Frequently Asked Questions

How many practices are planned for the teams?

Our practices will begin in Mid May and continue through early July. Members of the Big Horn program will begin practices at the beginning of May to prepare the squad for the Richmond Tournament in Mid May.   From May 23 - June 9, we will practice on Sunday afternoons.  We want to honor the academic needs of our players prior to final exams.  Once school has ended, we will increase our practice regiment to two days per week (Thursday and Sunday) whenever possible.  It is very important that players attend all practices as these sessions are up-tempo collegiate practices that require many players to accomplish our practice goals.  See the TEAM CALENDAR for the full practice schedule.

When will I be expected to make payments?

We will require a non refundable deposit of $175.00 within a week of program acceptance to signify your commitment to the program. This is a non-refundable fee that can be paid via check. We will offer a payment plan for the summer to help ease each family’s cash-flow concerns.  Again this summer, the Hilltopper fees will be comprised of a Team Fee and a Tournament Fee.  Payments will be made according to a payment plan established for each team, with one half of the Team Fee due on March 1, 2013.  Elite Team members are responsible for Individual Online Registration for Champ Camp in Baltimore.  The Hilltopper Program will provide transportation, meals and housing as part of the Tournament Fee to Baltimore.  

What is the difference between the Hilltopper Elite, the Rams and the Big Horns?

The Elite and Rams will both field players that range from rising freshman to rising seniors. The Elite team is for the most "college ready" players or players who have shown great potential as well as having established themselves as top players on their high school teams. The Ram's team is for Varsity players who aspire to play on the Elite team eventually or dream of playing collegiate lacrosse. The Rams program will travel to three of the same tournaments as the Elite team, getting the same exposure to collegiate coaches and playing against very talented competition. Some players may float between the two teams as deemed necessary by the coaches or as personal growth by a given player is recognized. The Big Horn team will be comprised of talented high school players who are very close in talent to the Rams, however, this team will stay locally and play in events in Virginia and North Carolina. The Big Horn team is a less expensive alternative to the Rams and the Elite team.

What is the breakdown of costs to play Hilltopper Elite for the summer?

Once a player has registered online, his family is provided with a breakdown of the costs associated with playing on each Hilltopper Team.  There are two fees, a Team Fee that covers all gear including game jersey, game shorts, compression shirt, socks, and potentially other items that the player will keep, and a Tournament Fee. This Team Fee will also include the individual registration to one of the four summer tournaments for members of both the Elite and Ram team. Members of the Elite team are required to purchase a Hilltopper team helmet for $178.00.  In some cases, a rental may be an option.  The Team fee also covers coaches stipends, field rental, scrimmages, insurance, and a variety of other administrative fees.

The Tournament Fees for the Elite and Ram members include registration and travel costs to Philadelphia, Martinsville, and Baltimore (Champ Camp for Elite members).  All logistics are coordinated by the Hilltopper administrative staff so players need to be on time for their tournament departure, then meals, travel, and housing have been coordinated for our players.  
Members of the Big Horn Team will also pay a Team Fee and a Tournament Fee.  The Team fee covers all gear including game jersey, game shorts, compression shirt, socks, and potentially other items that the player will keep.  Big Horn players will be responsible for travel to tournaments (all within a two hour drive), meals, and housing; however, a member of the Hilltopper staff will coordinate team hotels at discounted rates.

Members of the Rams and Big Horns are not required to purchase a team helmet; however, they must wear their high school game helmet (with no exceptions).  If a member of the Rams or Big Horns wants to purchase a Hilltopper helmet, the cost is $178.00 which will be ordered in February.

Can I play on the Hilltopper team and another select team?

The simple answer to this question is YES. We will expect you to attend at least 90% of our practices and once you commit to the program, we must have your commitment to attend all of the tournaments. We will consider extenuating circumstances, but exceptions to this rule are rare. A player must understand that he is occupying a spot on the team, so repeated absences not only hurt the individual player, but also the team. Please make sure that you and your parents can honor your commitment prior to submitting your initial payment upon acceptance in the program.

Remember, you are making a commitment to play on this team, similar to the commitment you may elect to play collegiate lacrosse. Your coaches and teammates are committed to a successful team, we expect you to honor your commitment to participate fully and to the best of your abilities.

Will there be a Fall Program in 2013?

Yes, this past fall we played in three tournaments. Next fall we will return to the practice field at the end of August. We will practice, scrimmage, and attend tournaments in the fall. We understand and respect the fact that many of our participants play a fall sport. There will be an option for these athletes to attend practices and tournaments after their fall athletic season.  We will attend two local and one Mid Atlantic Tournament.

Why are the Hilltoppers practicing in Graham?

Our goal is to field the most competitive team along the I-40 corridor. For us to attract the best talent, it is important to practice at a location that is essentially equidistant for players in the Triad and Triangle areas. As you have already determined from our objectives, playing lacrosse at the next level requires sacrifice. It is not uncommon for Select players to drive up to several hours for practice in the hotbed areas. We have worked very hard to find a place that should not be over an hour from our furthest participants. We have an excellent facility that is located right next to the Interstate and gives us the flexibility to practice at night. It also provides great options for shopping and dining for those parents that accompany their sons to practice. If we need to get creative in organizing carpools, this is something that our staff is willing to consider. Bottom line, we all need to practice a great deal to play our best.

Can I lose my spot on a roster once I am accepted into the program?

Players must abide by our rules and regulations. Failure to comply may result in the immediate termination of a player by the Hilltopper Coaching staff. A refund may be made at the option of the Hilltopper staff, provided player and family are in financial compliance. Any refund will only be made at the description of the Hilltopper Program and less an administrative termination fee.
Simply put: We are committed to the success of this program and the young men in the program, and we will not allow individuals to disrupt the goals and objectives of the team. This is a valuable life lesson, one that should be learned prior to a collegiate lacrosse career.

How will the Hilltopper staff stay in contact with me?

We pride ourselves on communication with players and their families. We will contact players and their parents via email (using a blind copy for privacy), our website, and Twitter. We also employ state of the art software utilized by all the top collegiate lacrosse programs. We will communicate with college coaches through our website, our recruitment software, and we will host player profiles as well as a page dedicated to the highlight videos for our players (each player will provide the video that we will host). In addition, we will make our staff readily accessible to college coaches who are seeking input on a specific player. We will strive to constantly look at innovative ways to increase the visibility and communication of the team and players.