The NSLA, Minnesota Lacrosse Association, and US Lacrosse can help you get started.  Call NSLA President, Brian Ostenso at 612-720-6686 or email him at bostenso@aol.com

Girls’ lacrosse is a MSHSL sanctioned high school spring sport in Minnesota. To form a team all you really need is some ambition, a list of interested students, a teacher (school liaison) to help, a coach and a field to play on.  Very likely you will start as a club team, playing as part of the NSLA (see at the bottom for an explanation of the differences between club & varsity).

Step 1) Player Sign-up - Pass the word around school that you are interested in starting a team for the spring lacrosse season. Make announcements, set up an information table with a lacrosse video and sign-up sheet in the cafeteria, put a sign-up sheet/poster in the locker room. Also, talk with parents and teachers to see if any of them are interested in coaching or serving as a liaison with the school.   

Step 2) Set up a meeting - Once you get over 20 people signed up we can arrange for an after school meeting and or clinic. At the meeting we will go over the equipment costs, league fees, insurance and the administrative things that need to be done to move forward in starting the team.

OUTLINE OF LACROSSE TEAM COSTS: Teams charge a team fee ranging between $50 and $200 per player. This fee varies by program and can be offset by fund raising and school support. Here are some of the expenses you need to consider: uniforms ($30+ for jersey & shorts or Kilts), goals/nets ($400-800) umpires for 5-6 home games (~$100 a game = $40 x 2 refs.), field rental & lining ($100-$200), league dues $150 per team, busing ($120-$170 per trip if you don’t car pool), US Lacrosse membership & insurance (~$32 per player) and coaches salary (up to you). In the case of some clubs and most varsity programs the athletic director assists with finding field space/lining, the cost of umpires and coaches salaries. However, most teams are not funded by their schools. On top of the team fee, individual equipment is an additional expense, usually paid for by the players. All players must have a womens lacrosse stick ($32-$90), a mouth guard, and goggles ($20-$60).  The US Lacrosse "New Start Program" puts you in touch with vendors that have special discount pricing for goals, nets and equipment packages (see below).

Step 3) Meet with school administration - Have your teacher (liaison), coach and a student contact or parent meet with your principal and athletic director about starting a club or varsity team and securing a football/soccer field for the spring. Don't expect to be a varsity team right away. In most cases you have to prove to the school that lacrosse can be a viable club before making it to the varsity level. Either way, be prepared to educate your school administration with information about the sport.

Step 4)  Join the NSLA – Once you have confirmed with the NSLA that you will have a team & a coach, a field, and you have paid your entry fee…you are in the league!!  In order to play in the spring season, your team MUST send a representative (the head coach is preferred) to both the preseason coaches meeting AND a rules interpretation clinic.

Step 5) US Lacrosse Membership – All players & coaches in the NSLA MUST join US Lacrosse.  This not only provides you with great lacrosse info, it also provides insurance for you and your team. Become a member of US Lacrosse for $32 a year and be eligible for the "New Start" and "Stick Loaner" programs that will help jump start your team.  See www.lacrosse.org for more information.

Step 6) Enjoy !!!