218 Lax Assessment Policy
Adopted October 20, 2024
218 Lax is dedicated to organizing, developing, and promoting the sport of girls’ lacrosse within the 218 area code, while fielding competitive teams. 218 Lax is committed to honoring the game of lacrosse by instilling values of sportsmanship and integrity, and placing team accomplishments above personal achievement. 218 Lax aims to create leaders through athletic endeavors, while building confidence in girls through friendship, teamwork, and grit.
In an effort to provide consistency in team development, 218 Lax will utilize an assessment process to ensure teams are appropriately fielded to provide the best player experience. To help players build familiarity and confidence with the process, 218 Lax will use assessments each season at all age levels. Please note that in the spring season, any youth girl within the 218 Lax geographic service area will have a spot on a team. However, during the more competitive off-seasons (summer, fall, and winter), these assessments will inform rosters and a spot on a team is not guaranteed.
218 Lax believes in a selection process that ensures all players receive a fair opportunity to join a team of their age group peers possessing similar skills.
In order to participate in assessments, any evaluator, coach, or player must provide evidence of current USA Lacrosse membership. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Assessment procedure:
Assessments will be advertised at least two weeks in advance.
Assessments will consist of two sessions, approximately 1.5 hours each. Particular requirements of assessment attendance will vary and will be announced ahead of each season.
An assessment committee will be formed for each age group trying best to engage coaching staff while minimizing bias. The decision of the committee is final, but player adjustments can be made in-season.
Each player will have the opportunity to demonstrate her skills through a series of drills, competitive small-sided scrimmages, and possibly a full-field scrimmage.
Any athlete for any season must be registered with the 218 Lax association before assessments. In the event a player is not selected within one of the competitive seasons, registration fees will be fully refunded.
What to expect:
Evaluators will assess and rank players based on the following criteria, using a 4 point scale:
Stick Skills (Passing, Catching, Shooting, Cradling, GBs) / Goalie Saves
Athleticism (Agility, Power, Speed)
Hustle Lacrosse IQ (Field Awareness, Dodging, Defense, Clearing, Communication)
Character Confidence Community (Coachability)
Parents are allowed to attend, but parents that are not coaches are prohibited from being on the field during assessments.
Results from assessments will be communicated to players and parents within one week of the final assessment session.
As a reminder, assessments will not impact a player’s ability to participate in the spring season, they are only used to bring familiarity to the process and for coaches to appropriately roster teams.
Players invited to participate on a roster during a competitive season should communicate their intent to play within one week of receiving the invitation. If there are enough players capable of playing as a team in a competitive flight, additional teams may be formed if coaching staff exists.