SDC Lacrosse FAQs
Q: When does the season begin/end?
A: We begin each season in late January with Saturday indoor practices at Beyond the Game in Centerville. Since many players are still playing basketball at this time of year, the first four weeks are optional, but the second four weeks are considered official practices.
Games begin the first weekend of March and continue through mid-May. Our K-2 teams will play on Saturdays and the 3rd & 4th and 5th & 6th-grade teams will play on Sundays. The 7th & 8th-grade team plays on Tuesday or Thursday evenings.
Q: Where are games played?
A: Our games are played at various locations in the Dayton and Middletown/West Chester areas. Occasionally we may need to travel to the Cincinnati area for a game.
Q: Who can play for the Knights?
A: The South Dayton Catholic Lacrosse club is a feeder program for the lacrosse teams at Alter High School. We offer teams for boys and girls in grades K thru 8. All skill levels at all grade levels are welcome. While students attending the traditional parochial feeder schools for Alter are our main focus, we also accept kids attending other schools in the Kettering, Oakwood, and South Dayton neighborhoods.
Q: Do you have girls' teams?
A: For the Spring 2020 season we will be adding girls teams for the first time if we have enough players. If you are interested in developing the girls' teams, please contact Mike Dalidowicz (
).
Q: Are there tryouts?
A: No. South Dayton Catholic Lacrosse does not hold tryouts. We accept all eligible players.
Q: What does it cost to play for the Knights?
A: We make every effort to keep the cost of participating in lacrosse as affordable as possible to help attract new players. Our team registration fees are as follows:
- K-2 - $25
- 3rd & 4th Grade - $100
- 5th & 6th Grade - $150
- 7th & 8th Grade - $175
In addition to our team fees, it is required that your son or daughter have an active USA Lacrosse membership to play for the Knights (or any other team in the area). A youth USA Lacrosse membership costs $30 and can be set up (or renewed) within our registration process.
Q: What is my registration fee used for?
A: Your registration fee includes the cost of your uniform and provides funding for covering the cost of field rentals, referee fees, club equipment, and other administrative expenses.
Q: What are the team colors? Do I need to have specific colors for equipment?
A: Our team colors are Athletic Gold, Brown, and White. Specific equipment colors are not a requirement. For boys, if you currently own or have access to a helmet that fits properly, you can use it no matter what color it is. However, if you are purchasing a new helmet, we recommend purchasing an Athletic Gold helmet from Cascade Lacrosse or Warrior Lacrosse. We recommend you visit Velocity Lacrosse in West Chester to ensure proper fit of all equipment, and especially the helmet.
Q: Where are practices held?
New for the 2020 season we will start the season with 8-weeks of indoor practices at the Alter Aux Gym and at GAC Fitness in Springboro. From January through early March we have the Alter Aux Gym reserved for Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00. This will also give us access to the turf field if the weather is nice enough to head outside.
For February and the first two weekends of March, we have also reserved GAC Fitness (825 W Central Ave. Springboro, OH 45066) from 9:00 to noon.
Specific schedules for who practices when and where have not been established yet. We’ll look at that once we have a better idea of how many teams/kids are signed up.
Once the weather breaks and we're able to move outdoors, we'll practice on the fields by John F Kennedy School in Kettering.
Q: Is lacrosse played in inclement weather?
A: Yes. Games are played rain or shine and in cold weather as long as field conditions are determined to be acceptable. The only exception is games may be suspended or canceled due to lightning.
Q: What is U.S. Lacrosse?
A: USA Lacrosse is the national governing body of men's and women's lacrosse. Membership in USA Lacrosse provides league-required insurance coverage for the players and coaches as well as other benefits. For more information please visit their website at http://www.uslacrosse.org. South Dayton Catholic Lacrosse is a member of the Southern Ohio Chapter of USA Lacrosse.
Q: What specific equipment is needed?
A: Equipment requirements are different for boys and girls. All players are responsible for providing their own equipment.
Boys Equipment:
- Helmet
- Mouth Guard
- Shoulder Pads
- Arm Pads
- Gloves
- Athletic cup and cup holder – This is mandatory!
- Men's Lacrosse stick
- Lightweight cleats (football or soccer are fine). No steel or baseball cleats.
Girls Equipment:
- Goggles
- Stick
- Mouthguard
- Cleats
You can shop online at merchants such as sportstop.com, lacrosse.com, lacrossemonkey.com, or dickssportinggoods.com to find a wide range of products and special deals. However, we recommend that young players shop locally at Velocity Lacrosse in West Chester, to find the right size and style of equipment to suit your needs. Proper fit is essential to provide proper protection.
Q: I'm new to the sport of lacrosse how do I learn more?
A: Visit our Lacrosse Terminology page to get familiar with lacrosse jargon and view this helpful PDF to learn about the different positions and the different parts of a lacrosse field.
Q: What else do I need to know?
A: Please remember this is a recreational youth sports program. Our club is entirely powered by volunteers who are dedicated to teaching young men and women how to play the game of lacrosse and translating the lessons from the field into broader life lessons. As coaches, we strive to set a good example of sportsmanship for our players. We will emphasize respect for the rules of the game, our opponents, the officials, and our teammates. As spectators and fans of our club, we expect you to do the same.
We ask you to also acknowledge that being a referee in youth sports is often a thankless job. They do their job knowing they will be criticized. They are human and are going to make mistakes. They are so vital to the sport. As lacrosse continues to grow, so does the need for qualified officials. Let’s not scare them off by making their job harder by criticizing and arguing with them. As a faith-based organization, we have high expectations with regard to sportsmanship and respect of the referees from coaches, players, and spectators.
