Fall Middle School Sixes Lacrosse League

Program Overview

Henry Youth Lacrosse is excited to announce a NEW fall lacrosse program for middle school boys in grades 6th-8th grade. This season we will be playing “Sixes” lacrosse (also known as “Olympic Sixes” – as it’s the version of the game that will be played at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles).

Sixes is played on a smaller field, 6v6 (including goalies) and is both a faster and easier-to-learn/play version of the sport. Sixes rosters typically have 10-12 players and we plan to form at least 3 teams that will compete locally each Saturday this fall (no travel required). Each team will have a dedicated head coach and players will be rostered with both groups of players from the same schools and balanced with “free agents” who attend other schools (or are homeschooled) to keep teams fair and competitive (see below for full details).

Each team will play a minimum of 8 regular season games. We plan to play games on Saturday afternoons – either at East Lake Elementary or a local high school football field (turf – when available). Games are approximately 45 minutes – and teams may play 1 or 2 games each week, depending on the number of players who register (and number of teams we have). At the end of the regular season, teams will be ranked based on win/loss record and/or goal differential to seed teams for our final weekend semifinal(s) and championship game (which we have tentatively planned for November 1st. This will be the official end of the fall season.

We’ve provided complete program information on this page. If you are ready to register, you can go directly to the registration page here (or by clicking the button below). Thank you!

REGISTER FOR FALL MS SIXES HERE

Important Dates:

  • NOW: Registration is NOW open. Please register ASAP to secure your player’s spot.
  • EARLY REGISTRATION: Register BEFORE August 1st to save $30 on registration. Discounts are automatically applied to registrations received before August 1st. No discounts will be offered AFTER August 1st.
  • REGISTRATION DEADLINE: The registration deadline is August 15th. We need all players to register by this date to help us finalize rosters and schedules before the first week of practices.
  • LATE REGISTRATION: If you are reading this on/after August 15th, we WILL accept late registrations through September 1st. A $20 late registration fee is automatically added to registrations received AFTER August 15th through September 1st.
  • PRACTICE START DATE: Practices will start the week of August 18th. Each team’s coaches will finalize practice days, times and locations before the end of the registration cycle.
  • OPENING DAY: We plan to play our first games on September 6th. We plan to play games on Saturday afternoons – working around Fall Break, holidays and other lacrosse activities we may participate in this season. We will finalize the game schedule before the first week of practice at the latest.
  • END OF SEASON: We plan to complete all regular season games before the end of October. We would like to have a final game day on November 1st to officially wrap up the season. Depending on the number of teams we have, we will play semifinal(s) and championship games on Saturday afternoon this date. No practices or games will be scheduled after November 1st.
  • NOTE: We plan to minimize conflicts with other sports or regular commitments players may have (based on the information parents provide during the registration process). For example, we do not plan to have games/practices on Wednesday or Thursday nights OR Saturday mornings this fall (to help minimize conflicts with middle school football and cross country, as well as possible church conflicts on Wednesday nights).

FEES & EQUIPMENT INFO

  • REGISTRATION: Registration for the Fall Season is $185. This covers officials for our games, supplies for practices/games, field-related expenses, and a reversible game jersey (pinnie) for your player. Remember, if you register BEFORE August 1st, registration is discounted by $30 (only $155). If you plan to join us this fall, PLEASE register before August 1st to SAVE $$$. No discounts will be issued after August 1st. As mentioned above, the registration deadline is August 15th. We need all possible players to register by August 15th (at the latest) to enable our coaches to finalize rosters and schedules (and for our team to order the correct number and sizes for player jerseys). To help us, and to avoid the late registration fee, we ask you to PLEASE register before the August 15th deadline. Thank you!
  • REFUND POLICY: If your player is unable to participate after you register him, please refer to the timeline below regarding HYL’s cancellation policy. There are obviously situations where a refund may be merited, regardless of date of cancellation. If you have such a situation, please feel free to contact us. Our leadership team will make a final determination regarding any refunds – but our standard policy for general cancellations is as follows:
    • Before August 1st: 100%
    • After August 1st/Before August 15th: 50%
    • After August 15th: No Refunds After August 15th.
  • USA LACROSSE MEMBERSHIP: all players are required to have a USA Lacrosse (USAL) Membership (for insurance). Memberships are $35 per-year. New players and current players with Memberships that expire before November 2025 will need to purchase/renew a Membership (this is part of the registration process). If you purchased/renewed a Membership HYL’s Spring Season OR Summer Camp, you will not need to pay this fee for the fall.
  • EQUIPMENT: all players must be “fully equipped.” For boys lacrosse, this includes a NOCSAE/SEI certified helmet and shoulder pads, arm protection (elbow pads, arm pads or arm guards – vary by position), gloves, mouthguard, protective cup, lacrosse stick and cleats (football, soccer or lacrosse cleats are acceptable). We realize equipment can be overwhelming for new players/parents. We recommend you do NOT purchase equipment until you have had a chance to speak with your coach(es). Coaches will review what your player needs – and help save you $$$. We often have donated or discounted equipment options. We do recommend new players get a lacrosse stick in advance to practice with. If you are unsure what to get, please contact Coach Jeremy at 404.641.9023 (phone/text) or jeremy@henryyouthlax.org (email). We recommend StringKing (a leading manufacturer) for beginners to advanced skill-level players. We also have a discount program you can take advantage of. Please reach out!

