Frequently Asked Questions


When is lacrosse season?

Spring Lacrosse is 8 weeks, starting in late March, through the end of May.  

Fall Ball is 6 weeks, starting after Labor Day and ending in mid-October.

Where do I register?

Online at www.durango.gov/register4rec or in person at the Rec Center.

Where do practices take place?

Smith Sports Complex – 700 Talon Lane, Durango, CO 80301

How often do the teams practice? 

  • Youth Boys: Mon/Wed 4:00 – 6:00pm 
  • Youth Girls: Tues/Thurs 4:00 – 6:00pm 
Practice times may vary depending on coach schedules.

When are games played?

  • Spring Lacrosse usually consists of 4 tournaments (3 Away and 1 Home). 
  • Fall Ball season has one tournament. Occasionally - we may travel to or host informal scrimmages from time to time. 
  • Note: extended season options are sometimes available through other programs and will be listed on the DLC website when available.

Where are tournaments held? 

Tournament locations may vary. Past tournaments have been hosted in Albuquerque, Aspen, Grand Junction, Montrose, Santa Fe and Vail. DLC hosts its annual tournament in May at Smith Sports Complex.

Do we have to travel?

Tournaments provide players with invaluable skill building opportunities. If you are unable to travel, your player may be able to go with another family. Please contact your team parent or a board member for more information.

Where should we stay at away tournaments?

The host team generally arranges hotel blocks for visiting teams. This is not always consistent and better deals may be found by searching for rates on your own. The DLC will try to arrange hotel blocks if possible.

What equipment is required?

  • Boys: Stick, Helmet, Mouthguard, Athletic Cup, Shoulder/Chest pads, Elbow pads, Gloves, Cleats 2022 Rule Change: Protective Pads MUST display the NOCSAE logo to be legal for practice and games.

  • Girls: Stick, Goggles, Mouthguard, Cleats Goggles must display the SEI logo to be legal for practice and games.

Please visit the USA Lacrosse equipment page to view information about required equipment and current safety standards:  https://www.usalacrosse.com/equipment 

What kind of lacrosse stick should I buy?

​There are three kinds of sticks: 

  • Short stick is used by attack and midfield players (boys and girls)
  • Long stick aka D-pole is used by defense and midfield players (boys game only)
  • Goalie stick 
The basic lacrosse skills can be best learned with the short stick.

Where can I buy lacrosse equipment?

  • Locally: Big 5 occasionally has a few boys sticks or girls goggles.  Dick's Sporting goods in Farmington generally has a decent selection of beginner sticks, NOCSAE certified protective pads, and helmets, SEI certified goggles and protective cups. They carry a wide variety of mouth guards and cleats (soccer/football) in the store. 

Can I rent equipment for the season?

Yes, the Durango Parks and Recreation have equipment rentals available. Please contact them directly to pay for and obtain equipment rentals.

Is Lacrosse a contact sport?

  • Girls lacrosse is not a contact sport. 
  • Boys lacrosse is a contact sport. Boys in 10U and below play with minimal physical contact. The focus is on developing their lacrosse skills. From 12U and older physical contact is allowed and is taught by coaches appropriately.

What are the age groups? 

Official USA Lacrosse age and eligibility guidelines can be found here: https://www.usalacrosse.com/age-eligibility-guidelines 

  • Age Divisions: are based on player’s age as of Sept 1 in an attempt to align with the majority of school systems nationwide to allow players to play with people in their own grade level. 
  • Grade Divisions: USA Lacrosse recognizes that some programs will not have enough players to segment by single-aged years. Provisions are included to allow 24-month age segmentations for local league and community-based play, if necessary, to ensure participation. The aim of the policy is to improve the experience for everyone in order increase participation, not discourage it. CO Mountain division youth program directors agreed in the Fall of 2021 that grade divisions are acceptable to increase playing opportunities when necessary.
  • Nomenclature i.e. 12U vs U12 The nomenclature for age groupings was changed to have the age listed first for clarity and to allow for a clear break between youth (14U and younger) and scholastic (15U to 18U) lacrosse.  Previously, the U15 level was considered youth, but often included age-eligible high school players. 
  • Playing Down: Under no circumstances is a player ever permitted to "play down" below their current age or grade bracket. Playing down is a violation of This means a 14 year old high schooler is not eligible to play on a youth or 14U team. They may only play on a HS team.
  • Playing Up: Program administrators and coaches will consider the physical size, skill, and maturity of players when selecting teams to ensure player safety. Coach team assignment decisions are final.

How many players on a team? 

  • Boys: 10U - 6v6 or 7v7, 12U - 7v7 or 10v10, 14U - 10v10
  • Girls: 10U - 8v8, 12U - 8v8 or 12v12, 14U - 12v12
  • Note: Tournament Directors/Organizers/Coaches may agree in advance to reduce players on the field in an effort to facilitate games when there aren't enough players. For example, a fall tournament may use the sixes or 7v7 format.

Where can I find the official rules for games?

Rules are reviewed and updated annually. It is best to check the USA Lacrosse site for the current rules and interpretations for each age division.

What does the registration fee cover? 

Registration fees paid through Durango Parks and Recreation cover coach salaries, team tournament registration fees, equipment (think balls, goals, nets, uniforms, officials). Parks and Recreation operates on a 90% cost recovery model. The DLC board of Directors works closely with Parks and Recreation to ensure that program needs are met.

Spring Registration includes a USA Lacrosse membership. Existing memberships will be extended for one year. 

Are scholarships available?

Yes. Scholarships are available for registration fees. Scholarships may be requested through your DLC account. Funds are limited so we ask that families first check eligibility and apply for scholarships or grants through other avenues such as:

These applications take a bit of time, but are easy to apply for. They can be applied to several times per year so your athlete can stay active in the sports they love. In addition, by first seeking alternative funding you are aiding the DLC in offering additional scholarships and to host clinics.

How do I complete the USA Lacrosse age verification requirements?

The USA Lacrosse age verification system is secure and easy to use. Age verification uses SSL technology, the standard for transmitting sensitive information online.

  1. Scan or take a photo of your son or daughter's birth certificate or state-issued ID. 
  2. Log into your USALacrosse.com account, not your child's. 
  3. Upload your scan or photo to our online system. 
  4. USA Lacrosse will review your documentation, record the birthdate in our system, and then permanently delete your uploaded document. 
  5. You'll receive a confirmation email, and you’re done. This is a one-time process that is good for the lifetime of your child’s membership.
Note: We have had to provide proof of age verification for players in the past and had a team forfeit all their winning games at a tournament. 

What benefits does a USA Lacrosse Membership provide? 

USA Lacrosse Members receive benefits such as: access to online training and how-to videos, partner discounts, insurance coverage that travels with you anywhere you participate in lacrosse activities and more. Please visit the Member Benefits page for more information:    www.usalacrosse.com/member-benefits