Welcome to the Monroe Lacrosse preseason guide! These are ways your player can get ready for the lacrosse season and this should always be fun. If your child gets frustrated, confused or doesn’t enjoy any activities below, that’s ok! We will do everything in practice and no athlete will be “behind” if they don’t do any of these activities. Same goes for parents. If this isn’t fun, don’t worry about it.
CONDITIONING (for 5/6 and 7/8 grade levels)
If your player isn’t in any running sports now, encourage them to start conditioning. Give them time goals based on their current fitness level. Try intervals of 20 second sprints and 20 second jogs. Each time encourage them to stay with it a little longer.
Lacrosse uses a lot of upper body work, their arms can be sore during the early season. If they have a lacrosse stick already, cradle for 2-3 minutes at a time, then take a break. Make it fun, it shouldn’t be unpleasant for them!
LACROSSE PRACTICE – What can you do now?
Cradling
Improve your cradle NOW and practice will be much easier. A good cradle uses the arms, and the stick is vertical. A bad cradle looks like a fishing net and is horizontal. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUaWghgMZm4
Catching/Passing
This is HARD, if your player is new and only catches 1 out of 10, don’t get discouraged, that’s a normal progression. Keep encouraging them to catch over their shoulder and not drop the stick so it looks like a basket or net. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydrxwqfhiS0
EQUIPMENT needed for girls lacrosse
What equipment do girls need to play lacrosse? Lacrosse Stick, Headgear (either goggles or helmet), Mouthguard, Cleats (can be soccer, lacrosse, or football)
Note: Any type of bag with pockets to hold head gear and mouth guard (you do NOT need a lacrosse stick bag or lacrosse book bag but can use one if you have it)
Shop Around! If you find something you like, try different online vendors. Prices vary along with shipping costs. You do NOT have to buy new. Used equipment can be cheaper especially sticks.
Local Shops: Hersport (Haddonfield), Play it Again Sports (Deptford), Dick’s Sporting Goods (Deptford)
Online Vendors: SportStop.com, LaxSteals.com, Lax.com, Lacrossemonkey.com, Lacrosseunlimited.com, Universallacrosse.com, Dickssportinggoods.com
Thoughts on Dicks Sporting Goods…. Selection in store can vary, but they have a wide variety of good sticks online. Monroe Lacrosse has a 10% off coupon for any 1 item in store and good for any location. Go here for the coupon: https://www.braveslax.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2755462
Preferred girls lacrosse sticks: Girls sticks have changed a lot in the past 5 years. The preferred girls sticks now come with a good curved shape towards the end of the stick. This makes it easier for scooping ground balls. Also, girls sticks come with a smaller side wall (plastic side) compared to boys. This allows us to make a deeper pocket (the net where the ball sits in). The deeper pockets makes it easier for the girls to catch and cradle the ball keeping the ball in their stick more.
A good beginner stick should only cost between $50 - $70. We recommend 2 sticks specifically, the Signature Jr Girls Stick ($50) and the new STX Crux 100 with Lock Pocket stringing. Monroe Lacrosse was able to get Signature Jr Girls sticks for $50 after shipping and tax. These sticks are great for the 1/2 and 3/4 grade teams. There are some other sticks that would also be good for beginners. Reach out to us at [email protected] if you are looking for a different stick other than the 2 above.
If they want their own stick, some of the best sticks to get are used sticks! Used sticks can be found at Play It Again Sports in Deptford, Sidelineswap.com, and even Facebook Marketplace. Some things to look for when shopping for used sticks:
· Good curved shape at the end (if it looks flat, you can avoid)
· No warping of the plastic (stick should look symmetrical)
· We have found some of the best used sticks are any of the beginner and intermediate model sticks listed below that can usually be found in the $20-$40 at Play It Again.
· Do not worry about the condition of the pocket (net). We can restring most sticks! If you want your stick restrung, plea only charges $10-$15 to make a stick feel new again.
· Avoid old elite sticks that usually sell for over $50 at Play it Again – these sticks are usually for more advanced players, and are probably several generations old.
Another thing to consider when looking for sticks (new or used) is don’t buy a stick because of it’s pretty color. If you get a lacrosse stick with a white head, we can dye it any color you want! If it is not white though, it is very difficult to dye another color.
Please note that the sticks below are just recommendations. Trying to pick out a stick is overwhelming. I’ve been there (5 years ago now). So many “best stick guides” on the internet that are all paid for by clicking through their referral links. This is a guide that has taken some of the best recommendations from various lacrosse circles and tried to compile it to make it easier.
In the end, we can try and make almost any stick work. If all else fails and you are at a store, searching the internet, trying to decide between a couple of sticks and need help, feel free to text me at 609-501-6586 (send pictures of sticks, etc). We can discuss what level your daughter is at, their age, and even style of play.
