The San Diego State Men's Lacrosse Club is open to all current students who meet the SDSU Sport Club, Southwestern Lacrosse Conference (www.mcla.us/slc), and Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA at www.mcla.us) guidelines and eligibility requirements. Basically, you must be fully enrolled in 12 or more semester units to be eligible for the team. The program is fully self-funded through donations and Alumni support. In addition to competing against teams from all over California, Nevada, and Arizona; the team plays a national schedule as a member of the MCLA. Joining this program will require as much time as any other NCAA Athletic commitment and the rewards are just as great!
This information should answer all of your questions.
Aztec Recreation Center Membership (ARC)
The team is open to all who wish to join, new or experienced. However be prepared, this program is similar to other intercollegiate sports and is a huge time commitment. Freshmen and Sophomores are NOT permitted to rush fraternities, it doesn't work. Our experience has been that the time commitment of both hampers your ability to be as successful as you can in the classroom & on the field. Besides that, you will have an instant fraternity of "lacrosse brothers".
Players are responsible for raising annual dues ($2,200) in order to meet program budget needs. Additionally you are required to attend conditioning sessions, afternoon practices, evening practices, speed training, weekend practices/games, and periodic meetings. All while keeping your GPA above the team and league eligibility requirements.
Use the links below to download and complete the necessary SDSU Sport Club Paperwork. Note that you must have a completed physical as directed on the school paperwork. Get started by completing the player roster questionnaire under the roster tab. All administrative requirements must be completed prior to stepping on the field.
Incomplete packets are unacceptable.
The Program is 90% self-funded but does receive a substantial amount of operational support from the Sport Club Office. As anyone with experience knows, many lacrosse programs nationwide operate the same way. This predicament allows our families & alumni the chance to really make a difference by providing much needed financial support. A key component is the Aztec Alumni Lacrosse Foundation (AALF), a 501 C 3 non-profit organization designed to provide financial support, career mentoring, and act as the communication hub for Alumni, Parents, Players, and Fans of Aztec Lacrosse. A portion of the individual annual fundraising goal can be contributed through the AALF as a tax deductible donation for most families (consult tax professional). All funds, AALF & school account, are combined to meet the annual budget demands that typically range from $100-120,000. Fundraising contributions are NOT refundable.
Player fundraising/dues are collected through the fall with the final amount due before leaving on Winter Break. This provides for final season preparations to be made, but many matters are settled September through November. This includes uniform ordering, travel planning, payment of league dues & officials costs, ongoing coaches stipends, administrative costs, ordering field supplies, ordering team equipment, and all the remaining budget items involved with operating the team at a championship level. The total amount each player must raise is $2,200/year on average. Some years we may set an additional amount to cover a specific flight during a spring trip, etc.
The first step is to complete the recruit questionnaire under the recruit tab. That will place you in our contact database. You don't need to send in anything else until we ask for it (Videos, letters, etc). Early each September the Program hosts an Open House geared towards current high school seniors. This is a great opportunity for potential players to visit the school, see the campus, speak with an admissions counselor, and meet team members.
If you have not already made contact with the coaching staff during the preceding spring season you should definitely do so before arriving on campus in August. We will do our best to connect you with a current upperclassmen so you are not left feeling alone while you make the transition to college life. Do not purchase new gear before arriving to campus. Much of the gear is included in the player packs issued through the team. Sorry, but we do not have the power to change roommate assignments.
A mandatory meeting of all interested players is conducted the first week of September. Typically following the Holiday Weekend. All school required paperwork is submitted along with the first installment of player dues. The announcement is usually posted on the home page.
All players are required to be full members of the ARC to participate on the team. Your ARC membership helps to support our use of the facilities, weight rooms, pool, and training room. Membership registration should be completed prior to the Fall meeting.
The fall season runs from October to early November with tryouts beginning in September. Field practices are 2-3 times per week (days vary), combined with conditioning work outs 3-4 days per week in the mornings that begin in September. Inter-squad & local scrimmages vs. area colleges or post-college club teams round out the schedule. Social events are planned with the Women's Program.
The season kicks off in early January, usually the week following New Year's, with regular season practice. Practices continue 6 days per week until games begin. Games are played on various days, with the highest percentage of them taking place on Saturday & Sunday. Post-game Pot Luck's with Parents are the Aztec Tradition.
The "active roster" consists of 38-43 players. The "practice squad" consists of all non-active players and those who have heavy academic loads but still wish to be members of the team. Active Roster members have paid the full dues, dress for all games, travel to all games, and follow all of the established guidelines and team rules. Practice Squad members attend all practices that they are available for, receive all team apparel and swag, do NOT dress for games, do NOT travel to away games, are required to attend home games, pay half of the player dues, and follow all of the established team rules and guidelines.
The practice squad option allows the team to offer space for new or less experienced players and those who can not commit to the full load. No player cuts are ever made and all are welcome to join. Practice squad members who wish to compete for active roster spots do so year round. If their status is elevated to "active" then they must fulfill all of the active roster requirements, including eligibility. Practice squad members only need to be "Sport Club Eligible" and not league eligible.
The team plays a competitive schedule that involves a fair amount of travel. For most trips a charter bus is the mode of transportation. Players are required to dress appropriately for all away games (team polo, slacks, dress shoes). During Spring Break and/or long weekends it is necessary for the team to leave school on a Thursday night and not return until Sunday or Monday. These trips are announced and planned well in advance so players can adjust work schedules and contact class professors. Air and bus travel is typically included in the annual player dues amount. Travel to the National Championship and Playoffs may require additional funding.
The regular season schedule is posted under the "schedule" link at left in January or as soon as it's approved by the University. Prospective players, parents, and fans are encouraged to come out and support the team. We compete in the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference (SLC, www.mcla.us/slc), in the SLC South/East our divisional opponents include: University of San Diego, University of Arizona, and Arizona State and UNLV. Other conference members include Chapman, UCSB, UCLA, Claremont, and Loyola Marymount. Out of conference opponents are selected from the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association, or MCLA (www.mcla.us). The regular season games begin the first or second weekend of February and continue until late April. The SLC Playoffs usually take place the last weekend of April followed by the MCLA National Championship the second week of May.
