Youth Program

Overview

The HLA youth program offers clinics for boys and girls in kindergarten, and 1st & 2nd grades. For grades 2 through 8, the program is structured around team-based play, in-season and off-season training, and competition in local lacrosse festivals and tournaments. In addition, we offer a full calendar of lacrosse related events such as our fall Uniform Fitting & Combine Event, spring Lax Day celebration and season-ending Banquet & Awards Dinner.

cODE OF cONDUCT

Highland Lacrosse Association is a volunteer-based organization run by parents in our local community who have a love for the game of lacrosse and wish to share their positive enthusiasm for the sport by making lacrosse available to our youth. We endorse the USA Lacrosse Code of Conduct (https://www.usalacrosse.com/usa-lacrosse-code-conduct). We expect our players, parents and coaches to conduct themselves in a positive manner that “Honors the Game” by demonstrating a high-level of sportsmanship and respect for others. Our words and actions represent who we are as a lacrosse community. Unsportsmanlike behavior, or verbal or physical abuse will not be tolerated and may result in suspension or expulsion from the Highlands Lacrosse Association program and/or the leagues in which we participate.

k-2 clinic

The K-2 Clinic is offered twice per year, once in the spring in April-May and once in the fall in September-October. The clinic is run in cooperation with the coaching staff at Northern Highlands Regional High School and high school player volunteers. The Clinic sessions run on Saturdays or Sundays over four consecutive weekends. The program is designed around fun activities and games as an introduction to lacrosse and basic lacrosse skills. No prior experience with lacrosse is necessary to participate. For most K-2 beginners, the clinic is the first time they have held a lacrosse stick. The Clinic provides a great opportunity for both children and parents to get acquainted with the sport in a fun, engaging atmosphere.

For registration and session dates for the K-2 Clinic, please see the event calendar (CLICK HERE). Please note that a separate registration from the K-2 Clinic is required for players participating on the girls’ or boys’ 2nd grade youth teams.

Winter & spring Training

Highlands Lacrosse offers winter and spring pre-season training opportunities to players registered to participate in the youth program at no additional cost. Winter training opportunities may include outdoor or indoor sessions in December and January. Spring pre-season training is offered outdoors in February and March prior to the official opening of the youth season which is typically in mid to late March. In addition, the program covers the cost of professional instruction in areas such as face-off’s and shooting or position specific training to players demonstrating interest in elevating their skills. Such training held in-season will is in addition to weekly

For information on training opportunities through the youth program, please see the event calendar (CLICK HERE) for further information or contact the girls’ or boys’ Program Director.

Mentorship Program

The Highlands Lacrosse Mentorship Program is the newest addition to our programming. To create a stronger lacrosse community, our goal is to increase the connectivity and continuity between our youth program and the high school program. We aim for players, parents and coaches to have a clear understanding of the ties between the two programs and the tradition of Highlands Lacrosse since its founding in 1997. Highlands Lacrosse hopes to instill a sense of enthusiasm among our youth players as they progress toward the potential opportunity to play competitive lacrosse in high school, and to infuse a sense of gratitude inspiring high school players to give back to the youth program.


Starting in the 2025 season and in cooperation with the coaching staff of Northern Highlands Regional High School, older players starting in eighth grade through high school will be paired as either a “Big Sister” or “Big Brother” with one or more youth players within the lower grades. Highlands Lacrosse will design opportunities and events in which Big Sisters and Big Brothers can engage with their “Littles Sisters” and “Little Brothers” in the youth program.

coaching certifications

Volunteer coaches must have the following minimum certifications to coach for the Highlands Lacrosse Association:

  • To participate as a coach at any HLA practice, coaches must have successfully completed the Rutgers SAFETY Clinic or achieved Bronze-Level certification through US Lacrosse
  • To participate as a coach on the sideline of any HLA game, coaches must have achieved Bronze-Level certification through US Lacrosse