After struggling with ways to communicate last minute cancellations due to weather last year during the box league and summer league, I have finally figured out how to communicate more efficiently - Facebook. Nearly everybody involved with lax in the metro is on Facebook anyway, so all you need to do is join the group. I will begin using Facebook for updates immediately and in conjunction with this blog and the CILA & Valley sites.
Central Iowa Lacrosse Association group page
Valley Tigers Lacrosse Club group page
Best Place to Find Low Prices - Discontinued Gear
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Do The Pro Lax Leagues Matter? Part 1
The National Football League
The National Hockey League
The National Basketball Association
Major League Baseball
Major League Soccer
The "big" sports in this country all have their own top tier leagues. Nobody questions the food chain (domestically) in each league's respective sport at the professional level. Everybody acknowledges that the NFL is greater than the UFL, for example. Or that FIFA sanctions MLS higher than the USSF-Division 2 League. Heck, the other three have minor league systems feeding into them.
I suppose one could argue that the Arena Football League can lay a claim to being a top tier football league as well, since they play a different variety of football than the NFL. But most would still say that the AFL is little more than a minor league or proving ground for the NFL. After all, Kurt Warner came from the Barnstormers to the Rams and not the other way around. This type of movement indicates that the AFL is a development league slotted between the college game and the NFL.
So where does that leave lacrosse? There is both a professional field league and a professional box league. In addition to Major League Lacrosse and National Lacrosse League, a third professional circuit has come about. To be fair, the LXM Pro Tour does not tout itself as a league per se, but they do consider themselves to be the top destination for professional laxers and boast names like Kyle Harrison and Mikey Powell.
Lest we forget, a second professional box lacrosse league, Major Series Lacrosse, plays its games during the traditional Canadian season. MSL is the oldest professional lacrosse league in the world, but is not recognized as being on the same level as either of the US based leagues. Despite its history and significance, MSL comes across as a lower league than the NLL.
The National Hockey League
The National Basketball Association
Major League Baseball
Major League Soccer
The "big" sports in this country all have their own top tier leagues. Nobody questions the food chain (domestically) in each league's respective sport at the professional level. Everybody acknowledges that the NFL is greater than the UFL, for example. Or that FIFA sanctions MLS higher than the USSF-Division 2 League. Heck, the other three have minor league systems feeding into them.I suppose one could argue that the Arena Football League can lay a claim to being a top tier football league as well, since they play a different variety of football than the NFL. But most would still say that the AFL is little more than a minor league or proving ground for the NFL. After all, Kurt Warner came from the Barnstormers to the Rams and not the other way around. This type of movement indicates that the AFL is a development league slotted between the college game and the NFL.
So where does that leave lacrosse? There is both a professional field league and a professional box league. In addition to Major League Lacrosse and National Lacrosse League, a third professional circuit has come about. To be fair, the LXM Pro Tour does not tout itself as a league per se, but they do consider themselves to be the top destination for professional laxers and boast names like Kyle Harrison and Mikey Powell.
Lest we forget, a second professional box lacrosse league, Major Series Lacrosse, plays its games during the traditional Canadian season. MSL is the oldest professional lacrosse league in the world, but is not recognized as being on the same level as either of the US based leagues. Despite its history and significance, MSL comes across as a lower league than the NLL.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Hockey Night In Iowa 2010 Edition - Game 2
Tonight is the second week of the Alien Bucs C League. After declaring free agency in the off season, I have left Cup O' Kryptonite and joined Irwin's Bike & Sports. The Irwin's team let it be known right away that I would play in my usual spot - Center.
Last week, we got off to a rocky start and allowed two goals per period. Although we only scored once, we took several high quality shots. I fired a succession of six rapid wristers at Alien's Bast in the second period only to be stonewalled repeatedly. This keeps Bast as the only goalie in the league that I have never scored against.
Last week's 6-1 performance against one of the league's most seasoned teams is definitely respectable. Heck, it took me a whole period to figure out which stick felt right. We are a fairly new team with somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 of our team moving up from D League this season. We need to build communication and learn each other's names still. As the season progresses, I am sure we will find our rhythm and gel. After all, Cup had a pretty good losing streak to kick off last year and look where that got us...
As always, the action starts at 7:15 at Buccaneer Arena. Tonight we play Yankee Doodle Dandy Tattoo. YDD is always a tough team and will be looking for a win after going down to my former teammates last week.
*I apologize for not posting prior to last week's game. There was so much going on that I simply did not have time. I will do my best to keep this up to date, though I may falter when Box Lax starts in favor of that league.
Last week, we got off to a rocky start and allowed two goals per period. Although we only scored once, we took several high quality shots. I fired a succession of six rapid wristers at Alien's Bast in the second period only to be stonewalled repeatedly. This keeps Bast as the only goalie in the league that I have never scored against.
Last week's 6-1 performance against one of the league's most seasoned teams is definitely respectable. Heck, it took me a whole period to figure out which stick felt right. We are a fairly new team with somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 of our team moving up from D League this season. We need to build communication and learn each other's names still. As the season progresses, I am sure we will find our rhythm and gel. After all, Cup had a pretty good losing streak to kick off last year and look where that got us...
As always, the action starts at 7:15 at Buccaneer Arena. Tonight we play Yankee Doodle Dandy Tattoo. YDD is always a tough team and will be looking for a win after going down to my former teammates last week.
*I apologize for not posting prior to last week's game. There was so much going on that I simply did not have time. I will do my best to keep this up to date, though I may falter when Box Lax starts in favor of that league.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Valley Fall Practice Begins Tonight
This post is specifically for all returning Valley lacrosse players as well as Valley, Waukee, and Dowling students that are interested in playing lacrosse for Valley.
Practices begin tonight at Indian Hills Jr High. Practices will be on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Bring all of your gear and be ready to work. For more information, visit the Valley Lacrosse website.
Valley's practices are for eligible players only.
Practices begin tonight at Indian Hills Jr High. Practices will be on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Bring all of your gear and be ready to work. For more information, visit the Valley Lacrosse website.
Valley's practices are for eligible players only.
Southside Clinics Continue
After a better than expected turnout at last Tuesday's south side clinic, I have decided to continue hosting south side clinics through mid-October. The clinics will be moved to Thursday nights, starting this week. The start time remains 5:30, but the location is now Brody Middle School to give us more room. I have updated the clinic page on the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association website to reflect this.
This is yet another step towards expanding the game throughout the metro. The Lincoln boys involved thus far are enthusiastic about the possibility of starting their own team. I am also encouraging interested laxers in the southern suburbs of Norwalk, Carlisle, and Indianola to attend these clinics, as well as anybody else that is interested in learning the game.
Brody Middle School
2501 Park Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
This is yet another step towards expanding the game throughout the metro. The Lincoln boys involved thus far are enthusiastic about the possibility of starting their own team. I am also encouraging interested laxers in the southern suburbs of Norwalk, Carlisle, and Indianola to attend these clinics, as well as anybody else that is interested in learning the game.
Brody Middle School
2501 Park Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
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