About

Fort Hunt Youth Lacrosse is entering its 34th season in 2023. Since 1989 this not-for-profit club has taught kids to love the fast-paced game of lacrosse and to enjoy athletics and competition.

We are proud to offer kids their first lacrosse experience. We are also proud to see many of our alumni go on to play lacrosse and other sports at our area high school (e.g., West Potomac HS, Mount Vernon HS, Edison HS, Bishop Ireton, Gonzaga, Saint Stephens, St. Johns, and others), and in college (e.g., UVA, University of Maryland, VMI, Williams College, Marymount, George Mason, University of North Carolina, Naval Academy, and many others).

Our program continues to grow and improve in many ways. In 2023, we are implementing a new registration system and a web site in order to improve our administrative processes and communication. This year we will begin using the ‘League Apps’ software to drive our program. We recommend that as a part of registering for 2023 you open a League Apps account. Eventually all Fort Hunt Lacrosse scheduling and messaging will be conducted via League Apps.

In 2023 we will again offer a range of lacrosse playing opportunities for kids in 8^th grade down to pre-Kindergarten. Fort Hunt offers three programs which vary in terms of practice/game frequency and registration fee. Our 2023 registration fees reflect the costs associated with running these programs and are generally lower than the registration fees of other recreational clubs in Northern Virginia.

• Grades 3 through 8: Girls and boys are sorted into skill-based teams which compete in the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League (NVYLL). Girls are sorted based on grade level. Boys are sorted based on birthdate into three groups 10U, 12U, and 14U as defined by NVYLL (age group calculator). Teams practice 2-3 times per week at Carl Sandburg Middle School or Walt Whitman Middle School. Games occur from roughly March to late May, on weekends, and throughout Northern Virginia. Pre-season evaluation sessions will begin in late January/early February. Fee = $250
• Grades 1-2: Girls and boys are sorted into skill-based teams which compete against other local lacrosse clubs or amongst themselves on Saturday or Sundays from roughly March to late May. Teams practice 2 times per week at either Carl Sandburg Middle School or Walt Whitman Middle School. Games will occur either on our home fields or on nearby fields run by neighboring clubs. Practice sessions will begin in mid-March. Fee = $200.
• Kindergarten and Pre-K: The Fort Hunt Scoopers program is a clinic-based program where kids learn to love the game of lacrosse through skill-based activities and drills. We keep these sessions light and fun. Sticks are made freely available at these sessions. Coaches are led by a parent with prior teaching and lacrosse playing experience and supported by local high school players. Sessions are Sunday afternoons at West Potomac High School. Sessions will begin in April. Fee $125.

Fort Hunt offers an early bird discount of 10% for families that register before January 20, 2023. In addition, for families registering multiple children for the Spring 2023 season, we offer a discount of $50 off the price of every child after the first child registered.

Fort Hunt offers scholarships to those in need of additional financial assistance….please contact Zach Gaumer directly at lacrossecommissioner@fhyaa.org.

In today’s world, video games, “pay to play” sports programs, early sport specialization, and a “win at all costs” mentality can conspire against kids. We believe instead in the age appropriate, long-term athletic development of all of our kids, and are completely against the short term, win at all costs culture.

• We work hard to ensure all of our players have a consistently high positive experience
• We grow the sport by bringing lacrosse into new areas for boys and girls to try
• We study the science of sports and take guidance from our national governing body, U.S. Lacrosse; the U.S. Olympic Committee; and academic institutions like the Aspen Institute and George Washington University.
  • We follow the governing principles of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) and the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model (LADM)
  • We partner with other leadership organizations, like USA Hockey, to improve the condition of youth sports one kid at a time
• We have an aggressive and mandatory coach screening and training program to maximize the experience our kids have on the field
• We want our kids to get outside, move, sample many sports, compete, and HAVE FUN!

Fort Hunt Lacrosse Leadership:

Commissioner: Zach Gaumer
zach_gaumer@hotmail.com

Equipment Commissioner: Shannon Crisp
shannon@craftws.com

Boys Commissioner: Seth Drewry
seth.drewry@gmail.com

Girls Commissioner: Paul McCloskey
mcclosk@gmail.com

GO FORT HUNT!!!​