The “SoZo Experience”
When we started Southern Zone in 2015, we decided to have only one elite team per age group…no “B” level teams. Because of the pace at which this beautiful game is growing, and the large numbers of girls in our area playing lacrosse, we have chosen to change this policy. At this point in time, we will offer “B” teams in the grad years that warrant it. A decision will be made after each tryout as to the feasibility of a “B” team in a particular year, by assessing the number of players who tryout for each grad year. We believe that we can offer multiple teams per grad year while maintaining our high level of coaching, only using coaches who have played and/or coached the game for years–and no “dad”coaches; we believe we can do so while still fielding nationally ranked teams at our “A” level and strongly developing players at our “B” level; and we believe we can do so while offering our unparalleled “SoZo Experience”.
What is the “SoZo Experience”? It’s a mentally healthy, competitive environment where each player is valued and the growth of the person is as important as the growth of the player. It’s where young women are taught that being compassionate and kind doesn’t have to take a backseat to being strong and competitive. And where each player learns how powerful it is to be a team player–that being an integral part of a team makes them stronger and better.
We’re run by women and coached by women…all of our coaches are strong and athletic, who have played or are currently playing the game, at every level of college lacrosse. We strive to be the best of role models for our players…we don’t underestimate the impact we have on our girls.
Because we’re not affiliated with any one high school or school system, our players come to us from a wide variety of public and private high school and middle school programs. From Allatoona and North Paulding High Schools on the northwest side of Atlanta, to Mill Creek and North Forsyth High Schools on the northeast side of the city, we have players from over 35 different school systems. This provides our players with the opportunity to play with the best players from throughout Atlanta, not just players from their specific geographical area of the city, or just from their high school program. This diversity of players creates a well-rounded, positive, and competitive environment for everyone.
Our focus at the Middle School Level is developmental and competitive, teaching girls to be better lacrosse players and teammates, and preparing them to play in high school. We teach our girls how to play lacrosse as the free-flowing, fast paced game it was intended to be–we don’t just rely on set, pre-programmed plays. We want our players to be adaptable and able to play in any setting, not just on a SoZo team.
Our high school players are taught the finer points of the game, and are being prepared to play at the collegiate level. Personalized recruiting services are available to each of our high school players, with a recruiting counselor assigned to each girl to assist in navigating the complicated (and sometime frustrating!) college recruiting process. Our recruiting counselors have facilitated the recruitment of players at University of Connecticut, Furman University, Vanderbilt University, Winthrop University, Mercer University, Kennesaw State University, Arizona State University, Presbyterian College, SUNY Albany, Butler University, Liberty University, and Radford University, among many others.