As part of the Dues payment process a representative from each NJJGLL member program must attest to the Board that their program is in compliance with all NJJGLL rules.
To certify your program is in compliance, fill in your name and select your town, then hit the Certify button. The following page will provide a link to download the 2011 Dues Form and the NJJGLL Coaches Code of Conduct, which must be filled out by all coaches and returned to the program administrator.
The New Jersey Junior Girls Lacrosse League 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 League emphasizes that inter-town competition at this level is instructional. It is hoped 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.
All players, coaches and program administrators must be members of US Lacrosse.
Requirements for NJJGLL Member Programs
Each member program must send at least one (1) representative to the NJJGLL 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 the NJJGLL Rules and each NJJGLL member program must annually certify that they comply with the NJJGLL Rules.
Key Changes for 2011
Requirements for Coaches
All coaches must read and sign a NJJGLL Coach’s Code of Conduct form and submit it to their program administrator.
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 attend or view on the internet a NJJGLL Youth Rules Interpretation session each year.
Each year all coaches who are not US Lacrosse Level I, II or III Certified must attend one (1) coaching clinic run by the NJJGLL, US Lacrosse or other local lacrosse organization.
All NJJGLL coaches must undergo background checks prior to the start of the season. Coaches who are Level I, II or III Certified will do their background check through NCSI each September prior to the expiration of their US Lacrosse membership. Programs wishing to use NCSI for background checks on their non-certified coaches should go to www.ncsisafe.com for more information. NJJGLL member programs may choose to use NCSI, their local police department or any other organization or vendor who offers background check services.
For the 2011 season all coaches for Senior (7/8) Select and Junior (5/6) Select teams must be US Lacrosse Level I Certified. Also in 2011 Senior (7/8) Travel team head coaches must be Level I certified. Requirements for certification include: successful completion of US Lacrosse Level I Online course, attendance at Level I instructional clinic, completion of Positive Coaching Alliance Double Goal training and a background check by the National Center for Safety Initiatives. Please visit the www.uslacrosse.org for more information on the Level I certification process.
US Lacrosse Level I Certification
The NJJGLL Board is encouraging all coaches at all levels to complete the US Lacrosse Level I Certification process and move on to Level II Certification.
For the 2011 season:
Member programs must submit names and US Lacrosse numbers of all coaches required to be certified prior to the start of the game season in April.
Please note: Starting with the 2012 season certification will also be required for Junior (5/6) Travel head coaches.
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 League within 48 hours of the incident.
Reporting of unsportsmanlike conduct should follow this protocol:
Divisions
League play is divided into five age groups:
The NJJGLL now allows single grade teams at the Select level. Under longstanding US Lacrosse rules girls may “play up” to the next higher age group (e.g. a fifth or sixth grader may play on a Senior 7/8 team) but only 7th and 8th graders may play on Senior 7/8 Select teams playing Level FC rules. Players are not permitted to “play down” (e.g. 5th graders may not play on a 3/4 team against another 3/4 team.)
Levels
League play is divided into three Levels based on competitiveness of play.
Select (Seniors 7/8 and Juniors 5/6 only) This new level replaces the NJJGLL D Team program and is the NJJGLL’s most competitive level of play.
Travel (All Age Groups) This level follows the traditional NJJGLL format and is not as competitive as the Select level.
Rec (All Age Groups) This is a new level for “in town” or “house” programs consisting of teams that rarely, if ever, plays out of town teams. The NJJGLL gives member programs wide latitude with regard to how Rec programs are run but makes the following recommendations:
Intra-Level Play
Member programs are encouraged to expose their teams to team of other Levels (i.e. Select, Travel, Rec) over the course of each season. Select teams may schedule games against other Select and Travel teams. Travel teams may schedule games against Select, Travel or Rec teams. Rec teams may schedule games against Rec or Travel teams. Select teams may not play Rec teams. When Select teams play Travel teams the Travel “philosophy” applies to both teams (e.g. relatively equal playing time, no running up scores beyond a 10 goal differential, etc.)
In situations where a Senior 7/8 Select team plays a Senior 7/8 Travel team US Lacrosse Level A rules would apply.
Travel Teams - Team Ability
If any town has more than one Travel team participating in one age group, the League requires that the NJJGLL member program create teams of relatively equal ability and not teams based on skill 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 League. If the issue remains unresolved then follow the protocol for reporting Sportsmanship Issues outlined earlier in this document.
