When this ref's whistle blows, "the Clock" goes on auto-pilot.
My son Nolan created the http://www.laxtimer.com/ web site that we use to sell the "Lacrosse Timer" software. I'm the CEO of a local software company, Prime Recognition Corporation. Nolan's a junior on Redmond High School Varsity Lacrosse team, but has sat out this year with injuries. But prior to that he was on some all star teams including Starz.
As I mentioned, we actually give the software away to anyone in the Pacific NW, as payback for all the things that have been done for us in the 5 years Nolan's been playing. Anybody can download the software and use it for 30 days for free to see if they like it before buying it.
I wrote the software after a couple of years of doing timing the conventional way with stop watches, horns, etc. I much prefer this approach [in large part, because keeping track of multiple penalties is so much easier and less stressfull].
The Redmond Lacrosse Club is undefeated this year, with 10 - 0 record so far. Last year Coach J.C. took the Mustangs to the DII quarter-finals and won. The challenging Snohomish H.S. game is coming up May 9, at Redmond High School this Saturday, 3pm. It's a big one! The last game went into overtime. RLC won 12-4!
Redmond’s Jean-Claude “J.C.” de Raoulx has been coaching lacrosse for over 24 years and is no doubt, passionate about the game. He learned to play back East in New Jersey and New York. J.C. began his coaching career in Redmond as the founding Coach for the Eastside Middle School Boys Lacrosse Team. In the off season, from August to the beginning of March, he coaches grades eight and under.
de Raoulx played collegiate lacrosse for the Ohio Wesleyan Cardinals and in 2007 coached the Central Washington University men’s lacrosse team to their first-ever playoff appearance. "J.C." still coaches at Central.
“Lacrosse is a unique and exciting sport combining elements found in soccer, basketball, hockey, rugby and football,” J.C. explained. “Anyone who has played becomes a member of a worldwide fraternity or sorority of current and past players, young and old.”
He likes to remind his players: "Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly will acquire the skill to do difficult things easily."
Sources for this story are from: an interview with J.C., my personal experience coaching and playing the game in Redmond, the Redmond Reporter, and last but not least, the RLC website. J.C. is a prostate cancer survivor.
Redmond Boys Lacrosse, Winners of 2008 Cascade Conference and Dll Quarterfinals
In 2008, Jean-Claude "J.C." deRaoulx coached the Redmond Lacrosse Club (RLC) team to a fantastic 9-1 season. RLC is off to another fantastic season this year with a 10-0 record in the 2009 Evergreen Conference. A game to watch is coming up Saturday, May 9th, 3PM against Snohomish. Last month the Redmond Mustangs defeated Snohomish 6-5 in Overtime.They play at Redmond High School. RLC defeated Snohomish 12-4!
If you want to see a challenging home game and support the team, this is the one! Overlake is a perennial rival of the Mustangs. A final match-up of the season is Tuesday, April 12 , 6:30pm @ Overlake. 'Stang fans! Come out!
Attn: Education Hill parents and students. When you read this article, think of the severe traffic congestion we will be experiencing during the 166th & 104th construction project!
When Chris Thomas of Sammamish Valley Cycle told me about a new "Bike-to-School" clinic at Rosa Parks Elementary I decided check it out. Much to my surprise, Teacher Jim Anderson an old friend from lacrosse was giving the clinic! Jim initiated the clinic and is pioneering his pilot program for LWSD .
I took lots of pictures and two short video clips of Jim's Bike to School Clinic. The slide show is on the right sidebar. Jim had 5 clinic stations where students learned to look over their shoulder, stop, take tight turns, and follow other bikes. Safety! Safety! If a student passed the driver test and their bike was checked out by Sammamish Valley Cycle, Teacher Jim issued purple stickers upon parent approval. Scores of students (4th - 5th grade) have graduated and are biking to school this year! Jim has high goals to expand the program widely throughout LWSD schools.
The final clinic was given by Chris Thomas, owner of Sammamish Valley Cycle. The three types of bikes were demoed and discussed. Helmets and other safety equipment were described. I was amazed how Mr. Anderson could keep his students so attentive and involved! Jim didn't forget to instruct his students about the benefits to our environment from bicycling. And they listened!
