The Jersey Girls Lacrosse Association (JGLA), formerly known as the New Jersey Junior Girls Lacrosse League (NJJGLL), was established as an organizing tool to assist Member Programs in the growth of girls’ lacrosse and to facilitate communication and competition between those programs.
The Association emphasizes that inter-town competition at the youth level is instructional. It is expected that each Member Program will stress learning a love for the game as well as skills and rules of play. Good sportsmanship on the part of all players, coaches and fans is always the standard.
This document addresses the JGLA administrative requirements. The Association strives to comply with the US Lacrosse Youth rules and we refer you to the 2012 Women’s Rule Book Official Rules for Girls and Women’s Lacrosse and First Edition of Youth Rules & Best Practices Guidebook for Girls both of which can be found in PDF form at www.uslacrosse.org
It is a JGLA requirement that all players, coaches and program administrators be members of US Lacrosse. Member Programs must submit names and US Lacrosse numbers of all coaches prior to the start of the game season, as further detailed below.
Requirements for Member Programs
Each Member Program must send at least one (1) representative to the JGLA Annual Meeting (held in October / November) and to their respective Conference scheduling meeting (held in January / February).
All program administrators must provide each of their coaches with a copy of these JGLA Rules and each JGLA Member Program must annually certify that they comply with the JGLA Rules.
Key Changes for this season
Annual Association Dues/Member Program Application and Agreement Form
By March 1 of each year Member Programs must pay Dues in the amount of $100. The Treasurer will notify members when the JGLA Member Program Application & Agreement Form is available. A representative from each JGLA Member Program must attest to the Board through their Conference President that their program is in compliance with all JGLA rules. The Application also requires the names of the coaches, their contact information including USL number (necessary for each coach each year) and Level 1 Certification compliance.
Divisions
Association play is divided into five (5) Divisions based upon age groupings:
Under US Lacrosse rules girls may “play up” to the next higher age group (i.e. a player who would qualify by age for the U13 age group may play on a U15 team) but only those players who are too old to qualify for U13 may play on U15 Select teams playing Level FC rules. Players are not permitted to “play down” (i.e. age groups are binding downwards).
Levels
Association play is further sub-divided into three (3) Levels based on competitiveness of play.
Select (U15 and U13): This is the JGLA’s most competitive level of play and replaced the D Team program as of 2011. Please see the Association’s website for a complete description of Select Teams under the “Initiatives” tab, Select Teams section.
Travel (All Divisions): This level follows the traditional JGLA format and is not as competitive as the Select level.
It is important that this rule be followed to ensure a good playing experience for all of our Travel teams. At any time during the season when you notice a discrepancy in your own Travel teams, you must make roster changes going forward.
If you notice a discrepancy in another town’s Travel teams, the method to resolve the problem should be to first speak to the town’s representative to the Association. If the issue remains unresolved then follow the protocol for reporting Sportsmanship Issues outlined below.
Rec (All Divisions): This is a level for “in town” or “house” programs consisting of teams that rarely, if ever, play out of town teams. The JGLA gives Member Programs wide latitude with regard to how Rec programs are run but makes the following recommendations:
Home Town Program Participation
Players must participate in their home town program. A player may participate in a program outside her own town only if her town does not offer a girls’ lacrosse program in her age group. In such a case, she must join a program in a contiguous town or, if none exists, in the program nearest to her hometown. JGLA Member Programs are instructed to respect the geographical boundaries of neighboring programs and player poaching is prohibited. JGLA Member Programs may release players to play for other JGLA programs at their discretion.
Requirements for Coaches
All coaches must read and sign a JGLA Coach’s Code of Conduct form and submit it to their program administrator. This form is available electronically on the Association website under the “Resources” tab.