Beginner Sticks $40-$70 Range: These are great starters and are awesome for rec play through 8th grade.
· Maverik Ascent Beginner Sticks: https://www.sportstop.com/products/maverik-ascent-alloy-complete-womens-lacrosse-stick
· Signature Jr: https://signaturelacrosse.com/products/universal-complete-jr28-womens (these are the sticks we have available for $50)
· STX Crux 100 w/ Lock Pocket Jr: https://www.sportstop.com/products/stx-crux-100-complete-womens-lacrosse-stick
Intermediate Sticks ~$100- $150: Great for rec, youth club through high school. These sticks are better for older beginners and those looking to upgrade from a beginner stick after a few seasons.
· Maverik Ascent Carbon Composite (great beginner and intermediate stick for $100): https://www.sportstop.com/products/maverik-ascent-carbon-composite-complete-womens-lacrosse-stick
· STX Crux 400/500/600 (Mesh Composite is latest model, good sales on older models): https://www.sportstop.com/products/stx-crux-400-crux-400-composite-complete-womens-lacrosse-stick
https://www.sportstop.com/products/stx-crux-600-crux-mesh-pro-nike-lunar-elite-10-degree-composite-complete-womens-lacrosse-stick (on sale)
· Maverik Axiom G4 Composite: https://www.sportstop.com/products/maverik-axiom-g4-composite-complete-womens-lacrosse-stick
· STX Exult 400/500/600: https://www.sportstop.com/products/stx-exult-600-10-degree-composite-complete-womens-lacrosse-stick
· Nike Lunar Elite 2: https://www.sportstop.com/products/nike-lunar-elite-2-10-degree-composite-complete-womens-lacrosse-stick
High End Career Sticks +$200: Do not buy these sticks for beginners! These sticks will last a player through rec, club and high school and any version of the elite game. Used by the pros. Not needed for rec, but including it for those who are interested.
Sticks to Avoid if looking to buy:
- STX Lily: Bad mesh, no pocket, shapeless head. This is usually bought for the 1st year because of it’s low price and included in many “starter” sets. If you already own one, don’t worry, we can re-string it!
- Under Armour Futures: Bad runner or mesh, no pocket, weird shaft. If you already own one don’t worry, we can re-string it!
Mouth guards: No clear or white mouth guards are allowed, but other than that, there are no rules other than they must wear them at all times!
Please always have a backup, this is the #1 reason players arrive at games and can’t play. Every game someone forgets one. Monroe lacrosse club will try to keep some in the shed as backup, but they won’t be as comfortable as your own mouthguard.
Preferred: Sisu mouthguards. https://www.sisuguard.com. These are some of the only ones where kids don’t have to take out when trying to talk or drink water. Can be found in most stores and Amazon.
Cleats: Soccer and football cleats are fine! Don’t feel required to buy lacrosse cleats because they are always more expensive. The major difference is ankle support. Soccer cleats can be used for lacrosse, but lacrosse cleats can’t be used for soccer. So if you do both, buy soccer cleats.
Football cleats provide more ankle support. Most football cleats are good for lacrosse grass fields. However, there is a slight increase of injury with some football cleats on turf fields due to different cuts lacrosse players make. This is more of a concern at the older ages (12+).
Head Gear: Girls must use women’s lacrosse certified headgear. You can either go with just goggles or a women’s lacrosse helmet. If you have goggles from field hockey, they are allowed for lacrosse too.
Please note that any goggles labeled for YOUTH, GIRLS, or “Starter Pack” are usually for girls on 1/2 grade teams. Goggles are sometimes better to try on at a store like Dick’s Sporting Goods or HerSport so you can see what is most comfortable.
Googles: All googles must be SEI certified
· STX 4Sight Women’s: https://www.lacrossemonkey.com/lacrosse-womens-equipment/lacrosse-womens-goggles/stx-womens-lacrosse-eyewear-4sight-s.html
· Gait Glory: https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/gait-womens-glory-lacrosse-goggles-21gaiwglryggglxxxlxa/21gaiwglryggglxxxlxa
· Under Armour Glory, Charge, Futures: https://www.lacrosseunlimited.com/under-armour-charge-2-womens-goggles.html
· STX Focus S Women's: https://www.lacrossemonkey.com/lacrosse-womens-equipment/lacrosse-womens-goggles/stx-womens-lacrosse-eyewear-focus-s.html
Helmets:
· Cascade LX: Wearing a helmet is personal preference. There is only 1 approved girl’s lacrosse helmet, by Cascade. No other helmets are allowed. https://www.lax.com/lacrosse-equipment/cascade-lx-lacrosse-headgear/66960.html