Needs to convey things that are universally interesting, not just interesting to lacrosse players. A picture of a lacrosse player with his stick is meaningless to a lay person. A picture of one lacrosse player in a helmet and pads knocking over another has meaning: it conveys competition and contact and a parallel to other contact sports with which they may be more familiar (football, hockey, rugby).
The artwork needs to be professional and attractive. This is what catches the eye and is the very first part of the first impression -- it needs to say "Hey guys, look at this. This is legit!" The message needs to be inclusive and appealing: "Hay guyz ANYBODY with eyeballs can play this and have fun and camaraderie and get in shape and travel and elevate yourself" as opposed to "Lacrosse is fun". The former message is about the recipient of the message; the latter about the source. The recipient is more important.

Idaho Lax Reporter, Managing Editor						University of Idaho '08
Elite Lacrosse (Training & Education)						Scallywags Lacrosse Club

mike@lacrosseallstars.com 

Flyers can be useful in communicating the message and attract interest, but the message needs to be accross in many. At our h.s., in the fall we would have several short lax film days during lunch, and ask players to bring on of their non-lax playing friends to it. We also met with coaches from fall and winter sports (assuming they also didn't coach track or baseball) to education on the sport, and how lacrosse would be a great off-season sport to improve their footwork, defensive positioning, field awareness, etc so they could see it would benefit them (coach) to recommend their players to join the lacrosse team. Some of these coaches would have an introductory meeting with their team.

Lessons learned:
1. good athletes have egos; invest time in the winter with new players so they can catch, throw, ground ball and do the basic drills. Learning these skills can be very awkward, and no one wants to show up unskilled and unprepared the first day of practice and be embarassed.
2. be organized and disciplined for your practices. Athletes from other varsity sports are used to this, and will consider anything less a joke. You may be the best lacrosse coach in town, but you may not be the best coach they've played under.
3. many lacrosse coaches don't teach/work at the school. find a way to drop in, be visible, meet with the principal, A.D., go to games of other sports, be part of the school and the school will be part of you and your team. also helps when competing for practice field times...
4. start a youth lacrosse program if there's not one in town. It's not that hard, and many parents are looking for something besides baseball (zzzzzzz) for their kids.

Got any artists, Jeff? I think the classic-style football flyer is a great way to catch the viewer's eye
http://tiny.cc/7hbik
Bright colors, clear lines, and the ability to romanticize the action towards whatever end. If you could have a lacrosse version created, you'd be off to a great start. This has the added benefit of being very easily color-modifiable if created in Illustrator or a like program.

Idaho Lax Reporter, Managing Editor						University of Idaho '08
Elite Lacrosse (Training & Education)						Scallywags Lacrosse Club

mike@lacrosseallstars.com 

Hey Jeff,

If you need help making a flyer I can most definitely help you with that. I designed all the flyers for my team last year. We can recyle one I have made and customize it to your school. We can distort the school names if needed.

heres a few lax flyers I have made:

http://ericmaciel.com/work.html

let me know what you think!