Rye Youth Lacrosse 2014 Season Outlook

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Table Of Contents • Overview• Mission Statement• Parent Support• Travel League• House League• Field Rules • 2014-2015 Outlook • RYL Website Information• Website

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Spring 2014 www.ryelax.org

2014 Overview

History

• Rye Youth Lacrosse (RYL) was founded in 2003 by David Greenhouse, Leah & Phil Decaro, Rob Santangelo and remains a non-profit 501c3 volunteer organization.

• RYL is one of the largest youth lacrosse organizations in Westchester, NY and Fairfield, CT counties

• RYL participation has grown consistently by 10-15% per year

RYL 2014 Summary

• In 2014, RYL will field 23 TRAVEL Teams and 40+ HOUSE teams totaling over 850 children between K and 8th grade

• RYL has over 70 coaches with 90% volunteers• RYL competes with over 30 different youth lacrosse programs across

Westchester county, Fairfield county, NY City and Long Island• RYL has a requirement that all participants either live in Rye or attend

Rye schools including Resurrection, RCDS, and Holy Child

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RYL Mission & PrioritiesRYL Mission Statement • RYL offers the opportunity to Rye, NY residents or students who attend a

Rye, NY school to learn, play and compete in the game of lacrosse for both boys and girls in Kindergarten - 8th grade at both the developmental and advanced levels through a local House Program and Travel Program.

RYL Program Priorities • RYL requires that all our participants display integrity, good sportsmanship,

commitment to team, enjoyment, positive effort, as well as respect for the individual, the team, the coach, the referees, and the game.

• RYL is a volunteer organization dependent on the support of the Rye community of parents, coaches, Rye Schools Administration, and the Rye Recreational Department.

• RYL’s focus is on skill development and "team" play: adopting the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) (http://positivecoach.org) concepts with an emphasis on creating a fun learning environment, and developing strong character for future success off and on the athletic field.

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Parent Support

• Parent Support: RYL is 100% dependent on parent support including volunteers for coaching and organization including: scheduling, referees, uniforms, field allocations, equipment, off-season clinics, coordination with USLacrosse, CONNY (Connecticut-New York Youth Lacrosse), and Hudson Valley Lacrosse.

• Participation Agreement & Code of Conduct Form: Please fill out form with your child. Will be distributed by Travel coaches.

• Parent Communication: RYL uses the RYL website to communicate to parents and coaches. RYL is dependent on parent input for online registration (please update email addresses). RYL requires all players/parents to wait 24-Hours before communicating with coaches after a game.

• Coaches Training: RYL strongly encourages all coaches including parent coaches to complete US Lacrosse Certification Level 1 and Level 2 online and to complete the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) online course.

• Parent PCA Training: RYL strongly encourages all RYL Parents to complete the PCA Parent Program online or in person (http://positivecoach.org).

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Travel League Overview

• RYL’s 23 Travel teams consist of 12 Boys Travel teams and 11 Girls Travel teams. RYL travel teams compete against other CONNY and Hudson Valley youth programs.

• RYL has both “A” and “B” level Travel teams that match up with other programs.

• RYL has tryouts for Travel teams beginning in 5th grade and does not have cuts. All participants are placed on a team.

• RYL Travel teams have 2-3 practices per week and 10-15 games per season including 1-3 tournaments per team/season.

• All 3rd and 4th Grade Travel players are required to participate in the RYL House League. RYL requires this as part of our focus on fundamental skills development.

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House League Overview

• RYL’s 40+ House teams consist of Boys House teams and Girls House teams for grades Kindergarten through 4th grade.

• RYL House Program is the foundation of our entire program with emphasis on skills development and scrimmages.

• RYL House is an intramural league that meets every Saturday for nine weeks beginning in March through our end-of-season Jamboree for all RYL participants.

• All 3rd and 4th Grade Travel players are required to participate in the RYL House League. RYL requires this to make sure we are teaching the fundamental skills necessary to competing at higher level.

• RYL works closely with both the Rye High School men's and women's Varsity lacrosse programs to foster the development of future RHS players.

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2014 House & Travel Requirements

• House & Travel Team Requirements• RYL requires each player to attend all practices/games and consistently

communicate with coaches at least 24 hrs prior to a practice/game if a player will be absent. 100% of 3rd & 4th Travel players must attend House sessions.

• All players must have proper equipment and have updated annual registration with US Lacrosse (via RYL website/USLacrosse.org). USLacrosse covers all annual liability insurance. RYL coaches cannot allow uninsured players on the field.

• Fields – Practice/Game Requirements• RYL requires each player/team to arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to

the start of a scheduled practice or game. This is a requirement of the rental agreements and insurance RYL has with each of the field vendors (Rye Schools, Rye Rec, RCDS, Mville, Holy Child, Keio, SUNY).

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RYL Field Usage Rules

RYL leases field space across Westchester County. RYL & Insurance requires Strict Compliance with the following rules

• Teams may not to arrive on premises AND not enter field area prior to 15 minutes before scheduled start time.

• All spectators, parents, non-team players must sit on opposite side of field from bench area. Only coaches permitted on bench sideline.

• All benches (home and visitors) AND spectator areas must cleaned up after use.

• No dogs permitted at ANY time.• WATER only permitted – no sports drinks.• No metal cleats on Turf fields.

Field Rentals are RYL’s largest annual expense at over US$90,000 each Spring season

RYL is a Tenant not an Owner of fields

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RYL 2014-2015 Outlook

• Fees: Annual player fees may increase beginning 2015 by TBD

• Uniform Policy: RYL considering collecting and redistributing all Travel uniforms each season. Please return all uniforms to Coaches at end of 2014 spring season.

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RYL’s growth will require some changes in 2015 given increased costs incurred for Field Rentals, Tryout Rentals Paid Coaches, and Uniforms.

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RYL & US Lacrosse Resources • RYL is closely aligned with US Lacrosse Guildelines on Coaching,

Player Safety and Player Development. Please see the following links for more information:

• www.uslacrosse.org for articles and information (i.e. Choosing the B-Team over the A-Team might just be the best decision for your #lacrosse player --> http://t.co/Rg9h4kBZfU)

• SAFETY TAG NETWORK: RYL examining introduction in 2015

RYL Website Information

• RYL Website – www.ryelax.org; www.ryeyouthlacrosse.org

• Weather Updates

• Schedules by team: House and Travel boys and girls

• Off-Season Clinics, Fall-Ball, Winter Leagues, Wall-Ball

• Coaches Contacts

• Rules: Boys and Girls

• Camps links

• Feedback

• Coaches Corner (TBD): Practice Plans, Positive Coaching Alliance, US Lacrosse Certification

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Helpful Website Schedule Hints

• RYL's website has multiple ways to update your team’s calendar from your mobile device:

• Go to ryelax.org; www.ryeyouthlacrosse.org• Select your team• Click on the “Schedule” link on the left navigation bar• Click on the “Options” button on the right side of page• Choose form the following options:

• Link to this page• Add to Google Calendar• Subscribe to Calendar• Export schedule• Print Schedule

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Rye Youth Lacrosse Thank You!

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Spring 2014 www.ryelax.org