U17A Central Zone Tryouts

January 13, 2025

Subject:  Central Registration / U17 A Team Formation

Dear GELC Families,

The GELC Board has been working diligently to ensure we offer the best possible A-Program for our U17 athletes in the greater Edmonton area.

We have decided to create two central parity Edmonton teams instead of a North and South team. This approach will give all eligible athletes equal opportunity to try out and experience playing lacrosse at the highest level.

All U17 athletes from the Raiders, Warriors, Rams, Wizards, Crush and Rebels clubs are required to register with their home clubs and pay the A-tryout fee. The A-Tryout Intent deadline is January 30, 2025. U17A Central teams’ try-outs will commence in early February.

Our goal is to have two smaller rostered teams (16 runners and 2 goalies) to emphasize player development by affiliating from U17B. Kindly note, all players released from the Central U17A try-outs will play B with their home club.

The central A-Team tryouts will be conducted as follows:

• Registered athletes will be divided into two groups, each having two floor times for skill evaluations.
• Evaluations will be completed by independent evaluators, ensuring consistency by having the same evaluators for each floor time.
• Evaluation scores from the two floor times will be averaged and ranked from highest to lowest. Depending on try-out numbers, some players may be released at this stage.
• The third-floor time will be a scrimmage between the two groups, allowing coaches to make initial releases. Coaches will be asked to meet with each player to discuss their try-out highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement.
• After the third-floor time, each group may have one more floor time where coaches can make final releases.
• Finally, teams will have a parity game to ensure the teams are balanced.

We also recognize the importance of having certified, knowledgeable coaches for a positive lacrosse experience. Therefore, the coach selection for the two central teams will be done through an application process. A third-party panel will conduct interviews and select the best possible coaches for the two U17A Central teams.

We are confident that this is a positive step towards player engagement and ensuring that the WRLL league remains competitive with four teams playing out of the north.

Please reach out to your home club President with any questions or concerns,

Yours in lacrosse,

GELC Board