lacrosse 101
Welcome to Traverse City Youth Lacrosse Club’s information page.
We are excited that you have taken the first step in getting involved with the fastest game on two feet!
The Origins of Lacrosse
Lacrosse has a rich history that dates back centuries. Its beginnings can be traced back to Native American cultures, particularly those of the Northeast and Great Lakes regions.
Native American tribes used lacrosse as a form of physical training, spiritual practice, and a way to settle disputes between villages. The game was played with a wooden stick and a deerskin ball, often on a field marked by trees or natural boundaries.
The name "lacrosse" is derived from the French word "la crosse," which means "the stick." European settlers in North America observed the game and adopted it, introducing it to other parts of the world. Today, lacrosse is played in many local programs, high schools (including both TC high schools), colleges and universities as well as in professional leagues and international competitions.
Despite its local origins, lacrosse is not yet widely played in the area but is growing by leaps and bounds….and we’re here to help spread the love in Northern Michigan!
Lacrosse is the Fastest Growing Sport in High Schools and Colleges
Here is a link to a GREAT article about why lacrosse is the sport of choice of today’s youth.
Here’s a sneak peek of some of the reasons why:
- Most young people can play the game.
- Lacrosse is fun to play and watch.
- Lacrosse is safer than most contact sports.
- There are abundant opportunities to play the game.
More Information about the Lacrosse Rules and Equipment
USA Lacrosse is a wonderful resource to learn amount the game. Here are some select links to get started:
Fun fact: Lacrosse is one of the few sports that is played differently for boys and girls.
I’m a Football Player, Why Should I Play Lacrosse?
Football players make great lacrosse players. Skills from lacrosse—such as agility, vision, and physicality—translate well to the lacrosse field and will also help you become a better football player.
Some great football players played lacrosse, including:
- Jim Brown - Considered one of the greatest NFL players of all time, Jim Brown was also a phenomenal lacrosse player. He played at Syracuse University and was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Brown is often regarded as one of the best lacrosse players in history. Some say he was a better lacrosse player than football player!
- Tom Brady - The legendary quarterback played lacrosse in high school and was also a promising baseball player before committing to football.
- Tony Romo - The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback played lacrosse in high school and was a standout player.
- J.J. Watt - The star defensive end played lacrosse in high school and was a talented player, even considering a lacrosse scholarship before focusing on football.
Even football players with connections to Michigan played the game:
- Aiden Hutchinson - The talented defensive end for the Detroit Lions, was a standout lacrosse player in high school and even committed to play lacrosse at the University of Michigan before ultimately choosing to focus on football. Hutchinson's athleticism and competitiveness, honed through his lacrosse experience, undoubtedly contributed to his success as a football player.
- Jared Bernhardt –Bernhardt was a star lacrosse player at the University of Maryland, where he won the Tewaaraton Award (lacrosse’s Heisman Trophy) before switching to football. He became a quarterback for Ferris State, helping them win a Division II national championship in 2021.
…but I Play Hockey
Many professional hockey players have also played lacrosse, as the skills in both sports—such as hand-eye coordination, quick decision-making, and physicality—often overlap. Here are some notable hockey players who played lacrosse:
- Wayne Gretzky - Gretzky grew up playing lacrosse during the summer in Canada. He has often credited lacrosse with helping him develop the vision and skills that made him a legendary hockey player.
- Steven Stamkos - Stamkos played lacrosse growing up in Ontario. Like other players, he attributes some of his hand-eye coordination and vision on the ice to his experience with lacrosse.
- Jonathan Toews - Toews, while best known for his leadership and skills on the ice, played multiple sports growing up, including lacrosse. Lacrosse helped him with conditioning and the physical aspects of his hockey game, such as protecting the puck and quick thinking under pressure.
- John Tavares - Tavares has a deep connection to lacrosse, as his uncle, also named John Tavares, is a legendary player in professional box lacrosse. Tavares played lacrosse competitively as a youth and was very talented at the sport. He has often spoken about how lacrosse helped him with spatial awareness, toughness, and hand-eye coordination, which are crucial for his success in hockey.
So...one of the best football players ever and one of the best hockey players ever both played lacrosse too. Coincidence? .... I think not!
The TCYLC Plan
We want to make lacrosse available and accessible for anyone wanting to play. We realize that there is a cost and time commitment that parents may be hesitant to make for a sport their child has not yet tried. We can tell you to “trust us, they’ll love it”, but we want to provide other options too.
Intro to lacrosse sessions:
We will provide some no-cost, no-commitment sessions to teach the basics. We can provide a stick to use to try it out and no other equipment is needed. We have one more scheduled session this fall on Sunday, October 20th, from 1-2 at East Middle School and we will add some indoor sessions this winter. Sign up here if you want to join us on the 20th: Intro to Lax Registration
Spring 2025 (and beyond):
Spring is the “official” season for lacrosse. We will be offering instructional sessions and a “house league” (think flag football), hopefully in conjunction with the YMCA, to introduce the sport and develop skills while keeping travel to a minimum. These games will be played on smaller fields with fewer players to allow for a better learning experience. It is anticipated that there will be one session per week with instruction for the first half and games for the second part. This will be offered for both boys and girls in grades K-8.
We will also have a more competitive travel program for players ready for the next level. We will practice more often and will be entering 3-4 spring tournaments and 2-3 summer tournaments. While we would love to have players to sign up for both the spring and summer, these will be separate programs with practices two to three times a week. In the summer we will also be fielding TC United high school teams for tournament play.
In the off-season (fall and winter) we will offer training and playing opportunities designed not to conflict with other regular fall and winter sports.
In addition, we are working on initiatives to provide discounted equipment and/or equipment rentals as well as opportunities to schedule private or small group instructional training sessions with local coaches.
Next Steps
Join our email list to keep informed about what is going on in the TC lacrosse world. We do not share this contact information with anyone, and we will only use it only to communicate with you about TCYLC lacrosse updates. You can opt out at any time.
Contact us with any questions, ideas or if you would like to become more involved with the TCYLC program. We’d love to have you.