Sun Devil Lacrosse

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Lacrosse a varsity sport at Arizona State?
No. Every year the team is increasingly run like a varsity sport, however, we receive very little financial support from the university. Similar situations are found at all college programs west of Ohio, with few exceptions such as Air Force. As lacrosse continues to grow on a national level, the support base for all teams including ASU becomes stronger. Varsity lacrosse could eventually be a reality at Arizona State, but not anytime soon.

Q: So why would anyone want to play lacrosse at Arizona State?
There are many good reasons to play at ASU. First, this is a great place to get a college education. ASU consistently ranks among the best for a combination of academics and student life. In addition, as the largest university in the United States, ASU’s diverse alumni body affords many opportunities for internships and post collegiate work well beyond the scope of most other schools. Finally, the city of Tempe boasts the metropolitan resources of Phoenix, among the top 5 largest metro areas in the country and numerous activities accommodated by 330 sunny days each year. In fact, Tempe is such an outstanding place to be, Super Bowl XXX was played at Sun Devil Stadium in 1996.

Second, Sun Devil Lacrosse provides a very competitive lacrosse experience, on a national scale, without the overwhelming pressure and time-commitment of big-time Division I varsity lacrosse. Our student-athletes are expected to dedicate themselves to the team, but they are given the time and latitude to focus on academics. Some turned down college varsity opportunities to come to school and play here for just that reason. The atmosphere on this team is much like a top Division III program, with a healthy combination of athletics, academics and social life.

Third, this is an exciting time to be part of lacrosse at Arizona State. Over the last 5 years under the direction of retired head coach Jon Minder, the team has rebuilt from a troubled period following the 2000 season and now threatens to break into the nationally elite of the MCLA. The opportunity to be part of a very special transformation over the next few seasons is unmatched by any other college team in the nation.

Q: How does playing in the MCLA at ASU differ from playing NCAA lacrosse at other schools?
Our philosophy here at Arizona State is that we want to do whatever it takes to compete at the highest level possible and represent the University in the best possible way. As such, we look and act like a varsity program at practice and during games and we require our student-athletes to work hard to achieve team and individual goals. In addition, every one of our players must follow MCLA rules and regulations regarding academic eligibility (see below).

However, as a club team, we do not receive much financial support from the University. We have to do extensive fundraising to ensure that we can run the kind of program we do. While we are fortunate to be able to use the Sun Devil Band Field for practice and games, we have to make do with evening practice times.

As a club team with no scholarships to offer and a firm commitment to academic excellence, we don’t expect our players to make the same kind of time commitment as Division I varsity players do. The time commitment to practice and competition is virtually identical to what any varsity player has to do at the Division III level.

While we expect all of our team members to be 100% committed to the team, we understand that academics come first. Our philosophy is more in line with Division III lacrosse principles - a balance between academics and athletics. That said, this is not a team for casual student-athletes. Just like our varsity counterparts here at ASU, our student-athletes take great pride in representing their university and themselves in the best possible way. They work very hard toward team and personal goals. Playing lacrosse here is a big commitment and a tremendously valuable experience.

Q: Who does the team play?
Sun Devil Lacrosse is a member of the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA), the largest lacrosse league in the world. The MCLA is made up of 200 teams in 9 conferences that represent virtually every region of the country. ASU is a member of the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League, with 26 teams throughout the west. WCLL is widely recognized as the premier MCLA conference in the nation. Other conferences include the Pioneer League (Northeast), the SELC (Southeast), the Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (Midwest/MO area), the Lonestar Alliance (Texas), the UMLL (Upper Midwest), the RMLC (Rocky Mountains), the CCLA (Midwest/MI area) and the PNCLL (Pacific Northwest). All of the programs in the USLIA are club teams that operate as "virtual varsities." They are coached, highly structured teams, many with large budgets, that compete on a national scale.

Arizona State’s regular season schedule usually includes many of the top MCLA programs from around the country. Teams like Brigham Young, Colorado State, Sonoma State, UC Santa Barbara, Michigan, and of course Arizona, are regularly on the schedule. ASU plays a 3 game WCLL South divisional schedule and always draws top opponents, especially early in the season due to February temperatures in the mid-70’s in Tempe.

In the fall, the team plays several scrimmages in Arizona and travels to the annual Best of the West tournament in Las Vegas.

