SOUTHERN MARYLAND YOUTH LACROSSE ASSOCIATION

2010 HANDBOOK AND RULES

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MEMBERSHIP

Membership for the 2010 season shall consist of the following sixteen teams:

            Beach Buccaneers

            Bowie Lacrosse Club

            Calvert Lacrosse Club (North)

            Calvert South/Solomons Lacrosse

            Charles County Lacrosse Club

            Damascus Sports Association

            Linganore/Urbana Athletic Association (to be divided as Linganore and Urbana)

      Mechanicsville Youth Lacrosse Club

      Montgomery Village Sports Association (MVSA)

            Olney Boys and Girls Club

            Prince Frederick Eagles

      Prince Georges Lacrosse Club (PG)

            Rockville Youth Lacrosse Club

            Silver Spring Lacrosse

            St. Mary’s Lacrosse Club

For the 2010 season, the league shall be divided into two conferences, with two divisions in each conference.

LEAGUE OFFICERS

Officers for the 2010 season are as follows:

            President – Lenny Casalino (Calvert North)

            Vice President – Gary Hahn (Bowie)

            Secretary/Statistician – Erna Casalino (Calvert North)

            League Liaison – Vince Anderson (MVSA)

      Treasurer – Jim Sinclair (Calvert South/Solomons)

RULES AND DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE

The Rules and Discipline Committee is charged with maintaining the integrity of the league, mediating disputes, and imposing sanctions.  The Rules and Discipline Committee for the 2010 season shall include:

      Dave Hafer (Rockville) – Chairman

Mike Sebeck (Olney)

      Carolyn Fink (PG)

Alternate – Pete Nelson

The League Representative shall register any protests with the Rules and Discipline Committee by telephone or letter within 48 hours of the incident.  A detailed, written protest shall be submitted within five days of the incident.  The Rules and Discipline Committee will rule on protests and report to all League Representatives.

Inappropriate conduct and ejections shall be reported immediately to the League President who shall notify the Rules and Discipline Committee for review and action.

THE SEASON

The 2010 season shall run from October 2009 until October 2010.

League games may begin on March 1.  During the season, each team shall play ten official league games:  home and away games against teams in their division, plus one game against each team in the other division of their conference.  Outside conference games are encouraged, but do not count in league standings. 

League Representatives are responsible for submitting their schedules to the Referees’ Association as soon as available for scheduling of referees.  Copies should also be submitted to the League Secretary and League President as soon as available and updated as changes occur. 

TEAMS AND ROSTERS

To be eligible to play on the Junior Team during the 2010 season, a player must be fourteen (14) years old or younger on December 31, 2009 (birth year 1995 or later).  A ninth grader meeting the age eligibility is not eligible for play at the Junior level if he is on a varsity lacrosse team, a junior varsity lacrosse team, or any other comparable team, including a club level team.

To be eligible to play on a Midget team during the 2010 season, a player must be twelve (12) years or younger on December 31, 2009 (birth year 1997 or later).

To be eligible to play on a PeeWee team during the 2010 season, a player must be ten (10) years old or younger on December 31, 2009 (birth year 1999 or later).

Fielding a Bantam team is encouraged, but optional, for the 2010 season.  To be eligible to play on a Bantam team during the 2010 season, a player must be eight (8) years old or younger on December 31, 2009 (birth year 2001 or later).  The Bantam division will not compete for a championship in the year-end tournament, but is invited to participate in a league-sponsored, noncompetitive Bantam Shootout event during the SMYLA year-end tournament.  Bantam games will be played seven-on-seven (two attack, three midfielders, two defensemen), with one coach from each team on the field using the revised rules outlined in the Rules and Exceptions.  Goalies are optional at this level.  

Preliminary rosters shall be submitted to the League Secretary by March 1, with copies to each League Representative.  Final rosters are due by April 1.  Any program experiencing extraordinary hardship, such as inability to field a team or play games, may apply to the Rules and Discipline Committee for an extension.  The petitioning team must supply full explanation why they should be permitted to add a player after April 1.  In no event may a player be added after April 15.  This rule applies to the hardship of the team, NOT the hardship of an individual player.  Players may play with only one organization.  No dual rosters.

