KDBDallas

Recently there was a new state law (HB218) that was passed, part of which stated that Club sports would be allowed to use the school’s facilities (such as the Football fields, etc)

This was GREAT to hear as Lacrosse in Utah is still only a club sport, and has never been given any love by the different School Districts in Utah. I hated this as a High School player. We weren’t allowed to use the school’s fields, and we had no support from the schools. Basically we were just able to use the School’s name and that was it.

Unfortunately the Utah School Districts have found a loophole in the new law to ‘keep us away’.
The schools are saying we can use the field, but that we have to pay an exorbitant amount of money to step foot on the fields.

Davis School District is charging $1,000 PER USE!
That would be $1,000 for each practice and game.

Alpine School District wants $300 PER USE!

Obviously this is not possible for club sports.

I say SHAME on all of Utah’s School Districts!

Not all kids want to play Football, Basketball, Baseball, or Soccer.
To take the ability for the kids who decide to play other sports the right of at least playing AT THIER school, is just SAD!
These kids get no support from their schools, no recognition of their wins, and can’t even play at their schools.

The fact that the school districts are using a loophole in the new law to keep the kids away, is even more disgusting.

It makes me MAD at the school districts, and sad for the boys and girls.

If you feel the same way, I strongly suggest that you let your school district know.

Jordan School District: Patrice Johnson (Superintendent of Schools) – 801-567-8323 – superintendent@jordan.k12.ut.us
Alpine School District: Vern Henshaw (Superintendent of Schools) – (801) 610-8420 – vhenshaw@alpinedistrict.org
Davis School District: Dr. W. Bryan Bowles (Superintendent of Schools) – (801) 402-5258 – bbowles@dsdmail.net
Granite School District: Martin W. Bates (Superintendent of Schools) – (385) 646-4523 – mwbates@graniteschools.org
Salt Lake City School District: Dr. McKell Withers (Superintendent of Schools) – (801) 578-8351 – mckell.withers@slcschools.org

Your district not listed above? Find your district at: http://www.onlineutah.com/schooldistricts.shtml

View House Bill 218 at: http://le.utah.gov/~2011/htmdoc/hbillhtm/hb0218.htm

I am overjoyed to announce that I am the new Varsity Assistant Coach for Lehi High School Lacrosse!

I have been an avid lacrosse fan ever since I was introduced to the game at the start of my Senior year in High School.
I was introduced to the game by a very good high school friend, Andy Clark, and we both went out for the team.
Luckily for us both there were no cuts

I didn’t get as much playing time as I would have liked, as I got injured during pre-season practice, however my love for the game has only grown more and more.

Ever since we moved back to Utah, I have felt an even more powerful draw back to the game. It has been a great time for lacrosse in Utah, as BYU won the MCLA National Championship this last season. (MCLA: Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association)
I attended every home game for BYU (even in the bitter cold and snow) and made the trip to Grand Junction, Colorado for the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference Championship Weekend. My wife and I made a second trip to Grand Junction to watch BYU compete during their Fall Ball season. (Fall Ball is not ‘official’ but is a way for the teams to work out their upcoming Spring season rosters, and get the players some practice and conditioning)

I had been looking at putting together a lacrosse camp for youth players featuring some professional players. I met with a couple of people at the Utah Lacrosse Association and during our discussion the idea of coaching was brought up.
So I gave it some thought, and talked to my wife, and decided that it would be something I think I would really enjoy doing.

I was lucky enough to be asked to be an assistant coach for Lehi High School (I am currently living in Lehi, UT so it works great).

We start conditioning practice on January 23, two days before my 30th birthday, and lets just say I am STOKED!

Some quick history on lacrosse for those who don’t know:
Lacrosse is the oldest sport.
It was originally played by the Native Americans, and is called ‘The Creators Game’.
Lacrosse has always been the National Sport of Canada. It has only been in the relatively recent past that Ice Hockey was added as the winter sport and lacrosse as the summer sport.
Lacrosse is really big back east (North East specifically) and growing back in the West more and more.
It is the fastest growing sport in America, and is known as ‘The Fastest Game On Two Feet’.

