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Welcome to the girl’s lacrosse home page. For additional information on the program,
please contact our Head Coach, Ms. Audra Rupinskas at
audra.rupinskas@ignatius.org.
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IHSWLA State Semi-Finalist
2011 3rd Place
Chicago Metro League Champions
2007, 2008, 2010
Introduction
Ignatius Lacrosse Club is a competitive team embarking on its eighth full season!
The 2010 team finished their season with a 14-3 record last year and was ranked
#6 in Illinois. We are looking forward to another outstanding season and are targeting
a top 5 finish. For the first time, this year’s girl’s lacrosse program will be
recognized as a varsity sport and there will be no team dues. Players are eligible
to earn Saint Ignatius numbers and letters. The program strives to build leadership
skills, team building skills and character development. It seeks to teach lacrosse
skills that produce a competitive team that performs as a unified force. It embraces
a personal coaching methodology that enables the players to aggressively build their
lacrosse skills as individual athletes.
Parent Support
While the lacrosse program is fully supported by the school, there is still a great
need for parent volunteers. The program has continued the tradition of scheduling
bonding activities, and each home game requires volunteers to set up the field,
keep score, and run the time clock. Please do your best to contact the parent volunteers
and help out with these important tasks. You will truly enjoy the game of lacrosse
more as you get involved, and you’ll certainly appreciate your daughter’s commitment
and talent as you understand the complexities of the game.
Coaching Staff
The Wolfpack coaching staff consists of highly skilled individuals who have played
in college and beyond. The coaches are dedicated to increasing the success of both
the program and the individual skills of the team members. They actively go above
and beyond their duties by acting as resources for the sport of girl’s lacrosse
for team members both on and off season! We will have coaching bio’s posted on the
website shortly.
The Mechanics of the Team
The program is divided into three levels - varsity, junior varsity and freshmen/sophomore.
The varsity team will compete in 12-14 games, the state playoff tournament and one
out-of-state weekend tournament. The JV team will compete in 10- 12 games, one local
tournament, and one out-of-state tournament. The freshmen team will compete in 4-8
games and one local tournament.
Out-of-State Tournament
The Varsity and JV teams will be traveling to their first-ever out-of-state lacrosse
tournament on April 30-May 1. They will be competing in the annual Culver Academy
Lacrosse Tournament in Culver, Indiana. This tournament enables the players to experience
a higher level of play with outstanding teams from Indiana and Michigan. The girls
will get a chance to hone their skills just before the state playoffs. This tournament
is not funded by Saint Ignatius, so the families are expected to pay $150 per player
to attend the tournament. The fees include bus transportation to/from Culver, hotel
accommodations on Saturday night, meals during the tournament, and tournament fees.
Parents are encouraged to attend the tournament and cheer the girls on, but plan
your trip early. Hotel accommodations are limited since it will be Culver Academy’s
parent’s weekend. For more information, please contact Chris Guminski at cguminski@catching.com.
The Spirit of the Team
The Wolfpack varsity, JV and freshman/sophomore teams work very closely together
throughout the season. A “Big Sister” program facilitates interaction between the
more experienced players and the players still building their skills or even starting
lacrosse out for the very first time. The “Big Sister Program” allows girls of different
skill levels and grade levels to get to know each other, learn from each other and
have fun together!
The Expectations of the Team: In-Season
The season runs roughly from early February through late May. Throughout the season,
practice is held from Monday through Friday from 3:15-5:15 and on Saturday at a
time to be determined based on field availability. We understand that inevitably
there are conflicts that come up and sickness/unexpected obligations occur (i.e.
retreats, family emergencies, etc) Please tell coaches prior to the absence. However,
lacrosse is a commitment and we expect that all players will be dedicated to attending
ALL of the practices and games. Therefore, the following attendance policy exists:
- If the player has an unexcused absence and misses a practice, they will serve a
one day game suspension.
- If the player has an unexcused absence and misses a game, they will serve a two
day game suspension.
- If the player has an excused absence and misses practice the day before a game,
they will not be eligible to start in that game.
- If the player has an excused absence and misses a game, they will not be eligible
to start in the next game scheduled.
The Expectations of the Team: Off-Season
The Ignatius Girls Lacrosse Club stresses the importance of dedication to the team
and its goals along with staying committed to their academic and other extracurricular
activities. The program encourages the girls to participate in other school sports.
However, should the girls have availability, we encourage the development of lacrosse
skill outside of the team practices and games by attending the Ignatius lacrosse
camp and/or other local programs in the off-season. Fall and winter indoor programs
are available locally both in the city and the suburbs. Any lacrosse players can
contact Coach Audra with any questions about available local programs.
Commitment over Spring Break
Girls lacrosse is a spring sport. Practices and games are scheduled over spring
break and are mandatory. Team members need to plan to attend these practices as
absences from any practices or games that are missed over this time period will
be noted as unexcused, including absences due to family vacations. Missing practices
and games will result in decreased playing time for players who are absent. Practices
are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday of spring break this
year. Specific dates of the team's spring break schedule will be communicated at
the March Parent's meeting.
Communication
Communication during the season will occur in a number of ways. The coaching staff
will continually provide information to the players at practice. Broadcast emails
to the parents and players will be used, but sparingly. Urgent communication will
occur via Twitter, so players and parents are urged to sign up for a Twitter account
online and follow SICP_Girls_Lax. You can configure your Twitter account to forward
the communiqués to a mobile phone in the form of an SMS text message. The lacrosse
game schedules and results will be posted on the Ignatius website.
Transportation
It is school policy that players are transported to away games by bus from school
Monday through Friday. At least one coach will ride on the bus with the players
to and from all away games. Players will have the option to ride the bus back to
Ignatius after the game. While it is mandatory that the player travels to the game
on the bus, it is not mandatory that they take the bus back to school after the
game.
Uniforms
Players are assigned a uniform, including a skirt and two numbered shirts, at the
beginning of the season. They must return the uniform cleaned and in good condition
at the end of the season or will be charged the replacement cost.
Spirit-wear
Optional player apparel will be available for purchase during the season. More information
regarding team spirit-wear will be provided at a later date.
Equipment
Members of the team must provide their own equipment which includes sticks, mouth
guard, protective eyewear and spikes. If you have any questions about what equipment
to purchase, please contact Coach Audra.
Compliance with School
Lacrosse is a club sport but all Saint Ignatius College Prep and its Athletic Department
rules (found on the school website) are expected to be followed. Violations of these
rules will be handled according to school policy. All players must have an IHSA
approved physical on hand with the Athletic Department prior to the first day of
practice in the spring.
Directions to Games
All directions to games can be found on the IHSLA website: www.ihswla.org