How Will Teams Be Formed?

We plan to form at least 3 teams of 12 players for the Middle School Sixes League. We will form teams with two goals in mind:

  • First, we want teams to be fair and balanced. We want all teams to be competitive and have fair matchups week-in and week-out over the course of the season.
  • Second, as our middle school boys prepare to play high school or start/continue to play higher-level lacrosse for club/travel programs, we want to both help all our players continue to develop and improve – while also keeping players together who are likely to play together in the years to come.

To accomplish these goals, we are going to initially form teams as follows:

  • All players who attend a school that feeds into a high school (in Henry County) that has an established lacrosse program, we will automatically group these players onto separate teams as the starting point for our rosters. For example, all Union Grove players will be assigned to Team One and all ELCA players will be assigned to team two. Players from Ola, Strong Rock or Dutchtown will be assigned to Team Three.
  • All players who do NOT attend a school that feeds into one of these high schools will be entered into the league draft (and be considered “free agents”). No school above will have enough players to fill their rosters – we believe having coaches draft “free agents” to fill their roster spots will help us ensure all teams are competitive (we have a great mix of experienced players who do not attend the schools above). Draft picks will be assigned based on team needs – based on the number of players needed and skill/experience needs for each team.
  • NOTE: Each team has a separate coach. Each coach wants their team to be competitive. The draft will be a fun experience for both players and coaches alike. Once teams are formed, if there is a competitive imbalance, our coaches will make adjustments as necessary (like any sports league).

NOTE: Team rosters will initially be capped at 12 players. If we have more than 36 players register, we will form a fourth team prior to the draft and will make adjustments as necessary to ensure all teams are fair and balanced. As a final thought, keep in mind:

  • All teams will have NEW players (no experience)
  • All teams will have beginner players (1-2 seasons)
  • All teams will have intermediate players (2+ seasons)
  • Most teams should have at least one experienced player (has been playing a long time and/or has played competitively outside HYL)
  • Regardless of experience (how long player has been playing), skill-level (how ‘good’ a player is), school (what school player attends), or any other factor – ALL players get equal opportunities to play. Our coaches are committed to playing all players and believe everyone on the team should have an opportunity to learn, improve and compete.
  • Players DO need to regularly participate in practices. We realize some players may have competing priorities or responsibilities. As long as players communicate with coaches when they have conflicts, absences will be excused. Coaches will clearly explain player expectations during the first week of practice.

As a final note, this is the first time we are doing this. Obviously if there are any issues – teams aren’t fair, players are upset about team assignments, etc. – we will make adjustments and/or consider requests to ensure all our players have a great experience (and a lot of fun) this fall. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact Coach Jeremy at 404.641.9023 or jeremy@henryyouthlax.org.

What Do We Need To Know About Sixes Lacrosse?

  • Sixes is a fast-paced, compact version of field lacrosse
  • It combines the most exciting aspects of lacrosse, but encourages a more open style of play with quick transitions and non-stop, high-scoring action
  • This version of the game was created in 2018 to accelerate global growth, increase accessibility and approachability, create greater competitive balance, and reduce cost and complexity of participation – it’s also the format that will be played at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (Sixes is “Olympic Lacrosse”)

As far as basic rules go, here are some quick highlights:

  • 6v6 (including goalies) – 12 players per team
  • :30 second shot clock
  • 8-min running-time quarters
  • Games are approximately 45-mins long
  • No specialist positions like traditional field lacrosse – just runners and goalies (no long poles)
  • Faceoffs are only at the start of each quarter – goalies clear on shots after that
  • Simplified rules – no offsides, automatic turnovers on out-of-bounds/saves/goals, shot clock expiration, etc.