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 girl’s lacrosse program in her age group or at her Level. In such a case, she must join a program in a contiguous town or, if none exists, in the program nearest to her hometown. NJJGLL member programs are instructed to respect the geographical boundaries of neighboring programs and player poaching is prohibited. NJJGLL member programs may release players to play for other NJJGLL programs at their discretion.
Annual League Dues and Member Program Attestation
By the end of March of each year member programs must pay Dues in the amount of $100. The Treasurer will notify members when Dues invoices are available for download from the NJJGLL web site.
As part of the Dues payment process a representative from each NJJGLL member program must attest to the Board that their program is in compliance with all NJJGLL rules.
Game Season Start Date
For the 2011 season, the Board has approved that the game season begins on April 12.
The League’s Umpire Assignor for teams in Conferences A, B, C and D will not schedule umpires for regular league games scheduled prior to the above noted date.
Programs are encouraged to contact the League’s Umpire Assignor (Umpire@njjgll.org) if they wish to host preseason scrimmages or playdays 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.
Each town should attempt schedule at least four (4) home and away games with other towns in their NJJGLL Conference. Additional out of Conference games may also be scheduled.
Umpire Fees for 2011
The umpires are required to be paid before the game begins by either cash, check or voucher, there are no exceptions.
Select – Seniors (7/8)
Level A rules – two umpires at a game - $60 per person per game
Level A rules – one umpire at a game - $90 per person per game
Level FC Rules – three umpires at a game - $60 per person per game
Level FC Rules – two umpires at a game - $60 per person per game
Level FC Rules – one umpire at a game – NOT PERMITTED
Travel – Juniors and Seniors (5/6 & 7/8) and Select – Juniors (5/6)
Two umpires at game - $60 per person per game
One umpire at game - $90 per game
Grades 3/4 - $45 per game for half field games. If playing full field at 3/4 the fees for 5/6 and 7/8 apply.
Umpire Scheduling
The home team is responsible for obtaining, confirming, and paying umpires. At least one US Lacrosse-rated umpire must officiate any 5/6 Select, 5/6 Travel or 7/8 Travel game. At least two qualified US Lacrosse-rated umpires must officiate Level FC games in the Senior (7/8) age group. The Umpire Assignor will make every effort to assign two (2) umpires to all 5/6 Select, 5/6 Travel and 7/8 Travel games.
The following rules apply to teams in Conferences A, B, C and D. Teams in the E Conference should contact the Conference President for details on the procedures for scheduling umpires.
Arbiter.net will again be our web-based game scheduling program. Log-in information and details for inputting games will be provided by to member programs in February 2011. Home games only MUST be input no later than March 1, 2011.
PLEASE NOTE: A new team naming convention will be in use this year for games input in the Arbiter in order to differentiate between Select and Travel team games. Full instructions will be provided by the League’s Umpire Assignor.
Games during the week cannot be scheduled before 6:00 PM and on Saturdays games should not be scheduled before 1 PM. Starting on the third Saturday each May games may be scheduled on Saturdays before 1 PM.
Member programs scheduling umpires through the League’s Umpire Assignor will pay a $120 per year per team fee for the 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8 age groups. Each Scooper (3/4), Junior (5/6) and Senior (7/8) team will be entitled to schedule twelve (12) games per $120 fee. If you require more games than twelve (12) per team an additional $120 fee per team is required.
Please note the League’s Umpire Assignor will now schedule umpires for Scoopers (grades 3/4.)
Umpire Payment / Game Cancellation Policy
Umpires must be notified of game cancellations no less than one hour before the scheduled start time. If games are canceled less than one hour before game time or after a game has begun the umpires must be paid for the game.
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 for more details.
Town representatives are also encouraged to contact representatives from teams in other Conferences to fill out their schedules.
NJJGLL 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 League. The following Code of Conduct and League administrative rules are expected to be followed by all towns participating in the League:
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)
Players
Coaches
Fans
Enforcement
Click here to download NJJGLL Coach’s Code of Conduct form.
NJJGLL Select Teams
The NJJGLL offers each member program that satisfies certain US Lacrosse and NJJGLL mandated criteria the opportunity to field Select teams.
Through the Select team program the NJJGLL 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 NJJGLL 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 NJJGLL 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 no longer required by the League to play for their program’s Travel or Rec teams individual NJJGLL member programs may still mandate such participation.
There will be no centralized standings kept nor will there be a championship for Select teams.
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:
NJJGLL and US Lacrosse Mandated Criteria for Level FC Play
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 Select team coach’s names and US Lacrosse membership numbers.
