AGE-
APPROPRIATE When Flynn tries to get
9-year-olds to extend their arms away from their body when passing or shooting, he talks about not having T-Rex arms. Or he invokes gorillas to explain ground balls. “You don’t go into a U9
team trying to explain a 10-man ride,” he said. Beyond language, MBYLL was at the vanguard of athlete development, tailoring its rules to keep players safe and equip them with fundamentals. Long poles, for example, were prohibited until high school. MBYLL was one of numerous organizations whose expertise helped shape the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model, a national US Lacrosse initiative which emphasizes concepts like physical literacy, small-sided practices and games, free play and age-appropriate rules.
INTEGRATED APPROACH
MBYLL does not segment its players based on skill level or experience.
“If you designate A kids, B kids and C kids, the C kids quit to fi nd something they might be good at,” Flynn said. “We have balanced teams. It’s no different than if none of the adults showed up to the fi eld and the kids were in charge. They would split the teams evenly and have a great game.” In 2010, the league
started the MBYLL Select program as an additional opportunity for advanced players representing their towns. It includes a postseason tournament and all-star game in each age group. However, MBYLL Select players must also participate on their MBYLL Classic teams. “We’re going to have our advanced players be leaders, to build character through leadership,” Picard said. “They lead developing youth players while playing side-by- side and saying, ‘This is what it takes.’”
USlaxmagazine.com
SIGNATURE EVENT
For four days over two weekends in June, about 450 teams will converge on 13 fi elds in Devens, Mass., for the MBYLL Jamboree. It is the largest youth lacrosse event in the U.S., the sponsorship revenue from which accounts for 40 percent of MBYLL’s total annual operating budget — allowing the league to minimize member fees. “Every year it continues
to grow,” said Rick Zaccardo of Reading Youth Lacrosse, MBYLL’s treasurer. “More vendors are lining up. The Boston Cannons are there. It’s an amazing event, and it’s a byproduct of what we’ve done the last 25 years and our philosophy.” MBYLL administers 1,300 games during the four-day event.
STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS In addition to its alignment with US Lacrosse, MBYLL also partners with Trilogy Lacrosse to deliver its coaching curriculum. “We want to work with those organizations that can help us make that experience better in the spring season,” Spangenberg said. “These for-profi t and non-profi t partnerships have been at the foundation of what has made us so successful in recent years and will help us propel it to the next level.” USL
May/June 2017 US LACROSSE MAGAZINE
21
©MICHAEL BRYANT
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