Wanna Be a Referee?

Since the inception of the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association, we have recognized the need for certified lacrosse officials in Des Moines Area. Not only would local certified referees help out with Drake and Iowa State, but they could greatly facilitate expansion at the high school level.
A few area laxers had previously inquired about becoming certified refs. We had tried to set some stuff up in the past, but our small pool (even combined with Nebraska) makes it difficult. Luckily we are close to a few larger, more established lacrosse areas.

Registration for Lacrosse Officials Training Classes in Minnesota

There's a fair amount of complaining about officiating, so it's time for you to become part of the solution. Information on officials training is posted on the UMLOA website and registration is now open here.

A few notes:

•For all classes, register well in advance. There are online training components, some of which must be completed before your first in-person meeting, so don't wait until the last minute. Information on how to access the online training will be sent to you at least a week before your course begins. The full schedule and requirements can be found here.

•You can pay by mail-in check or by PayPal. To pay by PayPal, choose the mail-in check option and follow the directions given. Level 1 Registration is $149.00. Level 2 Registration is $99.00. Combined Levels 1 & 2 Registration is $199.00

•For Level 1, you must select one site for Level 1 Class #1 and one site for Level 1 Class #2 (for a total of 6 hours of in class training). You must also choose a site for on-field training.

•You will need to join US Lacrosse as a district 7 men's official (or renew your membership) prior to registration. If you have already renewed your membership but you are not a District 7 men's official, you will need to contact the US Lacrosse Membership Department.

•Basic uniform and equipment are included with Level 1 Training (but not Level 1 Re-certification). You will need your sock size, shirt size, and waist size to register for Level 1 Training.

Please contact head official Harold Buck or training coordinator Russ Ramsay with questions.

Girls Middle School Lax

The Des Moines area is going to try an experimental run at a youth girl's program with the help of a youth program in Kansas City.
Beginning in April, a four week practice schedule for girls in 5th-8th grade will take place. The conclusion of the session will be on May 22, playing at a play day in Kansas City.
This program is open to 5th-8th grade girls throughout the Des Moines metro. No experience is necessary to play, but you will need your own lacrosse stick, goggles, and mouth guard. Girls' starter packages can be found here (stick packages).
Coach Jaacki and the Waukee girls team will be assisting with the program.

Please contact Jaacki, if you are interested.

-An announcement regarding middle school boys will be made at a later date. Contact me to get on the email list.

Waukee HS Girls Lax Schedule

Saturday, April 2 in Kansas City

Saturday, April 16 in Omaha

Saturday, April 23 in Columbia, Mo.

Saturday, April 30 at Southwoods in West Des Moines

Saturday, May 7 in Omaha

The 2011 high school team will begin practice in February and will begin competition on April 2, 2011. This year's team is comprised of high school girls from Waukee High School, Valley High School, Johnston High School and North Polk - and is open to anyone in the Des Moines area.

Please contact Jaacki, if you are interested in playing or coaching.

No Valley Practice

Due to the blizzard and the resultant school cancellations, tonight's lax practice has been canceled. We cannot use the facilities when there is no school... Enjoy the night off.

Marquette Announces First Coach

The newest NCAA D1 program in our region is all set to announce their first head coach:

Multiple sources indicate Hofstra assistant Joe Amplo will be hired as the first head coach of the men’s lacrosse program at Marquette University.

Up to this point the coaching search has been headed by former Maryland Terrapins head coach Dave Cottle. Cottle was released by the Terps following their loss in the NCAA playoffs last spring. Cottle has accepted a position with the Chesapeake Bayhawks, where he will serve as team president. He previously served as a coaching advisor during the team's 2010 championship season.
Excitement continues to build as the Golden Eagles' lax program develops. Everything will come to a head in the 2012-13 season.

Don't Step on my Blue Suede Shoes

Originally, I was leaning towards "Ch-ch-changes" but that felt too cliche...
By now you have probably noticed a complete change in the color scheme both here and at the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association website (unless you are colorblind, in which case I apologize). Red, black, and gold have been dropped in favor of navy, sky, and white. Even the logo has been tweaked in recognition of the new colors.
Why the change?
Way back when I started this blog, lacrosse had no presence in Iowa outside of a few MCLA teams. Valley just started playing. To build excitement and interest, I had several polls designed to create some direction for the sport - a rallying point, if you will. The colors were announced on the now defunct Demons' blog:

The final results of the survey are in. After the preliminary poll closed on the Central Iowa Lacrosse Association website and receiving the first logo submission, we have officially decided on the Demons' colors. When the team reaches the point of ordering uniforms, gear, and merchandise (hopefully in the spring of 2010), these colors will be used. They are: Black, White, Red, and Athletic (Yellow) Gold.*
The overall results are:
Black- 21 %
Red - 17 %
White - 14%
Athletic Gold/Yellow - 8.5%
Vegas Gold, Purple - 6.5%
Forest Green - 5%
Silver - 4.5%
Maroon, Orange - 4%
Navy Blue, Royal Blue, Emerald Green - 3%

But as lax really started taking off last summer, we began to analyze various aspects of CILA. This included everything from a sponsor-friendly logo to league structures to high school expansion and youth programs. To maximize the connections between our programs, Zach proposed that we radically alter things. The coordinators agreed that a change would be beneficial indeed.
After significant discussion about names and color scheme, we reached the same conclusion on the colors and program name. The results are now being made public via the recolored websites. The name was informally announced through our box league team - Aces.
Why Aces?
We all agreed that "Demons" could potentially alienate certain sponsors and participants. Aces, while seemingly generic, is also more friendly and accessible. The name also gives us multiple opportunities to distinguish teams at different levels (ie spades for the men, hearts for the women, diamonds for middle school, etc. - though these are not accurate or set at this time).
The new name also provides more opportunities for helmet and uniform designs like argyle or gingham - things that would have looked silly with the Demons' logo. The new color scheme also allows us to step away from the "traditional" sports in the metro a bit. Both colors are fairly synonymous with lacrosse in general, due mostly to associations with NCAA D1 programs.
However, I want to clarify that we did not choose these colors in honor of North Carolina. In fact, none of us are UNC fans at all.
So, what about the high school team(s)?
Valley will remain Valley. The high school provides the uniforms and facilities for practices and games. They have allowed us the privilege of using their name and we respect that. Without Valley's support, lacrosse may not be where it is today.
As far as future high school teams go, we want to continue to use actual high school names as much as possible. Barring that, we would most likely choose an alternate name for new teams - similar to the Capitals and Oak Leafs hockey clubs. We obviously have the Demons' logo and name available, as well as several other options. Some are even Des Moines/Iowa-specific.
If the Aces name is ever used for a high school program, it would most likely be a summer travel team open to players from various schools. At least that is the plan right now...
Please do not refrain from sharing your thoughts on the new colors and name below. You can also contact me. Thank you for supporting lacrosse in Central Iowa.