On the Field...Lacrosse & Soccer

2020

Getting Out on the Field

Your five year old is bouncing off the walls. Time to find a positive way to channel all that energy. Fortunately here in Lamorinda, it’s never too early to get them running up and down the field, a win for both the kids and you. Sports are a big part of life, with many a weekend spent on the sidelines chatting with other parents and cheering on your favorite contender. Don’t miss out! Getting a spot on the team can often mean getting online months before the season to ensure your child gets a chance to toss, kick or carry that ball.

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SOCCER

Getting Started

Kidzlovesoccer can hook you up with a camp at the Orinda Community Center Park for children from 4.5-12. Hoping to get your kindergartener or middle-schooler going in the fall? Registration for LMYA (Lafayette Moraga Youth Association) begins in May for the coming season.

With over 200 teams for kids from 5-14, LMYA is a great way to introduce your budding Beckham to the sport. Kids 10-12 who are registered for the season can participate in LMYA’s summer academy to improve their skills and compete against teams from other clubs and organizations.

Orinda Parks and Rec offers a similar youth league program for children beginning in Pre-K and continuing through 6th grade for boys and 8th grade for girls. Get a group together and form your own team, sign them up to play with other kids from their school, or list them as a free agent who’s willing to branch out and meet new friends.

Leveling Up

Ready to up their game? There are several club leagues in the Lamorinda area that offer development teams and practice for kids who either simply love the sport and want more time on the field or are looking for a way to hone their skills before moving to the next level.

Lamorinda Soccer Club’s (LaMO) no-tryout, fall rec program for kids 5-7 gives players a chance to master skills while having fun and giving the club a try. With no weekend commitment, East Bay Eclipse’s Future Eclipse program works their no-goalie “games” into practices and allows time for their players to participate in local rec leagues as well. Offering programs in both spring and fall, Eclipse can keep your future Megan Rapinoe going strong.

California Magic (Magic) also offers clinics and camps.

Serious About Soccer

If your child loves the sport and is looking to play in college, or even just to compete at a higher level, it may be time to put their hat in the ring for one of the competitive club teams.

With professional coaching and varying philosophies, these organizations all share the primary goal of producing skilled footballers of the finest order.

East Bay Eclipse holds tryouts in May for the June-November season. Both Eclipses’ Lunar and Solar teams travel to tournaments around the state and play against teams of similar skill levels.

Lamorinda Soccer Club has a training load that increases with age and boasts alumni at schools like Berkeley, Yale and UCLA.

California Magic’s registration for their May tryout sessions is open until the start of the final session, but it’s best to register to early to be in the know about the coming schedule. Visit each club’s site for dates and details.

LACROSSE

What's With The Shtick?

So your daughter has been kicking the ball down the field for a few years, but now she’s ready for something new. What’s that sport with the stick? Formerly the domain of east coast kids, lacrosse or lax, as it’s affectionately known, is becoming more popular here in the west.

Register early for a spot on one of Lamorinda Lightning Lacrosse’s (LAMO) teams for either boys or girls. For families looking for an introduction to the sport, LAMO’s LDP program offers a chance to learn stick skills and the rules of the sport for kids in 1st-8th grade. Equipment is required before kids are allowed on the field.

Check the website for a list of the necessary items. If your child is ready to jump feet first into competitive play, the organization offers two levels for each age group, with registration opening in September for the spring season. With only two teams per age group, slots fill up fast. Sign up on their website to receive updates.

Moving It Up The Field

Ready to take it up a notch? The growth of the game has produced a new crop of competitive club teams in the Bay Area for both boys and girls. Relative newcomer LAXUHR holds tryouts for girls 7th-12th grade in January.

LAXUHR teams travel across the country during the club lacrosse season to compete against some of the best in the country. Founded by a former Ivy League player and coach, Tenacity Project (Tenacity) offers clinics and camps in addition to their Elite travel teams who also attend tournaments out of state.

Bay Area Wave, centered in Walnut Creek, provides bus transportation to its players for all tournaments, a blessing for parents who might not have time to make the drives. For boys beginning at the 10U level, ADVNC lacrosse competes in high-level play across the nation.

Tryouts for their two tiers of teams are held in August for the coming season. For athletes who want to play both box lacrosse and club field lacrosse, 3dlacrosse offers their “Box Hybrid Development System” to help kids develop skills that will serve them inside and out.

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