If you’re reading this, you probably have some sort of gently or un-used lacrosse equipment sitting in the corner of your garage or (for you organized people) hanging on that slat wall of the garage. You guys are in luck, because we know just the place to get that lacrosse equipment off your hands and out of your garage!

Our Lax4all Program is a non-for-profit organization that initiates and sustains lacrosse programs in non-traditional communities on Long Island. Throughout the year, we are always looking to gather lacrosse equipment to be used within our Lax4all Program. The equipment gathered will be given out to young studletes who are new to the sport or who are looking to get more involved in the sport.

Below is a list of items that we could always use for studletes in our Lax4all Program. 1 being the most needed item.

1. Lacrosse Sticks (Boys & Girls) – we could never have too many lacrosse sticks. The first thing we give to new players is a stick. Getting a stick in as many player’s hands as possible is the fastest and most successful way to spread the game.

2. Goggles, Helmets & Gloves – the next step for introducing players to the game is provide a quality pair of gloves (Boys) and a helmet (Boys) or pair of goggles (Girls). This allows Lax4all coaches to do many more drills and introduce more advanced concepts to players.

3. Arm pads, Shoulder Pads, Chest Protector – Providing the remaining hard goods allows more players to get a complete set of equipment and one-day participate in the leagues we provide for players in the Organization.

4. Cleats – Cleats are great for players that have never played a field sport before. Some players only have sneakers because they’re used to playing indoor sports, such as basketball.

5 . Bags – It’s great to have extra bags so we can give them out to players who have a full set of equipment. Players can then put all their equipment in bags, as opposed to putting everything on their lacrosse sticks. This damages their lacrosse head and affects their play.

The mission of Lax4all is simple, spread the game. Similar to FLG, we want to utilize lacrosse to build more than just athletes.

Visit our FLG Lacrosse Events CALENDAR to see where you can drop off gently used or un-used lacrosse equipment. We accept equipment at any FLG related event. Thanks!

Recently we did a study that looked at websites for over 300 lacrosse clubs around the country. The ‘number’ 1 thing we were looking for (see what I did there) on these websites were phone numbers. Unfortunately, a whopping 60% of club lacrosse websites failed to put up a phone number.  Of the 40% that HAD their phone number on their website, only 10% had a phone number on their HOMEPAGE. This means, 90% of the club lacrosse programs in our study either HAD NO number on their website or HAD a number, but you were forced to search for it on their website. Making people search for your club programs phone number is definitely a negative. However, not having a number on your site is a BIG negative for a variety of reasons. Below we listed 5 BIG reasons why you should have your clubs phone numbers on the front of your website:

• Lacrosse clubs that run showcase events, such as FLG, cannot find a way to contact you. These are missed opportunities for your players to attend recruiting or training events. FLG looks to connect and build relationships with club lacrosse programs, non-profit organizations, families, college coaches, and vendors by shooting out a phone call. If we can’t find your number, it makes it really difficult to build that relationship!
• College coaches who want to recruit your players cannot find a way to contact you. Coaches that cannot contact a club may choose to recruit a player from a more responsive/reliable club program. Being that the recruiting process is getting faster and faster, college coaches can’t call the player or player’s family. Therefore, they will contact the club lacrosse team they play for. If they don’t have your number, than how will they get in touch?!
• Parents interested in your club have no way of contacting you to ask questions about your program. Researching lacrosse clubs online can take a lot of time and energy. Some parents prefer being able to jump on a phone call to learn more about your club. Make it easy for new parents to give you a call and answer any questions you may have.
• Not having a phone number makes it look as though you have something to hide. Not being able to easily make a one-on-one interaction with a company is alarming and frustrating. Lacrosse clubs are in the service business. It’s our duty to answer and assist parents, coaches, and other club directors on a day-to-day basis.
• A phone number bridges the gap between online and offline engagement. Customers want to know there is someone behind what they see online. Being able to dial a number and speak with someone that represents your lacrosse club is a great way to spread your club program’s mission and help grow your business.

Continue to build relationships, help studletes, connect with parents, and be receptive to new interactions. Most importantly, help your business and those within it by adding your phone number to your website!

When the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center opened up in Little Falls, NJ – families and kids flocked to take part in the programs inspired by his values. One day, Yogi’s friend turned to him and said, “Isn’t it great to see all these kids and families here at the museum?!” Yogi replied, “Yes, it’s a great site to see, but we need bigger bathrooms.” This comment is a microcosm of what Yogi stood for. With all the great things happening, Yogi noticed something that needed improvement. He noticed an overflow of kids and families in the bathrooms. He sensed discomfort and chaos. As opposed to getting angry and frustrated with the crowds filling up the museum’s bathrooms, Yogi went directly to the root of the problem and said this needs to be fixed. Today, the bathrooms have been renovated and families can flow in and out of the museum with comfort and ease.

Youth coaches face the issue of chaos at practice, during clinics, and at camps more often than not. Bringing a large group of kids together on a vast field can make it very difficult to get things done. However, if you as a coach notice the kids in your group talking to each other, trying to knock their teammates stick out of their hands, or simply standing around for long periods of time; you’re immediate instinct should never be to blame the kids. Do what Yogi would do. Change the way you run the drill or change the way you engage with player’s in that huddle. Create an experience with shorter lines, challenging  rules, a faster pace, and more fun! Let’s not forget why kids truly enjoy youth sports, it’s because they love to play. Talk less, challenge, encourage, and have your kids play more. If you do this, you’re player’s will start saying, “Hey Coach! It gets late early out here.”

This Blog Post is in honor of Yoga Berra – An iconic role model for his peers, his public, and the thousands of children who read about and visit the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center. Rest in Peace.