The Mission of Beltway Box Lacrosse is to provide a high-quality off-season lacrosse opportunity in Northern Virginia for players' skill, knowledge and fitness development using a fun and exciting hybrid format of modified field and box lacrosse rules (no boarding, cross checking or take out checks).  The program is designed to bring high school and youth players into the action of box lacrosse -- to keep the players having fun, learning lacrosse and motivated to play more. The "box" is located in Alexandria.  To join the mailing list, please click Register Online at the left of the screen.

Honor the game.  Think outside the box -- play in it!   

by posted 08/29/2010
 
Box League:  We are offering high school, middle school (U-15), U-13, U-11 and U-9 Fall Ball game/scrimmage format divisions in the Fall Ball box lacrosse program, subject to changes deemed necessary due to registration levels.  An effort will be made to keep players from the same teams together.  Games/scrimmages will be Saturdays running from the morning onward based on numbers of players and divisions.  A seven game-week season is planned starting September 18.  Registration is $90 and US Lacrosse membership is required.  A substantial same family/sibling discount is available.


Lax Path -- Introduction to Lacrosse: We are offering a Lax Path --  Introduction to Lacrosse program for youth, middle school, and high school players with less than one year of playing experience.  This will be a multifaceted training program of both on and off field work for players to prepare on a "fast track" for club and school play in the spring of 2011.  We will have six, one-hour clinic sessions in the box, supplemented by a recommended age-appropriate home training program and instructional/training video reviews, and provide counseling on individual player development through available local resources incuding club and travel team programs, off season leagues, camps and supplemental specialized training opportunities.  Players may be introduced to the game/scrimmage format as they become ready for that format.  A six week, Saturday morning program is planned for start date of September 18.  The program is subject to potential change or cancellation based on registration numbers and player ages/abilities.  Full equipment is required.  Registration is $100 and US Lacrosse membership is required.  A substantial same family/sibling discount is available. 

Individual and small group training, including  field lacrosse goalie training, is also available after school on week days with one of the coaches pursuant to individualized scheduling.

Registration will open on Sunday, August 29.  Please register early and let lacrosse friends know.
    

by posted 08/29/2010
 
Registration is now open for Beltway Box Lacrosse Fall Ball play on Saturdays, September 18 through November 6.  Play will be on seven Saturdays (off Columbus Day weekend) with games/scrimmages running from the morning onward subject to registration numbers  and weather.  Registrations will be divided for high school eligible players and the various youth levels to the extent registration numbers are sufficient in the various levels.   An effort will be made to keep players from teams registering together on the same team to the extent possible.  If registration numbers are insufficient for game/scrimmage play, age groups may be combined and/or a clinic program may be substituted to benefit the players impacted.  The chief purpose of the program is to provide players with a new and different format for frequent play, close to home and convenient for player families, at a reasonable cost.  Please register early.  Late fees may apply close to the start date.  Late registrations make planning and scheduling more difficult.  Register by clicking on the registration tab to the left of the page and completing the information.  Qualified youth players may play up a division.  The registration fee is $90.

In cases of financial need, players may register at no charge with the approval of the Director.

Goalies are free but we need them to register and request them to play in goal.

For players from the same family, there is a substantial sibling discount.

Current US Lacrosse membership will be required for each registration.  We offer a link for US Lacrosse registration on the Beltway Box lacrosse registration system as a convenience.  The US Lacrosse registration fee is non-refundable as it is not controlled by Beltway Box Lacrosse.

Please call with any questions and let lacrosse friends know about the summer program.

Beltway Box Lacrosse is also on Facebook.
    

by posted 08/29/2010
 
The August 2010 edition of Inside Lacrosse Magazine lists 30 ways to improve lacrosse as a sport in the U.S.  Number 7 on the list -- "Promote Box Lacrosse in the U.S." -- is provided by former University of Denver (NCAA D-I) coach Jamie Munro.  He contends:

"if box lacrosse was played by kids in the U.S. in the fall the way it's played in Canada, it would completely change the complexion of the game in terms of quality of play and balance of power...You don't have to be a a good coach to make kids be better players in the box.  Like a great drill, it just happens."  
    

by posted 09/27/2009
 

Director of Training-Coach Kyle Guadagnolo

Beltway Box Lacrosse is fortunate to have assembled a quality team of experienced lacrosse coaches and personnel to bring this program to reality and to serve as excellent resources for player development.

Coach: Chris Bulawa

Chris grew up playing field and box lacrosse and football in Camillus, NY and played in the renowned West Genessee High School program.  Chris started at defense for 4 years at the Rochester Institute of Technology and received All Conference honors.  During this time, he coached numerous youth camps and clinics.  Chris graduated in 2008 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He currently plays post-collegiate club lacrosse for the Alexandria Lacrosse Club of the US Lacrosse-sanctioned American Lacrosse League.

Coach: Justin Demuth  

Justin played high school lacrosse and football for Jordan-Elbridge High School in Jordan, New York.  He then played goalie for St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, where he received All Conference and All American honors in 2006 and 2007 respectively.  Justin graduated in 2007 and currently plays post-collegiate club lacrosse for the Alexandria Lacrosse Club team of the American Lacrosse League.   

