BOYS SUMMER LACROSSE
Unleash your inner athlete
This fast-paced, high-scoring sport is a fantastic way to stay active, make new friends, and develop important life skills. Whether you're a seasoned player or a curious newcomer, this guide will help you understand the basics of the game.
The Shakopee boys' lacrosse program is a proud member of Youth Lacrosse of Minnesota (YLM) and adheres to all YLM rules and regulations.
What to expect
When we play
Our lacrosse season typically runs from early May to late July. The start of the season may be impacted by weather and field conditions.
Pre-season camp
New in 2026, we are hosting a few pre-season camp sessions to ensure are athletes are ready to hit the field for evaluations. These sessions will focus on individual drills and skills necessary to be successful during the season. Sessions will be primary hosed in a Shakopee gym on weeknights during March and outdoors in April weather dependent. Look for your athlete to be rostered to a pre-season team in crossbar as we get into February.
Evaluations
SYLA is committed to providing a fun and inclusive lacrosse experience for all players regardless of skill, ability, or motivation. To achieve this, we will host evaluations to form our teams for any level that has 2 or more teams. Our goal is to form balanced teams at the 8u and 10u levels and an A and B team at the 12u and 14u levels. Evaluations are scheduled for Saturday 4/25 and Sunday 4/26. More information including specific time slots will be announced as dates approach.
Read our evaluation process to understand the expectations and philosophy of our evaluation sessions.
Age Groupings
We will form teams based upon current USA Lacrosse age guidelines. If you need more information on what age grouping your player belongs in, checkout the link below. If you believe your Athlete better fits in another group, please submit an Age Waiver for review.
Note: Boys that have started 9th grade are not allowed to play on a team regardless of age.
USA Lacrosse membership
A $35 USA Lacrosse membership is required for league participation. This annual fee includes insurance, equipment discounts, Lacrosse Magazine, and covers a 12 month period from the date of registration
Practices
| LEVEL OF PLAY | PRACTICE DAYS | PRACTICE LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| 8U | M&W* | 1 hour |
| 10U | M&W* | 1 hour |
| 12U | M, W, Th** | 1.5 hours |
| 14U | M, W, Th** | 1.5 hours |
*Practices shift to Mondays & Thursdays once varsity lacrosse ends in mid-June.
**Practices shift to Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays once varsity lacrosse ends in mid-June.
Games
- Games start the first week of June.
- Expect 1–2 games a week
- Games are played on weeknights
- Game schedules are set by YLM and released 1 week before the season starts.
Weekend Tournaments
Our teams play in 3 weekend tournaments throughout the season below are the tournaments we anticipate sending out teams to. As our teams are rostered and we begin registering for tournaments, the locations and weekends may change.
- Shakopee River Valley Rumble - weekend of June 5-7
- Prior Lake Lax by the Lake - weekend of June 27-28
- 14u A team historically played in a different tournament to find right competition
- YLM Sponsored Tournament/Jamboree
- 8u and 10u teams weekend of July 18-19
- 12u and 14u teams weekend of July 25-26
Where we play
Practices and home games are held at Saber Fields:
13200 Townline Ave, Shakopee, MN 55379
Away games are played across the metro area. YLM does its best to schedule games amongst teams in the SW metro area, but as players reach 12 & 14U ages, distance may be a bit further to ensure a competitive match up.
Gear
All players are required to have equipment and SYLA uniforms. While players may request a number during registration, final number assignments will be determined by the association.
Equipment
- Helmet
- Mouth guard - Colored
- Stick
- Gloves
- Elbow pads
- Protective cup
- Shoulder/chest pads
- Cleats (optional, but strongly recommended)
- Water bottle - younger players are strongly encouraged to use one with a long straw
Explore more specific details in the Boys’ Lacrosse Equipment Guide from USA Lacrosse.
Uniforms
Game Jersey
Game Shorts
Practice Jersey
All players will be required to order a uniform during the registration process. Number requests may be made, but cannot be guaranteed to be available. The cost for a 3 piece kit which includes the game jersey, game shorts & practice jersey is $95. An optional shooter shirt is available for $25.
Unsure what size uniform you need, stop by one of our scheduled try on events at the Shakopee Ice Arena Conference Room. You only need to attend one event. Please bring shoulder pads for more accurate sizing.
