Playing in Canada

[cbhslacrossemid]

I am a sophmore in high school and am always looking for camps and fall leagues to play in to increase my skill. Recently I've even become interested in playing box later on. While looking through IL i saw an article about Americans going out for the summer to play box in Canada, or atleast it was encouraging Americans to do so. It also said that people from BC hosted kids from Ontario and could possibly do the same for kids from the states. Is it possible for me during the summer between sohpmore and junior year to play boxla in Ontario? Have you heard of anycases of this?

[WHEELAX2]

yes it is, but you would have to live there.. and if you are under 18 or so, you would probably have to have a host family or something to that effect.. I play every spring/summer in Ontario..... but I live in NY.. and I can drive..

[RockStar]

There was a similar thread recently, I'd suggest a search. There were helpful posts.

Essentially, you'd have to arrange to come for training camp/tryouts, and make the team.

One thing to remember - if you're a long way from home and are looking for the team to set you up with room and board (and a part-time job for spending cash?), you probably have to be a very exceptional player. If not exceptional, you'd have to at least bring something that the coach can't find in a local box-trained player (a hard and laser-accurate shot is one example. If you can pick tight corners from 40 feet, this can mean lots of powerplay goals in box.)

Good luck, and let us know if you get a tryout.

[laxmomma]

I read the same article. Although I think it's a great idea, remember it's going to be different. Our son was up there after his freshman year of college to play w/ the Lakers. The job situation never panned out, even though they knew he was coming for a long time which meant the days were very long in a different country. Thankfully our very good friends are up there and he had "family" and alittle something to do during the day with them. He lived in a house with like 4 other guys, he should have lived w/ our friends it would have been better all around, but he thought this was a better idea to give them both space. In hindsight, we all think he should have lived with them, it would have made the transition easier.

[RockStar]

...... The job situation never panned out, even though they knew he was coming for a long time.....

This is a tough one for a team. It can be a real headache to negotiate the red tape and get the paperwork to let you legally employ a foreign national.

The alternative is a job that pays under-the-table. This is easier, except that it probably leaves the employer, and maybe the team, on shaky legal ground if there's (God forbid) an accident of any kind.

[cbhslacrossemid]

What I just thought about (of course have to run it by him) but I know Ryan Ward (Minnesota Swarm) pretty well and mabye he could help me with getting a tryout for some team in BC and finding a host. I dont know how an important a good face-off guy really is in box but Ward has said Im exceptional at that and I think Im darn good at short-stick defense. Of course I have a bias on how good I am but plenty of coaches have told me this too.

[laxmomma]

Your exactly right. I'm sure it is very difficult for a team to do that and there may even be a cost involved, I don't know. In every way they (the team) were very good to him and very upfront, just the work thing was a problem. Our friend kept him busy with yard work and such just to keep him from going completely insane while all the other guys were at work. He also had to experience the socialized medicine as he broke his hand. He was taken aback at being seen before a room of VERY sick people. He thought that was unneccessary and wasn't sure what the reasoning was for that, couldn't have been the $$ because if I remember correctly it was way under $100 for 2 visits, 2 sets of xrays and a cast. The experience even aside from the box lacrosse was immeasurable to him, he learned a lot about the game, himself and others and made friends that he has played with and against through college and now.

[RockStar]

..... I dont know how an important a good face-off guy really is in box but Ward has said Im exceptional at that and I think Im darn good at short-stick defense. Of course I have a bias on how good I am but plenty of coaches have told me this too.

Any guy who can win better than 50% faceoffs is very valuable, but CLA box faceoffs are very different (can't clamp, push, jump. In fact, pretty much all you can do is draw straight back!).

It's your D skills that will be more important in making a team. It's a different position with legalized cross checking though, so you'll have to learn this quickly.

Speed and Athleticism will also help. D-man who are very quick and have decent finishing abilities are always valuable. At least as long as the coach will let your team run fast breaks.

Anyhow, I'm going to give you a list of my favourite box D-men.

Find some game film of these guyes, figure out what it is about their respective styles that works, and try to develop a style for yourself.

Five of the current top guys you want to review and learn from - Jim Moss, Cam Woods, Mike Hasen, Andrew Turner, Tom Hajek.

If you can find film about three or four years old, add Andy Ogilvie, Pat Coyle, and Glen Clark to this list.

[Split]

what if your over 18, can you still get a hhost family or something of that nature?

[slinkyspine]

Rockstar If you jump but do not instrude the line or centre circle you can jump. So if
You jump around the horizantal lines and land outside the circle its quite easy to win a faceoff but that is hard to do.

[RockStar]

Rockstar If you jump but do not instrude the line or centre circle you can jump. So if
You jump around the horizantal lines and land outside the circle its quite easy to win a faceoff but that is hard to do.

If you jump, your stick is going to move, but it won't be drawing straight back.

