RECREATIONAL TEAMS (Boys and Girls 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, and 7th/8th Grades):

At these grade levels we offer our traditional recreational team format. Everyone who registers is guaranteed a spot on the team. Tryouts are NOT required at this level. We do our best to provide each player with equal playing time. The recreational format is a great environment to learn the game of lacrosse if you are new to the game. It is also a nice pace of play for experienced players who want and/or need to build skills in order to play at the D1 competitive level. Each year our recreational teams compete well within our state-wide league. Your coach will contact you prior to the start of the season with the practice schedule.

COMPETITVE TEAMS (Boys and Girls 5th/6th & 7th/8th Grades):

EGLAX is a member of the Rhode Island Youth Lacrosse League (RIYLL) which is the governing body for all youth lacrosse in the entire state of Rhode Island.

East Greenwich Lacrosse offers a competitive DI level of play for boys and girls in grades 5 through 8. Along with the rewarding level of play, there is a higher expected level of commitment, as stated in the policy below. This program will provide the opportunity and venue for those individuals having the experience, skills, and desire to play lacrosse at a higher level.  Teams will be selected through tryouts held in March, with rosters announced as the tryout evaluations are completed.  

Competitive Commitment Policy

When a player accepts a position on an East Greenwich Level DI team, they are making a commitment to the coaches and every other player on that team. The team will be learning and practicing advanced methods of play that will only be effective if the entire team is present and involved in learning these methods.

Each player selected for a team will be expected to commit to the practice and game schedule throughout the Spring season. Lacrosse should be the player's first choice of sport for the Spring.

If a player demonstrates an inability or unwillingness to live up to the level of commitment required by the team, East Greenwich Lacrosse reserves the right to excuse a player from the team or recommend the player move to a non-competitive (recreational) team within the East Greenwich Lacrosse Association.

Playing time is determined by coaches and is NON-NEGOTIATABLE nor guaranteed. There are NO minimum minutes required at the DI competitive level.

Practices start in late-March depending on the age group and level of play. Games typically start early to mid-April and run through the 2nd week of June. Rhode Island Youth Lacrosse League (RIYLL) games are played on Saturday mornings.

There are four divisions. Teams in each division are organized by grade: 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th and 7th/8th. Players in 9th grade but under-15 may play in the 7th/8th grade division if they are not participating in a high school program and/or competitive club team.

Tryouts for boys and girls 5th/6th and 7th/8th competitive teams usually take place in early March. You will be notified of team assignment shortly after the completion of the tryouts.

If there are enough participants at the 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th grades for more than one team, teams will be divided evenly.

Practice schedules are finalized in late March and shared with the families at that time.

It is NEVER too late to start playing lacrosse. Coaches from the highest levels will tell you that they are always looking for good athletes. There have been high school athletes that have never touched a lacrosse stick that have been highly recruited to play on some of the finest college lacrosse programs in the country. In addition to lacrosse being the fastest game on two feet and one of the most exciting games to play and watch it is also a whole lot of FUN!

If your son or daughter has been unhappy and/or bored with other sports, it is not likely they will have that same experience with lacrosse.

Although there is some physical contact allowed in the boys' game, when lacrosse is played at its best there is very little body contact. It is truly a game of speed, quickness, agility and skill. Depending on who you speak to, there are many sports that allow significantly more contact. Unlike many other sports, size is not everything in lacrosse. Some of the best players in the country would be considered "undersized" in most other sports.

Little Avengers (Pre-K and Kindergarten Spring program): No need to purchase any equipment! Sticks and t-shirts are provided by the league.

Boys: Lacrosse helmet (hockey helmets are not permitted), mouth guard, gloves, cleats, elbow pads, shoulder pads, stick and athletic supporter.

Girls: Stick, mouth guard, cleats and lacrosse eye protection (goggles). Many girls also wear gloves.

**Mouth guards (not white or clear) are mandatory for both practices and games.

Please see our Boys' Equipment and Girls' Equipment webpages for more specific information.

EGLA members voted to support the establishment of a national governing body for the sport of lacrosse. In so doing, EGLA decided that all EGLA members in good standing would therefore be active members of USA Lacrosse. The benefits to USA Lacrosse membership are substantial. In addition to training, those benefits include a variety of programs, services and discounts. All Rhode Island youth lacrosse programs have the same membership requirement.

Check out the USA Lacrosse web site for much more info. You will be re-directed to the USA Lacrosse website during registration in order to locate your existing membership, renew your existing membership or apply for a new membership. USA Lacrosse fees are collected and administered by USA Lacrosse.

Your child must be committed to this program. In order to create viable teams for our coaches and for our program to commit to the Rhode Island Youth Lacrosse League game schedule, your player must attend at least 80% of all practices and games. If there are extenuating circumstances and your child cannot attend a practice or a game, you must notify the coaches well in advance. If you cannot make these commitments, please do not sign up. 

If your child is offered a position on one of the competitive teams, please refer to the Competitive Commitment Policy found earlier in the FAQ section.

For now you will have to wait & see if space becomes available. If the program is created with a wait list, slots are filled on a first registered/first in basis.  When/if a space becomes available, the first player on the wait list will be offered the space and will have 24 hours to register, otherwise the space is offered to the next player on the wait list.