Competitive Lacrosse out of the picture for Active military?

[Mrock]

Hey everyone, my name is Mike, and I was hoping to get some insight from seasoned Lacrosse players. I am 20 years old, currently deployed to Iraq, and have another 4 years left in the military, out of my total 6 year obligation. Before I came on active duty, I was a reservist back home, in Missouri. My fiancee and I have been together for a few years now, and in high school, she was her team captain, and an outstanding player. As college approached, she got away from playing the game she loved, to focus on school (and rightfully so). However..I grew up playing Soccer, as my dad played professional soccer in Ecuador..it came natural. I love the game, but when my fiancee introduced me to Lacrosse, thought hesitant, I came to love the game. After playing for a few days with her, and whoever happened to be out at the field, I was keeping up pretty well with the men there who play regularly, and seemed to have a natural talent for the game.

Being active duty, however, I don't see my options for playing lacrosse competitively. After my enlistment, I will be 24 years old. I will be going to college then, but is that too old to play lacrosse at a high level? I also am normally stationed in Hawaii, where the Hawaii Chapter of US Lacrosse holds the invitational every year, so I had thought maybe upon getting back to the island, I could begin playing there, and who knows- by the time I get out of the military, I could be considerably better.

That being said, IS it possible to compete with such a strange story as mine, with being introduced to the game at 19 years old, and never playing in high school or college? And if so, what would you recommend doing now to improve my skills? I had thought about buying a new stick and having it sent here to work on my game solo, but there's only so much one person can do..

Thank you for your extreme patience in reading this. I appreciate it..take care everyone!

-Mike

[goalieskcickay]

You're never too old to start, in my opinion. Once you get back to the mainland and begin college, you'll still have 5 years of NCAA eligiblity left (If I read correctly, you went straight from high school to the military), so you can certainly play in college if you walk on to the team.* Or, you can simply play club ball at whatever college you go to. I'm no expert by any means about leagues in Hawaii, but I'm sure you'll be able to find a men's recreational league when you're stationed there, and hopefully you'll have time to play.

*Keep in mind that I'm assuming there are no age limitations on playing in college. From the best of my knowledge there are none.

[lilaxgurl23]

Here's everything I could find on the age limitations and 5 year rule:

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4j3CQXJgFjGpvqRqC KOcAFfj_zcVH1v_QD9gtzQiHJHRUUAc0tpTA!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82XzBfTFU!?CONTENT_URL=h ttp://www1.ncaa.org/membership/membership_svcs/eligibility-recruiting/faqs/eligibility_seasons.html#twentyone_year_rule

21 Year Age Rule for Division I

In Division I only, if a student-athlete has participated as an individual or as a team representative in organized sports competition, that kind of participation during each 12-month period after his/her 21st birthday and prior to initial full-time collegiate enrollment will count as one year of varsity competition in that sport. Any participation in organized competition during time spent in the U.S. armed services will be excepted.

You may wish to consult with the student-athlete's current college's athletics director to determine exactly how many seasons of varsity competition he/she may have used. Please contact the NCAA membership services staff at 317/917-6222 should you have further questions.

And then the following taken out of the LSDBi database (where all of the rules and bylaws are):


14.2.1 Five-Year Rule

A student-athlete shall complete his or her seasons of participation within five calendar years from the beginning of the semester or quarter in which the student-athlete first registered for a minimum full-time program of studies in a collegiate institution, with time spent in the armed services, on official church missions or with recognized foreign aid services of the U.S. government being excepted. For foreign students, service in the armed forces or on an official church mission of the student’s home country is considered equivalent to such service in the United States.

14.2.1.1 Determining the Start of the Five-Year Period

For purposes of starting the count of time under the five-year rule, a student-athlete shall be considered registered at a collegiate institution (domestic or foreign; see Bylaw 14.02.3) when the student-athlete initially registers in a regular term (semester or quarter) of an academic year for a minimum full-time program of studies, as determined by the institution, and attends the student’s first day of classes for that term (see Bylaw 14.2.2).


