We are very excited about the upcoming season for Northern Dutchess Boys Youth Lacrosse. I'm writing to provide a number of updates on the organization, upcoming playing opportunities and ways that you can help.

 

 

We are in the process of updating our website to a new provider. The League Athletics platform we have been using is being sunsetted, so we are moving to Sports Connect. We are looking for the Sports Connect website to go live in the next month or so. The website URL will remain the same (https://www.northerndutchesslax.com/), but the appearance, and process of registering will be completely revamped. The Sports Connect platform is much less clunky than the previous platform and they pride themselves as being a mobile first platform.  

 

 

We will be offering a winter clinic starting in January. The clinic will run for 6 weeks on Sundays at Red Hook High School in the gym. The first clinic date will be January 7th and the last clinic date will be February 9th. The clinic will cost $30 per player to attend all 6 sessions. Players will be required to have a USA Lacrosse membership in order to participate. USA Lacrosse memberships costs $30 for an annual membership. If your child's USA Lacrosse membership from last season is still active, you will be all set for the clinics. If your child's USA Lacrosse membership has expired, or you have never had one before, you will need to pay the $30 fee for a USA Lacrosse membership. If you renew or create a USA Lacrosse membership between now and the start of the clinics, this will also cover your USA Lacrosse membership for the 2024 spring season.

 

 

Registration for the spring season will open up when the new website platform is rolled out. We will follow the same outline as last year. The K-2 Program will be an in-house only program which practices once per week and the only required equipment will be a stick. Players in grades 3-6 will play on either the 3/4 team or 5/6 team. Players on these teams are required to wear all of the required equipment outlined on the attached USA Lacrosse Required Equipment Guide. Our players will follow the Boys' Field Player Equipment or Boys' Goalie Equipment on pages 2 and 3 depending on their position. 

 

Cost: 

• K-2 program -  $50 (+ $30 USA Lacrosse registration)
• 3-6 Program -  $170  (+ $30 USA Lacrosse registration)
• Both programs will offer a $20 early bird discount if registered by February 10th

 

 

Northern Dutchess is a non-profit organization run by volunteers. Our goal is to provide low-cost playing opportunities to boys in grades K-6. Volunteers are essential to achieving this goal. We will need at least 2 parent coaches each for the 3/4 and 5/6 team. Ideally, I'd like to get at least 5 volunteers in order to help run the K-2 program. This year we will be offering a coupon code valued at $50 for individuals that coach either the 3/4 or 5/6 team. Individuals that volunteer to coach with the K-2 program will receive a coupon code valued at $10 that can be applied during registration. If you are interested in volunteering, please email me as soon as possible so we can get together a plan for coaches in the spring. All coaches must have a USA Lacrosse membership of their own in addition to their child's USA Lacrosse membership. USA Lacrosse provides a background check service on our behalf. Coaches are not required to have lacrosse experience. We can provide you with resources from USA Lacrosse to help build your knowledge of the game.

 

In addition to coaches, we can always use volunteers in other ways. If you are interested in taking on a Team Manager role, organizing fundraisers, or setting up apparel orders, we will find a way that you can help. Please reach out to me directly if you are interested in volunteering.

 

Let me know if you have any questions,

 

Dan Gall

 

NDBYLA Secretary

518-944-0587