BYU’s fall-ball started off with a trip to Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction for a double header, first against Adam’s State College and then Colorado Mesa University (both NCAA D2).

The first game was scheduled to begin after the Westminster vs Colorado Mesa game (12pm local time).
BYU took the field and began to warm up, however there were only 3 guys from Adams that showed up.
Apparently the bus bringing Adams to Grand Junction showed up late to pick them up and then broke down on the way.
BYU stayed on the field warming up for 2 hours until Adams showed up (which was the time Adams was supposed to take on Westminster).

As a side note, BYU picked up a transfer from Syracuse named: Casey Rich, number 22.
Here is a quick video of Casey warming up on Saturday.

Adams State began to warm up and we finally got going with the game.

BYU came out swinging and dominated the first quarter 6-0.

The second quarter started out how the first quarter ended, all BYU.

Adams then started to get their groove on and was able to get a couple past the cougars.

During the 3rd quarter there was a break in play and paramedics took the field.
First there was confusion as no one was down on the field.
Come to find out there was an Adams player down on the sideline.

As the paramedics took a look at the situation, BYU huddled up and said a prayer for the injured player.

The player was then taken off the field via a stretcher and the game continued. (I personally have not heard word to what happened exactly or how the Adams player is doing)

BYU continued to dominate the game, with Adams sneaking one in a few times.

With 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter the score was BYU 13, Adams 5.

Then with about 1:20 left in the fourth Adams was able to pull together another goal, ending the game with a score of BYU 13, Adams 6.

All and all both teams fought hard but definitely showed growing pains, as the two teams worked out their new rosters.

BYU brought 47 guys and played all 47 of them in this opening game.

While both teams struggled a bit with the signs of new players mixing with old players, BYU overall dominated the game at every aspect.

If BYU’s players can get used to playing together, I would say they have a good chance at repeating last season with a great record and perhaps bring home another national championship.

Check out 102 photos from the game, at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdbdallas/sets/72157627738933357/

Below is a video of some of the game.

Enjoy!

I am looking into the possibility of starting up a ULax.com Men’s (and maybe women’s) Lacrosse League in the Salt Lake City/Provo area next Spring (2012) for players High School age or Older.

This would give you the opportunity to play competitive lacrosse without the high prices.

Please let me know if you would be interested and please spread the word. We need minimum 80 players to be able to start a league.

I will be Live Blogging tonights Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) Men’s Lacrosse game between BYU (#7) and Chapman (#4) tonight for CollegeLAX.

The game starts at 7pm MDT and will be played at Brigham Young University’s North Field.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the North gate.

If you can not make the game you can follow my live blogging at:
http://www.collegelax.us/news/2011/03/26/chapman-at-byu-live-blog/

Updated with Photos from the game.

Major League Lacrosse (MLL) has just announced the 2010 ESPN broadcast schedule!

ESPN’s coverage will include six games live in high definition on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, and 39 on ESPN3.com, ESPN’s 24/7 broadband sports network. The schedule will include the MLL All-Star Game, one semifinal and the MLL Championship Game.

The 2010 MLL television schedule kicks off on Saturday, May 22!

For my convenience your convenience I have created a web calendar with all the games (as currently listed. ie: number wise a few are missing, including the semifinal and championship games) (I will update the calendar with any new data I see)

You can subscribe to the calendar by using the following URL:
webcal://ical.me.com/kdbdallas/MLL%20Telecast%20Schedule%202010.ics
If your browser doesn’t open your calendar program, you will need to manually add the “shared” calendar in your favorite calendar program.

You can also view the calendar on the web by following the URL:
http://ical.me.com/kdbdallas/MLL%20Telecast%20Schedule%202010

Enjoy.

Official announcement can be viewed at: http://majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/pressreleases/?article_id=1652