Chatham Youth Lacrosse Policies - 2009 Season

Team Composition

·      Squads of 9-14. The number of squads per grade depends on a grades schedule, number of players, and availability of coaches.

·      Squads are of equal ability, as recommended by coaches and approved by Recreation Department.

·      Squads formed after March 20, 2009

·    2 squads play in any individual game. A player is ‘on-squad’ when his squad is scheduled to play in a game and ‘off-squad’ when his squad is not scheduled to play in a game.

·    No special provisions for players to make-up missed on-squad games.

·    Coaches determine special situations with goalies (i.e., an individual goalie may play in off-squad games if no other goalies available).

·    If necessary, coaches will select off-squad players to play only when there are insufficient numbers of on-squad players or position players for an individual game. Coaches will use a rotating alphabetical position list, as necessary, to ensure that enough position players are available, especially at the higher grade levels.  Players that play more than one position, if used on one position list, will be bypassed thru the rotation of the other position list until their name comes up again as a free player.

Practice and Game Schedule

·    Schedule will be set with the goal that each player will participate in at least 10 games and 1 tournament.

·    Schedule will include 2 practices per week and 1-2 games per week.  There may be more until the game season begins.

·    Recreation Department will endeavor to keep a consistent practice schedule on a weekly basis (i.e., same days of the week and same fields).  With the number of teams, fields, and multiple activities this is not always possible.

·    All squads practice together. When practices begin, due to the available indoor space, teams may be broken into smaller groups for the safest instruction.  Chatham Recreation will endeavor to provide sufficient practice space for large teams (i.e., if an individual grade level has 40+ players, more than one gym slot/field will be provided for practice).

·    Attendance will be taken for practice and games. Lack of attendance will be addressed by both coaches and Chatham Recreation, and will result in reduced playing time or the lack of playing time in games.

Playing Time

·    All players will play at least one quarter in an individual game if a player has participated and attended practice.  At grades 4 – 6, coaches will endeavor for all players to have equal playing time over the course of the season.

·    Please note that players may play less or more in an individual game (depending on middle rotations, positions played, special squad play – like man-up, man-down – and other game factors).

Select Team Play

·    Coaches recommend and Chatham Recreation approve events during the year which will be designated for a ‘Select Team’

          *  8^th grade:  3 events

          *  7^th grade:  2 events

          *  6^th grade:  2 events

          *  5^th grade:  1 event

·    Events will be determined prior to distribution of a season schedule.

·    Goals: (a) Reward players for performance, (b) Match-up with premiere opponents or tournament situation.

·    Player selection criteria: (a) sportsmanship, (b) playing ability, (c) commitment, as demonstrated by practice and game attendance, and (d) improvement in performance during the season.  Coaches recommend and Chatham Recreation approves Select Team composition.  Different players can play in different Select Team events; selections will be made prior to each event.

·    Players not selected for the ‘Select Team Play’ will play in the same number of other games or tournaments (ie, Select team Play counts towards the 10 games / 1 tournament which each player plays in).  Specifically, for each Select Team event, players not on the Select Team will play in another game or tournament.  The goal is that each player will play in 10 games and 1 tournament and that all players will play in the same number of games and tournaments.