Are there tryouts?
At this time, there are no tryouts, however registration and receipt of dues are required prior to playing with the team.

How are teams defined?
West Lacrosse currently supports two teams/squads: Junior Varsity and Varsity at the high school level and a youth program for middle school (6th - 8th).  Depending on the number of registered players, West Lacrosse could support a Freshman team in addition to JV and Varsity.  Varsity is defined by a 15-man roster plus additional players from any level, as deemed appropriate by the Head Coach.  Boys on the 15-man roster may not play for other West Lacrosse teams.  Seniors in their first year of lacrosse are eligible for JV, but all other seniors must play Varsity.  Players are eligible to swing between JV and Varsity.

Does my son have to attend Parkway West High School?  
NO, although your son must reside in the Parkway School District.  In fact, we have boys from multiple surrounding schools, playing on each team! The ideal roster is 75 boys for all teams combined. Please contact the Head Coach for more information on eligibility.

When can I register my son to play?
Registration begins in January and ends in February before the season begins. Full payment of Club fees and US LAX membership dues for an upcoming spring season are required no later than mid-February of the given year.
Players will not be able to begin official practices unless all fees are paid in full, fall grades are submitted and applicable registration forms are received. Registration will be completed online via the website beginning in mid-January.

What about equipment and uniforms?
Players supply their own equipment including stick, helmet, mouth guard (required to participate), pads, and shoes. A protective cup is also considered mandatory. Players purchase their own uniforms and practice pinnie via our partnership with Fischer's Sports, and they become the player's property to keep and wear each year.

How much does it cost to participate?  
Current costs for participating in the Parkway West Boys Lacrosse Club are summarized below:

$575 club fee per high school player.   $350 club fee per middle school player.  5th grade team club fee is $225. If more than one son in your household is playing, a $75 discount per additional family-member player is offered (high school players only.)  

US lacrosse dues are $30 for players up to 15 years of age and $35 for players 15 -18.  US Lacrosse fees are non-refundable.

A $200 check deposit towards work duty is mandatory (for high school players only), and will be collected at the beginning of the season.  It will only be deposited if duties are unfulfilled during the season.  Board verifies that work duty responsibilities have been fulfilled. For the 2024 season each family will need to do three work duties to cover the needs of the club.  

Additional costs:
Transportation costs for games more than 100 miles from Parkway West Middle School will be determined and collected during the season when appropriate. These fees may include bus/coach rental, meals and lodging depending on schedule. 

Spirit wear is available each year and varies in price.

What is the refund policy? 
Refund Policies:
• Resign from the Club before or on March 20th                                          Full refund
• Resign from the Club after first practice but before Spring Break $100 refund
• Resign anytime after Spring Break No refund
 
How are fees distributed? 
Registration fees go toward compensation for coaches, officials for home games, an EMT trainer for JV and Varsity games, field upkeep and usage, tournament fees, insurance, MSLA & SLYLA dues, team balls, team equipment, etc.

Can I make monetary donations?
Yes! Please do. Please contact the Board Treasurer or President for more information.  A donor acknowledgement letter will be provided upon receipt of any charitable donations.

When is the season?
Boys lacrosse is a spring sport.  The season begins with the first day of practice and will be determined at the beginning of each year.  However it is usually in late February/early March, extending through late May with playoffs. 

When does practice start and where are they held?
The first day of practice is set by the MSLA, usually the 3rd week in February.  The high school team practices daily from 4-6 PM at Parkway West Middle School unless otherwise indicated. Middle school practices Tuesday/Thursday from 3:45 - 5:45 PM at West Middle.

I don't drive yet, how do I get to practice?
You have several options: You may take your gear to school and request that you leave it in a teachers room for pick up after school; you can easily walk to the practice fields; you can form a friendship with an older player and leave your gear in a vehicle and catch a ride with that player. Lots of boys are headed to the Middle School practice fields after school. ALWAYS check with your parent/legal guardian to ensure that your plans are acceptable.

What if I miss a practice? 
You need to let your coach know about missing a practice. Practices are very important and are considered mandatory. From time to time other events and activities designed to foster teamwork will require player participation. Let your coach know as soon as possible of your absence. Coaches may be called, emailed or texted to relay information.

How will I know if practice/game is still on?
Practices and games are cancelled sometimes due to inclement weather. Check the website and/or follow Twitter (@pwestlax) for the latest updates. Just because it is raining, don't assume that practice or a game is cancelled. Some practices will be held indoors at the Middle School, and some games are played in the rain as long as there is no lightning in the area. Play outside may resume in the absence of lightning after 20 minutes. 

When do the league games start? 
League play begins in mid March. Teams may participate in jamborees or tournaments before league play begins. Freshman games may begin in April. Games are typically held on weekdays. However, there will be several weekend games scheduled, if possible, so that parents or friends who may otherwise have difficulty seeing games will be able to attend.

Where are league games played? 
Home games are played at Parkway West Middle School on Baxter Road or Parkway West High School on Clayton Rd.  There may be some home games played at Parkway North High or Parkway Central High.  Away game locations are dependent upon the opponent and the facility that they use for games.  Check the locations tab for directions to various fields.  Confirmation of away venues will be confirmed on game day. 

Is transportation provided to away games?
No transportation is provided by the school or the Club to regular away games. Players should arrange transportation to away games either with another family or another player.  Plan ample time for travel to away games. Factor in traffic conditions and distance. The game may be forfeited if the team cannot supply the necessary roster.  Transportation may be arranged by the Club for players and coaches for games farther away than 75 miles and funded by parents/legal guardians.  

Will there be out-of-town travel?
Occasionally the team will play games in western Missouri, and additional out of town trips may be scheduled. These games are typically Varsity and/or JV level games. Players and coaches travel together as a team. Parents must provide arrangements for their own transportation. Should lodging be necessary, the Club attempts to identify lodging options for out-of-town games and arrange for a block of rooms if possible. Parents/legal guardians and players are responsible for food and lodging expense.

How do I learn more?
An informational meeting is planned each year and notification is typically sent out using the peachjar flyer via email through the Parkway School District.  It will also be posted on our website, Twitter and Facebook page.  You are always welcome to reach out to a board member or a coach!  See the contact page for more information.

Is fundraising required?
In lieu of large-scale fundraising, we ask all parents or student athletes to volunteer for work duty to support home games and to assist with any small fundraising events like our Mother-Son dance.  A work duty buyout is available for those who prefer that option.

Can I follow on Twitter?
Yes, search for @pwestlax and follow along.

Where can I get cool West Lacrosse gear?
West Lacrosse logo merchandise is sold via an online store at the start of each season. The team will send out an email with a link when the window for purchasing items is open each year. The spirit wear sold in the "Fan Wear" tab of this website is through our website host, Dick's Sporting Goods.  The team cannot guarantee the quality of, nor do we profit from the sale of, these items.