All coaches must familiarize themselves with the Official Rules for Girls & Women’s Lacrosse available from US Lacrosse at www.uslacrosse.org
All coaches must participate in a Rules Interpretation session each year. This can be accomplished in the following ways:
1. Attend in person the annual Rules Interpretation at the US Lacrosse Convention (held in January). 2. View the 2012 Youth Rules Interpretation video online through the US Lacrosse website. 3. Attend in person the annual Rules Interpretation presented by the Association’s Umpire Chair at our JGLA sponsored Coaches Clinic (held in January). 4. Attend in person the annual Rules Interpretation presented by an Umpire Chapter in New Jersey recognized by US Lacrosse specifically for coaches. 5. View the 2012 Youth Rules Interpretation videos on YouTube presented by the Association’s Umpire Chair.
Each year all coaches must attend one (1) Coaching Clinic run by the JGLA, US Lacrosse or other approved local lacrosse organization.
EXCEPTION: If you have already become US Lacrosse Level 1 or Level 2 certified, AND you maintain your certification through US Lacrosse (usually in September of the previous year), you are EXEMPT from the annual coaching clinic requirement. If you are committed to, or anticipate that you will continue coaching for more than just one (1) year, we strongly suggest that you become Level 1 certified early in your coaching career, saving yourself time and money in the long run.
All coaches must undergo background checks prior to the start of the season. US Lacrosse has negotiated a reduced rate for Member Programs with The National Center for Safety Initiatives. Please visit their web site for more information at: www.ncsisafe.com JGLA Member Programs may choose to use NCSI, their local police department or any other organization or vendor who offers background check services.
US Lacrosse Level I Certification
The JGLA Board encourages all coaches at all levels to complete the US Lacrosse Level I Certification process and to move on to Level 2 Certification.
Requirements for Level 1 Certification include: successful completion of US Lacrosse Level I Online course, attendance at a Level I Instructional Clinic, completion of Positive Coaching Alliance Double Goal training (online or in person) and a background check by the National Center for Safety Initiatives. Please visit www.uslacrosse.org for more information on the Level I Certification process.
U15 & 7th/8th Grade: All coaches for U15 Select level teams must be US Lacrosse Level I Certified. Head coaches for Travel level teams must be US Lacrosse Level I Certified. For Rec level teams we recommend but do not require US Lacrosse Level 1 Certification.
U13 & 5th/6th Grade: All coaches for U13 Select level teams must be US Lacrosse Level I Certified. Head coaches for Travel level teams must be US Lacrosse Level I Certified. For Rec level teams we recommend but do not require US Lacrosse Level 1 Certification.
U11 & 3rd/4th Grade: We recommend but do not require US Lacrosse Level 1 Certification.
U9 & 1st/2nd Grade: We recommend but do not require US Lacrosse Level 1 Certification.
Sportsmanship Issues
Good sportsmanship is at the very core of the ROOTS to Honoring the Game and the foundation by which we operate as a group:
Rules: We don’t bend the rules to win.
Opponents: A worthy opponent is a gift that forces us to play to our highest potential.
Officials: We treat officials with respect even when we disagree.
Teammates: We never do anything that would embarrass our team on or off the field.
Self: We live up to our own standards regardless of what others do.
Visit www.positivecoach.org for more information
Unsportsmanlike behavior on the part of any player, coach and/or parent MUST be reported to the Association within 48 hours of the incident.
Reporting of unsportsmanlike conduct should follow this protocol:
– Send e-mail to Sportsmanship@jerseygirlslacrosse.org and your Conference President with CC to President@jerseygirlslacrosse.org and Umpire@jerseygirlslacrosse.org.
– Indicate the Arbiter Game # (if known), date, location and teams involved in the incident.
– Provide a sufficient amount of detail to describe the unsportsmanlike behavior and what you did to address it in a positive manner or to diffuse the situation.
– If the incident is unable to be resolved locally it may be elevated to the Association’s Grievance Committee.
Please see the Association’s website for a complete description of the JGLA Sportsmanship Policy under the “Rules/Guidelines” tab, Sportsmanship section.
Game Season Start Date
For the 2012 season, the Board has approved that the game season begins on April 10, 2012.
The Association’s Umpire Assignor for teams in Conferences A, B, C, D and F will not schedule umpires for regular Association games scheduled prior to the above noted date.
Programs are encouraged to contact the Association’s Umpire Assignor (Umpire@jerseygirlslacrosse.org) if they wish to host preseason scrimmages or play days to facilitate the pre-season umpire rating/certification process.