Chris is holding up a "U-Lock" in the right photo. The City of Redmond recommends this lock for their green Street Art Bike racks. Personally, I find them expensive, heavy and bulky and prefer a cable. But, I did see a lot of them on a recent trip to Victoria, B.C. where biking is everywhere.
According to Jim and Chris, the City of Redmond and the RJH Principal Barone are solidly behind Jim's Bike to School program and want to bring it to Redmond Junior High and other bikable schools. If you'd like a program for your child contact Joel Pfundt, city planner in charge of the Pedestrian Bicycle Citizen Advisory Committee. Or call or email Chris Thomas. She is on the Advisory Committee.
HUGE KUDOS to Teacher Jim Anderson and Chris Thomas of Sammamish Valley Bicycle. Chris and her husband have a fabulous bicycle store and service center in Redmond (8451 - 164th Ave NE) at the base of Education Hill. Jim is a community jewel and has shaped literally thousands of Redmond youth with his teaching expertise, role modeling and passion for our children.
Come on students! Get out on your bikes, enjoy the fresh air, get to school faster, sleep in longer!
[Aside: Jim Anderson is known throughout Redmond as a pioneer for youth lacrosse on the Eastside. I coached briefly in his 6th grade program. Last year Jim started the Lake Washington High School Lacrosse Club. They made the championship tournament after only one year. But, that's another story!]
WALAX May 3rd Newsletter 2008 LAST WEEK TO SIGN UP FOR SUMMER LEAGUE.
SUMMER LEAGUE STARTS JUNE 16th
Summer league starts on Monday 16th June and there are only a few more days left to sign up. We are still accepting individual and team signups for our girls and boys leagues in Seattle and Redmond.
Check out the sessions we have available and just email us if you have any questions. It promises to be a great summer of lacrosse and we're exciting to introduce you all to some great players we have coaching summer league this year.
Remember if you've not signed up before you'll need to set up a username on the registration site (not the walax website)
2008 Washington Lacrosse Games
If you haven't heard of the 2008 Washington Games it's only a matter of time. Organised by the Seattle Sports Commission, the games are taking place from July 10-20th throughout WA. Lacrosse is one of 22 sports taking part in this olympics type games.
Walax is working with the SSC to host a youth tournament to celebrate the growth of youth lacrosse in a festival type atmosphere. 16 teams will come together in a one day tournament on July 12th at Marymoor Park.
The men's US U-19 team are stopping off in Seattle prior to travelling to Vancouver for the World Games taking place from July 3-12th. Hosted by the WA State Chapter, the U19's will be holding a youth clinic and playing a Washington All Star team on Sunday June 29th at Mercer Island Stadium.
The 2 hour clinic is open to players from 3-8th grade with participation being limited to 250 players. The U-19 team and coaches will be running the clinic so it's going to be a great opportunity for all youth players to get some amazing coaching. Pre-registration for the clinic is now open so make sure to reserve your spot early.
In addition to the youth players clinic, there will be 2 exhibition games. The US U-19 team will take on the NW College All-Stars and later in the evening Team Washington will take on Team British Columbia. Here are some cool guys coming to the camp this year:
Jamison Koesterer 2x NCAA Champion from Johns Hopkins, Face-off Midfielder Steven Brooks 2008 NCAA Midfielder of the Year, All-American National Champion Syracuse Nathan Kinney 2005 NCAA Champion Virginia, semi-finalist Syracuse Jesse Schwartzman 2x NCAA Champion goalie, Johns Hopkins, 2007 Tournament MVP
Recaps from the Spring Season It was a great season that came together on May 17th at Memorial Stadium. To read the regular season and championship recaps just click the links below. High School Boy's High School Girl's
While watching my daughter's basketball games I met Mike Ellis, a young official. I was impressed with his love of officiating and curious as to what drew him to it. Mike officiates 5 school sports! It takes a special person with unique skill sets and sturdy self-esteem to be a good official. I tried it once. Not for me. Mike wrote the following story about his job:
"My name is Mike Ellis. I am currently a student at Bellevue Community College and officiating is my income. People constantly ask me how some one my age (18) can handle coaches and fans in such high stressed games. Well, simple for me: its just a game, I'm out there to have fun and give back to the players and community. Most of the comments I find funny and you can usually see me just laughing with a whistle in my mouth. Sure some comments bug me but its never anything that's going to effect the way I officiate. I'm there for the kids not the parents or fans.
