First developed by Native Americans, lacrosse combines aspects of basketball, soccer and hockey. It is a game of action often described as “the fastest game on two feet.” Players carry the ball in their sticks up and down the field, passing to teammates and shooting on goal. Players of all sizes, ages and skill levels can compete in, and enjoy, the game of lacrosse.
Field lacrosse is played outdoors on a 110-yard field with 10 players per team for boys and 12 players per team for girls. Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in America and has more than 350,000 active players in the United States. Youth lacrosse (ages 15 & under) has doubled in the past five years.
OBGC lacrosse teams play against other youth programs in the metropolitan area. For both boys and girls teams, we will limit roster size to ensure each player experiences the game fully. We will add additional teams at each age level if enough players and volunteers sign up. Our goal is to provide a positive environment in which all players have fun and learn how to play lacrosse.
Expands program to include travel and elite lacrosse teams
As part of our efforts to continue to manage the growth and meet the needs of our lacrosse families, we are announcing the expansion of our house only program to include highly competitive “travel” and eventually “elite” teams. OBGC provides sport offerings to athletes of all ages and skill levels and this announcement and the expansion of our lacrosse program will allow us to continue to do so.
The foundation for OBGC’s travel program will be based on providing players with great professional instruction while creating a positive, nurturing and at times hard-working, family-like learning environment through team play, solid training clinics, advanced skills camps, tournaments and more. The travel program will be built with the understanding that the best programs in the area have the best coaches and OBGC’s teams will reflect that belief.
The regular spring 2013 lacrosse program will be enhanced to include several skill-development clinics for boys, plus development opportunities for their coaches to assist them with practice management, player skill development and game situational awareness and strategy.
The 2013 spring travel season will include the creation of a “travel” team at the U9 and U11 levels for boys who will eventually play in travel tournaments during this summer. The new boys “travel” program will run similar to the traditional club travel lacrosse programs in the metro area. Formal tryouts will be held in late summer and players that make the teams will have year-round exposure to coaches, clinics and instruction. In addition to games on Sundays in the fall and spring, travel players will be allowed to return to the fun of their house teams during the spring for Saturday.
During the summer of 2013, OBGC will expand the boys’ travel program by hosting tryouts for all age groups. We are hopeful that at that time, the girls’ program will be ready to start a similar process as we expand the reach and resources for our girls. Improving the girls’ program is a priority for the club.
There will be more information released about the 2013 Lacrosse program soon. Registration for OBGC’s lacrosse program will open on or around December 1st 2012. Questions? Contact Lacrosse@OBGC.com