I don't think there's a legal way to do this move. If you've gotten away with it, good, but I honestly don't think it's legal.

[#15Roadies]

"what if your over 18, can you still get a hhost family or something of that nature?"

Most clubs will usually be able to find a billet.

[WHEELAX2]

one more speed bump.. most seasons start in april or may.. correct me if I'm wrong..

if you don't get out of school until may or june, you might find it hard to make proper arrangements

[KnightsLAXDad]

You're right, and practices and tryout are even earlier than that. The first games are scheduled for late April. Some clubs run winter training as well. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to try and start in June. You would be 2/3 the way through the season.

[laxismynak]

just look around at diffrent camps

[cbhslacrossemid]

I acctually talk to Ryan Ward about it and he said its entirely possible but like some of you guys said I'd have to get a job and find a host family.

[#15Roadies]

Hold on now - you are a sophmore in high school - how old are you?

It sounds like you are a midget or intermediate aged player and that might be a whole lot easier than trying to catch on with a junior club without prior experience on the floor. Now if you are minor aged that changes things quite a bit.

[WHEELAX2]

I"m still worried about the timing of the season..

[#15Roadies]

True, but some minor rep clubs could use the help. Saw more than a few midget teams this year with less than full capacity on the bench. Finding a minor association that would support something like this would be a bigger problem, but not impossible. And, of course, it all depends on skill level and whether or not the player can actually make a rep team. Better chances with associations that have more than one rep team in the midget or intermediate level.

FYI cbhslacrossemid Midget is for kids aged 15-16 & Intermediate is for 17-21.

[cbhslacrossemid]

Its all being set in motion for this summer....as it progresses ill let you guys know

[RockStar]

True, but some minor rep clubs could use the help. Saw more than a few midget teams this year with less than full capacity on the bench......

This is true. Minor laX houseleagues are all over by the end of June, but the rep teams continue wayyyyy into the summer.

If several players end up away for vacation at the same time, it can probably get tough to fill the bench for games.

[Stoned_Lax]

Someone is going to have to put up the cost for insurance also... I know that some players that come up from NY to play in the Jr. Leagues in Ontario have had to pay upwards of $10,000 for insurance. If you are interested the team that would want you to come up would be aware of this.(especially in jr. in Ontario and B.C)

[RockStar]

Someone is going to have to put up the cost for insurance also... I know that some players that come up from NY to play in the Jr. Leagues in Ontario have had to pay upwards of $10,000 for insurance. If you are interested the team that would want you to come up would be aware of this.(especially in jr. in Ontario and B.C)

A super-deluxe gold plated plan might approach $10K, but I doubt it.

Basic emergency medical insurance could be had through Blue Cross or some such for much less than that. I'm thinking $100 to $200 per month for a summer.

This also assumes that you actually need additional coverage. Many Americans who have medical insurance might even have plans that would pay bills incurred at a Canadian hospital. Others could add such coverage to their existing plans for a pittance per month.

Beyond that, I think your OLA card allows for sports accident insurance under the OLA's group policy, no?

[laxmomma]

Our regular insurance covered our son when he was up in Canada as if he was out of network. Of course before you do anything you should give your insurance a call and get the specifics and also talk to the team if possible to see what they require, I know we had to provide proof of insurance and possibly even some "special" documentation. Good Luck, I won't say "break a leg" haha

[slinkyspine]

I think the OLA covers some and yes your insurance provider may already

[KnightsLAXDad]

Stoned_Lax *may* have a point though. It may not be about straight medical coverage. The OLA liability insurance policy may not cover an out of province/out of country player. Should something happen and the OLA/club gets sued they may not have insurace for it. You know insurance - any way not to pay.

Note - this is pure conjecture on my part.

[cbhslacrossemid]

If it helps any ill be playing in Victoria or BC atleast not Ontario

[laxismynak]

If it helps any ill be playing in Victoria or BC atleast not Ontario

bc has some nice campes

[KnightsLAXDad]

If it helps any ill be playing in Victoria or BC atleast not Ontario

Probably not, the associations are likely to operate pretty mcuh the same.

[Guy Smiley]

Stoned_Lax *may* have a point though. It may not be about straight medical coverage. The OLA liability insurance policy may not cover an out of province/out of country player. Should something happen and the OLA/club gets sued they may not have insurace for it. You know insurance - any way not to pay.

Note - this is pure conjecture on my part.

Completely untrue. There have been U.S. players in the OLA Junior A loop in each of the last two years. None of them have paid anything above what a Canadian has paid (leaving aside their own health insurance since they would not be covered by the Ontario health plan).

[Garry Dobbie]

I am the vp of a minor organization in Ontario, let me know your age and maybe I can help you out with a team to play on, a place to live and a job.

[cbhslacrossemid]

well im 16 but im gonna be playing in Victoria. Im going through Ryan Ward on alot of this stuff.