport, the most common injury is a sprained ankle.

The image in a lay-persons mind of wild slashing and violent crashing is an incorrect image.  Checking another player's stick with your stick is legal, and their gloves are considered part of the stick.  Slashing anywhere else on their body or cross-checking is a penalty.  Contact with another player's helmet is a penalty.  Body checking is illegal at the younger age groups and always illegal from behind.  Violent body checking is considered unnecessary roughness and is also a penalty.