Lacrosse (Boys) · San Francisco

SF Youth Boys Lacrosse: A Bay Area Parent's Guide

Key Takeaways

  • —SF has one community youth lacrosse program. San Francisco Riptide Lacrosse is the city's only community-based nonprofit youth program. Everything else is either a travel club or an out-of-city league. If your kid is starting in SF, you are starting at Riptide.
  • —The recruiting math is unusually friendly for boys lacrosse. Per NCSA, 12.6% of U.S. boys high school lacrosse players play college lacrosse. 7.2% reach D-III (236+ programs nationally). 3% reach D-I. That is dramatically better than tennis or basketball. Lacrosse is also a real pathway to East Coast academic schools.
  • —The competitive ceiling in SF runs through SI and the West Coast Starz pipeline, not through Riptide. Riptide is the rec entry point. The serious recruiting track is NCJLA Bv (the higher of NCJLA's two division tiers) → Team NorCal or ADVNC travel → West Coast Starz tournaments → SI varsity → college. Recognize the different products before you choose.

You sit down to figure out boys lacrosse for your kid in San Francisco and the picture is messier than it looks. There is one community-based youth program in the city (San Francisco Riptide). There is a regional league association (NCJLA) that runs the actual game schedule, with teams from Sausalito to Sacramento. There are travel clubs (Team NorCal, ADVNC, West Coast Starz, Fog City) that fly to tournaments in Denver and Indianapolis. There are high school programs at SI and SHC playing real WCAL competition, plus a smaller independent-school league with Stuart Hall, Lick-Wilmerding, Urban, and University. And the equipment alone runs $250 to $350 before you have paid a registration fee.

Here is what those tabs are not telling you: lacrosse is one of the best college-recruiting-odds sports in the country. Per NCSA recruiting data, about 12.6% of U.S. high school boys lacrosse players go on to play college lacrosse, with 7.2% reaching D-III (236+ programs) and 3% reaching D-I. Compare that to basketball at 5.9% and tennis at less than 1%, and the picture changes. If your kid loves lacrosse and is committed by 7th or 8th grade, college play is an unusually realistic outcome.

This guide walks through how youth boys lacrosse in San Francisco actually works (it is more pyramid-shaped than most SF sports), what NCJLA, ADVNC, and the WCAL pathway look like, what each program costs (with sources), and how to figure out which level matches your kid's interest right now.

How SF Youth Boys Lacrosse Actually Works

Lacrosse runs on a pyramid in SF, more than most other sports here. The structure is real, with each level genuinely funneling into the next. The order is: Riptide rec → NCJLA league play (Bv or Br division) → travel club (Team NorCal, ADVNC, Fog City, BAEL) → West Coast Starz / national tournaments → high school varsity → college recruiting. Most kids climb only the first two or three rungs, and that is fine.

Rung 1: Community rec at Riptide. San Francisco Riptide Lacrosse is SF's only community-based nonprofit youth lacrosse program. Per Riptide, the U8 program (1st and 2nd grade) costs $810 plus a $75 uniform kit, with 2 practices per week starting in February and 1 to 2 games per weekend starting in March. Equipment runs $250 to $350 separately (per Riptide's FAQ). Financial assistance is available across all programs. This is the SF default starting point.

Rung 2: NCJLA league play. The Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association (NCJLA) is the regional association that runs U8 through U14 leagues plus a high school league for unaffiliated club teams. NCJLA splits divisions into Bv (more competitive) and Br (rec) tiers. Most SF kids in Riptide play their NCJLA games as part of their Riptide registration. East Bay clubs (Berkeley, Alameda, Lamorinda, Marin Catholic) play in the same NCJLA league.

Rung 3: Travel clubs. When a kid wants more than one season of lacrosse a year, they move to a travel club. The biggest in the Bay Area:

Rung 4: West Coast Starz / national tournaments. West Coast Starz (WCS) is the premier national boys lacrosse program west of the Mississippi. Per Adrenaline, WCS teams are regularly ranked in the top 10 by US Club Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse. WCS is the recruiting-track tournament platform for elite NorCal players. Many top kids play NCJLA Bv + ADVNC + WCS in parallel by 7th or 8th grade.

