different levels of skill and experience,” said Charlie Obermayer, offi cials program manager at US Lacrosse. “Using US Lacrosse-trained offi cials removes at least one aspect of doubt about a tournament, because you know the offi cials have the teaching needed to keep the games safe and fair.” At US Lacrosse’s Regional and U15 National Championships, offi cials had to pass the organization’s online youth rules exam in order to be eligible to work. And it’s not only using US Lacrosse-trained offi cials, at least two per game, but also hiring enough of them so that they don't lose focus as fatigue sets in from working multiple games.
3. Does the tournament require participants to be USL members?
Membership in US Lacrosse comes with numerous perks, including accident, liability and secondary health insurance for players, coaches and offi cials. Parents can have peace of mind that their kids will play under the auspices of coaches and offi cials who, by becoming members, pledged to uphold the US Lacrosse code of conduct.
Requiring US Lacrosse membership does not, however, equate to a
tournament being sanctioned or endorsed by US Lacrosse.
4. Is the tournament itself insured? “I discovered during my research into non-US Lacrosse tournaments that many do not have the right insurance coverage, and that’s a big problem,” said James Lenz, a sports event planner. “Some event owners just assume that if the players are US Lacrosse members, that’s adequate. It’s not." Together with its insurance partner, Bollinger Sports Insurance, US Lacrosse publishes a risk management manual online at
uslacrosse.org/membership. The manual includes general liability minimums for event owners, who should procure a certifi cate of insurance for each tournament that includes the correct venue, date and year. Parents should sign a waiver or document to allow their kids to participate, Lenz said. If that's not required, ask why.
5. What's the host hotel like? And who's in charge?
For parents of teenagers, this is a
signifi cant question. Are you sending them with just the coach? Or will other adults chaperone? "The issue is outdoor-corridor hotels — we don’t want kids being able to just walk outside from their room," Huffman said. "We get a lot of requests for hotels with traditional lobbies.” LM
Teams from California and New York frequent the USL U15 Championship.
USL U15 EVENT PROVIDES NATIONAL COMPETITION
Like many youth lacrosse tournaments, the US Lacrosse U15 National Championship, powered by Lacrosse Unlimited, has seen its share of great players. In its 2009 debut, Madison Cyr (now at Penn State) led Check-Hers Elite (Md.) to the gold medal. Virginia-bound Ryan Lukacovic, a Lacrosse Magazine All-Tournament Team attackman for national champion FCA in 2010, led Chaminade (N.Y.) to a Catholic High School Athletic Association championship this year.
While high-quality players and teams have become
a fi xture at the event, it’s where those players and teams are coming from that’s placed the US Lacrosse U15 National Championship among the best of a crowded summer tournament landscape, according to coaches. The fi fth annual championship is set for July 23-25 (girls) and July 26-28 (boys) at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “It’s a real enticement to go play against other teams from around the country who have taken to this game and are showing tremendous success in it,” said Mike Chanenchuk, a coach and administrator for the Long Island Express (N.Y.) club program. “It’s a well-run, organized tournament in a great location.” The Express won the boys’ national championship last year over FCA, 7-4. The bronze medal game featured NorCal Talon (Calif.) against Florida. Sky Walkers (Md.) won the girls’ title in their fi rst appearance, defeating Yellow Jackets Team 2 (N.Y.). As many as 32 boys’ teams and 32 girls’ teams are expected to compete. Teams that medal and players that earn a spot on LM’s All-Tournament Team are feted at a lively ceremony, featuring music, a DJ and the presentation of trophies on a stage before a crowd of peers and parents. All of that provides content for highlight videos of the event that frequently play on the complex’s video screens. “The players have said that postgame ceremony is very unique,” said Drew Wardlow, an assistant coach and manager for the FCA club program. “It’s a different experience than we get in the other tournaments we typically compete in, in a good way.” Chanenchuk, for one, has seen enough of other girls’ teams on stage. The Express will send a girls’ team to the event for the fi rst time this year. “We’ve seen other teams on Long Island have success there,” he said. “Now we have the coaches and players to compete with the Yellow Jackets and Sky Walkers.”
A Publication of US Lacrosse We’ll fi nd out this month.July 2013 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 29 —P.K.
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