WINTER PRE-K SCOOPERS ON WEDS AT ST PAUL LUTHERAN! 12/18 - 2/12 SESSION #1

WHO: Pre-K Kids! Ages 3-5. 3s Need Parent or Guardian with us.


WHY: Physical activity during the day during the cold months!


WHAT: “Scoopers” beginner lacrosse


WHEN: Wednesdays 1:30 – 2:30 PM


WHERE: St Paul Lutheran Church Basement

375 Lothrup Rd

Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236



FEES “TRIAL ONLY” 12/18: $6.00/Player + $16.00 AAU Membership 


FEES WHOLE SESSION #1:

$50.00 / player + $16.00 AAU Membership ($20 off sibling!)


SESSION #1

Dec 18 (Can do “Trial Only”)

Dec 25 OFF

Jan 1 OFF

Jan 8

Jan 15

Jan 22

Jan 29

Feb 5

Feb 12

Feb 19 OFF



END  #### 

SESSION 2 TBA END FEB - APR


DO I NEED GEAR? NO! Just sneakers and a water bottle! If you have gear, do bring it, but we will have sticks.



WHAT IS AAU FEE? AAU is our insurance coverage for the program. Coach Bob’s Red Line Athletic Club is the sponsor of the Starter Lacrosse Scooper Program. Go to

https://play.aausports.org/joinaau/multimembershipapplication or just send Bob email at rlacmetros@gmail.com and I’ll send the link! Choose “lacrosse” as sport and enter “WYA4BW” for club code. Membership will be good though 8/31/2019 and for all future lax we do!



HOW DO I REGISTER FOR THE PROGRAM? Go to www.rlacmetros.com > Register – You’ll see the program when you sign in!

ELECTION WEEK POP-UP CLINICS (LAX & SOCCER) -- UPDATED!

REGISTER HERE
https://www.rlacmetros.com/Default.aspx?tabid=130269
COACH BOB MONDAY 11/4 POP-UP SOCCER CLINIC 1:00 – 1:45 PM



WHAT: Soccer pop up clinic

WHO: PRE-K AGE 3-5

WHEN: Monday, Nov 4th 1:00-1:45 PM

WHERE: Elworthy Field (Kroeger Side)

WHY: Last of warmer weather

HOW: Register through https://www.rlacmetros.com/Default.aspx?tabid=130269

COST: $5.00

QUESTIONS: Contact Bob at rlacmetros@gmail.com

BRING:

- Waterbottle with name marked on it

- Athletic apparel – shorts/sweatpants/shorts

- Cleats and/or running shoes







COACH BOB MONDAY 11/4 POP-UP SCOOPERS LAX CLINIC 2:00 - 2:45 PM



WHAT: Scoopers Lacrosse pop up clinic

WHO: PRE-K AGE 3-5

WHEN: Monday, Nov 4th 2:00-2:45 PM

WHERE: Elworthy Field (Kroeger Side)

WHY: Last of warmer weather

HOW: Register through https://www.rlacmetros.com/Default.aspx?tabid=130269

COST: $5.00

QUESTIONS: Contact Bob at rlacmetros@gmail.com

BRING:

- Waterbottle with name marked on it

- Athletic apparel – shorts/sweatpants/shorts

- Cleats and/or running shoes

- Bring stick of you have one, but we have sticks







COACH BOB’S ELECTION DAY CLINICS (UPDATED/CHANGED)




CLINIC #1: GRADES K-3 SOCCER 9:00 - 10:00 AM

WHAT: Soccer Clinic

WHO: Student athletes grades K-3.

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov 5th 9:00 – 10:00 AM  

WHERE: Elworthy Field

WHY: Kids are off from school! Weather looks somewhat warm.

HOW: Register through https://www.rlacmetros.com/Default.aspx?tabid=130269

COST: $5.00/Player

QUESTIONS: Contact Bob at rlacmetros@gmail.com

BRING:

- Bundle up!

