Measuring Our Success
MetroLacrosse understands and values the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of its programs.
As such, the organization applies several measurement tools to its programs and to the staff who manage those programs.
MetroLacrosse Demographics
In 2008, MetroLacrosse has achieved a great deal, here are some of the highlights:
- 612: Total number of MetroLacrosse participants (417 in 2007)
- 122: Total number of MetroLacrosse volunteers (119 in 2007)
- 4,896: Total number of hours MetroLacrosse players spent with teammates and coaches in Spring 2008
- 4,000+: Total number of kids seen during recruitment (2,500+ in 2007)
- $1.4 million: Amount of money raised ( $1.3 million in 2007)
- 91%: Percentage of MetroLacrosse graduating seniors attending college (as compared to average of 74% of Boston Public School graduates)
- 23: Total number of MetroLacrosse high school players and alumni employed by MetroLacrosse 2008 summer programs
- MetroLacrosse successfully introduced a new level of play – The Rookies – for 3rd and 4th grade participants.
- Summer 2008 will bring a multi-sport summer day camp experience for our participants as we collaborate with America SCORES New England (an urban youth soccer and literacy program).
- Participants will keep their uniforms this year which will help brand the program throughout the neighborhoods we serve, and will also give participants something tangible to keep from the season.
- MetroLacrosse was selected as the official community partner of the Men’s Lacrosse Championships at Gillette stadium, and we raised funds and awareness with our 34-mile State House to Stadium Champions for Community Relay.
- 2008 was the inaugural year of a competitive MetroCup for Junior level participants. We anticipate that this will help build the athletic portion of our program and will give players an attainable goal to achieve as a team for the season.
- MetroLacrosse expanded its Board of Directors and introduced an Advisory Board to its overall governance structure.
The Individual and Team Character in Sport Questionnaire (I.T.C.S.Q.)
The ITCSQ is a comprehensive survey developed for MetroLacrosse with an independent consultant to measure the impact
of the organization’s youth development curriculum. The survey is a research-based tool designed to measure the
effectiveness of character development through youth sports. The survey asks players to rate themselves, their teammates,
and their coaches in their use of the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. values and skills.
Highlights of the ITCSQ results from last year include the following:
- 95% of players said that coaches talked to them about their expectations and goals for practice.
- 93% of players said it is like them to continue playing hard even when their team is losing.
- 90% of players said that coaches were available to talk with players about problems that were bothering them.
- 88% of players said that coaches talked to them about the importance of their role on the team.
- 88% of players said that they talked as a team about how well they met their personal and team goals.
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Participant and Parent Surveys:
Volunteers, players, and families give feedback to MetroLacrosse through anonymous surveys at various
points throughout the calendar year. In addition to rating specific program aspects, players and families
write more general comments to help MetroLacrosse build its programs.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Reports
To evaluate the success of infusing the program’s core values and skills during the spring season,
coaches complete R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Reports for each player. The reports are discussed with each participant
and mailed home to parents. The report rates on a scale of one to four how well the participant demonstrated
each of the seven core values and skills of R.E.S.P.E.C.T. For example, to evaluate Responsibility, the coach
provides feedback to each player on measures like coming to practice on time and wearing appropriate clothing and
equipment. To measure Effort, participants are asked to show that they do not give up no matter what the
circumstances are and/or to strive to improve. Finally, a key measure of Sportsmanship is whether or not a
player shows respect equally to teammates, coaches and referees, and whether or not the player shows encouragement
for his/her teammates from the sidelines.
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Fitness Tests
Fitness Tests are administered to all participants on opening and closing days of the spring season and to all
campers during the first and last weeks of SummerScores day camp. Through standard fitness measurements, MetroLacrosse
is able to see changes in the participants’ fitness levels. The results are not used to compare one participant’s
performance against another, but to illustrate for the benefit of each participant, the progress he or she has personally
made over the course of a season.
Coaches Feedback
MetroLacrosse provide formal feedback to every coaching team during the spring season and at summer camps.
Over time, it has become clear that the single most influential factor in the success of MetroLacrosse’s youth
development initiatives is the effectiveness of coaches and coaching styles. As a result, MetroLacrosse staff
visit practices and provide structured feedback to coaches on their approach to youth development and their delivery
of the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. curriculum.