For more information on Sixes, we recommend reading our recent blog post OR visiting World Lacrosse’s website here.

Middle School Sixes FAQs

We’ve blocked out this space for our FAQs. We haven’t had a lot of questions yet, but plan to add some FAQs here shortly. Have questions? Let us know and we’ll add the answer to this section. Thank you!

Why Sixes?

If not obvious from the program info above, there are several reasons we believe Sixes is a great format to introduce our Middle School Boys to this fall, including:

  • Smaller roster sizes will enable us to have multiple teams that can compete locally – no need to travel an hour to and from games this fall. Players will get more games, more playing time, and more opportunities to improve!
  • Sixes is a lot of fun! It’s fast-paced, easier to learn and provides a lot more opportunity for all players to be involved (and score – or stop the other team from scoring). It’s also a more-fair version of the game, with automatic changes of possession – making it easier for both teams to have a fair chance to score and win.
  • It’s the “Olympic Version” of the sport. We hope our boys are excited to play the same version of lacrosse that will be played in the Olympics. We believe there is value in our local players learning this version of the game at a young age.

Why Are You Grouping Kids From The Same School Together?

Players who attend the same school likely know each other. As a group, they are likely to get more of their classmates interested in playing. We also believe players who attend other schools will want to get more of their friends to try the sport, in hopes of having a team to play on when they reach high school. At the same time, no school has enough players for a standalone team of kids from the same school – this is where the “free agents” come in (arguably some of the most experienced players in our program). We believe this approach will result in us having multiple, competitive teams this fall – it’s going to be a lot of fun.

What If My Player Isn’t Happy With Their Team Assignment?

We know some players may not be happy with the team they get assigned to. We ask that all players give their team a chance before requesting a transfer. Again, we’re going to do our best to form fair, competitive teams. If there ends up being a competitive imbalance, we will make adjustments (i.e. trade players) to balance things out. If teams are fair, but a player really wants to be on a different team – we will discuss with the coaches to see if we can make a trade to accommodate your player’s request, while maintaining the competitiveness of both teams. This should be a last resort option – please encourage your player to initially play on the team they are assigned to.

Will You Have Practices/Games During Fall Break?

There will be no official practices/games during Henry County Schools’ Fall Break (September 13th-21st) or other official school holidays. We may offer voluntary practices or scrimmages during off weeks for players who are interested/available.

Who Will Be Coaching These Teams?

We may add additional coaches to assist our teams this fall, but to start we have the following coaches on board for our three initial teams:

  • Jeremy Porter: HYL Director and Community Coach for the Union Grove Boy’s Lacrosse Program
  • Ken Loach: Former Henry Lacrosse Association Director and Head Coach for ELCA’s Boy’s Lacrosse Program
  • Collin Curry: Current Community Coach for Ola’s Boy’s Lacrosse Program

We plan to have additional coaches assist each team, including several current/former high school and college players from our area. Coaches will run each team independently, including setting practice days, times and locations. Coaches will be in touch with additional information in early August. Practices will start the week of August 18th.

Will Players Only Play Locally?

Each team’s coaches will determine whether or not the team considers additional competitive options over the course of the season. For example, Ola High School is planning a local “Sixes” tournament in late October (tentatively called “Scary Sixes”). Once this event is finalized, we will encourage our teams to consider participating in this event. In addition, the Gwinnett Lacrosse League (GLL) runs a fall middle school league (which will play Sixes this fall) on Sunday afternoons. At least one team is considering also playing teams in this league. Any additional playing opportunities would be optional for players – each coach will share additional details when available (once practice starts).

Should Beginners Sign Up?

Absolutely! Henry Youth Lacrosse always has beginner players each season. We encourage all new players to sign-up. We will work to get these players up to speed and they will have equal opportunities to participate and compete (in both practices and games).

Still Have Questions?

If you have additional questions that weren’t answered above, please feel free to reach out to Coach Jeremy at 404.641.9023 or jeremy@henryyouthlax.org. Thank you!

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