Rung 5: High school varsity. SF has two parallel high school lacrosse worlds. The WCAL world (St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart Cathedral) plays in the Central Coast Section (CCS) at the highest level. SI lost to Sacred Heart Prep 7-8 in the 2025 CCS Championship final on May 16, 2025. The independent-school world (Stuart Hall, Lick-Wilmerding, Urban, University) plays in a smaller league with lower competitive ceiling but real season play.

Rung 6: College recruiting. Per NCSA, 12.6% of U.S. boys high school lacrosse players play college lacrosse: 3% D-I (top 5% on scholarship), 2%+ D-II, 7.2% D-III (the largest division with 236+ programs). NCAA D-I caps men's lacrosse scholarships at 12.6 per team, so most D-I and almost all D-III recruiting is partial-scholarship or need-based.

The practical implication for SF parents: lacrosse is one of the few youth sports where the college pathway is meaningful for kids who are not generationally athletic. If your kid loves lacrosse and is willing to commit to 4+ years of NCJLA + travel + summer tournaments, D-III college play is a realistic outcome. D-I is harder but achievable. The catch: the recruiting calendar runs through summer tournaments, not high school games, and the East Coast bias in college lacrosse means SF kids have to travel to be seen.

Nationally, lacrosse participation continues to grow steadily. Per the Aspen Institute's 2025 spending data, family spending on a child's primary sport rose 46% from 2019 to 2024, and lacrosse is one of the more expensive sports once travel is added.

The Acronym Decoder for SF Lacrosse Parents

  • NCJLA: Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association. The regional league association covering U8 through U14 plus high school club teams. Splits divisions into Bv (more competitive) and Br (rec).
  • WCAL: West Catholic Athletic League. High school league including St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bellarmine, Mitty, Serra, Valley Christian. WCAL boys lacrosse plays in CIF Central Coast Section (CCS).
  • CCS: CIF Central Coast Section. The playoff section that includes WCAL and the Peninsula / South Bay schools. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) is the dominant CCS lacrosse program.
  • NCS: CIF North Coast Section. East Bay and North Bay high school playoffs. Marin Catholic and De La Salle are NCS lacrosse forces.
  • CIF: California Interscholastic Federation. Note: California does not yet have a unified CIF state championship in lacrosse. Sectional championships (CCS, NCS, SoCal Section, San Diego Section) are the highest level.
  • WCS: West Coast Starz. The premier travel club west of the Mississippi, partnered with ADVNC.
  • ADVNC: ADVNC Lacrosse. Five-region NorCal travel club network, partnered with WCS.
  • US Lacrosse / USA Lacrosse: USA Lacrosse is the national governing body. Membership is required for NCJLA league play.
  • Bv vs Br: NCJLA division tiers. Bv (Bay Varsity equivalent) is the higher-competition division. Br (Bay Recreation) is rec-level.
  • D-I / D-II / D-III: NCAA divisions. D-III has the most lacrosse programs (236+ men's programs).

The SF Lacrosse System

The practical implication: Riptide is the entry, NCJLA is the regional infrastructure, travel club is the recruiting engine, and high school is the visible peak. The recruiting work happens in the summer tournament window (June through August), not during the high school season.

High School Boys Lacrosse in SF

SF has a bifurcated high school lacrosse landscape, and the AI summaries you are reading typically miss this distinction.

WCAL Tier (CIF Central Coast Section)

The WCAL is where the highest level of SF boys lacrosse is played. Two SF schools field WCAL boys lacrosse:

  • St. Ignatius (SI): Lost to Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) 7-8 in the 2025 CCS Championship final on May 16, 2025. SI is one of NorCal's most competitive WCAL programs. The 2026 season opened with a 19-5 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral on March 17, 2026.
  • Sacred Heart Cathedral: WCAL competitor. Plays SI in league play.

The non-SF WCAL programs (Bellarmine in San Jose, Mitty in Santa Clara, Serra in San Mateo, Valley Christian in San Jose) round out the league. CCS Open Division and Division 1 lacrosse playoffs typically include multiple WCAL teams plus Sacred Heart Prep, the dominant CCS program in recent years.

