Travel Team Objectives

With the exception of our ELITE team whose goal is college recruitment (CLICK FOR A LIST OF BR PLAYERS IN COLLEGE), our program is designed to teach players the fundamental skills and advanced strategy of a higher-level lacrosse program. While we believe the competitive nature of our program accelerates our players' development; the competitive element can become destructive if our participants lose sight of the basic goal of our program which is to improve fundamental skills.

It is our belief that by participating in our program, our players will develop the physical and mental skills to play at a higher-level program (college or high school) and develop the fundamental skills of the game. 

While we believe that winning is important, it is not the primary goal of our program, especially at the younger levels.  At the younger levels our belief is that it is more important to teach than to win. This should not be interpreted as any less of a commitment to winning; however, we are much more concerned about our players’ skill development than the number of tournaments we win. We will focus on skill development, and the importance of consistently putting forth a complete effort rather than the results from that effort. In turn, we will coach and teach at a higher level, allow the players to grow to young adults and treat your son with respect and without the verbal berating that frequently occurs in youth sports.

When are Tryouts Held? (See our Flyer - High School or Middle School)

Tryouts for our summer 2012 travel teams will be held at Cleveland State’s Dome facility.  The times and age groups are below. 

• Friday December 2, 2011 – 5th to 8th graders (Graduation Year 2016, 2017, & 2018/19 teams).  (See Flyer)
  
  
  • Players who graduate in 2018 or 2019 will tryout From 4:30 PM to 6:00PM
    
    
  • Players who graduate in 2017 will tryout From 6:15 PM to 7:45PM
    
    
  • Players who graduate in 2016 will tryout From 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
    
  
  The tryouts will consist of a series of basic drills that evaluate stickwork, fundamentals, dodging and defending. We will then run some 7 v 7 to evaluate team play. Players will be evaluated by all the coaches at the event. In prior years that has meant between 7 and 12 coaches.

  Note: There will be a call back date on Tuesday, December 20 for the top 30 players per team and those who cannot make December 2 due to prior commitments.

• Friday December 16, 2011 – 9th to 11th graders (Elite, Graduation Year 2014, and 2015).
  (See Flyer)
  
  High School players tryout by graduation year and then are placed on the highest team possible. This means 2014 and 2015 players can make the Elite team but tryout with their graduation year teammates. We do it this way to spread the tryouts out and keep everyone from showing up to just the Elite team tryouts.
  
  
  • Players who graduate in 2015 will tryout From 4:30 PM to 6:00PM
    
    
  • Players who graduate in 2014 will tryout From 6:15 PM to 7:45PM
    
    
  • Players who graduate in 2013 will tryout From 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
    
  
  The tryouts will consist of a series of basic drills that evaluate stickwork, fundamentals, dodging and defending. We will then run some 7 v 7 to evaluate team play. Players will be evaluated by all the coaches at the event. In prior years that has meant between 7 and 12 coaches.

  Note: There will be a call back date on Wednessday, December 21 for the top 30 players per team and those who cannot make December 16 due to prior commitments.

How Is Eligibility Determined?

The US Lacrosse Board of Directors has created a new set of age guidelines for summer travel teams/tournaments. This primarily impacts the middle school and youth players. A full list of eligibility cutoffs for our travel teams is below.

• Elite - Open to all . Players must still be in high school. No players can have graduated before the event date.
  
  
• Select - Open to all. Players must still be in high school. No players can have graduated before the event date.
  
  
• Rising Star - Open to all players at the Sophomore or lower levels. No players graduating in 2013 may make this team.
  
  
• U15 - All players must have been born after August 31, 1996
  
  
• U14 - All players must have been born after August 31, 1997.
  
  
• U13 Team - All players must have been born after August 31, 1998.
  

Commitment

All players and parents should be aware of the commitment required for these teams.  Should you be selected for a team, it is expected that you will attend and participate in all tournaments.  In addition it is expected that you will do your best to attend all practices.  Note: we realize this is difficult / impossible for our out of town players (Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati) but ask for a best effort.  If you are selected and you cannot make such a commitment, please do not accept a spot on the team.

Important: If you make the team but can not make at least 2 of the 3 summer tournaments (Elite and 2014 Teams) we will attempt to find a replacement.  Should that replacement be able to attend all 3 tournaments we will give him your starting spot and you will moved to an alternate position for the tournament you can attend.  This policy is in place because it is extremely difficult to find replacements and we need to have the broadest latitude in searching for them.

Frequently Asked Questions?

WHAT IS THE COST OF THE TRYOUTS?
Tryouts costs $20 in advance or $25 at the door. This is the price for both the December 2 and December 16 tryouts.

DO I NEED A BURNING RIVER PINNIE?
You do not need to have a BR Lax pinnie. If you have one great wear it. If you do not, you are allowed to wear any

pinnie you want as long as it is not one of our competitors.

HOW DO I GET A NUMBER?
At registration you will be given an adhesive numbered bib (9" by 7").  Please attach it to your back as we will be evaluating you under this number.

• Do not trade numbers. (The wrong player will be evaluated if you do this)
• Do not try to see how many times the bib can be taken off and re-stuck. 
  

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATIN ON THE INDIVIDUAL TEAMS?
Please see our flyer for more information (High School) or (Middle School/Youth)

WHAT TOURNAMENT DO THE TEAMS ATTEND?
Please click on the "Travel Team Overview" button on the drop down menu above.

WHAT IS THE COST OF THE TOURNAMENTS?
Please click on the "Travel Team Overview" button on the drop down menu above.

ARE THERE PRACTICES?
Please click on the "Travel Team Overview" button on the drop down menu above.