Frequently Asked Questions

"What do I have to do to be eligible to play?"

Even though lacrosse is not a UIL sport, we still expect the students to abide by the no pass no play rule. If we find that a student is failing a course. He will be suspended from practices and spend time in study hall until he brings his grade up.

"I want to join. What can I do to prepare?"

Well, lacrosse is a very intense sport, so anything you can do to increase your strength and endurance will be beneficial. Lacrosse is a contact sport. You will be hit. You will be running. However you do have pads and a helmet.

"Can I join if I have never played lacrosse?"

Absolutely! The team welcomes players of all skill levels. Even if you have never played a sport before you are welcome. Our practices are geared to develop the fundamental skills while teaching how to think about the game. Anyone can go out and throw a ball. But one who understands the game, knows what to look for on the field, and recognize the situation can be very intimidating to the opposing team.

"How much will it cost to play?"

Because lacrosse is not a UIL sport. We get no additional funding from the school district. The cost is below what most schools charge. We are fortunate enough to have the cooperation of the school district in that we do not have to pay for many things that other schools charge for. Lights, fields, etc.

"How do you get to away games?"

We are the only lacrosse team in DFW that the school will allocate busses to for away games. If it wasn't for that, there would be a huge convoy of cars going down 75. If you want to know the history of how the busses came to be... Ask Coach Shaffer.

"Any overnight trips???"

From time to time we will go on weekend tournaments. We usually go to UT Austin, A&M, and Loyola. We usually leave Friday after school and return Sunday evening.

"What kind of commitment does it take to play for Allen?"

Playing lacrosse is a big commitment. After school practices and tournaments in the fall plus two tournaments and the regular season during the spring accounts for a big chunk of time. The season runs from late February through early-May. The goals we set are high. In order to have a chance to achieve our goals, we have to demand a commitment from our players. While we allow occasional practice misses, we expect people to show up to meetings, practices and games on time and ready to devote 100% of their energy to lacrosse. We've found that lacrosse forces students to become more organized and learn to prioritize rather than procrastinate. Many of our student-athletes combine lacrosse with demanding courses of study. The very first lacrosse team in Allen was made up of all computer science students. The time commitment of lacrosse actually helps most in achieving their other goals. If you are looking for an opportunity to be a part of something special, to continue or start your lacrosse career at a highly competitive level, then come out for what could possibly be the best experience of your life. Many of our players go on to play lacrosse at the college level. Texas Tech, UT-Austin, A&M all have representation from Allen.

"How does the game begin?"

A Lacrosse game begins with a Face-Off at the mid-field line at the "X" spot in the center of the field. What is a Face-Off? A Face-Off consists of the two center players at the mid-field line crouching down and placing their sticks on the ground so that the heads of the sticks have their backs to each other. The official then places the ball on the ground between the heads of the sticks, steps back and blows a whistle. The object of the Face is to clamp down on the ball and scoop it away from the opposition and gain possession of the ball.

"When are Face-Offs used?"

At the beginning of a game, at the beginning of each quarter and after each goal is scored. How many men are there on a Lacrosse team? Squads range from 25 to 30 men normally.

"How many men are there on the field for one team? "

There are ten men consisting of one goaltender, three defense men, three mid-fielders, and three attack men. What are the goaltender's special privileges? He uses the largest stick on the field with a maximum width of 12 inches. He is the only one allowed to use a stick this large. He cannot be checked if he has gained possession of the ball within the crease are nor is an opponent allowed in the crease area.

"What is defined as 'in the crease area'? "

A goaltender is considered in the crease as long as he has one foot on or within the 18-foot diameter circle. If he lifts his foot up and puts it back down while in the possession of the ball, it is called "out and in" and he loses possession of the ball.

"How long can a goaltender stay in the crease with the ball? "

A goaltender has four seconds to step out of the crease or throw the ball to a teammate. If he does not do this, he loses possession of the ball.

"I have more questions... How do I ask the coaches?"