Independent-School League Tier

A separate league of smaller SF private schools fields boys lacrosse at a meaningfully lower competitive level than WCAL but with real season play and rosters. Schools include:

These schools play each other and select Bay Area independent schools in regular-season league play. April 8, 2025 example: Lick-Wilmerding beat Stuart Hall 7-4. The competitive ceiling is lower than WCAL, but D-III recruiting is realistic for top players who pair this league with summer tournament play.

AAA / SFUSD Tier

Public-school SF lacrosse exists in patchwork fashion through Lowell, Lincoln, and a few other AAA schools, though the league structure for boys lacrosse in the SFUSD system is more limited than for boys basketball, baseball, or football. Verify current AAA boys lacrosse offerings directly with the CIF San Francisco Section.

SF Boys Lacrosse: The Tier System

Rec
SF Riptide community rec, U8 through high school. Two practices a week and weekend NCJLA games in the Br (rec) division, roughly $450 to $810 a season plus equipment. Where every SF kid starts.
NCJLA
The Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association league itself, U8 through U14 plus a high school club division, split into Br (rec) and Bv (competitive) tiers. Most Riptide players play their league games here.
Club travel
Team NorCal, ADVNC, Fog City, BAEL, Tomahawks, and Coyotes. Year-round development, weekend tournaments, and paid coaching, roughly $1,500 to $3,500+ a season once travel is added.
Elite select
West Coast Starz, the premier national program west of the Mississippi, regularly ranked top 10. Selective, with national tournament travel and the recruiting-visibility platform. Dues run $3,800 to $6,750 before travel.
High school varsity
WCAL (St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart Cathedral) in CIF Central Coast Section is the top level. A separate independent-school league (Stuart Hall, Lick-Wilmerding, Urban, University) plays real season lacrosse at a lower ceiling.
College recruiting
Per NCSA, 12.6% of US boys high school players play in college: 7.2% at D-III (236+ programs), 3% at D-I. Recruiting happens through summer travel tournaments, not the high school season.

SF Youth Boys Lacrosse: The Tier System at a Glance

TierExamplesSection / LeagueWhat it leads to
Tier 1: Community recSan Francisco RiptideNCJLA Br divisionNCJLA Bv or travel club by 5th to 6th grade if interest sustains
Tier 2: NCJLA Bv competitiveRiptide Bv, Berkeley LC, Alameda LC, LamorindaNCJLA Bv divisionTravel club + WCS by 7th to 8th grade
Tier 3: Bay Area travel clubTeam NorCal, ADVNC, Fog City, BAEL, Tomahawks, CoyotesTournaments + NCJLA fall ballHS varsity (WCAL or independent-school league)
Tier 4: National recruiting tournamentsWest Coast StarzUS Club Lacrosse, Inside Lacrosse rankingsD-I / D-II / D-III recruiting visibility
Tier 5: WCAL high schoolSt. Ignatius, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bellarmine, Mitty, SerraCIF Central Coast SectionD-I / D-III recruiting (when paired with summer tournament play)
Tier 5 alt: Independent-school leagueStuart Hall, Lick-Wilmerding, Urban, UniversityIndependent SF leagueD-III recruiting realistic; D-I rare without summer tournament play

SF Boys Lacrosse Programs

San Francisco Riptide Lacrosse

SF's only community-based nonprofit youth boys lacrosse program · Ages U8–high school · $450–$810/season + $75 uniform kit. Financial assistance available.

Programs

Spring season (the main season) runs February through May, with 2 practices per week and 1 to 2 weekend games. Riptide fields teams in NCJLA Br and Bv divisions across age groups. Summer League runs separately

Pros

SF-proper, community-based, nonprofit. Volunteer-led. Financial assistance available across all programs. The default entry point for SF families

Cons

SF's only option means there is no in-city alternative. Quality varies by age cohort and parent-coach availability

Best fit

Every SF family starting in lacrosse. The default SF program

NCJLA (Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association)

Regional league association covering U8 through U14 + high school club teams across Northern California

Programs

League play in the spring season (February through May/June). Teams compete in either Bv (more competitive) or Br (rec) division within their age group. A USA Lacrosse membership is required for participation