Team rosters must include player’s name, date of birth, team level (i.e. Juniors A, Juniors A/B, Juniors B) and uniform number if available.  When submitting rosters, League Representatives are certifying that the information contained is correct and that each player listed meets the age eligibility requirements set by the League.  If there are roster changes or additions after submission of the preliminary roster, a revised roster, including changes, must be presented to each opposing team prior to the beginning of game play with a copy to the League Commissioner immediately thereafter.  Players not listed on the roster may not participate in the game.  Failure to present a current roster or playing with a player not included on the roster will result in the game official declaring the game a forfeit.

LEAGUE FEES

League fees from each member for the 2010 season shall be One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00), due to the League Treasurer by March 1.

League fees cover twenty-five (25) championship patches for the League Champions of the PeeWee, Midget, and Junior Divisions.  If a team requires more than the allotted twenty-five (25) patches, additional patches may be ordered at the expense of the requesting team.

GAME REPORTING

Game results shall be reported to the League Statistician immediately after each game:

                        Erna Casalino (Calvert North)           

E-mail:   erna.casalino@comcast.net

Home phone:   301.855.1148          

Cell phone:      301.785.1458

The League Statistician shall report composite game results to League Representatives periodically during the season.  The last day to report scores is Wednesday, May 19.  Any scores not reported by that date will not be included in the tournament seeding calculations.

RULES AND EXCEPTIONS

The rules of the National Federation of State High Schools Associations, the SMYLA By-Laws, and the SMYLA Handbook will prevail over the play of game.  The home team shall supply a copy of the SMYLA Rules to officials before each game.  The following additions and/or exceptions to NFHS rules will be enforced:

Game Duration

            1.  Game duration:

                        Juniors – Four quarters of 8-minute stop time.

                        Midgets – Four quarters of 8-minute stop time.

                        Pee Wees – Four quarters of 8-minute stop time.

            Bantams – Four quarters of 10-minute running time, with stoppage of play at the 5-minute mark of each quarter to allow for substitution.

2. There shall be two minutes between quarters and five minutes between halves.  Whenever possible, games shall be scheduled on game day in the following order:  Juniors, Midgets, PeeWees, Bantams.

3. In the case of tie, one five-minute, sudden-victory overtime will be played.  If the tie is not broken at that time, a second five-minute sudden-victory overtime will be played.  If the tie is not broken at that time, the game will end and be recorded as a tie, with each team being awarded one point.

Officials

Two referees shall officiate games at the Junior, Midget, and PeeWee levels.  Referees are optional at the Bantam level.

Play of Game

1.  One-handed stick checks are illegal and considered a personal foul at all levels.

2. The rules allowing twenty-seconds to clear the ball over the midfield line and ten-seconds to enter the offensive box shall be enforced at the Junior, Midget, and   PeeWee levels.  (Revised 11/09 to include PW level.)

3. The twelve-goal mercy rule and running clock outlined in the NFHS Rules shall be waived.  Instead, when one team leads the other team by five or more goals during a game, including the start of a quarter - but not during a penalty infraction against the trailing team - the team with the least amount of goals shall be awarded possession of the ball at the midfield line in lieu of a face-off.

Conduct Violations

1. Should a player be ejected from play, he shall be suspended from participation in the next league game (including tournament play) at the level the violation occurred and any other levels of play at which he is participating until he has served his violation at the level at which the ejection occurred.  Both teams are responsible for notifying the League President immediately of any ejection from play.

2. Coaches are expected to lead by example and act as role models to players.  Therefore, should a team’s coach be ejected during a game, the game shall immediately be stopped and that team shall forfeit the game at that point.

3. It is the responsibility of each coach to ensure that his team acts in a sportsmanlike manner.  Fighting will not be tolerated.  The following penalties for fighting will be enforced:

·         First Offense – Mandatory two-game suspension from play.  Rules and Discipline has the authority to suspend player for balance of the season if the facts warrant.

·         Second Offense – Mandatory four-game suspension from play.  Rules and Discipline has the authority to suspend player for balance of the season if the facts warrant. 