- Waterbottle with name marked on it

- Athletic apparel – shorts/sweatpants/shorts

- Cleats and/or running shoes

- Soccer Shinguards



CLINIC #2: GRADES K-3 BEGINNER LAX 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

WHAT: Lacrosse

WHO: Student athletes grades K-3.

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov 5th 11:00 – 12:00 PM 

WHERE: Elworthy Field

WHY: Kids are off from school! Weather looks warm enough

HOW: Register through https://www.rlacmetros.com/Default.aspx?tabid=130269

COST: $5.00/Player

QUESTIONS: Contact Bob at rlacmetros@gmail.com

BRING:

- Bundle up!

- Waterbottle with name marked on it

- Athletic apparel – shorts/sweatpants/shorts

- Cleats and/or running shoes

- If you have a stick / gear bring it, if not we have gear







CLINIC #3 PRE-K SCOOPERS LAX 1:00 - 1:45 PM



WHAT: Lacrosse

WHO: PRE-K Age 3-5

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov 5th 1:00 – 1:45 PM 

WHERE: Elworthy Field

WHY: Kids are off from school! Weather looks warm enough

HOW: Register through https://www.rlacmetros.com/Default.aspx?tabid=130269

COST: $5.00/Player

QUESTIONS: Contact Bob at rlacmetros@gmail.com

BRING:

- Bundle up!

- Waterbottle with name marked on it

- Athletic apparel – shorts/sweatpants/shorts

- Cleats and/or running shoes

- If you have a stick / gear bring it, if not we have gear







CLINIC #4 PRE-K SOCCER 2:00 - 2:45 PM



WHAT: Soccer

WHO: PRE-K Age 3-5

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov 5th 2:00 – 2:45 PM 

WHERE: Elworthy Field

WHY: Kids are off from school! Weather looks warm enough

HOW: Register through https://www.rlacmetros.com/Default.aspx?tabid=130269

COST: $5.00/Player

QUESTIONS: Contact Bob at rlacmetros@gmail.com

BRING:

- Bundle up!

- Waterbottle with name marked on it

- Athletic apparel – shorts/sweatpants/shorts

- Cleats and/or running shoes

- We have balls

NEIGHBORHOOD CLUB BOYS GRADE 3-5 PROGRAM IN FLUX

The Neighborhood Club Boys 3v3 Lacrosse Program which ran in the Spring and Fall for youth players in Grades 3-5 is now in flux as of October 2019.



Coach Ken B and the Neighborhood Club are parting ways regarding his involvement / management of the Neighborhood Club's Program. What that means for the program is anyone's guess, but it probably means that an already anemic program will dissolve just leaving "soft lacrosse" for Grades 1-2 if even that.



Per Coach on FB on 10/20 --



"With the end of today's session Ive finished my 18th consecutive year (spring and fall) of volunteering to run the Grosse Pointe Neighborhood Club boys lacrosse program.



Sadly the numbers have dwindled over the years, and its become increasingly difficult for me time-wise to continue running rec ball.



I still love these kids and the game as I always have, I'm just seeing a change in the amount of kids playing the game just for fun in our community.



Frankly, I've been a bit disappointed by the absence of any support from anyone in the local lacrosse community to help me grow the game. I guess they assume I'll be there or simply have no interest.

Although there are few exceptions , I've done it with little or no support from the other adults or local lacrosse coaches for nearly two decades.



That being said, I do recognize all of the wonderful HS players who have contributed over the years and have been there to help me coach.



I will say these kids out there today love the game as much they did the first year I came out back in 2001. I get great joy in seeing them grow up and play in HS and in some cases beyond.

I know in my heart Ive introduced the game to more kids than anyone in GP and have handed hundreds and hundreds of kids their first stick.



I've given up over 200 Sundays, away from my own family to help introduce this great game to these kids over the years (including both of my own sons.) I've been a constant over the years.



It may be time for me to reflect and decide my future with NHC. I'm only one man and it may be time to pass the torch.

My lax specialty program, 313 Lacrosse has just absorbed so much time it may be difficult to continue with the rec program in 2020.



Thanks to the hundreds and hundreds of players and families who have given me the privilege of teaching the game."