Dates and procedures differ for teams in the E Conference, please contact the E Conference President for more information, including interest in hosting preseason scrimmages to facilitate the umpire rating/certification process.
Scheduling Games
Each Conference will hold a scheduling meeting for teams to arrange games against other teams in their Conference, usually in the month of January. Contact your Conference President or check the Association website for more details.
Each town should attempt to schedule at least four (4) home and four (4) away games with other towns in their Conference. Additional out of Conference games may also be scheduled.
Town representatives are also encouraged to contact representatives from teams in other Conferences to fill out their schedules.
Umpire Scheduling
The home team is responsible for obtaining, confirming, and paying umpires. At least one (1) US Lacrosse-rated umpire must officiate any U15 Travel Level, U13 Select Level or U13 Travel Level game. At least two (2) qualified US Lacrosse-Local rated umpires must officiate Level FC games in the U15 age group. The Umpire Assignor will make every effort to assign two (2) umpires to all U15 Travel Level, U13 Select Level and U13 Travel Level games.
The following rules apply to teams in Conferences A, B, C, D and F. Teams in the E Conference should contact the Conference President for details on the procedures for scheduling umpires.
Arbiter.net is our web-based game scheduling program. Log-in information and details for inputting games will be provided to Member Programs in February. Home games only MUST be input no later than March 1.
PLEASE NOTE: Naming conventions are used for games input in the Arbiter in order to differentiate between Select and Travel team games. Full instructions will be provided by the Association’s Umpire Assignor.
Games during the week cannot be scheduled before 6:00 PM and on Saturdays games should not be scheduled before 1:00 PM. Starting on the third Saturday each May games may be scheduled on Saturdays before 1:00 PM and on weekdays before 6:00PM.
Member Programs scheduling umpires through the Association’s Umpire Assignor will pay a $120 per year per team fee for the U15, U13 and the U11 age groups. Each team will be entitled to schedule twelve (12) games per $120 fee. If you require more games than twelve (12) per team an additional fee per team is required.
The Association’s Umpire Assignor can schedule umpires for U11 if programs choose but this is not required.
Umpire Fees
The umpires are required to be paid before the game begins by either cash, check or voucher, there are no exceptions.
Select Level – U15 Level A rules – two (2) umpires at a game - $60 per person per game net of any fees / taxes
Level A rules – one (1) umpire at a game - $90 per person per game net of any fees / taxes
Level FC Rules – three (3) umpires at a game - $60 per person per game net of any fees / taxes
Level FC Rules – two (2) umpires at a game - $60 per person per game net of any fees / taxes
Level FC Rules – one (1) umpire at a game – NOT PERMITTED
Travel Level – U15 and U13 and Select Level U13 Two (2) umpires at game - $60 per person per game net of any fees / taxes
One (1) umpire at game - $90 per game net of any fees / taxes
U11 - $45 per game for half field games net of any fees/ taxes. If playing full field the fees for U13 and U15 apply.
JGLA Conduct Rules
Good sportsmanship on the part of all players, coaches and fans is always the standard. Each town must ensure that their coaches/players/fans abide by the standards of good behavior outlined by the Association. The following Code of Conduct and Association administrative rules are expected to be followed by all towns participating in the Association:
Rules:
Each team (home and away) will provide a Sideline Administrator (SA) for each game. The SA is responsible for maintaining the following rules on any non-participant. Details on the SA role including instructions on using “Blue Cards” are available on the US Lacrosse website.
