Saddle Brook Lacrosse: Welcome

Welcome to the 2nd season of Saddle Brook Jr. Lacrosse League

The boys in grades 3 thru 8 have the opportunity to play in the PRE-GAME game before the NJ PRIDE professional Lacrosse game this Saturday night.   Right now we only have 12 players who are committed (paid) for the event.  We were hoping for at least 24.  If we do not achieve that number, we will not be able to play.  If that happens, those who already paid will recieve a full refund.  The absolute last day to accept orders for tickets ($18 per person) is tomorrow (Thursday).   Drop off the check to my house if you are going.  I would appreciate an email too asap so I can keep it organized better.

email me if you have any questions 

Click the title for the Web site of the NJ pride for information on the team and directions 

Whoever is going to the Central Bergen Lacrosse Camp this year has to get me there form and payment on Monday June 30th.  The cost is regulary $225 for the week.  If you pay thru us, the cost is $200 per player.  The form is on the web site which you can fill out and print.  The checks are still made out to Central Bergen Lacrosse.  Write on the check somewhere that the player is with "Saddle Brook Lacrosse".

Email me asap if your son is interested. 

As I sit here only 1 hour after the banquet I started to reflect on everything that happend this year. What a great year. I wish the rain didn't impact us as much, but it still was a very successful season. I really had much more to say at the banquet. It was hard to pass the microphone over, but it to happen or else we may still be there. hahahahaha  T

The program is going in the right direction. I truely believe that. Maybe things can be changed, corrected, and some things left alone. Overall though, I think the goal of having the kids be successful and having fun is being achieved. I am still in awe of the number of players we had this year. EVERY TEAM did a great job as a whole this season. The records are there to prove it. The smiles on their faces proves it. The dedication and drive they have for the sport proves it. For years I wondered why kids didn't just play a sport after school like when we were kids. They are so quick to head indoors for those X-box or PS games. Lately though, I see the lacrosse sticks out there. They are actually playing even though they do not have a game or practice. I drive by the baseball field and "Wall ball" is now played with lax sticks from time to time. That means we are doing something right.

I don't know why anyone really joined the sport, but I know why I got involved. I see my kids having fun doing it.....That's enough for me. I see that in all of the kids faces that are playing. No one needs to run to a caoch and say "my kid is not playing enough" or "that kid should be doing this". Isn't it better to just watch you son or daughter play something that they really enjoy??? I often wondered why so many of us demand more than that. Life seems to pass us all by so fast and we seem to miss some of the best times of our lives, which coincidently, are these years right now. We all are watching our kids grow right before our eyes. Here are just a few questions that every one of us should ask:

1. did you see your child at the clinic the first time and smile when they had no clue what they were doing?

2. did you notice that they still kept trying until they figured it out?

3. did you see them have that one moment during the season that will forever be etched in their memory?

4. did you see the glow in their face when the moment occured?

5. did you notice that they are watching the college Lacrosse games, when only a few months ago they didn't even know it was a televised sport?

6. did you notice that the players are now hanging around with each other more now than before?

7. did you notice that they would ratherwear their Lacrosse clothes than just about anything else?

Intriguing, isn't it?

This league we started is truely about honor, respect, discipline, teamwork, and dedication. All qualities we want in our children. I hope those are qualities the players learned about in this league and use that in their lives. This league is about making kids grow as a person as well as an athlete. For the most part that was achieved too. Just to list out a few examples:

1. watch the older girls with the younger ones now as compared to the beginning of the season.

2. did you see a tighter group of kids than the JV boys

3. Watch how the Clinic crew play as a team and their selfless play

4. Varsity boys all chip in to buy their own lacrosse goal to play together at avon

5. High School players all meet daily in all weather conditions to work TOGETHER at Franklin

I hope you all enjoyed the season and all that was provided for your children. All the coaches, and I, are ready for some very much needed time off. At least a few weeks anyway. I thank each and every one of the players for joining and taking part in this wonderful exciting sport. I also thank each parent/guardian who trusted their most precious thing in their lives to us. I said it a thousand times, this league and these players happiness became a passion of ours. I hope each of you got what you expected from this league and more.