The schedule highlights one of the benefits of playing top-level MCLA lacrosse. Unlike varsity lacrosse teams that play mostly regional schedules, the top MCLA teams play national schedules that have them traveling to campuses across the country. Arizona State flies at least once per season to play other big-name opponents, and hosts some of the top teams in the nation.

Q: Is there a post-season tournament?
The WCLL tournament is in late April. The winner of the tournament, along with the champions of the 8 other conferences, gets an automatic bid to the MCLA national championship tournament in mid-May. Seven other at-large bids go to the highest ranked teams, that did not receive automatic bids, in the final regular-season poll.

Q: Does Sun Devil Lacrosse offer Scholarships or assistance with admissions?

As a MCLA program, the Arizona State Lacrosse team does not provide scholarships or have influence over the admissions process. Student-athletes interested in attending Arizona State should contact the admissions office (http://www.asu.edu/admissions ) for application and financial aid information.

Q: What is a typical schedule for a Sun Devil Lacrosse Student-Athlete?
Playing lacrosse at ASU is a major, year-round commitment. There is fall and spring practice along with off-season commitments such as conditioning and fundraising. Players report for Fall practice within the first three weeks of school and practice 3 evenings per week until mid-November. There are also other events such as team functions and fundraisers that everyone must attend. Add to that, 1 game per weekend and a tournament trip to Las Vegas or LA and most of your spare time is taken. In the spring, practice is 5 evenings per week plus games almost every weekend. Team travel has taken us to California, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada in the past. Overall, 20 hours per week, minimum, is a safe assumption.

Q: What is the practice schedule and how should I setup classes / work to accommodate lacrosse?
Time management skills are essential to your success at Arizona State if you plan to play lacrosse.

At ASU, lacrosse practice is always in the evening with a few weekend day practices when we don’t have a game. A safe way to schedule classes is ending your academic schedule by 5:30 PM daily. Ending classes as early as possible on Friday also helps accommodate team travel that usually begins Friday mornings. Most games will be on weekends during the day with some evening and weekday evening dates. For weekend day games, plan on not being available for work or class until 5 PM. With a 12 credit academic schedule and 20 hours per week of lacrosse, it will be very difficult to maintain a job during the season. If you must work for financial reasons, plan on being available to work 1 or 2 weekend nights with time off for night games or travel.

Q: What are games and travel like?
Arizona State plays all of its home games at the Sun Devil Band Field where the team enjoys a unique home field advantage (more on that when you put on the maroon and gold and join our family). On the road the team travels either in rental vans, charter buses, or commercial flights. We want to provide a safe, efficient travel atmosphere that minimizes missed class time and allows our student-athletes to focus on their studies and the game at hand. The team always presents itself on the road in a manner befitting Arizona State University – collared shirts and dress shoes and pants, respectful and proud. ASU’s alumni and parent network often shows up on the road to support the team in distant cities, sometimes even providing local meals and events.

Road games vary according to who we are playing. The team travels to play it's required conference schedule, plus key national games against highly ranked teams.

Q: How do I join the team?

We use the fall season as a tryout period and will cut the roster, carrying 37-40 players or less if necessary. We are looking for athletes that arrive in shape with solid lacrosse skills, the potential to contribute to the team for 4 years, and a winning attitude - accepting nothing less then excellence, never mediocrity. You can tryout for the team after your freshman year, but it's more difficult. With the team becoming increasingly competitive we are looking for players who will make a four year commitment. As a transfer or upperclassman looking to make the team, you would have to show tremendous potential to contribute. Many athletes do not arrive at the skill level to see a lot of playing time in college lacrosse. However, the guys that work hard, steadily improve and develop into great players by the time they become upperclassmen.

Prior to practicing, you will need to complete some paperwork (available at orientation meetings and from team personnel) and join US Lacrosse if you are not already a member.

You will need to provide all of your own equipment for the fall season. You will eventually receive a team issue helmet and gloves, but it could take several weeks beyond the start of practice to have enough equipment for everyone.

YOU MUST ARRIVE IN SHAPE!
Recommended physical standards to achieve by tryout week:

1	Demonstrated stick skills with both hands.
2	General knowledge of the game.
3	Demonstrated defensive and/or offensive ability, depending on position.
4	Military Run: 2.5 miles on the track, 20 push-ups after first lap and 10 pushups after each remaining lap for a total of 100. Finishing time: 19:00.
5	100 crunches (arms across chest, up to touch legs) in 2 minutes.
6	Bench Press- Minimum 200 lbs or 125% of body weight. Returning players: 25 lbs more than your previous best lift. Even if you've never lifted, this is not hard if you hit the weights the summer before arrival. You are strongly encouraged to play in a summer league, lift weights, and run regularly prior to arrival in the fall. If summer league lacrosse is not available in your area, play basketball.

