Hello! My Name is Anna Bernstein and I will be assisting Coach Clay in kicking off our 2025 spring season of the West Youth Lacrosse Club - Middle School Girls Program! 

We welcome all middle school girls (6th-8th) to join us, no matter thier expereince level! We are a club team (not a school team) so all may participate regardless of the school attended. We operate under the same administration umbrella as the previously established "West" boys lax team, so we are the "West" girls lax team. Our team has been established to primarly feed into West and Bearden high schools, but we have relatiohsips with all area high school coaches so we can help our families along thier lax journey! We plan to have some fun events mixing with West and Bearden high school girls teams so your girls get to know coaches and as well as older players who may be future teammates!

Clay Alders is the Head Coach of our West girls lax team. He is joined by some some wonderfaul assitants that will be introduced to as the season begins. Clay has coached middle school girls for many years, and his daughter Emery is a Sophmore and plays for Catholic. He coached the KYS girls middle school program (where my oldest daughter played for him) before it transitioned to the Irish Club program. I am immensely greatful that he agreed to join us as we expand opportunities for our girls in East TN! Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the nation, and I couldn't be more excited to be part of the growth. I have 2 girls that play lax. Greta, who is in 4th grade and plays for KYS, and Margaux who is a Junior and plays for West High, TNLax Club out of Nashville, and Team Tennessee! So, I am not technically a team parent yet but I am very passionate about the sport and can help answer any questions you have about lacrosse (lax) in TN and beyond! 

Player equipment needs:

• GIRLS lacrosse stick (NOT boys. We have a few sticks we can loan out for getting started and are happy to make some reccomendations for purchase. Let us know via text if you need to borrow a stick.)
• Lacrosse goggles
• Mouth guard (a color, NOT clear or white)
• Cleats - occer or lacrosse cleats

Our home field is at Bearden Middle School. The administration at BMS has been VERY helpful and suportive as we established this team so please tell them thank you!! We will practice on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:00-6:00. BMS girls can go to the filed immediatly after school. 

Spring season runs set for January 27th, 2025 - April 28th, 2025. We also welcome muti-sport athletes so if you can only participate in one season, not a probem! 

To register please click on the registration link on the right side of the homepage and fill out the form. Fall season team fee is $150. This can be paid during the registration process, or you can elect to pay later and send a Venmo to @westyouthlaxmsgirls or pay coach Clay with cash or check. New players will be asked to pay an additional $60 via Venmo/cash/check to purchase thier uniform. We may also ask new players (or those who didn't register when they played in the Battle of the Burg) to join USA lacrosse as well. Historically that cost was $35. But, no action requied on USA Lacrosse registration at this time, more info to come from coach Clay. If you would prefer to pay your team fee via venmo or check please text me at the number below.  If you would like to break your team fee into smaller payments, please reach out about that as well. PLEASE do not let cost prohibit particiaption! There are members of the lacrosse community that are willing to support sponsorships. 

Please feel free to text or call me with any questions. Please also bear with us as we learn some interim tools to administrate signups, etc. We will be migrating to the USA Lacrosse platform in the future, but it is currently "under construction" as they update thier system. So we are using League Lineup for now. This process may come along with some growing pains. Coach Clay will also be inviting new teammates and designated family members to join his TeamSnap to manage regular communcations and schedule. 

Coach Clay will send out an email with more details following registration. 

Thank you all for your particiaption and I look forward to meeting you and your girls! 

Anna Bernsein, West Youth Lacrosse Board Girls Liason - 865-307-0149

Clay Alders, Head Coach - West Youth Lacrosse: Middle School Girls - 865-964-6403