Pros

The actual league infrastructure. Most kids playing rec or NCJLA-affiliated lacrosse in SF are playing NCJLA games whether they realize it or not. Established league with consistent rules and scheduling

Cons

Not a program a family signs up for directly; you join through Riptide or a travel club, which then registers you with NCJLA

Best fit

Team NorCal Lacrosse

Bay Area's largest and oldest boys + girls travel and elite lacrosse program · $150/player (Summer Ball); $289–$369 (Summer Day Camps); $1,500–$3,500+/season (travel teams)

Programs

Per Team NorCal, 16 years running. Over 4,000 travel team players have passed through since 2008. Teams from youth through high school. Camps, fall ball, and travel tournament programming

Pros

The most established Bay Area travel program. Real recruiting visibility for older kids. Wide geographic reach (SF to Monterey)

Cons

Travel commitment. Tournament fees, hotel costs, and registration on top of base club fee. Pricing not openly published

Best fit

Committed players in 5th grade and up who want year-round structured play and tournament exposure

ADVNC Lacrosse

Five-region NorCal travel club network: ADVNC SF, ADVNC East Bay, ADVNC North Bay, ADVNC Sonoma/Napa, ADVNC Sacramento · $3,000–$5,000/year (travel programs)

Programs

Per ADVNC, partners with West Coast Starz for added tournament play. SF region offers a regional alternative for families who want club ball without the East Bay commute

Pros

SF-region-specific option. WCS partnership gives elite players access to the highest-level tournament platform. Multi-region structure means kids can play locally during the regular season and travel only for tournaments

Cons

The WCS pipeline is selective. Not every ADVNC player makes WCS rosters. Pricing not openly published

Best fit

SF families who want a club option closer to home than Team NorCal's broader Bay Area structure

West Coast Starz (WCS)

Premier national boys lacrosse program based in NorCal, run by Adrenaline Lacrosse · $3,800–$6,750/year

Programs

Tournament-focused. Per Adrenaline, teams are regularly ranked in the top 10 by US Club Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse

Pros

The recruiting-track tournament platform. Top-10 national rankings draw East Coast college coaches west

Cons

Selective. Most kids will not make WCS rosters. National travel commitment. Cost is the highest tier in NorCal lacrosse

Best fit

Highly committed players targeting D-I or top D-III college recruiting

How to Tell Recreational From Club From Elite

Five signals help you read a lacrosse program's intensity level correctly:

  • —NCJLA division: Br = rec, Bv = competitive — Bv kids practice more, travel for league games, and face stricter playing-time expectations
  • —Practice frequency: rec is 2 practices plus a Saturday game; travel clubs add weeknight skills sessions and weekend tournaments; WCS adds private wall ball and off-season conditioning
  • —Tournament travel: rec stays in NorCal; travel clubs go to Reno, LA, Denver; WCS goes national to Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Long Island
  • —Coaching staff: rec leagues are mostly volunteer parents; travel clubs hire paid coaches with college experience; WCS coaches often have D-I assistant coaching backgrounds
  • —Cost: below $1,000 is Riptide rec; $1,500–$3,500 is mid-tier travel; $3,500–$7,500+ is elite club, before national tournament travel

A common SF pattern: Riptide K through 4, NCJLA Bv at Riptide or move to Berkeley or Marin Catholic at 5th, add Team NorCal or ADVNC by 6th, add a WCS tryout by 7th if the elite track is the goal, high school varsity at 9th. Most kids climb partway and stop. Many still reach D-III college if they keep going through senior year.

Private Coaching, Camps & Skills Development

Group skills clinics are run by Team NorCal, Fog City, Bay Area Elite, and most travel clubs, typically $20–$50 per kid per session. Private one-on-one lessons with former college players run $80–$150 per hour for local coaches and $150–$250+ for former D-I players.

Summer day camps (Team NorCal, most travel clubs, standalone operators) run $300–$700 per week. Sleepaway recruiting camps — Top 205, Adrenaline Black Card, college-program-hosted events — run $1,500–$3,500 per week and are the recruiting-visibility events for kids targeting D-I in 10th and 11th grade.