(The lacrosse photo on the right is not of Mike. You can find his lacrosse officiating photo at the Redmond Lacrosse Club site header)
I currently officiate 4, High-school sports - Hockey, Lacrosse, Football, and Basketball - and I'm training for Volleyball. Hockeyis the most difficult to officiate mainly because it is on Ice and you have to constantly think about how to get into position without falling. Hockey is also a hard hitting sport with lots of decisions based on the intent of what the players are doing -- sort of like basketball but in basketball the fouls stand out a lot more.
Lacrosse vs. Basketball: Basketball is a split second decision making process. Your whistle is in your mouth. In Lacrosse you have a few seconds....the whistle isn't in your mouth but on your fingers so you can think about the call. Lacrosse is obviously a contact sport. For me basketball is more fun to officiate since there are fewer players and you are closer to them on the court so you can joke around -- unlike lacrosse which is played on a large field similar to a soccer field. Usually only 2 officials work a lacrosse game. So, you have to cover 2X as many players as basketball and in a very big arena.
Lacrosse pays the most of the of the high school sports I officiate -- $40 for Middle School games and $70 for High School games. Sure, I could make officiating a career if I could work at the professional level -- but I could never make it by officiating high school alone. I'm majoring in business so I'm sure I can find something else to do (if I don't make it to the professional level).
I started officiating Lacrosse and Hockey four years ago (age 14). Finding time is not hard for me as I take college classes from 10:30 - 1:20pm and most games don't start till after 3pm.
The largest shortage of officials is in Lacrosse and Volleyball. (Growth of lacrosse is limited by the availability of officials, coaches, and fields -- not players). If anyone is interested in learning how to officiate lacrosse a visit to www.waloa.info is a good start. Training clinics are being organized and underway right now."
a game of thrills, quickness & skill has long been called .......
......."the fastest game on two feet" & "the little brother to war"
(Have you see the movie "The Last of the Mohegans?")
.... and after watching lacrosse in Redmond grow from "Smitty's" original Redmond Men's Lacrosse Club I played with in '83, to the Redmond Lacrosse Cluband it's scores of teams today...I like to call it "The little sports engine that could!" Kids begin playing in 3rd grade. And yes, girls playtoo!
One can only say, Lacrosse is so much more. Every year it's evolved and grown, with hundreds of youth & high schoolers playing at Redmond schools and parks.... or wherever they can find a field, coach, or referee!
For the scoop on just how big lacrosse is in our area a must visit is Fred Wilmot'sWALAX site. WALAX.com is theheadquarters" for Northwest lacrosse. The game is a "Spring sport" that's evolved to year-round play. You'll find winter indoor clinics starting up now!
On the LEFT, that's a Seattle Lacrosse Club player in blue. He is looking to "feed" the ball or "dodge" to the goal. I played with Seattle once. The red defensemanis trying to get this blue attackman out of the goal area. I played "D".
Look at the goalie below "filling the hole" of the cage. The "keeper"
on the right really shows you how to fill it
Thirty-six years ago in college, I picked up my first wooden stick and a leather helmet. My passion for the game and camaraderie is lasting. Would you like to know more about what's going on with lacrosse in Redmond? Don't worry! Many avid Redmond fans will be happy to tell you their angle on the game!
When this ref's whistle blows, "the Clock" goes on auto-pilot.
Redmond Boys & Girls Youth Lacrosse Story - 
On the LEFT, that's a Seattle Lacrosse Club player in blue. He is looking to "feed" the ball or "dodge" to the goal. I played with Seattle once. The red 