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 with NJJGLL Modifications
The League follows the Official Rules for Girls & Women’s Lacrosse as established by US Lacrosse and as modified below for the NJJGLL. These rules are written with the safety of all players being of utmost importance. Girl’s lacrosse should be fun, challenging and safe. To that end, the umpires shall have the authority to penalize any foul, unsafe play, or unacceptable behavior not covered specifically in these rules. Play should be as continuous as possible, and any foul which does not gain an advantage for the offender or her team should result in a “held” whistle whenever possible.
General Rules for all Age Groups
All NJJGLL coaches must read, sign and submit a NJJGLL Coach’s Code of Conduct to their program administrator each year.
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.
An indirect free position will be taken by the team with fewer goals if a four or more goal differential exists unless waived by the coach of the trailing team. Please note – this rule does not apply to Level FC games.
Coaches must work to ensure a positive experience for all involved with youth lacrosse by encouraging team play.
Coaches must agree to abide by the NJJGLL Coach’s Code of Conduct.
Each team must also identify to the opposing coach and umpires their Sideline Administrator.
Travel and Rec teams at all levels are strongly discouraged from running up scores. Goal differentials should never 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.
New for 2011 – 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. If a second yellow card is issued to the same player in the same game the coaches will inform the umpire that the player is suspended from play for the remainder of the game and from participation in the team’s next game.
For a full discussion of the carding rules please see pages 54 – 57 of the 2011 rule book.
Three (3) Seconds Closely Guarded (does not apply to Level FC games):
No holding the ball for more than three (3) seconds when:
The umpire will give an audible and visible 3-second count. The count should follow this sequence: one-one thousand, two-one thousand, immediately followed by a whistle when the third hand chop reaches its full extension thus marking count number three without saying three-one thousand.
If the offensive player moves her stick out of a checkable position (e.g. by switching her stick from one side of her body to the other) the count ceases and will only be restarted if the offensive player’s stick is returned to a checkable position or the defender repositions herself to a spot where she could make a legal check if checking were allowed.
Senior Select Only - Level FC Rules: Level FC games will be played with regular US Lacrosse Women’s Rules with the following modifications:
US Lacrosse Level A Youth Rules - will be used for Senior (7/8) Travel & Rec Games, Junior (5/6) Select, Travel and Rec games. Please note: in certain circumstances Senior Select games may be played with Level A rules.
US Lacrosse Level B Youth Rules with NJJGLL Modifications - may be used for Scooper (3/4) Travel and Rec games.
US Lacrosse Level C Rules with NJJGLL Modifications – may be used for Scooper (3/4) and Tyke (1/2) Travel and Rec games.
Please note: The above rules apply to Scooper games played between NJJGLL member programs. Individual NJJGLL member programs operating “in town only” or “house” recreational lacrosse programs for girls in grades 3 and 4 (or below) are free to structure their programs as they deem appropriate. If an “in town only” or “house” 3/4 team does schedule games against another NJJGLL member program the “in town only” or “house” team will be expected to abide by all NJJGLL rules and play by NJJGLL 3/4 rules as outlined above.
US Lacrosse Rule Changes for the 2011 Season
The NJJGLL urges all program administrators to confirm that all coaches have received and read the 2011 Women’s Rules – Official Rules for Girls and Women’s Lacrosse published by US Lacrosse.
The following is an abbreviated discussion of the significant US Lacrosse rule changes for the upcoming season. Changes to the rules appear in italics below. Please review the 2011 Rule Book for a complete discussion of all rule changes.
The major changes in the women’s game were made to the Rule 7, Misconduct and Suspensions section; the changes are as follows:
• The head coach will be responsible for the behavior of personnel affiliated with her team, including all assistant coaches, and will receive any cards related to lack of bench decorum.
• Anyone receiving two yellow cards in a single game must sit out of the team’s next game. (So, “two yellows do not equal a red” because…..)
• Anyone receiving a red card must sit out of the team’s next two games. For youth teams using Level FC rules where a check to the head is a mandatory red card, a player will continue to sit out one game if a red card is received.
• Once a team receives its third card of the game the team will play shorthanded for the remainder of the game. They will lose an additional player each time another card is received.
NJJGLL Passing Rules to Encourage “Team Play” at the Scooper and Tyke age groups.
The 1/2 and 3/4 age groups will follow a “2-pass” rule**. 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.
** An umpire will attempt to indicate by raised fingers, the number of passes needed before a player can shoot on goal.