WEST ZONE 'A' TRYOUTS 2025

West Zone Information

The West Zone is comprised of three clubs including the Parkland Posse, West Edmonton Blues, and Westlock Rock.  At this level, any player at U13, U15, and U17 is welcome to try out to play on the West Zone ‘A’ Team.  These teams offer players the opportunity to play at the highest skill level. 

Registration to try out for an ‘A’ team is managed by the Parkland Posse and must be completed through the Parkland Posse website as a separate registration to each club’s regular-season registration.

Evaluation process

New for 2025 we are having 2 open sessions, one being skills based and another will be game play.  We are encouraging all registered Posse, Rock and Blues players to attend these sessions at no charge.  During these two sessions all the kids will be evaluated and the top 25 from each division will be invited to continue through the tryout process to secure a roster spot on the 'A' team.

This is a new format this season that we hope encourages more players to participate and challenge themselves to play at the highest skill level.

Prior to registering for 'A' Tryouts on the Posse website, each player MUST be registered for the regular season with their HOME club. 

eg: a player who resides in Edmonton, must first complete registration with the Blues and then register for the ‘A’ tryout on the Posse website separately.

Any player who is selected for the ‘A’ team from the Blues or the Rock will have their home-club registration fees transferred to the Posse as per GELC policy.  

First Session is on March 3rd, 2025 

Please visit Posse Lacrosse Website for more information

U17 Playing Season / Format

Owing to the success of the Wild Rose Lacrosse League, the U17 ‘A’ teams will once again play in that league.  This is a provincial-wide U17 league which consists of an inter-locking schedule of play between teams in Calgary, Red Deer, and Saskatoon. This will require some scheduled travel and these teams will have extra considerations and directions they will have to abide by including trips to Calgary to play the teams in the south.  Normally, the season includes two over-night trips to Calgary to play an afternoon game on the first day and morning game the following day.  There is no anticipated travel to Saskatchewan as the U17 ‘A’ Swat Team will travel to Edmonton and Calgary for all of their games.

Final details of that league will be made available prior to ‘A’ try-outs or contact the President of your home club for any additional information required.

Wild Rose U17 teams, by nature of their schedule are not permitted to enter any tournament in Alberta and must travel to Saskatchewan or B.C. for tournament play. 

U13 and U15 Season / Format

Unlike U17, both U13 and U15 'A' teams play only against the 'A' teams from the other three zones in the GELC. They are free to play in any tournament in Alberta. 

‘A‘ Team Guidelines

• Most practices will be held in Parkland.  Efforts will be made to host practices in Edmonton and Westlock as available.  At least one home game will be hosted in Westlock and Edmonton.
• Coaching selection will be done via applications and an interview process with representatives of all three clubs.
• Evaluations will be completed by impartial evaluators.
• The team will wear the jerseys of the ‘host club’.
• ‘Hosting’ is purely an administrative function and currently defaults to the Parkland Posse. Any shifting of the ‘Host’ club will be decided by a committee made up of all three clubs and based on the circumstances of that particular team.

What players should expect

• Exposure and instruction from some of the best coaches in the GELC.
• An expectation to attend all practices and games with a positive attitude and excellent work ethic.
• An expectation of being a team player. These are Zone teams. Regardless of the jersey they are wearing, or who the Host club is, players are expected to drop club allegiances and adopt a ‘Zone Team’ attitude.
• An intense, but fun experience and lots of skill development.

What parents should expect

• To see their child challenged against the most skilled players in the GELC.
• Additional costs associated with travel, floor time, etc.  This season we are instituting a process of mandatory team fees in the amount of $300 which will be payable within two weeks of team formation.  This fee will be used by the team to cover the costs of tournament entry fees, apparel, additional floor time and equipment.  Additional seed money may be required at the discretion of the team.
• Fee for Try-out. This fee covers costs of floor time, pay to evaluators, and equipment costs. Money leftover from the ‘A’ registration fees collected following the try-out process will be split between the 'A' teams as seed funds. 
• To come together with parents from other clubs to form a cohesive group to support the players who were at one time - and maybe again in subsequent years - playing as rivals against each other.
• Have fun and watch your kids grow.

Cost

Evaluation Session is free to attend, once selected to go to the official try out a fee will occur.

*** NOTE ***  This fee is over and above your regular club registration.

Try-out Information

• Each player must attend a minimum of one session. If unable to attend additional sessions, information from previous coaches/experience may be considered. 
• Every player registering for ‘A’ tryouts must be actively registered at their home club.
• The process and method of evaluation and selection is managed by a committee made up of representatives of all three clubs.
• Following final selections, any player not selected to play on the ‘A’ team will be instructed to return to their home club for evaluation and placement onto a ‘B’ Parity team.

We thank you for your support of the Zone concept and of your players who wish to compete at this level.  Should you have any questions or need further information, please contact your Age Division Director or club President.

Good Luck!