All (Players, Coaches, Fans)
1. Be respectful
2. No profanity
3. No threatening behavior
4. No interference (physical or verbal) with play
5. Clean up after yourselves at game sites
Players
1. Good sportsmanship is expected
2. Do not make derogatory comments about other players, coaches, or umpires
3. Do not argue with the umpires
4. Do not throw equipment
Coaches
1. Coach with positive techniques rather than negative ones
2. Remember this is youth lacrosse – not the NCAA finals - put things in perspective and relax
3. Understand that many times youth lacrosse is where inexperienced refs and cadets gain experience – do not expect perfection – do not verbally attack the umpires
4. Do not make derogatory comments about players, coaches, or umpires
5. All coaches should know the rules of women’s / youth lacrosse
Fans
1. No berating umpires, players or coaches
2. Do not approach the coaches during the game
3. Do not approach umpires before or after the game
4. Try not to coach your kids from the sidelines – what you are telling them might be contrary to the coaches’ instructions
Enforcement
1. All coaches, players and parents must read and agree to the Conduct Rules.
2. Coaches will be responsible for their players and fans.
3. Umpires will file complaints regarding players, coaches, and parents with the Association. Infractions will be disciplined.
4. Players ejected from games will sit out next game.
5. Coaches (both teams) and umpires are required to meet just prior to games to go over Association rules and any grounds rules that may apply.
The following language is repeated here to reinforce the JGLA’s focus on good behavior and proper conduct both on and off the field of play. The form itself can be downloaded by clicking here.
JGLA Coach’s Code of Conduct
I acknowledge that I am familiar with both the rules of girls’/women’s lacrosse and the rules of the JGLA. I will honor both the spirit and letter of rules and insist that my players, their parents and our fans do the same.
I understand that at all times I must lead by example and that I must be a positive role model for my players and their parents. I know that the way my team conducts itself can also have an influence, for better or worse, on those we compete against. Each year and throughout the course of the season I will explain my expectations regarding acceptable behavior, sportsmanship and conduct to my players and their parents.
I understand that the true measure of success for a youth lacrosse coach is player enjoyment and improvement. I will concentrate on my players’ enjoyment of the game and their overall, long-term development as athletes and young women.
I pledge to use Positive Coaching Alliance Double Goal Coaching techniques, including:
1) Modeling and teaching my players to Honor the Game through ROOTS (Respect for Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates and Self)
2) I will help my players to redefine what it means to be a “winner” in terms of mastery, not just the scoreboard. I will reward effort and team play, not just good outcomes.
3) I will fill my players Emotional Tanks using the 5:1 magic ratio of positive reinforcements to each criticism/correction.
I acknowledge that making mistakes and losing are part of life. I pledge that I will be tolerant of the mistakes of players, coaches, umpires and others. I recognize that mistakes lead to coachable moments. I understand that my success is not measured by winning but through teaching life lessons and providing a safe, positive learning environment for all of my players regardless of their skill level.
I will do my best to treat all my players fairly. I acknowledge that lacrosse is a team sport and I will encourage my girls play as a team. I pledge that I will commit to promoting an atmosphere of healthy competition to ensure fun for all participants. I will not run up scores against weaker opponents or novice teams. I understand that the JGLA is concerned about a limited number of players dominating game play. I will use my dominant players creatively by encouraging them to work on all aspects of their game and to do what they need to do to make their teammates improve and have a positive experience.
I understand that girls’ youth lacrosse has changed and evolved rapidly in recent years due to both rule and equipment changes. I am committed to teaching my players the basic stick skills and advanced team concepts they will need to play lacrosse safely and to succeed in the modern game. I pledge to continue to grow and learn as a coach by embracing modern coaching techniques and will do my best to prepare my players for success at the next level.
I will show respect for all involved in the game of lacrosse and I will demand that everyone associated with my team do the same. Before, during and after games I will be responsible for the conduct of my players, their parents and our fans. Prior to each game I will introduce myself to the opposing coaches and umpires to go over Association rules and any ground rules that may apply. I will report any misconduct by coaches, players, parents or umpires to the Association’s Sportsmanship Committee so that it can be dealt with appropriately.
I understand that youth lacrosse is where inexperienced umpires gain valuable experience. I will never expect perfection. I will never verbally attack the umpires nor will I ever make critical or derogatory comments about them. After each game I will thank the umpires and ask my players and their parents to do the same.
The JGLA offers each member program that satisfies certain US Lacrosse and JGLA mandated criteria the opportunity to field Select teams.
Through the Select team program, the JGLA provides our older, more experienced players and their US Lacrosse certified coaches with more competitive play afforded under US Lacrosse Level FC rules while still protecting the basic league policies and bylaws.
