Getting The Right Gear For A Start Up Lacrosse Program

Getting the right gear for a start up lacrossefor the goalies and goalie sticks.  You will also
program can be a tough decision.  You will needneed mouth guards, and helmets or eye
to answer the following questions:protection (for girls) at this point.  A good choice
Will you start a boys or girls program or both?would be the cascade helmets, for a youth
Will you need to start fresh with all the equipmenthelmet the CS and for an adult the CLH2.  For
or do you already have some?girls lacrosse you will need to get eye protection. 
What age level or levels is your program going toCascade has the Iris and Iris mini which are a
be for?very good choice.  There are many choices out
Where are you going to have the games andthere for these but Cascade is one of the best. 
practices?When you start getting into the protective
How many people do you think are going to joinequipment the sport starts getting a little more
the program?expensive.  You may have to do some fund
How much money are you going to have in yourraisers or have the players themselves chip in for
budget?the equipment. 
If you are starting at the youth level then you 
should get a few starter lacrosse sets such asYou will also need to get some real sticks at this
the STX Ball Set, Soft Lacrosse Set, or thepoint.  You can get some beginner sticks which
FiddleSTX set.  These sets are great to starthave a shorter length and are lower priced.  But
with because they do not cost that much andthese sticks do not meet college or NFHS
they do not require that you buy a lot ofstandards so you will only be able to use these in
protective equipment.  You can use these setsa youth program.  You will want to get beginner
safely and they get the ball rolling with the learningsticks like the STX® Av8 which features easy
of basic lacrosse skills such as throwing, catching,catching and ball control specifically made for
and cradling.beginners with limited skills.
  
As you progress in age or capabilities and startAs your players start using real equipment you
using a real ball you will want to get some of thewill need real goals. Official size lacrosse goals
beginner protective gear sets.  These sets aremeasure 6'H x6'Wx7'D.  You will have to choose
usually limited in color choice but they offer thebetween portable or permanent goals.  There are
ease of complete sets at affordable prices. many portable official size goals out there including
These sets will include a shoulder pad, arm guardsthe Rage Cage foldable goal.  This goal is great if
and gloves.  You will need goalie specific glovesyou have to travel from field to field to play.