8U BOYS LEAGUE

differences between 8U house and 8U League

8U Boys have two great options to choose from. See below for key differences between each program to find the right fit for your player:

8U House:

Practices are typically a set schedule, the same 2 weeknights per week
only runs for 8 weeks from first week of June to end of July
Scrimmages are played on practice nights between the other 8U house teams in Edina
No weekend tournaments.

8U League:

practices typically start in April and go til end of July
Practice schedule in June and July will be dependent on the game schedule set by our league, YLM
Games are played against other associations in the metro area so they will require travel outside of Edina (typically, within a 30 minute drive of Edina).
participation in 2 weekend tournaments.

Registration for our 2025 Spring/Summer program is closed. To be added to the waitlist at no cost, register here: Crossbar Boys Registration

If there is room on the team, someone from ELA will email you a link to complete payment and roster you to a team.

Boys 8U League Team Page in Crossbar

8U Age Range:

09/01/2016 to 08/31/2018

2025 Boys Spring/Summer 8U League - Registration Open Now!

Team is full but accepting Waitlist registrations at no cost

OVERVIEW

All skill levels from beginner to experienced welcome! Practices will start the first week of April. Teams generally practice 2 weeknights per week, Monday to Thursday. Some coaches may schedule extra weeknight practices depending on game schedules and coaches’/players’ availability.

League play is anticipated to start as early as June 2nd and end the last week of July. Game schedules will be known at the end of May. The 6 games are played on weeknight evenings Monday through Thursday with half the games being AWAY games. The 8U End-of-Season Jamboree games run on July 19 and 20.

A local weekend tournament is also planned June 6-8in Shakopee And we may have some opportunities for a few weekend scrimmages as we gear up for the season

UNIFORMS- reusing 2024 uniforms

Registration fees do not include uniforms.

Returning players- you may wear last year's 2024 uniforms. No need to order a new uniform from Squad Locker unless you want to. We will use the same jersey numbers assigned last year.

New Players- Upon Registration, you will be assigned a jersey number and loaded into the Squad Locker Uniform system (please allow 1-3 business days to be loaded into the Squad Locker system before you can order.) You will purchase your uniform directly from Squad Locker, and it will be sent directly to your house. Rush fees will be added onto the cost of the uniform the closer we get to the start of the season so order ASAP.

Required Uniform Pieces ($96.90):

1 jersey $55.95

1 pair of shorts $39.95

GEAR

Full protective equipment is required per USA Lacrosse. You may not use hockey equipment per our insurance regulations- all gear must be lacrosse specific. More info can be found at https://www.edinalacrosse.com/boyslacrossegear):

lacrosse helmet
non-tethered mouth guard (must be a non-white, colored mouth guard)
chest protector NOCSAE certified for the prevention of commotio cordis,
elbow pads,
gloves,
protective cup,
cleats,
water bottle
attack lacrosse stick (8U does not allow defender long pole lacrosse sticks)

REMINDER: Chest protectors must be NOCSAE certified for the prevention of commotio cordis as of 1/1/22. Please see details at https://www.edinalacrosse.com/boyslacrossegear.

SEASON TIMELINE OVERVIEW

1. PRACTICES START THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL UNTIL END OF JULY

Practices will be 2 weeknights per week - 1 hour per practice.

First Practice: April 8

Days of Week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Time: 5:30 to 6:30pm

Location: Pamela Park for April, Wooddale Park for May - July

2. PRESEASON SCRIMMAGES

During May, we will look for opportunities to do some preseason scrimmages with other area lacrosse associations. More details to come.

3. REGULAR SEASON YLM GAME PLAY - JUNE & JULY

Regular season games will occur in June and July. The schedule will be announced in late May by the league.

The first game could be as early as Monday, June 2nd.
Expect 1-2 games per week - some in Edina, some in other areas of the Twin Cities. Games are scheduled on weeknight evenings Mon-Thu. 8U will have 6 regular season games. 3 will be home games.
No scheduled games July 2-6 in observance of the July 4th holiday.
8U Travel teams will participate in the end of season YLM jamboree on July 19-20. Teams may be consolidated and/or reorganized depending on availability.

4. TOURNAMENT

River Valley Rumble in Shakopee weekend of June 6-8. More details to come but please plan to attend the tournament.

REGISTRATION FEES

8U TRAVEL: If you register before February 17th, enjoy last year's price of $325. After February 17th, price will increase to $360.

