West Side Lacrosse is a family owned and operated travel lacrosse program. Players are invited by coaches recommendations, talent level and tryouts. The goal of West Side is to team up West Michigans best players to travel and play together at multiple tournaments in the Midwest, showcasing our talent level here on the Lakeshore; all the while building relationships between programs and friendships between players.
West Side Lax believes developing as a lacrosse player is more than passing, catching and shooting. It's about understanding and respecting the game, preparing mentally and physically for the challenges of elite competition and to not just be a good player for your team; but being a great team player.
West Side General INFO
1. Programs
West Side Lacrosse offers multiple kinds of lacrosse opportunities. We have summer travel teams for boys & girl and fall travel teams for boys & girls. We also offer local box lacrosse leagues and travel box teams for boys in the winter. West Side also provides extensive amounts of training and practice opportunities throughout the year as well as hosting a tourney in the summer.
PRACTICES/TRAINING: West Side offers Winter & Summer training opportunities to all West Side Summer players. Exact dates and times will be sent out via email, through Team Snap and posted online. All the following opportunities are included in your summer dues.
-Winter SESSIONS: Thursday night positional practices starting in November through early March @ Soccer Stop. -MORE Spring Prep Practices: Indoor "Field Lacrosse" practices to help prepare our players for the Spring Lacrosse Season. February/March @ Soccer Stop. Schedule will be posted on our SESSIONS page and updated on your Teamsnap asap. -Summer SESSIONS: Ten, 90 minute Positional Practices prior to our first tourney @ Harbor Lights Middle School. Schedule TBA
-Summer Practice: 14-15 Team practices. Tuesday & Thursday nights between 4:00 pm & 8:00 pm starting the first week of June @ Harbor Lights Middle School.
CancellationPolicy: In the event of poor weather conditions, we may end up cancelling some practices or events. I strongly dislike cancelling anything but also understand practicing in bad weather can be counterproductive and/or unsafe. If we are ever going to cancel anything, I will inform you via REMIND 101 no later than 1 hour prior to event and post in our announcements block on our home page. I will do my best to give you as much notice as I can, but if you do not hear from me, then nothing has been cancelled. We will do everything in our power to reschedule any cancelled event but are limited to field availability in an already full schedule. I will try to send an email if I can, but if I am away from the office (on the field) it will be difficult. REMIND 101 is our primary tool for cancellation notices.
2. DUES
Dues change slightly year to year as does tournament fees, indoor costs and field costs. We will do our best to make sure to keep dues affordable.
2023 Summer Dues are TBD
PAYMENT POLICIES AND OPTIONS
Payment is DUE IMMEDIATLEY upon Registration. If you can not pay in full right away, you must pay the $250 deposit to hold you roster spot. Deposit is nonrefundable.
- Payment options are available. Contact Coach Greer directly to discuss
- West Side Family Discount- There is a $50 discount per player if you have multiple players in the program
- Scholarships may be available for players who qualify. Contact Coach Greer for details
Deposits are used to hold spots, register for tourneys, order uniforms and pay for indoor time. We need your registration for communication purposes, insurance, roster information and ordering uniforms. Without it you may not receive info or get the correct size apparel. If we do not get your deposit and registration we will offer your spot to another player.
Prorating: West Side Lacrosse will no longer be prorating for tournaments/events missed. All players must submit which tournaments, if any, they will not be attending in registration and via email prior to the beginning of the season.
Refunds: Refunds will only be given in the event West Side as a program, one or more of our teams does not attend a scheduled event or tournament due to cancellation of the event or divisions. Refunds will not be given if said event is replaced.
Refunds will not be given for injuries sustained prior to or during the current season that result in players being removed from competition. Players are expected and encouraged to continue to attend practices and tournaments to continue to learn and enjoy the program. Refunds will not be given if players decommit after they have accepted a roster spot and completed registration & payment regardless of circumstances.
-Dues pay for Tournament entry fees, uniforms/apparel, practice field rental costs (indoor and outdoor), referee costs, website, program insurance, day to day operations, field equipment (balls, cones, goals and nets) and coaches compensation
-Uniforms will be passed out in early June.
-Players who have not paid in full will not receive uniforms or be allowed to play in games or tourneys until fully paid.
-West Side Lax is still the most inexpensive travel programs in the state that offers as much as we do.
-Remember, at the High School levels we ask that players either wear black, white or West Side (white with blue features) helmets. The helmet rules do not apply to the U-10, U-12 and U-14 teams but option still available.
-Please contact me directly if you want to purchase a helmet as we get very good deals.
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3.Tournament Schedule
Go to team pages for updated schedules. Tourney schedules and locations are subject to change.
We will be adding scrimmages when and if/when we can.
4. Age cutoffs
We split our teams by Grad year, not by age.
Players may move up if needed but not down.
5. Play time:
Each team will have 19-20 players maximum at tournaments.
- 4-5 Attack
- 7-8 Midfield
- 6-7 Defenders (Close D & LSM)
- 1-2 Goalies
These numbers will help ensure optimal playtime for everyone.
West Side "ALTERNATES"
Players who do not make the 18-20 man roster will have the option to be an "ALTERNATE "player. Those players will have access to all the same opportunities as everyone else except tournament play and will be treated the same as all other players. They will get uniforms, be able to attend all West Side practices and sessions and play in local scrimmages.
We will only be taking 1 ALTERNATE PER POSITION PER TEAM.
They will also be allowed to fill in for players who will be missing a tournament or if some one gets injured and can not play. This is a great opportunity for players who want to continue to improve their skills and get more coaching. Cost for "ALTERNATE" is $600.
ALTERNATES will be chosen the same as roster players. They will be judged by ability and attitude.
6.HOTELS and Travel
HOTELS:
Hotel information including tourney links and blocks will be provided via email, Teamsnap and on team pages.
7.Communication
COMMUNICATION: West Side offers multiple forms of communication to ensure everyone is fully informed at all times. If you have questions, please check the website first, review your emails and check Teamsnap. If you still have questions, please reach out to me directly anytime. Email is good, but a text or phone call will get a quicker reply. I will get back to you as quickly as I can, but if you do not hear back in a day, please follow up. Any information requests after 4:00 pm will usually be replied to the next morning.
-Email: Bi-Weekly emails will be sent out with important info, reminders and updates from now until the Summer season begins.
-Website: Visit our website for general information. Practice, Session and Tournament schedules are posted online. -Teamsnap: We are using TEAM SNAP to register, post schedules, send out updates and reminders and communicate in real time.
-Social Media: Be sure to follow us on social media @WestSidelax1. We do not use social media for communciation, but rather an experience sharing tool. Please tag us in your posts.
8. Fall Ball/ BOX LACROSSE -Off Season
West Side offers field tournaments in the fall and box tourneys in the winter. Participation in these activities is not included in summer dues and is completely optional. FALL BALL & BOX LAX
If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please contact
Murle Greer @ 616-834-2823 or email @ westsidelax@hotmail.com.