Q: How much will it cost to play?

For 2006, the target operational budget for the team is $125,000. As we continue to develop, we expect this number to grow over the next several seasons. Team income sources include player dues, alumni, sponsorships, and various fundraising. 2006 dues were $1700 for new players. Our dues are in line with similar competitive club teams, but in the long run we charge less than many. Most teams charge lower dues, then charge you again for the cost of each team trip, uniforms, or other costs as they come up. Our dues cover everything except food on the road and any extras you may want to purchase. Everything, including equipment, coaching, travel, and operational expenses, is covered.

While the expense may sound excessive at first, consider this:

1 -	Our dues essentially equal the cost of three summer lacrosse camps totaling 15 days, but they cover a year-round lacrosse experience of a lifetime.
2 -	Tuition at ASU is very reasonable compared to many other schools.
3 -	As the sport grows, the costs associated with lacrosse continue to rise.
4-	Many varsity programs also count on dues and fundraising to cover their budgets. We are not that different.
5-	As we move toward becoming a national championship contender, it will become necessary to fill an increasingly national schedule, taking trips that could cost in excess of $30,000.

Since the team spends an additional $1000 or more per player above and beyond dues, fundraising is critical. Everyone involved with our team is expected to participate in fundraisers that take place throughout the year.

Dues are the lifeblood of this team, but we have a philosophy here that money issues should never keep anyone from playing. If you and your family have a real problem affording dues, we can always work something out to make sure you have an opportunity.

Do you recruit?
Yes, although not in the same way that a varsity program does. Our coaches get out to as many high school games, recruiting camps, and tournaments as possible. We also maintain contact with high school coaches around the country and are constantly getting the word out about our team. The difference between our recruiting and a varsity team's recruiting is we do not proactively go after potential players. We want student-athletes who are: 1. academically qualified to attend ASU, 2. athletically able to contribute at the college level, and 3. really want to come to Arizona State. To that end, we do not hard-sell anyone on coming here. We want you to end up in the best situation for you - athletically, academically and socially. If that situation is Arizona State, we'll do everything in our power to help you.

Q: What do I have to do to be eligible to play?
USLIA eligibility rules are based on NCAA rules. USLIA players have four years of eligibility in either USLIA or USILA (varsity) lacrosse. In order to play, you must carry at least 12 credit hours throughout the regular season. NOTE: For eligibility purposes, a full time semester is any in which you attempted 12 hours whether you passed, failed, or withdrew. In addition, you must pass 24 credits in the previous 2 full time semesters at the institution where you are playing or have an average of 12 hours passed in every full time semester you have attempted at the institution where you are playing. Graduate students must have received their undergraduate degree at the same school and have no time gap between undergraduate and graduate studies. Transfers from NCAA varsity programs do not need to sit out a year before they are eligible to play. The USLIA conducts periodic eligibility checks to ensure that all players are eligible. Eligibility can be a very complicated issue. You should contact Coach Hopkins ASAP to discuss your eligibility, especially if you are a transfer student.

Q: What kind of commitment does it take to play for Arizona State?
Playing lacrosse at ASU is a big commitment. Three evenings of practice per week in the fall plus occasional early morning conditioning and five evenings per week during spring semester, plus fundraising, workouts, meetings and various other team functions accounts for a big chunk of time. The season runs from early February through mid-May. In-season the team spends several weekends on the road. It's tough, no doubt about it, but it's worth it.

The goals we set at Arizona State are high. You wouldn't be attending or considering ASU if your goals were not equally high. In order to have a chance to achieve our goals, we have to demand a commitment from our players. We expect people to show up to meetings, practices and games on time and ready to devote 100% of their energy to lacrosse. We've found that lacrosse forces students to become more organized and learn to prioritize rather than procrastinate. Many of our student-athletes combine lacrosse with demanding courses of study like engineering or business. Some add fraternity participation or other student groups. The time commitment of lacrosse actually helps most in achieving their other goals.

If you are looking for an opportunity to be a part of something special, to continue or start your lacrosse career at a highly competitive level, then come out for what could possibly be the best experience of your life.