The JGLA encourages member programs to use an open, fair and transparent team selection process. The exact player selection process and criteria used to form a Select team is up to the discretion of each JGLA member program fielding a Select team.
Member programs may join together to form a Select team but such combination should be reasonably contiguous. While Select team players are not required by the League to play for their program’s Travel or Rec teams, individual JGLA member programs may mandate such participation.
There will be no centralized standings kept nor will there be a championship for Select teams. Each Select team will be allowed a 12 game schedule. Equal playing time is not mandated by the JGLA.
Single grade teams are permitted, as are A/B level teams within the same town.
Senior (7/8) Select teams may play either US Lacrosse Level A or Level FC rules. Junior (5/6) Select teams will play Level A rules. Fifth and sixth graders are not permitted to play Level FC rules under any circumstances.
Level FC games will be played with regular US Lacrosse Women’s Rules with the following modifications:
• Any check to the head is a mandatory red card. For a check to the head, the carded player will be suspended from participating the remainder of the game in which she received the card and must sit out the team’s next game.
• 25 minute halves (max), running time.
JGLA and US Lacrosse Mandated Criteria for Level FC Play:
• Players MUST have mastered the basic skills. Playing time is earned through skill, attitude, and attendance.
• The JGLA member program wishing to play Level FC rules must have been in existence for at least 5 years, and must have progressed players through Levels B or C to Level A before playing Level FC.
• All players on the team must be in the 7th or 8th grade and players must average at least 3 years of playing experience.
• All coaches of teams playing Level FC rules must have US Lacrosse Level I coaching certification.
• Games must be officiated by at least two US Lacrosse rated officials, both of whom must have held a Local rating for a minimum of 2 years.
All Select team head and assistant coaches must present proof of Level 1 (or higher) certification to the League Select Teams Chair prior to the end of March of each year. Proof will be in the form of providing each Select team coach’s name and US Lacrosse membership numbers as follows:
• A photocopy of a US Lacrosse Membership card showing each coach’s certification level or
• A Certification e-mail from US Lacrosse that a card is forthcoming or
• The Select Teams Chair will verify thecoach’s certification on the US Lax website list of certified coaches.
There will be no exceptions to the Level I certification requirement.
Level FC games will only be scheduled on Friday or Saturday evenings or on Sundays. Junior (5/6) Select teams may play any day of the week. Senior (7/8) Select teams may play games with Level A rules any day of the week.
US Lacrosse Rules and JGLA Modifications to the US Lacrosse Youth Rules
The Association seeks to comply with all US Lacrosse rules as provided by Official Rules for Girls Youth Lacrosse in the 2012 Women’s Rule Book. The Association requests that all coaches pay special attention to the Rules Changes of 2012 as discussed in the Women’s Rule Book.
The Association has a small number of modifications and additions with which all Member Programs must comply. These additions are written with the safety of all players being of utmost importance. Girls’ lacrosse should be fun, challenging and safe.
Modifications - General Rules for all Age Groups
The player bench areas must be located on the opposite side of the field from the spectators. Coaches are responsible for ensuring the parents of their players are seated on the opposite side of the field from the players.
Coaches must work to ensure a positive experience for all involved with youth lacrosse by encouraging team play.
Travel and Rec level teams at all divisions are strongly discouraged from running up scores. Under no conditions should goal differentials be greater than ten (10) goals. Before hitting a ten (10) goal differential the dominant team should add additional passes before going to goal, have players play with their non-dominant hand, remove high scorers from game, etc.
If an Official Scorer is not used coaches of both teams are responsible for tracking yellow cards. Coaches should track the uniform numbers of players receiving cards.
JGLA Passing Rules to Encourage “Team Play” at the U9 age group.
The U9 age group will follow a “2-pass” rule. The umpire will attempt to indicate by raised fingers and audibly whether a team has successfully completed the passing requirement and a player can shoot on goal. To qualify the pass need not be successfully completed, but a team must maintain possession by winning any resulting ground ball. Passes must be “overhand” or 4 meters in distance to qualify for the 2-pass rule.
League Rules 