I expect most, if not all, of you will be returning next year. Until then, I wish you all the very best and will be counting down to the first day of our fall clinics and registration. Thanks for making our second year such a success and hope you all enjoy the gifts.

SEE YOU IN THE FALL

I've been looking at next year and this is what I am thinking:

• Increase the program for girls by opening a 7/8th grade group 
• Add a K thru 2nd grade Fiddle Sticks division. Meet every Sunday during the spring season to go over drills and have mini games using tennis balls.  $25 fee to cover the shirt/stick/trophy
• Registration $80 per player (for boys and girls in grades 3 thru 8). My goal is to keep bringing the cost down each year as much as possible. We went from $150 to $125 in the past 2 years. Now we drop it even more. With the tough financial times now, I would like to help the families out by lowering it again.

Now, If someone has an idea of how to drop this even further while not impacting the money that is needed from this, I am open to hear it. We would need something that will generate $12,000. I would like to do registration the first weekend after School starts so we are ready for the Sunday Clinics.

Estimating the league will increase to 150 players, the Fund-Raising Goals are:

• Sponsor renewals and new sponsor goal $8000
• Town contribution $4000
• Tricky Tray: $12000
• Raffle books: $4000
• Lax Day: $4000
• Can Drive: $3000
• Registration: $12000

Total = $47,000

The only thing that I have not calculated in this is the "Field of Horrors" for Halloween. We would run that for 4 days and think it would draw at least $5000 to $6000. We will do some minor things, like the jackets, Mc Donald's night, and Fun nights at the dome too. It is not big enough to even estimate though. Each will make about $250 to $500. People are pushing me to do a car wash too. I am not sure how that would work, but I am told that some group have made over $3000 doing it.

Game schedules for the girls will increase to at least 20.  The number of games the boys will play will be about the same .

We will to have to think about the banquet for next year it in terms of cost. I would love to have all in one, but right now I am guessing it will be 2 seperate ones. 1 for the girls and 1 for the boys. We can better gauge that after the one this year.

The last thing to think about coaches. I am hoping all of returning. We will still need more for the season. I will do the K thru 2nd grade level.   Brian will be moving on since Joe is moving on to his high school career, but he will stop by from time to time to help. We definitely need to get Samantha some help with the girls. This has to be the highest priority. I do not want to just accept any coach just because they want to coach though.   If someone wants to coach, we have to make sure that they drive the same philosophy that we have been for the past two years.  They MUST be all for the kids and not have a "win at all costs" mentality. 

Lastly, I would like to get a hold of Soccer and see if we combined efforts that we can make Franklin a better field since we are the ones who always use it. I would like to get top soil brought there to level it out, sprinklers put in to keep the grass healthly, and something by the fence to keep the dirt from draining into the yards of the house next to the field. This we can do at the end of October. Just a thought!!!!

So, that is what I am thinking. We spent close to $42000 this year on the kids. I expect that to increase but not by too much. Reason is the expense for the high school team was pretty high and we will not have that this year.  My guess is $50,000 does it without issue. If we hit a bump, we will figure something out.

Can't wait till we start again!!!!!! 

Click the Title of this article and it will take you to a NEW Saddle Brook Lacrosse Store!!!!

Check it out!!!! I will have it up all year round and shipping is quick. There is so much stuff. I will be uploading our image once I get in the right format needed. So, unless you love the item, don't buy it yet until our logo is loaded.

There is everything from clothes for the littlest ones to the biggest ones. There is STADIUM SEATS, Blankets, Womens's clothes, etc.... You can change the logo on the shirt, Make it a mom shirt, a dad shirt, etc....

Cool Stuff!!!!