Round-trip airfare
All USA West tours include round-trip airfare from departure airport.
TOUR TRANSPORTATION
We typically travel by bus or van on tour, however depending on the location you might be expected to pay for some travel on the subway.
Hotel accommodations
A good night’s sleep is important, so teams can count on superior tourist class hotels with private baths.  Each athlete shares a room with two or three other team members.
Meals
During training camp we will provide all meals. When we are overseas we try make sure that where ever we stay provides the team with breakfast. Depending on the tour, the tournament we play in will dictate how many meals are provided. The final travel itinerary will tell you the meal schedule. 
Tour Directors/Coaches
USA West Tour Directors & Coaches handle all the logistics of the tour; from hotel check-in to sightseeing and everything in between. These well-trained professionals are also experienced travelers who are excited to share their knowledge and to provide important historic and cultural information about the sights and destinations the team will visit. 
Guided sightseeing
USA West tours include a guided sightseeing tour of every major city along the way. Typically conducted by motor coach and led by an expert local guide, these comprehensive overviews give teams the history and local insight into each city. A professional guide may lead visits to important monuments and museums.
Home stays
On trips to Japan we always work with the Japanese Lacrosse Association to establish home stays with local players. We do this for two reasons; first it gives our players the unique experience of living in the Japanese culture. It also allows us to keep the tour cost down so that we can stay in the country a little bit longer since Japan is one of the most expensive countries to travel to. While in home stay, players will be guided by there local player and will be dropped off and picked up each day at the team meeting place.

How do I join a USA West team?
There are two ways a player may be selected to play for USA West Lacrosse. First we, the coaching staff and leadership of USA West and our alumni may select you. We typically select a player based on a coach’s recommendation and achievements on the field. The second way is to apply on the website. Once you apply we will check your lacrosse references and if selected to a team we will let you know within two weeks.

If I am selected how long do I have to pay for the trip?
Once selected, you will be expected to pay for the trip in full within two weeks of receiving your acceptance letter. You may extend your payment with a 10% non refundable deposit. You will have 30 days or one month to pay for your trip once the deposit is received. For people that need longer time to pay for the trip we will accept credit card payments, but there may be additional fees associated with this.  

Are thERE refunds?
No, because the trips are booked months in advance, equipment is ordered and airline tickets are purchased there are no refunds; this includes all reasons and even injuries.

If I am injured and can not play can I still go on the trip?
Yes, we will allow you to. In some cases if you can find a suitable replacement we will allow you to switch with them if you would like. We reserve the right to not take a replacement if we do not think they will be a productive member of the team.

Should I buy trip insurance?
Because there are no refunds we strongly recommend that all players buy trip insurance. You can purchase this through your local travel agent and they typically run 10% of the value of the trip.

Can I use miles and lower the cost?
No, it is too difficult to manage the travel of the team and to coordinate miles on a group reservation is to difficult. Typically mileage travel is too restricted and can not be worked out.

Can I extend my travel after the trip?
Yes, but we will not be responsible for any of the changes. We will provide you with all the airline information and you may deal with this independently. We have found that this is too costly for us to do this and and we need to ensure there will not be a distraction from the team tour.

Are there Scholarships?
No, we do not offer scholarships. We have found that to offer one player a scholarship over another is not fair to the team. To use an old saying it is “taking from Peter to pay Paul” and it just makes the trips more expensive for the people that can afford it. We can provide you with ideas on how to fundraise or how to apply for grants.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR COACHING STAFF AND DIRECTORS