Parent FAQ

Who can play for Blaine Youth Lacrosse?
Blaine Youth Lacrosse offers boys and girls lacrosse opportunities for athletes from the school boundaries for Blaine, as well as athletes from other cities that do not offer boys or girls youth lacrosse. Founded in 2008, Blaine Youth Lacrosse is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization focused on developing youth lacrosse players, boys and girls, within the Blaine High School area. In 2023, the club expanded to make lacrosse available to athletes in surrounding communities who would otherwise not have the opportunity to play.

What is lacrosse?
Lacrosse is a fast-paced team sport where players use a stick with a small net (called a crosse) to catch, carry, and pass a ball, aiming to score by shooting it into the opponent's goal. It combines elements of basketball, soccer, and hockey, emphasizing speed, teamwork, and strategy. The game has Native American origins and is now played at youth, high school, collegiate, and professional levels.

My child has never played lacrosse. Can they join?
Yes. No previous lacrosse experience is required for any of our programs. Our programs welcome beginners and experienced players, and multi-sport athletes are encouraged to participate. The club's Try Lacrosse events are designed for brand-new players -- all ages are welcome, all equipment is provided, and no experience is necessary. If your child is looking to try lacrosse for the first time, small quantities of equipment are also available to borrow -- reach out to our Boys or Girls Director with questions.

My child plays other sports. Can they still play lacrosse?
Yes. The club is flexible with multi-sport athletes and their schedules, and encourages multi-sport athletes to participate.

Registration & Eligibility

How do I register my child?
Click the REGISTRATION button in the site's top navigation, or visit the Registration page, to see currently open programs. Each open program (such as 2026 Fall Try Lacrosse, Off-Season Training, or BYLA Coaching) has a LEARN MORE link with details and a REGISTER option. Note: program pages display a "Check Back Later" message when registrations are not currently open for that program.

What ages and grade levels can register?
Boys Lacrosse follows the USA Lacrosse 12 Month Eligibility with these divisions: U8 (grades 1 & 2), U10 (grades 3 & 4), U12 (grades 5 & 6), and U14 (grades 7 & 8). Girls Lacrosse follows the current USA Lacrosse 12-Month Age Eligibility Guidelines with these divisions: U6 (typically grades Pre-K-Kindergarten; 6-week season, no tournaments), U8 (typically grades 1-2; 6-week season, no tournaments), U10 (typically grades 3-4), U12 (typically grades 5-6), and U14 (typically grades 7-8). Division placement and eligibility are determined according to current USA Lacrosse guidelines -- USA Lacrosse uses a September 1 age cutoff for youth age groupings. For the most current age eligibility information, see the USA Lacrosse - Player Eligibility & Certification page under Parent Resources.

Is a USA Lacrosse membership required?
Yes. To ensure your child is eligible to play, all players must complete two required steps: (1) maintain an active USA Lacrosse membership -- register for or renew an active USA Lacrosse account; and (2) complete the new online age verification process through USA Lacrosse. USA Lacrosse now requires one-time age verification for all players participating in 2026 seasons. Blaine Youth Lacrosse and our league (GNLL) follow the official USA Lacrosse age guidelines. The USA Lacrosse membership is required for registration and is not included in the BYLA season fee. Links to account registration and age verification are on the USA Lacrosse - Player Eligibility & Certification page under Parent Resources.

How does age verification work?
Complete the online age verification process through USA Lacrosse using your child's active USA Lacrosse account. USA Lacrosse requires this one-time age verification for all players participating in 2026 seasons. Links and the 12-month age grouping chart are on the USA Lacrosse - Player Eligibility & Certification page under Parent Resources.

Can my child play up (or down) an age division?
If you believe your player has the skill and ability to play at a level other than their assigned division, you can submit a waive-up request. First complete season registration, then complete the Waive-up Request form provided in your registration confirmation email. For more information, review the Player Movement section within the club's Policies & Procedures document (linked on the program pages and Policies page). If you have questions, contact the Boys or Girls Director through the Boys Lacrosse or Girls Lacrosse program pages.

Seasons, Practices & Games

When are the seasons?
Boys Lacrosse: The spring season runs late March through early June, with two weekend tournaments, weekday practices, and weekend games. The summer season runs early June through late July, with weekday practices and games (Monday-Thursday) and no weekend commitment outside the two tournaments. The fall season runs late August through mid-October, with games on Sundays only (tournament only in 2026, no league games), seven games across five Sundays beginning in September, team practices once per week beginning in late August, and one weekend tournament in mid-October.
Girls Lacrosse: The spring season runs April and May, with one weekend tournament (the Spring State Tournament), weekday practices two to three days per week, and doubleheader weekend games on Saturdays or Sundays (6-8 games depending on age level). The summer season runs June and July, with two weekend tournaments (a mid-season tournament and Summer State), practices two to three days per week and up to five days per week total including games, planned Monday-Friday. The fall season depends on player interest.
Off-season options: Fall Fundamentals 2026 (led by Blaine Varsity coaches, for 10U-14U; six weekly sessions running late August through early October) and the Winter Clinic 2027 (Sundays beginning in January 2027 at the National Sports Center; see the Off-Season Training program page for dates by age group).

