180 Future Elite

Team 180 Elite Futures

3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Program Overview (2026–2027)

Building a Love for the Game. Building Great Players. Building Great Teammates.

 

At Team 180 Elite, our Future Elite program is designed around one simple philosophy: player development comes first.

Third, fourth and fifth grade is an incredibly important stage in a young athlete's journey. Our goal is to create an environment where girls develop outstanding fundamental skills, learn what it means to be a great teammate, compete in a positive atmosphere, and most importantly, fall in love with the game of lacrosse.

Everything we do throughout the year is designed with those goals in mind.

Development First

Practices are where players improve, so our emphasis is on maximizing repetitions and touches on the ball. Rather than standing in long lines or waiting for their turn, players will constantly be moving, competing, and developing.

Our coaching philosophy focuses on:

Stick skills and confidence with both hands
Dodging, passing, catching, shooting, and ground balls
Defensive body positioning and communication
Goalie development, including positioning, communication, saves, and clears
Athletic movement, agility, and footwork
Small-sided games that encourage decision-making
Learning team concepts in an age-appropriate way
Building confidence through repetition, encouragement, and success
The more quality repetitions players receive, the faster they develop.

 

A Full-Year Approach

Once players are selected to a team, our preferred option is for families to commit to the full year. This allows coaches and players to build chemistry, establish continuity, and maximize development over time.

However, we also understand that every family has different schedules and commitments. For those who prefer greater flexibility, seasonal participation will also be available.

 

Age-Appropriate Development

One of Team 180's core beliefs is that young athletes should have balanced childhoods.

We love lacrosse, but we also recognize that fourth and fifth graders should have the opportunity to participate in other sports, enjoy school activities, spend time with family, and simply be kids.

Our youngest teams do not need to travel relentlessly or practice so frequently that lacrosse becomes overwhelming. Instead, we believe in providing exceptional coaching, purposeful practices, and meaningful competition while allowing girls to experience a healthy balance in their lives.

As players move into middle school, our expectations naturally increase. The intensity of practices, level of competition, and commitment continue to grow. By the time players reach high school, they are prepared for the demands of elite club lacrosse and, for many, the college recruiting process.

 

Our Mission

Our mission is simple:

Develop skilled lacrosse players.
Build confident young women.
Teach the value of being a great teammate.
Create teams that love competing together.
Inspire a lifelong passion for the game.

If our players leave each season more skilled, more confident, and even more excited to pick up their stick than when they started, then we have accomplished exactly what we set out to do.

 

Fall Season (September–December 2026)

Throughout the fall, teams will practice on Sundays, with an additional weekly indoor training session at Lax Den beginning in early fall and continuing through the end of December 2026.

These indoor sessions provide another opportunity for players to build stick skills and confidence in a fun, high-energy environment while maintaining consistency throughout the season.

Our teams will compete in local October tournaments and participate in inter-club scrimmages, giving players meaningful game experience without excessive travel.

Team 180 Elite Club-Wide Development Clinics

One of the highlights of our program will be our Team 180 Youth Development Clinics.

These clinics will bring together all of our youngest athletes from the 2032, 2033, 2034, and 2035/2036 graduation years.

Players will rotate through a variety of learning stations led by Team 180 coaches along with many of our outstanding high school players. These sessions allow younger athletes to learn from older role models while experiencing different coaching styles, skill stations, competitions, and games in a fun club-wide environment.

Our goal is not only to improve skills but also to build excitement, friendships, and a sense of community across the entire Team 180 family.

These club-wide clinics will continue throughout the year as an important part of our player development model.

Optional Winter Opportunity

For families interested in an additional competitive experience, we will offer the opportunity to attend the Sand Storm Tournament in Indio, California, in January 2027.

This event is completely optional and provides players with the chance to experience one of the premier youth lacrosse tournaments in the country while creating lasting memories with their teammates.

Spring Season (March–May 2027)

Our spring training is designed to complement—not compete with—each player's recreational team.

Beginning in early March and continuing through early May, Team 180 Elite will hold one or two training sessions each week. These sessions are intended to reinforce the individual skills and systems that players are learning while allowing them to continue enjoying their recreational lacrosse experience.

Throughout the spring, we will also continue to offer our club-wide development clinics and organize local scrimmages so players can continue applying their skills in a fun, competitive environment.

Summer Season (June-July 2027)

During the summer, our teams will compete primarily in local events, including tournaments such as:

WWLL
Vail Shootout
Western Shootout
...along with additional local tournaments and play days.

For our youngest athletes, we do not believe there is a need to travel across the country to compete. Rather than asking families to spend significant time and money traveling to East Coast tournaments, we believe those resources are better invested in player development here in Colorado.

By focusing on outstanding coaching, purposeful practices, and quality local competition, we believe our players will develop while maintaining a healthy balance between lacrosse, family, and other activities.