Wall ball is the unofficial private practice every committed lacrosse kid does — the cheapest, highest-ROI activity in the sport. For most SF families: skills clinics through your kid's club are enough through 8th grade. Private coaches become useful by 9th or 10th grade for kids targeting college recruiting.

Which SF Boys Lacrosse Program Is Right for Your Kid?

If your priority is…Best fitAlso consider
Lowest-friction intro for K to 4San Francisco Riptide U8 / U10Team NorCal beginner camps
Community-based SF nonprofit optionSan Francisco RiptideRiptide financial assistance if cost is a barrier
Stepping up from rec without going full travelRiptide Bv divisionFog City Lacrosse
Year-round travel club commitmentTeam NorCal, ADVNC SFFog City, BAEL
National recruiting visibilityWest Coast Starz (selective tryout)ADVNC + WCS pathway
WCAL high school pathwaySt. Ignatius, Sacred Heart CathedralAdd summer travel tournaments through Team NorCal or ADVNC
Independent SF private school pathwayStuart Hall, Lick-Wilmerding, University, Urban, DrewD-III recruiting realistic with summer travel ball added
D-I / top D-III recruitingRiptide Bv → Team NorCal/ADVNC → WCS → SI varsity → sleepaway recruiting camps in 10th/11thThe full pipeline; expect $5K to $15K+ per year by junior year
D-III as a realistic college pathwayRiptide → Team NorCal or independent-school varsity + summer tournamentsNCSA portal + proactive coach outreach

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What Youth Boys Lacrosse Costs in San Francisco

TierPrice range
San Francisco Riptide U8$810 + $75 uniform kit (Riptide FAQ). Plus $250 to $350 in equipment. $1,135 to $1,235 all-in for first-year families.
Riptide U10, U12, U14, HSVerify current pricing on the Riptide site.
NCJLA player registration / USA Lacrosse membershipUSA Lacrosse membership runs roughly $30 to $45 per season per player; usually bundled into Riptide registration.
Team NorCal travel clubPricing not openly published. Bay Area travel club fees typically run $1,500 to $3,500 per season once tournaments are factored in. Verify with Team NorCal.
ADVNC LacrossePricing not openly published. Verify with ADVNC.
West Coast StarzPremier-tier pricing. Verify directly with WCS via Adrenaline. Elite club programs typically run $3,500 to $7,500+ per season.
Fog City Lacrosse, BAEL, Tomahawks, CoyotesPricing varies by program. Verify directly.
Equipment$250 to $350 for U8 first-time gear (per Riptide). Stick + helmet + pads + gloves + cleats. Replacement and growth costs run $200 to $400 per year as kids grow.
Private coaching$80 to $150 per hour for local coaches; $150 to $250+ for former D-I players.
Summer day camps$300 to $700 per week.
Sleepaway recruiting camps$1,500 to $3,500 per week (Top 205, Adrenaline Black Card, college-program camps).

SF Boys Lacrosse Season Calendar

MonthWhat's happening
November to FebruaryOff-season. Strength + skills training. Some clubs run winter sessions or fall ball wraps up. NCJLA registration opens in November / December.
February to MaySpring season. Riptide U8 starts practices in February. NCJLA league play runs March through May. WCAL and CCS regular season runs March through May. SI vs SHC league play.
MayCCS playoffs (mid-May). SI vs Sacred Heart Prep 2025 CCS final May 16.
June to AugustSummer travel tournament season. The recruiting-relevant window. WCS, ADVNC tournaments. Sleepaway recruiting camps. NCSA-driven coach outreach.
September to OctoberFall ball. NCJLA fall ball, Team NorCal HS Fall Ball League, prep tournaments.

The Bottom Line for SF Boys Lacrosse Parents

Lacrosse in SF is a real pyramid sport with one community entry point (Riptide), a regional league infrastructure (NCJLA), a tier of travel clubs (Team NorCal, ADVNC, Fog City, BAEL), and a national elite tournament platform (West Coast Starz). The college recruiting pathway is unusually friendly for committed kids, with 12.6% of U.S. high school players continuing in college and 7.2% reaching D-III.

For elementary-aged kids: start at Riptide. There is no other SF community option, and Riptide is well-run. Equipment is the biggest first-year cost shock; budget $250 to $350 on top of the registration fee. Financial assistance is available for families who need it.

