FCA Lacrosse Chicago

*Evals for 2024 Spring Teams were held on Mon, February 19 at Midwest Sports Training indoor facility (1187 West Hawthorne Lane, West Chicago, IL 60185).

3rd-8th graders are 3:00 to 5:00 pm. K-2nd graders will not have evaluations.

REGISTRATION is now closed.

FCA is planning to have teams at the 3rd and 4th-grade (Junior), 5th and 6th-grade (Minor), and 7th and 8th-grade (Major) levels for the Spring 2024 season in the Illinois Boys Lacrosse Association (IBLA).

We are excited that spring lacrosse is just around the corner! With evaluations on the horizon, we wanted to get a bunch of information in your hands regarding what the season looks like. On this page you will find: the evaluation schedule and sign-up link, team descriptions, information on practices, games, and tournaments, spring-team fees, and uniform information for 2024.

We are now moving into the ninth year of FCA Lacrosse. The club started in 2015 with 35 players!

So that we can plan accordingly for Spring 2024, it would be extremely helpful to get all players signed up for evaluations. Doing so allows us to effectively plan for the spring (determine the number of teams we can support and coaches we will need, et cetera).

2024 Spring Team Evaluations

We ask that all potential 2024 players sign up for evaluations. This is needed to determine age groupings, size of teams, number of coaches, field space, team equipment purchases. Promptly signing up helps us to plan effectively for the spring season.

Evaluation fee: $20 (all players)

** REGISTRATION **

The evaluation fee covers the rentals for evaluations and administrative costs associated with evaluations and sign-ups.

Evaluations will be held at Midwest Sports Training on the indoor turf field on Monday, February 19, 2024 — 3rd through 8th graders will be evaluated from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Info flyer (PDF).https://www.warrioryouthathletics.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2753939

2024 Team Descriptions

It is our goal to keep team sizes at the numbers below.

• Junior – 3rd and 4th; 1 team for 7v7; between 10 and 15 players
• Minor – 5th and 6th; 1 team; between 17 and 20 players
• Major – 7th and 8th; 1 team; between 17 and 22 players

The IBLA (our league) has made recommendations for divisional placement. Our task is to recommend level placement (once teams have been made) to the IBLA. Final placement of teams into levels is done at the league’s placement committee voting meeting in mid-March.

Our chief goal in this regard is to put players (and teams) in a position where they can experience a mix of success and challenge and ultimately help to grow a love of the game.

Maroon Team – our highest level program; highly competitive; requires the highest level of player/family commitment. Players will be chosen based on skill, athleticism, lacrosse IQ, positional fit, and program fit. Playing time will be earned through practice, attendance, and team need. Players will have set positions. The majority of this team will be made up of the highest grade in the age bracket.

Black Team – competitive. Players will be chosen based on skill, athleticism, lacrosse IQ, positional fit, and program fit. Playing time will be earned through practice and team need. All players will play in every game, but not all players will play an equal amount of time. This team can be a mix of older and younger players in their age bracket. Players may move from position to position, based on team need.

White Team – These teams are generally made up of players in the younger grade in each age bracket and/or newer players. Players will be chosen based on skill, athleticism, lacrosse IQ, positional fit, and program fit. Coaches will work with players to understand all positions and figure out the best fit for each player. Playing time will be as equal as possible.

2024 Team Practice Schedule
(tentative based on final number of teams)

• Evaluations: 3rd – 8th grades: Mon, February 19, 2024 at Midwest Sports Training indoor facility.
• Outdoor Practices (all teams will practice at the same time):
  • begin in mid-March and will be on the Wheaton Academy (turf field)
  • We are off for spring break.
  • continue after spring break and will be on the Wheaton Academy (turf field), generally on Mon & Wed.
• IBLA playoffs are June 1-2 (Junior, Minor, Major).

2024 Game Schedule
(tentative based on IBLA scheduling)

We have 8 weekends to play our 8 regular-season IBLA games. Much of the scheduling is determined by the league (as in who we play and the game host). We try to schedule the majority of our games on Saturdays (or Sunday afternoons) and try to avoid Sunday morning games, if at all possible. Typically, Juniors play first in the morning and Majors play in the afternoon. All home games will be played on the turf at Wheaton Academy on Saturdays.

• April 6-7 (Junior, Minor, Major) –  First available weekend for games
• June 1-2 (Junior, Minor, Major) – IBLA Playoffs

2024 Tournaments and Tournament Fees

Our Junior, Minor, and Major teams may attend 1 tournament during the spring. If we decide to take a team to a tournament, it will be announced after evals and will not require any additional fees or payments.

2024 Spring Team Fees

Our goal is to keep costs at a minimum for families while still offering high-quality experience for all involved. Please remember that we are not a park district program — the costs associated with our program and what we offer are not comparable.

For an explanation of the value FCA Lacrosse offers families please refer to our website.

Team fees cover league fees, practice and game field rentals indoors and outdoors, one tournament, shooter shirts, helmet/car decals, team supplies/equipment, program administrative costs, and coaching stipends.

Team fees DO NOT cover uniforms (game pinnie, shorts, and practice pinnie), player equipment (helmet, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves, mouth guard, stick, cleats), or USA Lacrosse membership fees. *Please note that youth lacrosse now requires shoulder pads/liners with the new NOCSAE certification.

We do not want team price or equipment price to be an issue in deciding to play for FCA Lacrosse.  If your family has a financial need, please contact us directly to discuss opportunities.

• Spring Team Fee
  • Junior, Minor, Major: TBD
    

Team rosters will be announced by/on March 1 and spring-team/tournament fees are due by March 7.

2024 Uniforms

We are using a similar uniform design as we did for Spring 2021 & 2022 & 2023. If you already have one of these uniforms and it fits, you are ‘good to go’ for the 2024 season. If you want to update to the new design, you’re welcome to do that too.

Uniforms are not included in the spring team fee. Players will need to purchase their own uniforms (through the team store). The cost for a complete set (game pinnie and shorts) will be $60. *FCA Lacrosse will provide a new shooter shirt to every player, as it is included in the spring fee.

We will use the same uniform design for a few years. Families can choose to replace uniforms (in part or whole) as needed/wanted. Once assigned, numbers will remain with players for the rest of their playing career with FCA.

We are grateful for your family’s commitment to FCA Lacrosse and are excited to get back on the field with all the players.

Beth, Geof, and Cort

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