14.2.1.2 Service Exceptions to the Five-Year Rule

Time spent in the armed services, on official church missions or with recognized foreign aid services of the U.S. government is excepted from the application of the five-year rule. Among such services that qualify a student-athlete for an extension of the five-year rule are:

(a) Military Sea Transport Service;

(b) Peace Corps; or

(c) Service as a conscientious objector ordered by the Selective Service Commission (or the equivalent authority in a foreign nation) in lieu of active military duty.

14.2.1.2.1 Elapsed Time/Service to Enrollment

If a student-athlete enrolls in a regular term of a collegiate institution at the first opportunity following completion of any one of the commitments described in the exceptions to this bylaw, the elapsed time (i.e., the exact number of calendar days) between completion of the commitment and the first opportunity for enrollment may be added to the exact number of days served on active duty in the armed services, with foreign aid services or on official church missions and will not count toward the student-athlete's five years of eligibility. It is not permissible to extend the five-year period by any additional time beyond the first opportunity to enroll (i.e., the opening day of classes of the first regular term at the institution in which the student-athlete enrolls as a regular student immediately following the termination of the active-duty commitment).


Basically I think if you're looking to play D1, you will be eligible. I, however, reccommend you call the NCAA for futher clarification to make sure. If not there are school club teams, many of which compete at a high level and I'm pretty sure that there is no five year rule at lower divisions. Once again though, I strongly suggest you check with someone who knows this information a bit better than me (a NCAA staff member).

As for whether you will be able to hack it, that's up to you and your willingness to learn the sport. Some people don't pick up lacrosse until late in their high school careers and still go on to play in college and be quite successful. If you don't have a stick of your own, I would suggest you buy one and then head over to the tactics forum to learn more about how to get better. Good luck!

[fromthesideline]

Keep safe in Iraq and get back here safe and sound. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. After facing combat, you should have no problems with facing some defenders with only sticks in their hands.

[Mrock]

Wow, you guys are outstanding. I also think the five-year rule would apply to me, so I should be OK, but I think I will give the NCAA a call. I am playing with the idea now of ordering a goal to have sent here, plus my stick from back home. Don't know what my unit would think about it, but I think if I began playing I could probably interest others around if I got an extra stick or two sent along with mine.

Thank you all for the answers..I'm saving this to a text file so I have it as a reference. I'll be hanging around the forums for sure.

-Mike

[somrandomguy]

Also, as an addendum, I'm not entirely sure how the GI Bill stuff works, but basically every major university now has at least a club team, so especially if you stay out West where there are hardly any varsity teams, you can play quality club lacrosse.

[scruffy221]

(c) Service as a conscientious objector ordered by the Selective Service Commission (or the equivalent authority in a foreign nation) in lieu of active military duty.

Doesnt that mean that you went to jail instead of being drafted?

Good luck with the game man and thanks for serving.

[Mrock]

The G.I. Bill may be a very good option for me, in that it will allow me to choose a school to go to, so a scholarship is not required..but on the same note, it may be harder in a way to get a slot on a team, going from the military, as a no-name player.

conscientious objectors are people who are morally against war. Some are against any form of war (including supporting the effort..ie: being a driver, or computer guy, or cook, etc), while others are against simply carrying a weapon..the second group is allowed to work in support roles. Selective service is in place in case a draft is ever instated again..every male is registered with the selective service at 18 years old. By reading that text, it appears that if you are against war, but drafted, you may serve in a non-combatant role? I'm not sure. That's the breakdown though.

Have my stick on the way, and just ordered a new head and shaft, so I can hopefully rope a buddy or two into playing around, make things a little more interesting. Probably will end up having the Brine portable goal sent here later on this month, since it's cheap, and portable. Will also probably be creating a make shift shooting target out of some plywood or whatever I can find. Fun times!

