Aloha AYLA  -

Hope you and your family are safe and well.  A few off-season items for you:

COVID-19 UPDATE

The City and Country of Honolulu’s COVID reopening strategy is a tiered matrix for opening various activities based on a rolling 7-day average of disease statistics.  Youth lacrosse falls into the “Outdoor Organized Team Sports (Permit)” category which is “closed” until we achieve Tier 4 – less than 20 positive case counts/day and less than 1% test positivity rate.  We are currently in Tier 2 of the matrix.  We are hopeful that we’ll be able to begin our 2021 season as scheduled in February.  Unfortunately, our off-season schedule of scrimmages and clinics has been cancelled indefinitely.  We will continuously reassess the status of the CCH matrix and notify you immediately when we’re able to get back on the field. 

One note – As a somewhat new sport on the island, we often have difficulty securing field space at our various practice and game locations.  Due to the deferral of fall sports to the spring, upon opening of the COVID restrictions, we anticipate permitting to be even more difficult this season.  If anyone has experience / contacts in securing field space, we could use your assistance.  Please be in touch if you can assist in this effort.

SOCIAL MEDIA TRICK SHOT CONTEST

To keep lacrosse in Hawaii top of mind during the pandemic, we’re opening up a trick shot social media contest.  By yourself or with a group of less than 5 people, shoot a video of your best trick shot.  Post and tag the following social media handles:                           

Twitter - @AylaHawaiiLax

FB – Aloha Youth Lacrosse Association – AYLA

IG - alohayouthlacrosse

TikTok – @aloha_youth_lacrosse

We will announce and send out prizes for the best shots on December 1^st.  Prizes will be awarded to the top two shots in each league – pee wee, elementary, middle and high school. Please reach out to your coach or reply here and we can provide access to a goal.

HAWAII LACROSSE MARKETPLACE

In an effort to bring together our league participants, starved for lacrosse and looking to get their game to the next level, with our outstanding group of coaches and volunteers with deep lacrosse experience, we’re starting the Hawaii Lacrosse Marketplace.  The Marketplace will reside on http://www.alohalax.org/ and will list contact information for those looking to sell lacrosse related goods and services (private lax coaching, strength and conditioning, tutoring, stringing, etc.) throughout our state.  Please check out our first featured vendor,  Will Remsen, offering private coaching services.  More vendors to follow that will be posted on the website. 

Will Renson

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Stay safe.

Aloha,

Mike Barstis

AYLA President

202-255-9626

Aloha ALL -

After 5 years on the AYLA board and 3 seasons as AYLA president, I am "retiring" and passing the baton to the next generation of leaders.  I want to briefly thank all the board members, coaches, volunteers and parents for the energy and work helping make youth lacrosse and AYLA what it is today. While it's disappointing that our season didn't happen, I am proud to say that the 2020 season would have been our strongest season yet, in terms of player participation and organization.  

My involvement with lacrosse began when my 3 young boys started playing back in 2010. I had no knowledge of the game, but lacrosse and the community soon hooked my family. I became team parent for each of my boys' teams over the years, and eventually joined the AYLA board in 2015. In 2018, I became only the 3rd AYLA president and was the first "outsider" -- a non-player with no association with the local lacrosse community. I am grateful to be welcomed into the local lacrosse community.

To remain true to AYLA's original mission statement, to grow youth lacrosse and firmly establish lacrosse in Hawaii, my 3 main goals as President were :

1. Strengthen organizational integrity & professionalism

2. Improve coaching and program delivery

3. Establish financial discipline & processes

I feel the board and I have achieved these goals and provided a strong foundation for the future. We did not always do things perfectly, but the hard work and sometimes frustrating moments, have made it a truly a worthwhile endeavor for me personally. Along the way I've met amazing coaches, parents, and kids. I've made some lifelong friends which I'm grateful for, and I'm proud of what we've all done together.  It's been a great run and a true team effort. 

In closing, I encourage and hope that parents and coaches volunteer where you can, and continue to grow lacrosse in Hawaii.  We have many talents and resources in our AYLA community that we can harness.  The future is bright!

All the best & good luck to Mike Barstis, new AYLA president, and his team! Go AYLA!

Mahalo and A Hui Hou,

Grace Saturnia

P.S. Summer is looking good!

Aloha AYLA Ohana -

While it looks like Hawaii is doing well at this time during this pandemic, there are still a lot of unknowns regarding how government leadership will manage reopening our community, specifically the lifting of group restrictions and use of parks in the coming months. After much discussion and careful consideration, the AYLA board has decided to officially close this season out and work on possible options for mid-late summer, as state guidelines permit.

What are the Next Steps?

1. AYLA Fee Refunds

• AYLA has incurred signficant expenses to begin the season including goals, balls, uniforms, coach USL fees, park permits, credit card processing fees, etc. As such, we cannot refund 100% of the 2020 fee. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
• Option A: 70% AYLA fee Credit for future participation in clinics/scrimmages & 2021 season - No action required.
• Option B: 70% AYLA fee Refund via check or credit card - Please click link and complete the Refund Request form by MAY 31: https://forms.gle/3ELsK2bS1s3VTMdD9
• AYLA Uniform Pinnies: All registered players will receive their AYLA pinnies, at a pick up date in the summer
• USL membership fee: AYLA cannot refund this fee as this was paid directly to US Lacrosse; the membership is valid for a year and allows players to participate in AYLA sanctioned scrimmages & games in the off-season through early 2021. Membership is also valid if player transfers to another league on the mainland within the expiration date of the membership.

2. RENTAL Gear Refunds

• 70% of rental fee refund upon receipt of gear; deposit checks will be returned/destroyed
• Return Date(s) is TBD, sometime mid-summer, as permitted by state guidelines
• More information to follow
• If you are leaving the state before June, please contact Tony Brown at aylacommish@gmail.com.

3. COACH Bags & Goals - Tony will be in touch with coaches with more information

4. SUMMER Play: As soon as permitted, we plan to organize games/scrimmage/clinics. We don't yet know how this will look like, so stay tuned.

• HS players: Games to give our seniors the opportunity to play before going off to college
• K-8 players; TBD

The AYLA Board greatly appreciates your patience, understanding and support during this unprecedented situation. The decisions we've had to make were tough and complicated. We hope to ensure the viability of AYLA as an organization and are hopeful for the future of youth lacrosse in Hawaii. We will post another update in a few weeks. 

Mahalo,

Grace Saturnia & AYLA Board members