Highlander Lacrosse programs
Highlander is more than spring lacrosse–it is a community. Our coaches are volunteers who have a love for the game and dedicate hours of their time to watch these kids develop and grow up through the league.
The season is short – we start indoors in March and move to the fields once the snow has cleared and the fields firm up. Practices are split between Crossett Brook Middle School and Mad River Park. Depending on the age group, we may have 1-2 practices per week. Currently games are jamboree style and held on the weekends. Boys jamborees are played on Saturdays, the girls play their jamborees on Sunday. All players must have a USA Lacrosse Membership that is active for the 2026 Season (doesn't expire before June 2026).
Leading Principles
While we love leading in the scoreboards, we lead by the principle of teamwork, being kind, and having fun. Respect for the sport, our fellow players, and the coaching and referee staff comes first and foremost.
New players are highly encouraged! Playing multiple sports is an advantage for young players – and lacrosse is so fast-paced and team-oriented that it truly involves everyone on the field. We never want cost or equipment to be a barrier to having a kid participate. Please reach out to inquire about equipment borrowing options or scholarships.
We want to see our players go on to play in high school and beyond. Lacrosse is a great pathway for a lot of students to college sports. As parents and coaches, we are always willing to open our network should a Highlander player want to puruse lacrosse after high school.
Read more about our programs by grade level below, and we hope to see you out on the field this coming spring!
The season is short – we start indoors in March and move to the fields once the snow has cleared and the fields firm up. Practices are split between Crossett Brook Middle School and Mad River Park. Depending on the age group, we may have 1-2 practices per week. Currently games are jamboree style and held on the weekends. Boys jamborees are played on Saturdays, the girls play their jamborees on Sunday. All players must have a USA Lacrosse Membership that is active for the 2026 Season (doesn't expire before June 2026).
Leading Principles
While we love leading in the scoreboards, we lead by the principle of teamwork, being kind, and having fun. Respect for the sport, our fellow players, and the coaching and referee staff comes first and foremost.
New players are highly encouraged! Playing multiple sports is an advantage for young players – and lacrosse is so fast-paced and team-oriented that it truly involves everyone on the field. We never want cost or equipment to be a barrier to having a kid participate. Please reach out to inquire about equipment borrowing options or scholarships.
Committing Ahead of the Season
We appreciate your child has lots of options on where to spend their time, and we are honored they want to spend their time with us playing lacrosse. Our season is short, and we ask that your child commits to coming to practices and games prepared. Our entire coaching roster consists of volunteers who dedicate their time to these teams, so please prioritize lacrosse practices and games with this in mind.
We want to see our players go on to play in high school and beyond. Lacrosse is a great pathway for a lot of students to college sports. As parents and coaches, we are always willing to open our network should a Highlander player want to puruse lacrosse after high school.
Read more about our programs by grade level below, and we hope to see you out on the field this coming spring!
REQUESTS TO PLAY FOR OTHER TEAMS
In order to grow the game of lacrosse in Vermont, players are required to register and play for the program that represents the town in which they reside or the school which they attend. If that program cannot field a team at their age group, the league will work program to program to place all players from the affected town or program with another local program or programs. Players are not allowed to individually register for another program without approval from both impacted programs and the league. There may be cases for exceptions from this policy, but they must be cleared with support from both impacted programs in coordination with the league.
Please reach out with questions to info@highlanderlacrosse.com
Please reach out with questions to info@highlanderlacrosse.com
Chillax - k-2nd grade
Chillax is the perfect entry into the game of lacrosse. At this level it's all about having fun, learning the basic concepts of the game, and how to use the stick. Out Chillax Sundays run for one (1) hour and are all P.E. style games.
For kids who want to stick around and get some play time in, we partner with Woodchuck Lacrosse to run no-contact scrimmages directly after our practice in the same location.
We offer a Waterbury (Crosset Brook Middle School) location, and a Mad River Valley (Polo Fields) location. Times will be announced closer to the season.
