FAQs
This section will be updated throughout the season. Volunteers have created our club's initial Frequently Asked Question section listed below. We will add additional QUESTIONS-ANSWERS as new topics arise. Please review the FAQ section below for the answer to your question. If you have a question not listed please email mmorenz@austin.rr.com or mholmstrom@austin.rr.com
Westwood Lacrosse FAQ’s
When is the first meeting?
Two meetings are scheduled at this time. A freshman and new player/parent meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 24, at Main Event, 183 and Anderson Mill, at 7 pm. The first general team meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 9, from 7 – 8:15 pm at the Westwood cafeteria.
When are practices?
Practice for freshmen and new players will start on Saturday, September 13, from 9:00 until 11:30, at Canyon Vista Middle School. There will also be practices for the freshmen and new players on Tuesday through Friday, September 16 - 19, 5:15 until 7, also at CVMS, and Saturday, September 20, 9-11:30. Practices for all players will start on Wednesday, September 24, at Canyon Vista. After that, fall practices for all players will be on Wednesdays from 5:15 - 7pm, and Saturdays from 9 - 11:30 am. We plan to practice through the first week of December.
The spring practices will start on Monday, January 5, 2009. In the spring, practices will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We will not hold practices M - Th, January 12 - 15, due to final exams. Practice will resume Friday evening and go back on schedule after that.
Can football players participate in the fall?
J.V. and freshman football players are allowed to attend Saturday morning practices only during football season. Varsity football players are not allowed to participate in lacrosse until after the conclusion of the football season.
What is the cost to participate in Westwood lacrosse?
The fees to participate this season are $800. Four checks for $200 will be collected at registration. These should be made out to "Westwood Lacrosse Parents Club" and dated September 15, 2008; November 15, 2008; January 15, 2009; and March 15, 2009. If volunteer requirements are met, the fourth check will not be cashed. Other fundraising activities will occur that may help to offset the rest of the dues (please see fundraising section). Dues increase to $225 per check after October 1.
Can club dues be refunded?
The initial $200 registration check is non-refundable.
If a player withdraws prior to January 1, the other $600 in checks will be returned.
If a player withdraws prior to February 1, the player will be charged $400, and the final $400 in checks will be returned.
If a player withdraws after March 1, the volunteer deposit will be refunded on a pro-rated basis, based on fulfilment of requirements.
How many teams will be fielded this year?
Early registration returns indicate that we should be able to field 3 teams: Division 1 varsity, Division 2 varsity, and Junior Varsity.
How are the teams divided?
Tryouts are held during the first two weeks of practice in January. All players will be given an opportunity to try out for the Division 1 team. Returning players who are not selected to play Division 1 can expect to play on the Division 2 team. Freshmen who are not selected to play Division 1 can expect to play on the JV team. (Exceptions are possible if team numbers are grossly misaligned.)
When are the games?
The Division 1 varsity will have preseason scrimmages on Saturday, November 22, at House Park in Austin. All three teams will play in the Longhorn Shootout in Austin, December 6 & 7. All players should plan to attend these games. Spring season games usually start early in February. Spring games have not been scheduled yet. Please keep an eye on the Schedules on the web site. Games may occur on any night of the week, or on a Saturday. Usually only one game a week is scheduled, but late in the season (early April) we sometimes have two games in a week.
When does the season end?
District playoffs are usually in late April, and state finals are usually the first weekend in May. That’s the goal this season.
Will there be any out of town travel?
At this time, this is tentative. Each team will have two tournaments outside of Austin. We will travel to Dallas this year for inter-district games. This will involve travel on Saturday morning through Sunday evening. A bus will be chartered for that trip. The current plan is for D1 and D2 to go on that trip. D1 will try to attend another weekend tournament in Dallas. D2 and JV will go to the Aggieland tournament in College Station in February, a Saturday/Sunday trip. JV will participate in the Fiesta Tournament in San Antonio in late April. Only one bus trip is planned; parent car-pooling is expected for the other trips. Players are not allowed to drive to out of town events. The club will help to coordinate transportation and accommodations.
What are the requirements to earn a varsity letter?
Players on D1 and D2 must maintain their academic eligibility throughout the season in order to earn a varsity letter. Players must participate in 50% of the quarters played in league games. Please see this section of our web site for further details. JV players are not eligible to receive varsity letters.
Where are the games held?
Last season we had three home games at the RRISD Sports Complex, and the rest were held at the Warrior Bowl. Construction plans at the Westwood fields remain uncertain at this time for the spring semester. It is possible that some games may be held at Canyon Vista, or perhaps other venues. Keep an eye on the Schedule section of the web site, and watch for changes in this posting as well. Remember: all schedules are subject to change.
How will we know if practices or games are changed or cancelled?
Our goal is to keep our web site as up to date as possible this season. For last minute changes, we will send out e-mails in addition to posting a notice on the web site. This season we will also be implementing a text-message system for last-minute changes (usually weather related).
