League Philosophy:  Chester/Mendham Youth Lacrosse is a non-profit, recreational lacrosse club under the Police Athletic Association umbrella.  We maintain that there is a place for everyone in Chester/Mendham Youth Lacrosse, regardless of skill, experience or athletic ability.  All you need is a desire to play and a willingness to respect the game.  At the lower grade levels, the emphasis will be on having fun, learning the tradition of the game, skill development and either inter-squad or mini-tournament level competitive play.  At the older grade levels, physical contact should be expected and games are more competitive.  The emphasis will be on skill development, fun and preparedness for games.  No prior lacrosse experience or special athleticism is required. 

Registration Dates:   Chester/Mendham Youth Lacrosse registration for the Spring 2010 season will begin on December 1, 2009.  You may register online at CMLax.org.  Our registration deadline is February 15, 2010.  We ask that you register ontime because our ability to schedule games, recruit sufficient coaches, and procure equipment and fields depends on our knowledge of the number of players that will play on each team.  If a coach approves, we will welcome new players after February 15th, but they will pay a $50 late fee, be responsible for providing all of their own equipment (if we no longer have any available), and must register privately for US Lacrosse membership ($25.)  In addition, the league president must approve new players joining after this date. 

Registration Fees:  We have raised our fees by $20 for the first time in many years.  The additional money will help offset the cost of new matching jerseys for the entire league.  As in past years, the 8th grade team receives a personalized team jersey to keep. 
1st, 2nd, 3rd grades:  $140
4th, 5th, 6th, 7th grades:  $190
8th grade:  $210

Please note that these fees include the $25 US Lacrosse Association fee.  Should you wish to withdraw your child from the program prior to April 15th, we will refund your registration fee (by check) minus the $25 US Lacrosse Youth Membership Fee and a $15 credit card processing fee.  After April 15th, there will be no refunds.

US Lacrosse Membership: The New Jersey Junior Lacrosse League requires that each player, coach and program have US Lacrosse Association insurance and membership.  League games will not be sanctioned under US Lacrosse Youth Council guidelines without this coverage due to liability concerns.  Therefore, Chester/Mendham Youth Lacrosse requires that all players be registered with the US Lacrosse Association.  This membership provides the league insurance coverage, and players a subscription to the quarterly magazine Lacrosse.  To simplify the registration process for you, we have integrated the US Lax registration form and payment into our league’s registration.  We will forward your payment to the US Lacrosse Association.  After filling out the Chester/Mendham registration form and paying, there are no further actions you need to take. 

Lacrosse Season:  The lacrosse season begins in early March and concludes during the first week of June.  Team coaches will contact players via email to confirm practice days/times/places prior to the first meeting of your team.

Team Divisions:  Boys lacrosse teams are divided by grade:  1st/2nd grade clinic; 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teams.  All boys play on the team of the grade that they are currently enrolled in, regardless of age, size, or experience.

Game/Practice Locations:  The home fields for Chester/Mendham boys lacrosse are at Black River Fields, located on North Road (route 513) next to Black River Middle School in Chester.  Mostly all practices and home games are held at Black River fields.   Our away games may include traveling to fields in Long Valley, Kinnelon, Morristown, Hunterdon, Bethlehem, Mt. Olive, Maplewood, Montville, Mountain Lakes, North Warren, Sparta, Somerset Hills, Tewksbury, Westfield, Franklin Lakes, Delaware Valley, Chatham, Madison, Randolph, and Glen Ridge.

Equipment:  Chester/Mendham Lacrosse will provide equipment to all boys who register on time  in the 1st/2nd grade clinic, and to players in all grades who have not played before.  This equipment includes a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, and gloves.  We ask that players care for this equipment, and return it in the same condition received.  All players are responsible for having their own cleats, colored mouth guard, athletic supporter, and regulation-size stick (toy “fiddlesticks” are not acceptable.)  All returning players in grades 3 through 8 to our league must provide their own equipment.  When purchasing helmets for club play we ask that you do so in the club’s colors: navy blue shell with a red visor and chin guard.   Universal Lacrosse in Raritan has put together an excellent package at a reduced rate for Chester/Mendham players.  Their experienced staff can help size your player and answer any equipment-related question.  The attached flyer describes the equipment options. 

Uniforms:  Chester/Mendham Lacrosse will provide all players with team jerseys for games, which must be returned at the end of the season.  We ask that boys purchase team shorts (available for sale in the spring.)  Eighth grade players will receive personalized jerseys with their choice of number.  The 8th grade registration fee includes the cost of the jersey, which players keep at the end of the season.  Please note on the registration form how you wish your name to read, and your first and second choice jersey number.  We will try our best to accommodate.  The wearing of elite team uniforms or helmet stickers is strictly prohibited.

Parental Activities:  The Chester/Mendham Lacrosse Club is growing.  Please volunteer to assist our league during the spring season, or contribute an additional $25 when registering to support our program.    

Town of Residence: Per NJYLL rules, all players must reside in Chester Township, Chester Borough, Mendham Township or Mendham Borough.  Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the Board and with NJYLL approval before the season starts.

Coaching Committee:  A Coaching Committee led by Bryan Walter and Don Jones is the liaison between the league’s board and parents.  The co-chairs also oversee coaching assets (including training and certification), recruit coaches, oversee the evaluations from parents, maintain the playbook and coaches manuals, organize specialty clinics, and evaluate players for all-star tournaments.  They further coordinate between the three middle school teams, Mendham High School teams, and the Chester/Mendham Youth Lacrosse League.  Any parent with a concern may reach out to the committee.  Contact information for the committee co-chairs is on the “Contacts” Link of this website. 

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