Northside Youth Lacrosse is a unique organization. We emphasize structured teaching and coaching from volunteer dads who know the game, with most having played in college. Each week, our practices revolve around prepared lesson plans designed to resonate with beginners new to the sport as well as advanced LAX players. The league is expertly managed (by a hands-on board, director, and league commissioners) with consistent communication throughout each season. We appeal to families who understand "honoring the game" and respecting our approach and what we strive to achieve. In addition to full Boys rec lacrosse schedules, we also produce family events like Surge vs. Surge and GA Swarm nights, seasonal swag sales with spirit wear, and have launched the Surge Select Boys Lacrosse program (summer, 2019) and the Surge Girls Youth Lacrosse rec program (fall, 2022). Our website provides great background, along with parent testimonials, to get the full view.

Boys must have: a helmet, a stick, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves, cleats, attachable mouth guard, jock/cup.

Girls must have: goggles, mouth guard, stick, and cleats.

All players should bring lots of water whenever playing.

Boys sticks differ from Girls, particularly its head. See the registration section for tips on what to consider and the best places to purchase items.

At the beginning of each season, the practice schedules for your player’s team will be loaded into Team Snap. Just download the Team Snap app. Information will be conveyed to you via the league director and/or the commissioner of your player’s division.

Teams within the Bantam through Senior divisions play actual games, while our youngest division, Walking Helmets, takes part in game play. In the fall, Surge teams typically play against each other. In the spring, we play against other local teams within the Newtown Rec league.

Yes. The fall program is shorter than the spring. And, fall is the only season where we offer a Senior (8^th grade) division since many Atlanta-area schools offer lacrosse teams in spring at this age (which is a serious time commitment). During fall, we play intra-league games only against other Surge teams. During spring, we compete with other teams in the metro-Atlanta area within Newtown Rec. Fall practices and games are held on the same day, with practices typically starting a session and game play ending it. Spring includes at least two practices within a seven-day period and one game.

While it’s always a good idea to stay active with sports, juggling is something many families discover is the hardest activity of all. We strongly encourage players to commit to one of these time-intensive sports during a single season, where significant commitment is expected. You’ll be glad you did.

As a non-profit rec league serving the community, we prioritize diversity among skill levels over convenience or personal agendas. It makes all players stronger in becoming better athletes, and in changing up a player’s game in general. He/she may be on a team with several of his/her friends, but not an entire team.

The Surge is a rec league with players sporting a variety of athleticism and lacrosse skill. For a more “advanced” experience, try out for your school’s team, with Surge Select or another elite travel team; or attend local and national clinics where player skill is increased with more focused efforts tailored to ability.

A great way to gain exposure to lacrosse is to watch NCAA DI and DIII college lacrosse games on ESPN or ESPNU. You can also check out the USA Lacrosse website (www.usalacrosse.com), packed with lots of information. If you/your player joins USA Lacrosse, you’ll receive a monthly magazine and some other perks, like access to a mobile app with detailed drills. Finally, YouTube provides a great resource of video clips for offense, defense, passing, shooting, cradling, etc.

Depending on his/her ability, there are different sources available for youth lessons. We have coaches who teach privately for one-on-one instruction, small groups (3-5), and larger groups (up to 20). For the more advanced player, there are lessons and large-scale clinics offered by elite programs. Email Paul Thomas (paulthomas16@gmail.com) for more information.

Surge vs. Surge is the name of our final-day, spring celebration tournament where only Surge teams compete. It’s a family event that takes place all day at North Atlanta High School, and is a great example of what sets our league apart. There, each division’s teams play against each other (on both turf fields) with food trucks, concessions and swag tents provided. It’s here that the season’s “trophy” tee is distributed to players. The day is coordinated and managed by a team of volunteer parents and Surge board members.

Very simply, this fundraising effort is an on-going capital campaign to pay for the 2019 conversion of a damaged grass field to professional turf at North Atlanta High School. Surge founder and president, Paul Thomas, spearheaded this mission to ensure our league would have ample field space then…and for many years to come. Through our agreement with APS, Surge is responsible for all upkeep and eventual re-turfing of this field in 2027. Thus, fundraising is critical. Our generous families and community businesses continue to support this enormous endeavor. All contributions are tax-deductible as NYL is a designated 501(3)(c).

Surge Select is our Boys Elite travel division of NYL, founded in the summer of 2019. These are players with advanced skill sets who attend tournaments (both in and out of state) during the fall and summer seasons. Surge Select remains intentionally youth focused with teams including:

6^th graders • 5^th graders • 4^th graders • 3^rd graders

Beyond elevating a player’s skillset and game IQ, Surge Select also zeros in on other areas including honoring the game, sportsmanship, leadership, and being a good team player. Our registration costs include the player uniform and a specially branded value item such as a stick head.

Tryouts take place in August. Surge Select players are not required to be members of the NYL Boys Rec league.

Uniforms are provided as part of your registration fee and will be handed out early in the season via your coach. Surge tee shirts (and much more Surge spirit wear) can be purchased at our swag sales that take place throughout the season. Each player will receive a free “trophy” tee at the end of the season.

Yes! The Surge welcomes all dads with the time, background, skills, and lax love to volunteer. Please contact Paul Thomas (paulthomas16@gmail.com).