2018 Triad High School Lacrosse Community: Letter to Lacrosse Communiy

Dear Triad Lacrosse Community,

This year we will organize and play the 7th annual All-Star Game on May 30, 2018 at Grimsley High School. As we prepare for this milestone event we would like to update the Triad lacrosse community about the All-Star Game.

The Triad High School Lacrosse All Star Game Has Become a Separate, Independent Non-Profit Organization
The first All-Star Game was played in 2012 at UNCG, after many months of planning by our volunteer committee. In 2015, we added a Girl’s All-Star Game. In the first and early years the All-Star Game was associated with the ONS Lacrosse Foundation for both administrative assistance and possible financial assistance, if needed. In fact, the All-Star Game has received financial contribution from the ONS Lacrosse Foundation in two of its seven years.

The All-Star Game has always been managed by its committee of volunteers. Most of the All-Star Game committee has been with the committee for four years, or more, including some who have been with the All-Star Game since its inception.

Through our more than seven years of experience, we have determined that it would be in the best interests of the All-Star Game to represent all lacrosse clubs and organizations in the Triad lacrosse community rather than be closely associated with just one organization. Moreover, we feel it is in the best interest of the lacrosse community for the broader lacrosse community to have a sense of ownership and “belonging” with the All-Star Game, rather than fostering a perception that the All-Star Game belongs to just one organization.

Last Fall, the All-Star Game became a separate, independent North Carolina non-profit organization, incorporating as the Triad High School Lacrosse All Star Game, and we are in the process of applying for recognition from the IRS as a tax-exempt entity recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The 2018 All Star Game Will Be Played May 30, 2018 at Grimsley High School?The biggest expense of each All-Star Game has been field rental—after uniforms. Although we feel playing the All Star Game at a local college or university is an optimal venue, the field rental expense of $1,800 represents a large expense in the context of an All-Star Game that has historically relied on gate ticket sales on the day of the game for its financial viability. The 2018 All-Star Game will be played at Grimsley High School because of the less expensive cost of the field rental.

In fact, one consideration for our becoming an independent tax-exempt organization was planning for the longer term financial viability of the All-Star Game and the hope for broader support throughout the Triad lacrosse community.??The Addition of The Middle School All-Star Game in 2018
The All-Star Game has always been about promoting high school lacrosse and recognizing outstanding varsity lacrosse players. We have some concerns over the past few years that many Triad high schools seem to have fewer freshmen who have previously played lacrosse. In order to help encourage lacrosse at the middle school level, and to encourage middle schoolers to play lacrosse with an eye to continuing to play in high school, the All-Star Game is excited to add a Middle School All-Star Game this year for 8th grade lacrosse players.

The All-Star Game is excited to host the Middle School All-Star Game immediately preceding the Girls All-Star Game this year. We feel a Middle School All-Star Game is a great fit for the All-Star Game and our mission to promote high school lacrosse throughout the Triad.

The logistics of adding an All-Star Game for 8th grade players is substantial, and more than our rather small group can handle at the same time as we plan and organize the All-Star Game. The Middle School All-Star Game is being organized as a joint-effort by two established Triad lacrosse programs that currently sponsor middle school and high school club teams, Twins Lacrosse and Triad Elite Lacrosse as a program of the Triad Middle School Youth Lacrosse League. The goals of the TMYLL include increasing participation in lacrosse throughout the Triad and to foster a more robust middle school feeder program for high school lacrosse teams. In the Spring of 2019, the TMYLL plans to support 10 or more middle school boys lacrosse teams in the Triad. In the Spring of 2020, the TMYLL hopes to include girls middle school lacrosse teams.

The 8th grade All-Star Game (Middle School All Star Game) will be open to all 8th grade lacrosse players in the Triad regardless of whether they play for a PCLA-recreation lacrosse program, a club lacrosse team or an independent middle school lacrosse team. 8th grade lacrosse players will have the opportunity to register and tryout for the Middle School All Star Game in May 2018. Two teams, an East All Star team and a West All Star team, will be selected based on the tryouts for the Middle School All Star Game.

8th grade lacrosse players interested in trying out for the Middle School All Star Game should register online. Player evaluations will take place on May 20, 2018 from 1—2:30 pm at East Forsyth High School, 2500 W Mountain St., in Kernersville.

We are excited about the growth and development of the Triad High School Lacrosse All Star Game in 2018, and we hope you and lacrosse organizations you are associated with will continue to support the All-Star Game.

Very truly yours,

Triad High School Lacrosse All Star Game

Nancy Quinn Gerald Goulde