Lacrosse · Red Flags
12 Questions to Ask Before You Sign Anything for Travel Lacrosse
Before committing to a club or program, ask:
The 12 Questions
- 1What specific certification level (Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum) does my child's actual coach hold, not the program director?
- 2How many years has this coach worked with this exact age group?
- 3What is the full, itemized annual cost, club dues, mandatory tournaments, gear, travel, not just the headline membership fee?
- 4Which specific tournaments does the program attend, and which ones actually draw college-coach attendance (if recruiting exposure matters to your family)?
- 5What is the team's concussion protocol, and who is trained to administer it?
- 6For boys' programs: is checking technique actively coached?
- 7For girls' programs: how are contact rules enforced at this level?
- 8What is the coach-to-player ratio at practice?
- 9Is the coaching staff SafeSport-certified and background-checked?
- 10Can you watch a live practice before signing?
- 11Is private lesson instruction "recommended," or quietly required to stay competitive on the roster?
- 12How many players from this specific program, in the last few years, actually went on to play in college, and can that be verified independently?
Red Flags to Walk Away From
- ✕A program that won't let you watch a practice first.
- ✕Vague coaching bios with no specific certification level named.
- ✕Pressure to commit to a "national circuit" team before local-level skill development is established.
- ✕Mandatory private lessons bundled into a "showcase package" with no breakdown of cost.
- ✕Claims about recruiting success that can't be verified with specifics.
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We don't name, rank, or score any specific club, team, or organization. This page is general education only, always verify current details directly with USA Lacrosse and the NCAA.