Our Chillax Program is free to register, but players are required to have USA Lacrosse Memberships (this covers us with insurance). It's $35 for a year and you get other perks as well. For players needing a scholarship, please reach out!
For kids who want to stick around and get some play time in, we partner with Woodchuck Lacrosse to run no-contact scrimmages directly after our practice in the same location.
We offer a Waterbury (Crosset Brook Middle School) location, and a Mad River Valley (Polo Fields) location. Times will be announced closer to the season.
Our Chillax Program is free to register, but players are required to have USA Lacrosse Memberships (this covers us with insurance). It's $35 for a year and you get other perks as well. For players needing a scholarship, please reach out!
Boys 3/4 & Girls 3/4
At the 3rd and 4th grade level, we start to focus on developming fundamental skills, such as passing, catching, and ground balls–while also encouraging teamwork and sportsmanship. We often only have one Girls 3/4 team, but multiple Boy's 3/4 teams. Practice locations and times will be determined closer to the season.
Girls Lacrosse at this level includes:
Girls Lacrosse at this level includes:
- Players: Seven field players and a goalie
- Equipment: A lacrosse stick, goggles, cleats (recommended) and a mouth guard
- Game length: Two 12-minute halves with a 4-minute halftime
- Field size: A 60–70 yard long by 30–40 yard wide field (a half field)
Boys Lacross at this level includes:
- Players: Sixes (Six players and a goalie)
- Equipment: Players should wear a protective cup or pelvic protector, shoulder pads, helmet, gloves, and a stick. Cleats are recommended.
- Game Length: Two 12-minute running time halves, with a 4-minute halftime period
- Field size: The playing field should be rectangular and no larger than 60–70 yards long and 35–45 yards wide.
Boys 5/6 & Girls 5/6
We're still all about having fun and developing those base skills, but now players also work on stick skills with both hands, defensive strategies, and offensive schemes. The goal is to encourage players to play fearlessly and take chances, while also emphasizing teamwork, sportsmanship, and supporting each other. At this age level, modified checking is allowed.
We often only have one Girls 5/6 team and multiple Boys 5/6 teams. Practice locations and times will be determined closer to the season.
Girls Lacrosse at this level includes:
We often only have one Girls 5/6 team and multiple Boys 5/6 teams. Practice locations and times will be determined closer to the season.
Girls Lacrosse at this level includes:
- Players: Eleven field players and a goalie
- Equipment: Players should wear a mouth guard, goggles, and a regulation, full-length girls' lacrosse stick. Cleats are recommended.
- Game length: Two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute halftime
- Field size: Games are played on a full-size regulation field.
- Players: 10 field players and a goalie.
- Equipment:
- Helmet (NOCSAE approved)
- Mouthguard
- Shoulder pads (NOCSAE approved)
- Elbow pads and Gloves
- Athletic cup
- Regulation boys' lacrosse stick
- Cleats are recommended.
- Game Length: Two 20-minute running time halves, with a 4-minute halftime period
- Field size: Games are played on a full-size regulation field
Boys 7/8 & Girls 7/8
Here the players are working on leveling up their game IQ, increasing their proficiency in passing, catching, shooting, ground balls, and defensive play. This is the highest age group for the Highlanders before players start their High School play with varsity. We normally have one Girls 7/8 team and two Boys 7/8 teams.
Girls Lacrosse at this level includes:
Girls Lacrosse at this level includes:
- Players: 12 field players and a goalie.
- Equipment:
- Mouthguard
- Goggles
- Regulation, full-length girls' lacrosse stick
- Cleats are recommended
- Game Length: Two 25-minute halves with a 10-minute halftime.
- Field Size: Full-size regulation field.
- Players: 10 field players and a goalie.
- Equipment:
- Helmet (NOCSAE approved)
- Mouthguard
- Shoulder pads (NOCSAE approved)
- Elbow pads
- Gloves
- Athletic cup
- Regulation boys' lacrosse stick
- Cleats are recommended
- Game Length: Two 25-minute halves with a 10-minute halftime.
- Field Size: Full-size regulation field.