Director of Training and Coach: Kyle Guadagnolo

Kyle grew up playing field and box lacrosse lacrosse and football and is a graduate of Jordan-Elbridge High School in Jordan, NY.  Kyle started at defense for 4 years for Syracuse University and was team Captain and an All American on the 2008 NCAA Divison I National Championship team.  He was the 18th draft pick in the 2008 Major League Lacrosse (pro field) player draft and played for the Rochester Rattlers in 2008.  He currently plays for the Chicago Machine.  In the 2008 National Lacrosse League (pro indoor) draft, the Rochester Knighthawks selected Kyle as the 29th pick and he played for the Knighthawks in the 2009 season.  For the 2009-2010 season, Kyle was a member of the Knighthawks practice squad.  Kyle is the Varsity Assistant Coach at J. E. B. Stuart High School in Falls Church.

Coach: James Schiefer, Jr.

James played goalie for Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria before a 4-year career for ODAC Conference member Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA.  Following graduation in 2006, James was an Assistant Coach at Bishop Ireton.  He currently plays goalie at the post-collegiate club level for the Washington-based Coors Light team of the American Lacrosse League.  James is a Fort Hunt youth lacrosse alumnus.

Coach Jon Reed

Jon played high school lacrosse in Northern Virginia just as the sport was appearing on the scene.  He has captained men's box lacrosse teams in the Metro Area Box Lacrosse League.  He currently is a head coach with Ft. Hunt youth lacrosse and Alexandria Travel Lacrosse Club, and he is an assistant varsity coach at Mt. Vernon High School.

Coach Broughan Fanning

Broughan played youth lacrosse with Ft. Hunt and then midfield for Gonzaga and The University of Mary Washington.  He is currently an assistant coach with the varsity at T.C. Williams High School.

Coach Brendan Cox 

Brendan played at Paul VI high school in Fairfax and Lynchburg College.  He currently plays mens box lacrosse in the Metro Area Box Lacrosse League and is an assistant varsity coach at T. C. Williams High School.

Coach: John Carver

John played club team lacrosse at Ferrum College in Southwestern Virginia. Following college, John coached with the Vienna youth lacrosse program and as Assistant Coach for 5 years at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria.  Most recently, John has coached for the Alexandria Lacrosse Club in the Boys U-11, U-13, and U-15 divisions of the NVYLL for the last 5 years and has coached youth tournament teams and clinics.  This past spring John assisted in coaching the T.C. Williams JV team.  

Director: David Phippen

David has degrees from the University of Virginia and Washington and Lee University.  He played played midfield for several years with the Altanta Lacrosse Club before retiring to coaching.  David has coached multiple youth sports teams in Alexandria, including 6 seasons with the Alexandria Lacrosse Club in the Boys U-9, U-11, and U-13 divisions of the NVYLL.  David has run skills clinics, coached Fall Brawl and Ice Breaker tournament teams, and completed the Positive Coaching Alliance Dual Goal workshop and US Lacrosse coaching programs.

Operations Coordinator: Christopher Holland

Christopher is a graduate of T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria where he played lacrosse for 3 years.  Following graduation from T.C. Williams, he attended James Madison University and graduated with a degree in Geology.   

    

by posted 09/06/2009
 
Box lacrosse is great for improving skill and fitness for the spring season and competitive tournament play.  Box lacrosse, or Boxla as they call it in Canada, is an alternative version of the game of lacrosse that complements the field game.  College and professional teams are loading up with Canadian talent trained "in the box" -- think current and former NCAA players: Syracuse's Gary and Paul Gait, Tom Marechek, Stephen Keogh, Cody Jamieson, Sid Smith; Delaware's John Grant, Jr.; Georgetown's Brodie Merrill; Massachusetts' Jeff Zywicki; and Zach Greer of Duke/Bryant, to name a few of the best.  Of the top 6 goal scorers in NCAA Div. I history, 5 are Canadian box players.  Many have gone on to "all world" careers as professionals and were part of a Canadian national team.  Why?  No doubt a lot talent and developmental training in box lacrosse.  (See www.3dlax.com and InsideLacrosse.com August and September 2009).  Now many top US players spend a summer or two in Canada or Upstate New York during their college careers to learn box skills and give their field game a tune up.

What's the deal?  Box lacrosse is played in the confined space of a hockey rink floor or a fenced-in dirt and grass "box" -- there is no place to hide and little space to operate with the ball.  Thus, stick skills and quick passing are the keys to offense, with pick and rolls, screens, fakes, stick protection, catching in traffic and down field transition play, all subject to a 30-second shot clock.  Everyone but the goalie plays offense and defense with short sticks  All players touch the ball many more times and have to play defense relying on good footwork, positioning, and proper angles to defend the goal -- no waiting or camping out on your half of the field and no hacking with a long pole.  Practicing and playing using box skills will make a better field lacrosse player. 

The Beltway Box Lacrosse program is intended to bring the opportunity for box lacrosse (using hybrid field/box lacrosse rules) to young players in the inner suburbs, with quality coaching for added skill development opportunity and a lot of fun in the mix.  Excellent programs exist across the Washington-Baltimore area for off season field lacrosse league play, training and tournament teams.  Players are encouraged to keep up with those and do more.  But a realistic opportunity for off season box lacrosse play has virtually been non-existent for players in the inner suburbs.  In other parts of the country, box lacrosse for young players is catching on.  In the Washington-Baltimore area, the serious, excellent box lacrosse programs are far outside the Capital Beltway and require lengthy drives for many players and their families to the indoor facilities where the games are played.  Thus, the Beltway Box Lacrosse program brings the game closer to home for many players, cutting drive time and facilitating more frequent play.  Less time in the car means more time for families, school work and sports, including off season lacrosse.  The Beltway Box Lacrosse program is intended to keep the game affordable, motivating and fun.