For middle-school kids: this is the decision window. If your kid loves lacrosse and is at NCJLA Bv level, adding a travel club (Team NorCal or ADVNC SF) opens up the recruiting pipeline. If your kid is at NCJLA Br level and enjoying it, staying in Riptide rec through 8th grade is fine.

For high-school-bound kids: SI is the highest-ceiling SF program in WCAL play. Sacred Heart Cathedral is the second WCAL option. The independent-school league (Stuart Hall, Lick-Wilmerding, Urban, University) is real high school lacrosse at a lower competitive level, with D-III recruiting still realistic for top players who add summer travel.

For families thinking about college: lacrosse is one of the best major youth sports for college pathway odds. D-III is the realistic target for most committed kids. D-I is achievable but requires WCS-tier tournament play, sleepaway recruiting camps in 10th and 11th grade, and proactive coach outreach. The financial math runs $5,000 to $20,000+ per year by junior year if you are on the recruiting track.

Pick the program that gets your kid onto a field they want to be on. Equipment and registration are an investment whether your kid plays one season or ten. The rest is downstream.

SF Boys Lacrosse: Common Questions

How likely is my kid to play college lacrosse?

Per NCSA, 12.6% of U.S. boys high school lacrosse players play college lacrosse. Breakdown: 3% D-I, 2%+ D-II, 7.2% D-III. D-III has 236+ men's programs, the most of any NCAA division. Lacrosse offers some of the best college-recruiting odds among major youth sports, especially compared to tennis (less than 1%) and basketball (5.9%). The catch: D-I is dominated by East Coast programs, and the recruiting calendar runs through summer travel tournaments rather than high school games.

What is NCJLA?

The Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association is the regional league association covering U8 through U14 plus high school club teams. Most SF Riptide players' games are NCJLA-sanctioned. NCJLA splits divisions into Bv (more competitive) and Br (rec) within each age group. USA Lacrosse membership is required for participation.

What's the difference between Riptide, Team NorCal, and West Coast Starz?

San Francisco Riptide is SF's only community-based nonprofit youth program. It is the rec entry point. Team NorCal is the Bay Area's largest travel club, year-round, with over 4,000 players since 2008. West Coast Starz is the premier national tournament-track program west of the Mississippi, with teams regularly ranked top 10 by US Club Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse. The pipeline runs Riptide → Team NorCal or ADVNC → WCS for elite players. Most kids stop at Riptide or travel club; few make WCS rosters.

What does it cost to play youth lacrosse in San Francisco?

Riptide U8: $810 + $75 uniform + $250 to $350 in equipment (per Riptide). Travel club: $1,500 to $3,500+ per season. Elite club (WCS): $3,500 to $7,500+ per season. Equipment replacement runs $200 to $400 per year as kids grow. Private coaching: $80 to $250+ per hour. Sleepaway recruiting camps for high schoolers: $1,500 to $3,500 per week. A typical SF family with an elementary kid in Riptide rec spends $1,200 to $1,500 per year. A travel-club middle schooler runs $3,500 to $6,000. A recruiting-track high schooler can hit $8,000 to $20,000+ per year.

Which San Francisco high school has the best boys lacrosse program?

St. Ignatius (SI) is SF's strongest WCAL boys lacrosse program. SI lost the 2025 CIF Central Coast Section Championship 7-8 to Sacred Heart Prep on May 16, 2025. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton, not the SF SHC) is the dominant CCS lacrosse program. Among SF schools, SI is the highest-ceiling program. Sacred Heart Cathedral fields a WCAL team but is below SI's level. Among independent SF private schools, Stuart Hall, Lick-Wilmerding, Urban, and University play in a smaller league with a lower competitive ceiling but real season play.

When do tryouts happen?

Riptide registration opens in November / December for the spring season starting in February. Travel club tryouts (Team NorCal, ADVNC, Fog City) typically run in late summer or early fall for the following spring season. WCS tryouts are selective and typically run in mid to late summer. Sleepaway recruiting camp registration opens in winter for the following summer.

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Published 2026-06-28 · Last reviewed 2026-06-28

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