This page is presented in a Question & Answer form, hopefully answering many of the questions you may have about our program.

What is Virginia Tech Men's Lacrosse, anyway?

Men's Lacrosse is a club sport at Virginia Tech. We are in the USLIA for collegiate club lacrosse teams.

Can I contact the coach?

Yes. Our coach, Joel Nachlas, can be reached via email at nachlas@vt.edu.

Can I just come to watch a game?

Absolutely! We strongly encourage anyone who enjoys watching the sport (or who thinks they might enjoy watching - lacrosse is the fastest game on two feet, you know) to come out for a game. Refer to the current season's schedule to find the date and time of the next home game. There is no admission fee! See the question below 'Where does the team practice/play' to find out where to come see us.

Who does the team normally play?

In general, we play other college club teams, as well as some college varsity teams. The schedule varies from season to season. Due to some league changes which took effect this season, we are playing a number of teams which are new to us. See this season's schedule for the teams we are scheduled to play.

Who is eligible to join?

Any full time Virginia Tech student, who still is has NCAA eligibility and meets all school eligibility requirements can play. If you are a graduate student who played at another school, you cannot play for the team - USILA rules. If you are a grad student who did undergraduate work at Virginia Tech, however, you can play.

How do I join?

Check out this site for the organizational meetings at the beginning of each semester.  If the season has already started or you miss the meeting, please email our coach, Joel Nachlas at nachlas@vt.edu or any of the captains:

Brent Willess - bwill16@vt.edu

Jason Cadwell - jcadwell@vt.edu

Andrew Dickinson- adickins@vt.edu

If you are interesting playing in the spring, you MUST go to the Fall organizational meeting or contact the coach/captains within the first month of the fall season.  We finalize our rooster in the fall and order all the necessary equipment and travel arrangements.  Thus we are unable to add any new players in the Spring.

What is the practice schedule like?

In the fall, the team practices 3 days a week, Mon, Wed, and Thurs, from 4:00 to 6:15 PM, .
In the spring, the team practices five days a week, from 4:00 to 6:15PM.

Where does the team practice/play?

The team practices and plays games behind the South Recreational Fields. Since many people have no idea where this is, here are a couple ways to find the field:
-By car: Come in Southgate Drive (Rt. 314) from Rt. 460. Turn right onto Tech Center Drive. Go up the hill. Parking is in the second paved lot on the left. You will see the new fields and the field house. Our field is the furthest from the parking lot on the top level.-Walking from campus: Walk down next to the Coliseum on Spring Road. Pass straight over Southgate and up the steep hill. You are now passing the South Recreational Fields. Past a large pavilion - the Burrows/Burleson Tennis Center. There is a parking lot to your left. Above that is another parking lot. Our fields are behind that second parking lot. they are the new rec. fields. The men's lacrosse field is the furthest on the top level.

What if I have a scheduling conflict?

Don't. Well, at least try not to. If you are planning on coming out for the team next semester, try as hard as possible to arrange your schedule so that you have the practice times available for lacrosse. Also, note that we have at least one game most weekends in the spring. If you have an unavoidable conflict, come to the meeting and discuss it with a captain or the coach.

How often are games scheduled?

In the fall, there is really only one day which we have games. This is the VMI Invitational tournament, which is usually some time around the middle of October. In the spring, we try to have as many games as possible, filling most of the weekends. Check out our spring schedules for the last two years for examples.

Can I play in either the Fall or the Spring, or do I have to play in both?

If you want to come out in the spring, we prefer that you come out that fall, also. Playing in the fall helps you get back into playing (if it's been a while). It also helps get you into shape, if you need it, and gets you familiar with everyone on the team. But no, it is not required that you play in both the fall and the spring. If you can only play in the spring you still must contact the coach or captains during the beginning of the previous fall semester so that the proper arrangements can be made

What equipment would I need to provide?

Funding for the team is limited, so the equipment that the team provides is also limited. Each player must provide his own stick(s) and cleats. A couple small purchases will also be required of each member throughout the year (i.e. practice jersey, game shorts). If you have a helmet and pads that are in good shape, it would be helpful for you to bring those as well. Do not buy new elbow pads or gloves of your own. NCAA rules require that the entire team have matching pads. The team  provides players with elbow and shoulder pads, embroded gloves, and C2 helmets.

What additional costs will there be if I join?

As mentioned above, there are a few required purchases from each member. These are a practice jersey ~$10, and game shorts ~$20. Dues for the entire year is also required, ~$1000. In the spring, the team travels for a number of overnight trips. Some funding comes from the school to help cover the transportation, but everything else is the members' cost. This includes lodging, food, and part of the cost of the bus. If money could be an issue for you, be sure to get a clear picture of what the season might cost from the captains at the beginning of the year.

I want to join. What can I do to prepare?

Well, lacrosse is a very intense sport, so anything you can do to increase your strength and endurance will be beneficial. In particular, run a lot. Most of the running that is done in practice is in the form of sprints, mainly because it is assumed you will be doing distance running on your own time. ('Distance' meaning several miles) If this doesn't sound too bad, great for you - you should be fine in practice. If a couple miles is a horribly long distance to run without stopping, do not despair. A couple times a week, run as far as you can (1 mile is good for beginners - work up to 3 or 4 miles) Also, when you are in the local fast food eatery, say to yourself, "Four double cheeseburgers is enough - another two will only haunt me later". Another important thing to do (for beginners especially) is to throw a ball at a wall - over, and over, and over ... Work your off hand especially hard.

Can I join if I have never played lacrosse?

Absolutely! The team welcomes players of all skill levels.  However we are in very competitive league, so players are required to know how to throw and catch.  Practices are geared towards sharpening the skills and towards enhancing team game play.  So if you have have never played before, this may not best place environment to do so. Also, we highly recommend that you join in the Fall so you will be better prepared in the Spring, when the season is more competitive.