Registration fee includes:

Certified and experienced coaching staff
Edina Park & Rec per-player fees and field costs
League fees
tournaments and scrimmages
End-of-season 8U Jamboree

FAMILY VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT

Edina Lacrosse Association is a non-profit volunteer run organization. Without family volunteers, we cannot function. Each summer season one adult family member from each family must volunteer at least one time for at least one of the following:

Team Manager (1 per 8U Travel team) . This is a team’s communication liaison between the coach and parents, plans tournament needs/communications, ensures game volunteers are assigned and plans in-season and end-of-season fun. Please note your interest in this position during your registration. Training will be provided.
Parents interested in assisting coaches are also welcome! If interested, please note on your registration. Lacrosse experience is helpful, but not necessary. New volunteer assistant coaches will be paired with experienced program and head coaches.
Game clock operator during home games and scrimmages (ALL families, on rotation)
Field set-up for home games (ALL families, on rotation)
Field close-down for home games (ALL families, on rotation)
“Chill” side-line managers (ALL families, on rotation)

BOYS 8U League PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Ages: Typically 1st and 2nd graders. Birthdate requirements are communicated with each registration. ELA adheres to US Lacrosse age guidelines.
As with all of our programs, our goal is for our players to enjoy lacrosse, while working on team work and lacrosse skills at the same time. Focus is on basic lacrosse skill development, particularly stick skills and fundamentals of game play. Games are played 5 v 5 with no goalie.
Spring Box Lacrosse Season: Because of the fast pace and high number of passes and plays players are involved in Box Lacrosse, ELA has incorporated Box Lacrosse into its core player development programs. The season, starting late February and running through early April, will include weekly games on Saturdays or Sundays (will require some travel in the Twin Cities Metro) and weekly practices. Registration launches in late November or early December usually.
April to July Main Season: The main season is our spring/summer program.
- League - starts in May and runs through July; involves 2 evening practices per week, plus a game with the Twin Cities metro (half are generally home games). 6 games total are played between June and July. Tournaments are also offered as either part of program or separate registration.
- Registration generally launches in January for the upcoming summer. Fees vary each year.
- Uniforms required and can be ordered via Squad Locker link that will be sent out to all registered players upon close of registration.
- Players looking for shorter season with only local scrimmages against other ELA 8U teams should check out our 8U House program: 8U House Program
Fall Season: Generally, several new players enter the 8U program in the fall since the fall is when the new birth date guidelines go into effect. The fall program can vary. It may be a weekly clinic format, or it may be a fall travel league. Registration generally launches in June/July for the upcoming fall.
Winter Season: The winter program is a weekly clinic to keep players engaged in lacrosse - generally Sunday afternoons in January and February. Registration generally launches in early November.
Full Lacrosse Equipment Required: lacrosse helmets, mouth guards, chest pads with shoulder guards, elbow pads, gloves, cup, cleats, stick, water bottle.
Experienced coaches. Will ask for parent volunteers as assistant coaches and team managers.
Requires US Lacrosse membership current and valid through end of the season
QUESTIONS CAN BE DIRECTED TO: https://www.edinalacrosse.com/page/show/599259-edina-lacrosse-association-contacts

Add Page Element

Youth Lacrosse Minnesota League (YLM) Rules:

Please visit this link for details.

sponsors needed!

The Edina Lacrosse Association (ELA) is reaching out to local businesses and community members to seek your support as a sponsor for the upcoming season. As a nonprofit organization, ELA relies on generous donations to provide a positive experience for our players and ensure they have the necessary resources to excel both on and off the field.

How You Can Help:

We are seeking sponsorships to fund the purchase of shooter shirts for our players. These shirts are a vital part of their training, helping to promote team unity and a sense of pride in their involvement with Edina Lacrosse.

Sponsor Benefits:

Your Business Name on the Shirt: As a sponsor, your company’s name or logo will be proudly displayed on the shooter shirts worn by all players, providing exposure to families and fans throughout the season.
Tax Deductible Contribution: ELA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so your sponsorship donation is tax-deductible.
Community Recognition: Your sponsorship will help make a direct impact on our youth athletes and support the growth of lacrosse in the Edina community.

Join us in supporting our players and building a stronger community through lacrosse. If you're interested in becoming a sponsor or learning more about the opportunities available, please don't hesitate to reach out to John Potter at president@edinalacrosse.com.