School Lacrosse Program Newsletter: Communicating with Families About a Fast-Growing Sport

Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing high school sports in the country. Programs that have been around for decades co-exist with new programs standing up for the first time, and in both cases, a significant portion of families in any given year are new to the sport. Communication that educates as well as informs is the standard that lacrosse programs need to meet to build the engaged family communities that sustain athletic programs over time.

This guide covers how to write lacrosse newsletters that introduce the sport, communicate the equipment and logistics, and build the family connection that turns first-year families into multi-year program supporters.

Equipment communication: early, specific, complete

Equipment is the single most common source of family frustration at the start of a lacrosse season. Families who do not know what they need, how much it costs, or where to find it at a reasonable price are stressed before the first practice. A newsletter that includes a specific equipment list with approximate price ranges, distinguishes between required items and optional upgrades, and mentions local or online sources for used equipment reduces that stress significantly.

Position-specific equipment differences matter too. A family whose child ends up playing goalie after starting as a field player needs different equipment than what they purchased at the start of the season. Mention this possibility in the preseason communication so it does not come as a surprise.

Introducing the sport for new families

Every lacrosse team has families for whom this is their child's first exposure to the sport. A brief "lacrosse 101" section in the first program newsletter covers the basic rules, the positions, and how a game is won. Families who understand what they are watching enjoy games more and follow their athlete's development with more insight.

Physical demands and contact communication

Boys and girls lacrosse have different contact rules, and families who are unfamiliar with both sometimes confuse them. Communicate clearly about the contact level in your program's specific sport, the protective equipment designed to manage that contact, and the program's coaching approach to physicality. Families who understand what physical play looks like in the sport, and that the equipment and rules exist to manage it appropriately, make more informed decisions about participation.

Early-season tournament logistics

Spring lacrosse programs often open with a weekend tournament before the regular season. These early-season events involve travel and scheduling complexity that regular home-and-away games do not. Treat them like the logistics events they are, and communicate all the details families need well in advance.