How to start a new college club team

[Sonny]

The brochure is intended for Women's club teams (WDIA), but most if can apply to starting a new men's club team.

PDF format:
http://www.lacrosse.org/programs/pdf/co ... manual.pdf

[eaglelax5]

If anyone out there wants first-hand info on what it takes to start a new club team, I'd be happy to share my experiences.

[new-WI-l-axplayer]

We're a fairly new team in the B-division (2nd year) in the UMLL. Most the people in our town think Lacrosse is a city that is southwest of us (which there is). Although we are drastically improving (a somewhat close game against an A-division team in feb, and a victory in Michigan) we seem to be at each other's throats. I set up great fundraisers for our team, but we can't seem to get them motivated to fully participate. Excuses keep popping up. We also have a young, inexperienced coach who is going to be playing on the team next year He's a great help to the team, but we can't make him yell, which I think is important (half the team can't here what he's talking about). Our biggest problem is the money, then attendance, then coaching. I don't know the budget's of other teams, but ours seems to get larger as the season goes on. And we're running out of time. We're alread had our players ( all 20 ) dish out $250 in dues, purchase thier own equipment, and now they might be paying for thier own hotel and gas? What are fair dues and how much money should we be spending in a year? Do you guys have any great suggestions?

[eaglelax5]

Fundraisers can be very tough to get going. If you make it known that if players don't go to fundraisers then dues go up it helps, but its still very tough with a new team. Forcing players to participate in fundraisers will chase them away before you build a solid base, but a few years down the road this can work. You need to keep it fun so guys will stick around.

Be creative. One of the first things we did to raise money was get in a pitch ad for skippy peanut butter. Some alum wanted to have "violent" sports teams in an ad, so we strapped on gear, threw around jars of peanut butter, and climbed on his pickup while he took pictures. We got a check and free peanut butter (something NCAA teams can't do). I guess you need to be lucky here as well. Once you get the team going, alumni and family donations may be a possibility.

For attendance, beg your friends to come. Get a few girls to come, guys will follow. Build up a buzz on campus about the team, get fans involved with the team socially. If they're having fun on the sidelines and know the guys, they'll keep coming and word will spread.

As for a coach - if your school has a graduate program, get a grad student to help out. Chances are, there will be at least one grad student w/ a lax background there, the sport has spread enough that its a good chance. It worked well for us at BC.

The biggest thing to have when starting a team is patience. Also, don't do it alone - it took about 6 of us working together to get the club program running at BC. But its worth it when you finally have success.

Good luck.

[CSUalum32]

I think most USLIA teams pay for their own hotels and plane tickets. at CSU when i was playing it cost clost to $1300 per spring season for travel, dues and refs and stuff. i am sure it is more now. But i agree, just have patience, it will come with time