After looking at hawaiilacrosse.com, it looks like they have pretty good tourney's every year, so I think it may be in my best interest to work on my individual skills, then go play with the club recreationally, until I make a name for myself. I'm completely amped about the sport. My fiancee and I seem to have reversed roles (only on lacrosse!), I'm always talking about it everytime I call her..

[3rdPersonPlural]

At least for the 'Virtual Varsity' club level, these are the eligibility rules for MCLA players:

MCLA eligibility rules are based on simplified NCAA eligibility rules. For a player to be eligible for MCLA competition, he must::
1. ... have played no more than four years of college lacrosse. A year of college lacrosse is defined by playing for, or appearing on the roster for, any college team (MCLA, varsity, NCLL, or independent club) during the spring season.
2. ... be a full-time (defined as at least 12 credit hours in that term) student at the MCLA institution he is playing for.
3. ... be defined as a student "in good standing" by his academic institution. This definition varies from school to school.
4. ... appear on the official roster form for his MCLA team.
5. ... not have played professional lacrosse.

Other rules that effect eligibility include:
1. If a student has received an undergraduate degree and then continues on to attempt another degree (either undergraduate or graduate), he is only eligible to play for the school where he received his original undergraduate degree. (This is also an NCAA rule.)
2. There is no "transfer rule" that forces a student-athlete to sit out a year if he transfers institutions.

[tomtom]

Doesnt that mean that you went to jail instead of being drafted?

Good luck with the game man and thanks for serving.


Basically, yes.


And a note to you, you could possibly even start a small league right there in Iraq, depending on the size of the unit you're in. Talk with any MWR officers you can get in touch with, they would be more knowledgeable about how to do that.
I read a Field and Stream article about a guy out in Baghdad who started a flyfishing school, and donations from big name tackle companies came pouring in, maybe youll find the same support.

[Mrock]

Basically, yes.


And a note to you, you could possibly even start a small league right there in Iraq, depending on the size of the unit you're in. Talk with any MWR officers you can get in touch with, they would be more knowledgeable about how to do that.
I read a Field and Stream article about a guy out in Baghdad who started a flyfishing school, and donations from big name tackle companies came pouring in, maybe youll find the same support.


Maybe. I had thought about it already, and nearly everyone in the unit has at least once tried to play with my lacrosse sticks at one point or another...but we only have about 6 months left on the tour (unless we get extended..a real possibility). People are kind of trendy in the unit, so they would end up getting into it for about a week, then bail. Now if the team was camp-wide, it could be very possible. We'll see I guess. I've got a lot on my plate now with working out, college courses, and lacrosse, so I'm not sure there'd be time to devote to it, but the inspiration may strike.

[RYU]

Mike- in the grand scheme, at 24 you should be right around your physical peak as an athlete, so by no means is that too old to be playing collegiate ball. As for being good enough, that's mostly up to you and how much work you're willing to put into it. Certainly no coach will be out scouting for a 24 y/o freshman. You will have to sell yourself to coaches, and the most likely recruiting scenario would be a coach inviting you to enroll & tryout as a walk-on at his school.

As for eligibility, it's extremely important for you to know that your clock for NCAA eligibility begins as soon as you enroll in an accredited college. I can think of a couple examples off the top of my head of athletes who played in college as older-than-avg undergrads. This may include college classes you take by correspondence. Be careful & check w/ the NCAA.

Chris Weinke was widely regarded as the nationwide #1 QB recruit in HS and also a highly recruited baseball prospect. He initially chose baseball and entered the MLB Draft straight out of HS. After playing six yrs of minor league ball and feeling he reached his peak there, he quit baseball and enrolled at FSU as a scholarship football player (Bowden honored his offer after all those years). Weinke was a 26 y/o frosh, just like you expect to be.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Seminoles_football

Tim Frisby enlisted in the Army straight out of HS. After completing a full 20 yr career, he enrolled at U of South Carolina and walked-on to the football team at age 39.

http://uscsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092304aaa.html

http://uscsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/frisby_tim00.html

So you see, age is not so much a barrier but keeping all your academic & amateurism issues straight w/ the NCAA Clearinghouse is.