LAX Alert: Beaver Lake Park Master Plan Public Meeting #3

The City of Sammamish is holding the 3rd public hearing on the Beaver Lake Park Master Plan this Thursday, 3rd September. This is a critical meeting for our efforts to secure all-weather turf fields with field lighting. The last two public meetings have been dominated by the immediate neighbors who oppose fields and lights - we need the Sammamish & Issaquah youth sports community to turn out in force this Thursday and speak up for these critically needed field improvements!

On this Thursday's agenda will be a presentation from the Master Plan Consultants on:

• 1. Sports Field Lighting


• 2. Synthetic Turf Considerations


• 3. Field Booking Capacity and Statistics


• 4. Shoreline/Beach Considerations
  

The public meeting on Thursday will be held at the Beaver Lake Lodge in Beaver Lake Park and starts at 6:30 PM.

Your participation is critical!! You can learn more on the Sammamish BLP Master Plan web page. Please take the time to attend and speak up for your child's future!!!

The IYL Equipment Exchange is Now Live!!!

Gear bag overflowing? Now is the time to sort through all the LAX gear that has been piling up in the garage and start planning for the 2010 regular season. Chances are you have items that your player has outgrown or is planning to upgrade that are still in great condition. Here is a "recycling" solution that can benefit our local Lacrosse community and make it easier for more kids to get into the game: The IYL Exchange is now live!

You can now list all that great gear and get it back on the field with the next generation of local Laxers while collecting a few dollars to apply on your players new gear. Your listing is free on the IYL Exchange and the exchange is between you and the hopeful new owner. IYL does not take a fee of any kind. We all recognize the costs that are part of raising active multi-sport kids in today's challenging economic times and the Exchange is all about our helping each other and our sporting community.

Registration for Fall 2009 Lacrosse is Live!!!

Registration for Fall 2009 Instructional League is now live on your Issaquah Youth Lacrosse homepage!! If you are a new player with less than one year experience and would like to have fun while learning more about Lacrosse then Fall ball is for you. If you have less than one year experience and would like to gain LAX experience before the Spring 2010 regular season this is your ticket.

Click over to the IYL homepage and check into Fall Lacrosse!

Action Requested for 2 All-Weather Turf Fields @ Eastgate

The City of Bellevue is now at a key point in their planning process for the Eastgate Area Properties and your input over the next few weeks can make a difference in the adoption of a 2-field or 1-field design for this important new park. There is a critical need for new all-weather turf fields for youth sports in our area and the planning efforts currently underway for the Bellevue Eastgate Properties, along with Beaver Lake Park in Sammamish, are two immediate opportunities to add field capacity.

Your input is important and makes a difference!! We need your support for Alternative A which provides for two all-weather turf fields.

You can learn more about the Eastgate Area Property by reviewing the Master Plan presentation given at the July 23rd Community Meeting and also be visiting the Park Planning website.

The City of Bellevue is taking additional public comment over the next 6 weeks and you do not have to be a Bellevue resident to speak up and make a difference for youth lacrosse. The message is simple:

• Participation in youth sports programs is exploding regionally - especially Lacrosse!


• Lacrosse season begins in February and is played in all weather conditions.


• All-weather turf fields with lights are critically needed to meet growing demand.


• Bellevue, Issaquah and Sammamish LAX programs are all part of the WA youth lacrosse East Region - and the teams play each other regularly.


• Issaquah Youth Lacrosse is an active user of Robinswood and another Bellevue City Park like Robinswood would benefit both Bellevue residents and the larger regional sporting community.

YOU can send your comments to Pam Fehrman with the City of Bellevue. Indicate your support for Alternative A!

Make a difference!!

Focus on Concussions in Youth Sports - The "Lystedt Law"

On July 26th, 2009 Washington State House Bill 1824 – also known as the Zackery Lystedt Law – went into effect. As a result youth sports organizations state-wide are focusing attention and educational resources on the risk of head injuries. This law directly affects Issaquah Youth Lacrosse, IYL head injury policies and our 2010 player registration processes.

All Washington lacrosse clubs and associations must now follow all steps outlined below to ensure they are compliant with the law. The two requirements that directly affect registration processes include:

1. Annually require all players and the parent(s)/guardian(s) of those players to sign and return an informed consent form relating to the nature and risk of concussion or head injury. This information sheet shall include the signs and symptoms of concussion/brain injury and will be provided at the time of registration.

2. Ensuring that all coaches (paid or volunteer) are educated in the nature and risk of concussion or head injury prior to the first practice/competition. This education shall include signs and symptoms of concussion/brain injury. Resources for this education are available in both English and Spanish in the Documents section on this site.

As an IYL parent or athlete, the information on head injuries we are providing on the IYL website [IYL>Documents] is important to review and understand. The new registration procedures are in effect for our 2010 season and are an important part of this effort. The risks of concussion or other brain injury have not suddenly increased but youth sports organizations, medical professionals and government policy-makers are making brain injury awareness and education a top priority for good reason. As parents we invest a lot into our young athletes and as athletes we invest a lot into our sports - knowing the symptoms of sports and recreation related brain injury is an important part of that investment.So dedicate 10 minutes to reviewing the Parents and Athletes Concussion Fact-sheets, print them out and tape on the fridge....

Hydration - Critical to Athletes Health

Summer is in full swing and so are your players. Summer should be full of open gym practices, tournament teams, and camps, but not emergency room trips for dehydration. Remember that in any given practice or game your players will loose between 4-8 pounds of sweat that will drain their bodies of vital fluids, nutrients, and energy. To maximize your players' performance, injury prevention, and health in the hot summer games and practices; remember to talk with them about hydration and best practices.

General guidelines for how much athletes should be drinking:

• 
  Drink 12-20 oz 2-3 hours before exercise.


• 
  During exercise, drink 6-12 oz every 15-20 minutes.


• 
  After exercise, drink 24 oz of fluid for every lb. of weight lost through sweat (this can be measured by weighing themselves before and after practice)

Summer Laxin at the Overlake Summer League

Regular season rivals Skyline HS and Issaquah HS met this evening at the Overlake Summer League games for some third-season lacrosse. The Overlake match-ups draw players from rising Freshmen to Seniors and provide an opportunity to keep skills sharp and for rising Freshmen, a chance to see what the next regular season holds in store.

No scores are kept; everyone wins...