Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What's the Ipswich Youth Lacrosse web site?
   www.iylax.org
2. When does the season start & end?
   Ipswich Youth Lacrosse starts the spring season in March with weekday practices. Games usually start in the first few weeks of April. The season is over before the public school summer recess, although there are occasional tournament games in late June.
3. When are games?
   All normally scheduled games are on Sundays. Games that need to be re-scheduled due to weather postponements will be played on regular practice days of other Sundays. There?s an end of the season jamboree that?s played near the third weekend in June. Three to four games are scheduled in one day
4. Where are games played?
   Home games are played at the school fields off of Mile Lane. Away games are played in the various north shore towns at their home fields. There are usually 4 home games & 4 away games
5. Where can I watch these games?
   Most towns including Ipswich request that spectators stay on the opposite side of the field from the two team benches.
6. How are teams organized?
   Teams are organized by grades:
   U15: 7th & 8th grade
   U13: 5th & 6th grade
   U11: 3rd & 4th grade
   U9: 1st & 2nd grade
7. Can a player be on a team if they are not in the grade?
   Players may play "up" a level if requested by the parents and approved by the team coaches, player agent and president.
   Players may not play "down" a level unless IYL secures approval via formal waiver from the state level governing competition committees.
8. What positions do players get to play?
   As players progress through age levels they tend to self select into certain positions to which they are best suited by skill and physique. As they begin to learn the game they are rotated throughout all positions except that generally goalie is reserved for volunteers.
9. When is registration?
   Registration for the spring usually takes place in the fall.
10. How do I register my child?
    On line, linked through our registration page. Girls will need to preregister with US Lacrosse, and boys with MBYLL. Our website will direct you to those websites during the registration process. Registration for the spring season is open in the fall. An early registration discount ends in December. We have to do registrations early as we need to register our teams with the leagues in early January and have to order uniforms in time so we get them before the games start in April.
11. What if I don't have a credit card for the on line registration
    Contact the player agent and arrangements to pay by cash or check can be made
12. Are there scholarships?
    Contact the IYL player agent for financial hardship assistance. All scholarships must me approved by the player agent, treasurer and president..
13. Are there tryouts?
    No
14. Are there all-stars?
    No
15. Are there playoffs?
    No
16. What if my kid gets really good at lacrosse, are there are other more challenging leagues available?
    Yes. There are select leagues within the MBYLL ( boy's) and MBGLL (girls). These require a player also play in the Sunday games and attend the Sunday team practices during the week.Ipswich does not have enough participation to field an all Ipswich select team. Ipswich players are part of a multitown team that play in the select games. Select games are not played Sundays and there's usually one additional practice per week over and above the normal practices. There is current no set schedule for the select games or practices. These will vary from year to year. Ipswich Youth Lacrosse  encourages players to stay in the program. There are more competitive programs that cost more, require tryouts, and have playoffs. Others play year round. Ask your coach.
17. What kind of equipment do I need for girls?
    Girls need a lacrosse stick, mouth guard and lacrosse goggles. Soccer style cleats ( no metal tips ) are also needed.
18. What kind of equipment do I need for boys?
    Boys need a lacrosse stick, lacrosse gloves, lacrosse helmet ( white if possible) , mouth guard, lacrosse shoulder pads, lacrosse arm pads. Soccer style cleats ( no metal tips ) are also needed.
19. What about uniforms?
    IYL provides a way for players to purchase a game jersey, game shorts and a practice jersey. Players need to buy new uniforms only when they grow out of their old uniform. Uniforms are purchased during registration.