Where are practices and games held?
Boys practices are held at the National Sports Center, Lexington Athletic Complex, and Northpoint Elementary School. Girls practices are held at Lexington Athletic Complex and Northpoint Elementary School. Games are primarily held in Blaine and various Twin Cities suburbs. The 2027 Girls Winter Clinic is held at the NSC Sports Hall at the National Sports Center in Blaine (Sundays, 8:00-9:00 AM).

Where can I find my team's game times and locations?
Visit the Schedule page in the site's top navigation. It shows events with Club and Facility views, a TODAY button, and a Select Date field so you can look up game times and locations by date.

Are there tryouts?
For boys, A and B teams are determined at spring season tryouts; if there are enough players for multiple B teams, those teams are balanced. For girls, if enough girls are registered to field two teams at any level, there could be a tryout to determine teams.

Equipment & Uniforms

What equipment does my player need?
Safety comes first -- full equipment is required for every practice and game.
Boys: helmet (white preferred), colored mouthguard (no clear or white), shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, athletic cup, cleats, and a lacrosse stick.
Girls: lacrosse goggles, colored mouthguard (no clear or white), cleats, and a girls' lacrosse stick.
The Equipment page under Parent Resources includes a buying guide -- please read it before purchasing a new stick or used equipment. It also lists a protective gear rental program for boys, local stores, and online stores where you can purchase gear.

What about jewelry and piercings?
All jewelry must be removed during games. Please plan any new ear or body piercings around the season so they have time to heal, as players cannot participate with jewelry on.

Are uniforms provided?
Players are provided uniforms to use for the calendar year. Boys 8U receive a jersey and t-shirt; boys 10U/12U/14U receive a jersey, shorts, and t-shirt. Girls receive a new uniform (jersey, shorts, and t-shirt) to use for the calendar year.

Refunds

What is the refund policy?
Registration fees are generally non-refundable. As a non-profit, BYLA commits to equipment, uniforms, league fees, tournaments, and insurance months before the season starts. There are exceptions — including drops before registration closes and medical withdrawals with a doctor's note — and the Executive Board may waive the policy in unusual circumstances. The full policy, including how to submit a refund request in writing, is on the Refund Policies page (under About → Policies). For questions, contact the club treasurer.

Coaching & Volunteering

How can I become a coach?
Blaine Youth Lacrosse is always looking for coaches. Start by completing the coach application through the BYLA Coaching registration (choose LEARN MORE under Registration), and review the Coaching with Blaine Lacrosse resource page for the full process. All coaches must complete the following requirements before their first team practice (this deadline is firm):
1. USA Lacrosse Coach Registration -- complete online every year, before your first team practice. The registration fee is reimbursable; submit your receipts to the Treasurer.
2. BYLA Coach Application -- you will need your USA Lacrosse registration number to apply.
3. USA Lacrosse Background Screening -- required every two years; instructions are emailed after you register as a coach with USA Lacrosse.
4. USA Lacrosse Abuse Prevention Training -- instructions are emailed after you register as a coach with USA Lacrosse.
5. USA Lacrosse Coaching Certification -- complete all online modules required for your coaching role: Gold certification for head coaches, Bronze certification for assistant coaches. Review your certification status each year.
Submitting a BYLA Coach Application does not guarantee a coaching position. If you have questions about coaching requirements, contact the Boys or Girls Director through the Coaching with Blaine Lacrosse page.

Club Policies

What policies apply to players and parents?
Blaine Youth Lacrosse has posted these policies on its Policies page (under About): Parent Code of Conduct, Player Code of Conduct, Anti-Bullying Policy, Assumption of Risk (Injury and Illness) Policy, and Policies & Procedures. All registrants and their guardians are required to read and agree to the parent and player codes of conduct.

Contact

Who do I contact with questions?
To contact the appropriate person, visit the Board of Directors listing on the About Us page (under About). Board roles include the President, Vice President, Girls Director, Boys Director, Treasurer, and other directors. For program-specific questions, contact the Boys or Girls Director through the Boys Lacrosse or Girls Lacrosse program pages, where their contact information is listed.