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Who We are

The New Jersey Junior Girls Lacrosse League is affiliated with the New Jersey Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse, also known as the New Jersey Lacrosse Foundation. In 2009 we had over 7,500 players and 750+ coaches in the league.

Core Values

During our October 19, 2008 Annual Meeting, we engaged in a lively discussion about our core values and our mission. What is important for our girls? What should we be doing to improve the lacrosse experience for our athletes, coaches, fans? Here is what we collectively came up with. Let’s keep these core values in mind as we plan and ultimately play our 2009 season:

 

  • Fun
  • Sportsmanship
  • Teaching the Game
  • Consistency with fields and referees
  • Love of the Game
  • Developing individual skills
  • Focus on Teamwork
  • Improving the coaching and refereeing – development and recruitment
  • Sharing best practices
  • Sidelines - parents, coaches and players
  • Accountability - players, coaches and teams
  • Improve coordination / interface with High School programs
  • Website – knowledge center
  • Equal play for all levels of ability
  • Everyone must read, understand and follow the rules of the Game
  • Improve communication
  • Encourage healthy athletes and fitness in general
  • Consideration and respect of your opponent
  • Improve efficiency of League at a local level
  • Safety
  • Mentorship
  • Life lessons
  • Focus on the positive
  • Self confidence

How We Operate The League divides teams by school grade level as follows: 3rd-4th grades, 5th-6th grades and 7th-8th grades (combined). All players must be members of US Lacrosse. A player can play up a grade level on most occasions, but never down regardless of experience or size. Each age group has rules appropriate to that level. No ninth graders or above are eligible to play in our league.

The League consists of approximately 70 town programs, divided into 5 conferences based on geography. The League generally expects Novice programs to play similarly skilled teams for the first year and advance to regular conference status within two to three years. The League can provide advice and recommendations to assist Novice programs.

The League conducts business through a Board of Trustees chosen from among the League members. The Trustees meet approximately 8 times per year. There are two general membership meetings: October (for elections) and February (for scheduling). Any member may also attend the Trustees meetings.

The League has retained a Referee Coordinator to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, the availability of referees. The Referee Coordinator will schedule referees based on a master conference schedule as provided by the participating towns.  Teams need not and should not contact referees directly to schedule League games.

Scheduling Each Conference holds a scheduling meeting for teams to schedule games against other teams in their Conference.  Town representatives also contact representatives from other Conferences to fill out their schedules.  Each team should try to schedule at least eight and up to twelve games within their Conference.   Towns are advised to schedule games for different grade levels on the same date so that referees can be available for two back-to-back games. Towns should also schedule games when possible following their HS freshman games.

Multiple Teams The League asks that when there are multiple teams at any given level, the towns must divide the teams up equally based on ability level.  The League does not support an “A” team “B” team concept.   The League also does not support single grade teams but asks that teams include players from both grades per level.

Training The League will sponsor coach-training and rules clinics and will also provide information on other coach clinics.   Attendance at one league sponsored or sanctioned clinic is mandatory. The league also supports the US Lacrosse Level 1 Coach Certification program and requires that all D Team coaches in 2009 be Level 1 certified.

D Teams In 2009 the League will continue to provide our experienced players more competitive play while protecting basic league policies for regular league play. Member towns may create Developmental (D) Teams to play against other D Teams within the league. D Team players must play for their regular League team and must be in 7th or 8th grade. D Teams are meant to contain the strongest players in the league who have mastered all the basic lacrosse skills and are ready to play at the highest youth level. For more information about D Teams click here.

Festivals/All Star Games/Tournaments Each year the League sends up to 4 select teams to the US Lacrosse sponsored u13 and u15 festivals in June. These All-Star team players are selected via try outs which take place in May. There are also a variety of tournaments, play days and jamborees within the League sponsored by various towns/teams. The League also sponsors an annual 8th grade tournament in May/June.

League Dues League dues are $100 per program plus an additional charge of $120 scheduling fee for each separate team that the Town enrolls (excluding 3rd and 4th grade teams). Towns may (and are encouraged) to have more than one team at each grade level. A team is allowed 12 games, if you use squads and want to schedule more games; you may but need to pay for a second team.  Teams in the E Conference who do not use the League’s umpire assignor are not required to pay this scheduling fee but will be required to pay the $100 league dues. Click here for the 2010 Dues Form.

 


New Programs

New programs are welcome.  If you believe you have enough girls to make a team at one or more levels and you would like to give it a try, please email us to let us know you are interested.  We can put you in contact with programs in towns near you who can help with advice on how to get started.  You can be added into our email database and receive information about the league events, clinics and other happenings. 

If your players are just starting, you can start with just a few games against other beginner towns or against special beginner programs put together by nearby towns.  For new entrants to the league we try to be flexible to help you get your program started and to help be sure your players learn lacrosse and have fun.  Your new coaches can also attend one of our coach clinics to learn how to organize a practice and get other helpful suggestions on lacrosse training.

Click here to view our town listing by conference to see where you might fit in.