The Milwaukee Area Youth Lacrosse Association encompasses about 1,500 boys and girls players in grades 3-8, and schedules over 900 games during its spring season. It’s the point of entry with the sport of lacrosse for most Milwaukee-area kids.
“In our area, we see lacrosse education as one of our main priorities,” said Emily Anderson, current president of the Milwaukee Area Youth Lacrosse Association (MAYLA) and a board member since 2011. “We’re still about growing the game in Southeast Wisconsin, so we are educators.”
“Our devotion to helping kids fall in love with this game is what carries them as they progress to travel teams, high school, and hopefully beyond,” Anderson added.
One of MAYLA’s most visible initiatives, designed to further enhance the love of the game, is its annual end-of-season event in early June. Called the LAXtravaganza, it’s a two-day festival and celebration of lacrosse featuring all of the league’s teams and 162 games in less than 48 hours.
“It’s like a tournament, but there are no standings, because we want it to be all about fun,” Anderson said.
As the sport grows in Wisconsin, Anderson notes that more club and travel programs are emerging. Most times, however, there is no real conflict between MAYLA and the select programs. She estimates that less than 10-percent of MAYLA’s participants double up.
“We have to recognize the importance of each other and respect the other’s mission, but we each provide a different service to kids and parents,” Anderson said.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. Player retention, for one, is always an issue that has the potential to cause trickle-down problems.
While MAYLA asks all of its programs to submit a declaration form in September, teams that withdraw at the 11th hour due to enrollment ignite a scheduling scramble for the league’s organizers.