Is Men's Lacrosse a NCAA Sport at South Carolina?
No, Men's Lacrosse is NOT a NCAA sport at South Carolina. Men’s Lacrosse is a club sport at the University of South Carolina and operates under the schools Club Sports Program and not the athletic department. However, we do our best to run our program like a virtual varsity.
Does the team recruit?
We do not actively recruit. If you are interested in attending the University of South Carolina we encourage you to apply! Please e-mail any of the team officers if you plan on visiting the school and want to meet with the team.
Who is the competition?
We compete in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA). “The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) is a national organization of non-NCAA, college lacrosse programs. The MCLA currently operates in the US and Canada with 200+ teams in two divisions, across ten conferences”. South Carolina is in the D1 division and is a member of the Southeastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC). For more information about the MCLA and SELC can be found at mcla.us. We try to put together a competitive schedule in order to put our team in the best position to contend for a championship. Past schedules have included MCLA D1 and D2 teams as well as pre-season scrimmages against NCAA DII and DIII programs.
In the fall we try to have 3 to 4 scrimmages. In the spring, we try to have as many games as possible. This upcoming season we are scheduled to play 14-15 games, plus post-season tournaments if the team qualifies.
Who is eligible to join?
Any full-time student who still has NCAA eligibility and meets all school eligibility requirements can join. To be eligible, you must have a minimum of and maintain 12 credit hours throughout the duration of the semester. There are new rules for grad student players in effect starting the 2008 Spring Season: 1) Must have eligibility remaining, all players limited to 4 years of collegiate play at any level, NCAA, MCLA, NJCAA, NCLL, casual club 2) Grad students must have a minimum of 12 hours of credits to be eligible.
How do I join?
The best way to join is to check our website and social media accounts during the beginning of the fall semester. The team is also at the student organization fairs during the first week of school. Due to an increase of interest in the program, the team has mandatory try-outs during the fall semester. The meeting will take place within the first couple weeks of school. South Carolina lacrosse is a full-year commitment. It is important to attend the meeting for information about the fall ball schedule and try-out information. However, if the season has already started or if you could not attend the meeting, please email our team President Kevin Nguyen kn11@email.sc.edu or our team account at gamecockslacrosse@gmail.com.
How many hours a week does the team practice?
During the fall semester, the team practices 2 days per week (Monday and Wednesday). Players are expected to come back in shape after winter break. Starting in January, the team practices 3-4 days a week depending on the game schedule. Players can anticipate putting in 8 hours of practice a week during the spring.
South Carolina Club Lacrosse is a huge commitment and we ask you to try to arrange your schedule around practice and game times. We understand that players are students before athletes but players are also expected to stay on top of their school work to accommodate our busy schedule.
Where does the team practice/play?
Practices and home games are located at the Bluff Road Practice Fields. The team travels all over the country for games. Recent destinations have included Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California.
What equipment would I need to provide?
For fall tryouts, each player must provide all equipment (stick, helmet, gloves, shoulder pads, elbow pads, and cleats). Each player trying out will receive a tryout pennie. If you are to make the team and play in the spring, you will receive team helmets and gloves (covered in team dues).
We suggest that you don't buy new gloves because we order team gloves in the fall which arrive by the spring season. The team provides players with embroidered gloves as well as team helmets that arrive prior to the spring season.
What additional costs will there be if I join?
Team dues for the entire year are typically around $2500. Dues are mandatory for each player to participate. This includes practice sets, uniforms, travel fees, league dues, etc. There are also optional orders for different team apparel throughout the year. Dues for the entire year are evaluated and adjusted yearly. There is very little funding provided by the school and it is up to the members to fund the club. If money is an issue for you, be sure to get a good idea of what the season might cost from the officers or coach at the beginning of the year and let them know your situation.
For additional information contact our team account at gamecockslacrosse@gmail.com
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