Here at Starter Lacrosse, I am going to respectfully disagree, I believe there still are kids that want to play the game just for fun in our community, but in 2019 that age is not in grade 3 - 5. It's ages 3 - 6 or 7. Everything is simply younger. I do not think that Neighborhood Club or Coach have picked up on this shift in the past 10 years, but children simply begin organized youth sports way younger than even just a decade ago. As a parent I see it right up close.



We're looking forward to getting the little ones going!



Let's get Started!

WELCOME TO STARTER LACROSSE - GROSSE POINTE & SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

Welcome!

My name is Bob DeGemmis and I am a new Grosse Pointe resident as of 2016. I am a coach and a parent of two aspiring lacrosse players!

I am starting this business project "Starter Lacrosse" for a number or reasons. The short of the long is that there is a major gap in youth lacrosse programming for boys and girls in Grosse Pointe and surrounding areas. There is Neighborhood Club Fall and Spring "soft lacrosse" which is limited to co-ed soft lacrosse for boys and girls grades 1 & 2, boys 3 v 3 in grades 3 - 5 and girls-only grades 3-8. 

313 Lacrosse has 4 day "rookie camps" that don't begin until 2nd grade. The youngest "team play" is for kids in Grade 3 (U10) and it is "travel". 313 doesn't have any girls lacrosse programming. 

Meanwhile, right here in Grosse Pointe young children can participate in a variety of other youth sports programming.

- A child could play HOCKEY as young as AGE 3 in Learn To Play for Grosse Pointe Bulldogs
- A child could play co-ed Neighborhood Club Soccer as young as AGE 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Grade 1
- A child could play Neighborhood Club T-ball at age 4
- A child can play East Side FC youth soccer which has programming for children as young as age 3 and "travel" soccer beginning at age 7. 

You get the picture, lacrosse is way behind in Grosse Pointe compared to other sports and as result has less players at the older age groups with less experience and the other sports get the better athletes and also have more experience. Not the best growth for the fastest growing team sport in the U.S. 

In Michigan there are some good 5U programs, but Grosse Pointe and surrounding areas are nowhere near them. Champions Lacrosse in Birmingham has a great Wee Little Laxers (PreK / K) and Little Laxers program (Pre-K - 2nd Grade), but again, is about 45-50 minute drive. Motor City Knights Lacrosse / Vision Lacrosse Academy in Romeo is about 30-40 minutes away and has limited programming for players in Kindergarten. Motor City Machine Girls Lacrosse, also in Romeo, begins in grade 3.   

Even summer camps are for older players. Liggett Summer Lacrosse Camp and Grosse Pointe South Lacrosse Camp are for older players.

Meanwhile, back east where I am coming from, scoopers and wee laxers programs are all over the place. Some only deal exclusively with players ages 3 - 8 and some are in Clubs that run up to the higher ages. Some examples...

Bethesda Lacrosse Club -MD - has scoopers programming for youngest players Pre-K to Age 4

Madlax- MD/VA - has programming for players ages 5-9 or PK-3rd grade

Little Stix Lacrosse - NJ - is exclusively for the youngest players ages 4 - 8

1st Start Lacrosse - PA - also, exclusively for the youngest players ages 3 - 8

For the time being, "Starter Lacrosse"  is going to be exclusively focused on...

- "Soft Lacrosse" Clinics for players ages 3-8

- "Equipment Lacrosse" Clinics for players ages 3-8

- Non-travel seasonal / local "equipment / team" programming ages for players 8U with clinic experience  

- Summer Camps

- Birthday Parties 

The press is lamenting these days that youth athletes are dropping out of team sports at the younger and younger ages, on average around age 12. What they fail to mention is that kids are STARTING sports at younger and younger ages. Age 3-5 young athletes are not uncommon. "Retiring" at the "ripe old age" may very well be a career, as little Jimmy/Jenny may already have played for 7-8 years! It's time for lacrosse in Southeast Michigan to catch up!

I hope you start with us!

Sincerely,

Bob DeGemmis

Founder