4.   Game suspensions are for league games and will carry over into tournament play and/or     the following season.  As with all suspensions, the suspension shall be enforced at the level the violation occurred and any other levels of play at which the player/coach is participating until the violation has been served in full at the level at which the ejection occurred. Both team coaches are responsible for notifying the League President  immediately in the event of an ejection for fighting.

5.   Any player ejected for leaving the bench area during an altercation shall be suspended for the season from any participation in the league at ANY level.

6.   Should the entire team leave its bench area during an altercation, that team shall forfeit the game immediately.  Should both teams leave the bench area during an altercation, both teams shall forfeit the game, and no points will be awarded to either team.

7.   All suspensions are imposed at the level the violation occurred and at any other levels of play at which the player/coach is participating until the violation has been served in    full at the level at which the ejection occurred.

8.   The Rules and Discipline Committee is charged with maintaining the integrity of the league.  Therefore, the Rules and Discipline Committee may impose additional sanctions if a rule violation or inappropriate action warrants.  

Equipment

All safety standards outlined in the NFHS rules shall be enforced, except the rules requiring mandatory uniformity in helmet color and uniform rules.  

1.   The NFHS Rules regarding stick length, gloves, and shoulder pads shall be enforced at     all levels, except the Bantam level where stick length minimum is 36" and maximum is    44".   (Revised 11/09 to allow long poles at the PW level.)

2.  The home team shall be responsible for ensuring that there is no conflict in jersey colors.  If there is a conflict, it is the responsibility of the home team to make the change in jerseys.

Field Preparation

1. The home team shall ensure that the field is properly lined and mowed.  Fields should be prepared for play one-half hour prior to game time.  Failure to have a field prepared one-half hour in advance may result in a three-minute non-releasable penalty at the start of the game.  This rule is not to be interpreted to imply that a field is necessarily going to be "available" for play one-half hour prior to game time.  When multiple games are scheduled, this may not be possible.  However, this rule should be interpreted to imply that a field should be ready (i.e. goals strung and in place, field lined, etc.) for play one-half hour prior to the first game of the day.

2. The field limit lines shall be strictly enforced on the team side of the field, especially surrounding the scorer's table area and the team area.

3. No more than four (4) coaches shall be allowed in the coaches and team areas during the play of game.

4. During the play of game, spectators should be encouraged to remain on the side of the field opposite the players and scoring table. 

Bantam Provisions

Play in the Bantam division is intended to be inclusive and at an instructional level, therefore the following adjustments to the play of the game will be made:

• Four quarters of 10-minute running time with stoppage of play at the 5-minute mark of each quarter to allow for substitution.

·       No scorekeeping.

·       No referees required – the option to have a referee during play is at the discretion of the teams.  Some teams may wish to offer the Bantam players a “game type” situation and may choose to include a referee.

·         One coach from each team may be positioned on the field, with coaches positioning themselves on opposite halves of the field.

·         Players will wear full equipment, including mouthpiece.  Stick lengths shall be a minimum of 36" and a maximum of 44".

·         Seven-on-seven (two attack, three midfielders, two defensemen).  Additional goalie is optional.

·         Teams will always remain at equal strength, therefore there are no time-serving penalties at this level.

·         Goals will be moved to the restraining lines.

·         Goalies are optional.  In lieu of goalies, teams may invert the goals to the upside down position or use Hector the Rejector.

·         Faceoffs only at the beginning of each quarter.  During a faceoff, only the two players facing off are allowed to compete for the ball until one team possesses the ball.  Change of possession after each goal with the ball awarded at the midline.

·         Two passes (not necessarily completed passes) must be attempted in the offensive end of play prior to shooting on goal.

·         No bodychecking.

CHANGE OR CANCELLATION OF GAME

The home team is responsible for notifying the opposing team and PLOA of any change or cancellation of games by contacting:

If for any reason a cancelled game is not played by the year-end league tournament, each team will be issued zero points – as if both teams lost the game.  However, in the event one team or both teams feel they have made or are making reasonable attempts to reschedule and all attempts have been unsuccessful, that team may apply to the Rules and Discipline Committee for assistance.  The Rules and Discipline Committee has authority to set a new game date, to require a double header at a future scheduled game, to declare either team or both teams to have forfeited the game, or to take other appropriate action as it deems necessary.