When does the season start & end?
Cape Ann Youth Lacrosse starts the spring season in March with weekday practices. Games for the 2025 Classic Spring Season will start on March 30, 2025. The season is over before the public school summer recess, although there are occasional tournament games in late June.

When are games?
All normally scheduled games are on Sundays. Games that need to be re-scheduled due to weather postponements will be played on regular practice days. There are end of the season jamborees that are generally played around the second or third weekend in June. Three to four games are scheduled in one day

Where are games played?
Home games are played at the Gloucester High School. Away games are played in the various North Shore towns at their home fields. There are usually roughly 4 home games & 4 away games.

Where can I watch these games?
Most programs, including CAYL,  request that spectators stay on the opposite side of the field from the two team benches.

How are teams organized?
Teams are organized by grades:
U15: 7th & 8th grade
U13: 5th & 6th grade
U11: 3rd & 4th grade
U9: 1st & 2nd grade
U7: Pre-K & Kindergarten 

Can a player be on a team if they are not in the grade?
Email the Executive Committee at cayluniforms@gmail.com for a copy of the playing "up" policy.
Players may not play "down" a level unless CAYL secures approval via formal waiver from the state level governing competition committees.

What positions do players get to play?
As players progress through age levels they tend to self select into certain positions to which they are best suited by skill and physique. As they begin to learn the game they are rotated throughout all positions except that generally goalie is reserved for volunteers.

When is registration?
Registration for the spring usually starts in November.  The deadline is typically in early February.

How do I register my child?
Online, linked through our registration page. Our registration process for the spring season is open in November and includes the Massachusetts League registration. We have to do registrations early as we need to register our teams with the leagues in mid February and have to order uniforms in time so we get them before the games start on March 30, 2025.

What if I don't have a credit card for the on line registration
Contact the Executive Committee at cayluniforms@gmail.com and arrangements to pay by cash or check can be made

Are there scholarships?
Contact the CAYL Executive Committee at cayluniforms@gmail.com for financial hardship assistance. All scholarships must me approved by the Board of Directors.

Are there tryouts?
There are no try-outs for Classic teams. Every child is accepted in our program and receives roughly equal playing time, coaching, and attention regardless of their athletic ability, skill, and experience. However, we also offer our 5^th through 8^th grade players the chance to play in the MYL select league that may require tryouts. Select Teams are competitive, play to win teams, where not all players will see equal playing time.

Are there all-stars?
No. But CAYL does offer spring Select level teams, see above.

Are there playoffs?
Classic teams do not have playoffs. Select level teams will have playoffs with schedules announced toward the end fo the regular season (see Master Calender for more details).

What if my kid gets really good at lacrosse, are there are other more challenging leagues available?
Yes. These require a player also play in the Sunday games and attend the Sunday team practices during the week. Select games are not played Sundays and there's usually one additional practice per week over and above the normal practices. There is no current set schedule for the select games or practices. These will vary from year to year. Cape Ann Youth Lacrosse  encourages players to stay in the program. There are more competitive programs that cost more, require tryouts, and have playoffs. Others play year round. Ask your coach.

What kind of equipment do I need for girls?
Girls need a lacrosse stick, mouth guard and lacrosse goggles. Soccer style cleats (no metal tips) are also needed.

What kind of equipment do I need for boys?
Boys need a lacrosse stick, lacrosse gloves, lacrosse helmet, mouth guard, lacrosse shoulder pads, lacrosse arm pads. Soccer style cleats (no metal tips) are also needed.

What about uniforms?
CAYL provides a way for players to purchase a game jersey, game shorts and a practice jersey. Players need to buy new uniforms only when they grow out of their old uniform. Uniforms are purchased during registration.

How many players are on each team?
Approximately 12 - 24 players but numbers can vary.  We want to include as many players as possible and sometimes that means a few less or a few more players on a team.

What if my son has never played lacrosse before?
No prior experience or familiarity with lacrosse is necessary to take part in and enjoy CAYL. All that is needed is a willingness to have fun, try hard, and learn!

How can my son or daughter accelerate their learning and skill proficiency?
We recommend the following in no order except for the first one: Play wall ball every day or as often as they can. Call friends to shoot and pass. Go to clinics, summer camps, play on a summer team, come early to practice or stay late for tips from the coaches, go watch games at all levels, watch college lacrosse on TV, YouTube or other social media.

What is MYL?
Formerly the MBYLL, MYL is now Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse. The state's governing body for boy's and girl's lacrosse. It also administers the leagues we play in, sets the rules with the member towns, does the scheduling of 5000 games a year for 15000 players, provides coaches training, schedules the game officials, provides member towns with insurance, and promotes the sport to help it grow.