- Shakopee Ice Arena Conference Room
- Sun, Jan 18th 5:30-7:30 pm
- Sun, Feb 1st 8:30-10:00 am
- Mon, Feb 9th 5:30-6:30 pm
- Shakopee High School Field House
- Thurs, Mar 5th 6:30-7:30 pm
Optional Shooter Shirt
Registration Fees
The following table displays the fees that will be collected during the registration process. Again in 2026 we have excited to offer the option to pay all of these fees at one time or over the course of the season. If electing the payment plan option, please ensure you use a credit or debit card with an expiration date of Aug 2026 or later.
| Division | Registration fees through 2/15 | Registration fees beginning 2/16 | Fundraising Fee* | Uniform Fee** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8u | $225 | $245 | $100 | $95 |
| 10u | $300 | $330 | $100 | $95 |
| 12u | $350 | $385 | $100 | $95 |
| 14u | $350 | $385 | $100 | $95 |
*Consistent with previous years, the fundraising fee will be collected during the registration process and refunded based upon achieving minimum fundraising requirements.
**New in 2026, uniform fee will be collected during the registration process.
Frequently asked questions
Can athletes get an age waiver to play down an age level?
Players can request an age waiver play with their peers, if their birth date is within six months of the cut-off date. Register at the correct age level and the board will adjust it if the decision to grant the waiver is approved.
To submit an age waiver request, complete this form. All requests must be received by April 1 to be considered. You will be notified of approval or denial. There will be no refunds if a waiver is not granted and your player decides not to play for SYLA.
Can athletes get an age waiver to play up an age level?
Players will not be allowed to play up age levels to ensure they are focused on skill improvement, unless recommended by the youth director and coach. Adjustments may be made if numbers at certain age levels are not met, but this will be at the discretion of the board.
My player’s USA Lacrosse member number is not found when trying to register, what can I do?
Confirm the information entered when registering for your USA lacrosse membership is exactly the same as what is entered into the form for Shakopee lacrosse registration. Here are some things to look for:
- Middle initial missing
- Incorrect address (i.e. Road vs Rd)
- Exact last name spelling
- Incorrect birth date.
If you have verified all are equal, we can reach out to USA Lacrosse.
Why do I have to pay for a USA Lacrosse membership?
USA Lacrosse memberships are required so that if a player is injured on the field during an event they are covered by the USA Lacrosse insurance through RPS Bollinger.
Will I have to purchase a new uniform every year?
The association will try to maintain the same jersey for two year cycles. 2026 is the first year for this style uniform so all athletes are required to purchase a jersey for this year.
Are scholarships available for registration fees?
Scholarships for SYLA are available for families that qualify for the free or reduced lunch program through the school. The scholarship amount will be for 50% of registration fees. Uniform and fundraising fees are not covered.
To apply:
- Fill out the Financial Assistance Application on our website under the registration tab.
- You will be contacted by the board to notify you of the type of assistance you qualify for and provide a discount code.
- Register online using the discount code at checkout.
Are there paid coaches at all levels?
Yes. Our goal is to have paid coaches for all levels, starting at 6U.
Will volunteer hours be required this year?
Yes volunteer hours are required of all player families. SYLA families will be required to provide a refundable $700 volunteer deposit check at the parent meeting in April. You can choose to opt-out of volunteering by paying $600 at registration.
The final hour determination will be set closer to the start of the season. Please note, players will not be able to participate in evaluations unless the volunteer check is received. Upon verification of the required volunteer hours being completed, deposit checks are destroyed. If all volunteer hours are not completed, SYLA will cash your deposit checks in lieu of hours not worked.
What types of jobs will be available for volunteer hours?
Our home tournament, River Valley Rumble, will be our priority for volunteer hours. 90+% of our volunteer hours are filled at this tournament. The remaining volunteer hours are fulfilled via parent volunteer coaches, team managers and CHILL managers.
Can I rent equipment?
We do not currently have an equipment rental program. We are aware of one retailer that rents out equipment ES Lacrosse in Plymouth
At what age can my child use a longer D pole?
Athletes can begin using modified defensive poles at 10U and older ages are subject to USA Lacrosse rules.
Does the association provide equipment for goalies?
Yes