About

 

Dear AYLA Parents and Players:

The Annapolis Youth Lacrosse Association (AYLA) was founded in 1992 with the mission to “Promote Youth Growth through Lacrosse” by providing the finest coaching, instruction and training to our players. We are committed to fielding spring teams in the Anne Arundel County Recreational League and any other league that will provide a positive competitive environment for our organization.

The evolution of how lacrosse is consumed over the past several years has been extraordinary. Year-round lacrosse is no longer the exception to the rule, it is the rule. Due to this shift, AYLA has now created ALC (Annapolis Lacrosse Club), to meet the needs and expansion of the game. We owe it to our current and future families to provide the highest level of service in fulfilling their desires to be the best well rounded lacrosse players they can be. Our mission for ALC is to provide a “Balanced Approach to Competitive Club Level Lacrosse”. We want and encourage our families to play other sports out of the spring/summer season. In the fall and winter, we will train and participate in lacrosse activities that do not interfere other sports. In fact, almost every high school and college coach expects their future players to be well rounded athletically as well as academically. We will keep this as a priority in our planning of sessions and leagues/tournaments.

One of the many things that makes us special and unique is the dedication and commitment of the volunteers that eagerly give their valuable time back to the sport and our organization. This support is evident in our past successes and will be even more critical as we embark into the world of competitive club lacrosse. Our high-quality volunteer coaching will continue to be critical for our recreational teams as well as the BayRaider Select teams. We are very proud of our Anne Arundel County Championships and Maryland State Championships, and look forward to more in the future. We are even more proud of seeing all of our young athletes grow into fine lacrosse players and upstanding members of their community. It is always a pleasure to see our players “graduate” from AYLA, and now ALC, to become High School lacrosse players, NCAA Division I, II, and III players and All-Americans, NCAA National Champions, and MLL players and Champions.

AYLA remains committed to fielding teams in the Anne Arundel County Spring Recreational League in the Middie, Pee Wee and Clinic levels. For our families that only want the spring experience, we will continue that tradition. Our ALC Select teams will compete at high competitive levels in the county as well as challenge the best teams in the country in pre-season, in-season and post-season matchups and tournaments. Our 2023 Select team will continue the tradition of preparing the 8th grade athletes to play lacrosse in their high school years. The highest level of sportsmanship will be the foundation of all our teams at every level. The Young Guns (formerly Scoopers) program will continue to be the launch pad for our youngest players to have the best initial lacrosse experience possible.

AYLA’s interest in our players doesn’t end when they leave our program. AYLA/ALC is a key supporter of the Willie Gateau Scholarship Fund. This annual scholarship, named after one of our original coaches and volunteers, is awarded from this fund to one, or more, High School Seniors who have previously played with AYLA during a minimum of one Spring season and achieved distinction in areas such as community service, extracurricular activities, leadership and academics. The award provides an opportunity for the recipient(s) to pay for a portion of their college expenses during their first year and participation in college athletics is not required. The AYLA/ALC Board of Directors and all our volunteers appreciate the distinguished opportunity we have to coach your sons and teach them the game of lacrosse and hopefully some life lessons along the way. We remain committed to our mission and provide the highest quality instruction with championship results, all in within the construct of a non-profit volunteer based organization.

Yours in Lacrosse,

Francis McAndrews


AYLA/ALC President and Commissioner