To all Lacrosse players, coaches and families,
The season is wrapping up with playoffs around the corner. Last week the ALA shared with all members a reminder on the Code of Conduct we all agreed to as players, coaches, volunteers and spectators of the sport. (Click here for the full Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy)
In light of that and some recent incidents, we would like to reinforce from the CDLA, and your local clubs the importance of safety and control of the games.
CDLA will communicate with the ALRA (Alberta Lacrosse Referee Association) that our support is there to enable the officials to continue focus on a safe and fun playing environment. But with 2 officials on the floor and multiple players and coaching staff, we need to do more from the sidelines, so we are asking for help from all levels.
Players - Play with respect, be cautious with your checks and play against your opponents the way you wish to be played against. If you are called for a penalty, accept the advice of the officials and bench staff. Use your time in the penalty box to consider how you should have handled that situation better. Disputing the call on the floor is likely going to lead to additional unsportsmanlike or delay of game penalties, so keep calm and play lacrosse.
Coaches - Teach respect, ensure you are promoting a positive, competitive environment. Help the officials with ensuring your players understand their actions and identify when plays that may not have been seen by the officials happen and ensure they know what could have happened. Sometimes this may require having a player sit and additional shift or 2 to understand that their actions have consequences. Respect the officials, we cannot play without them, and they are learning as we all are. Lead by example! If you are not respecting the officials, then how can you expect your players to. We need to do better at the coaching level and understand that decisions made by the officials are final. No amount of yelling at the bench is going to make a change. Use the Coach’s Referee report to submit positive feedback as well as concerns. Only reporting the negative is not going to help grow and improve our referees. They need the positive feedback as well as the corrective.
Parents - Support your players and volunteers. Everyone wants to see the sport grow and continue to be an action packed exciting time. Respect the officials and understand it is a tough job. They won’t see everything and are doing the best they can while also learning and improving themselves. If you have concerns your first point of contact is your team manager/parent liaison, then coach. They can escalate to the coaching directors within the club and they can escalate from there. Attend your club’s AGM and learn more about all the work that goes on behind the scenes to make this program run, and remember most of the clubs are run by volunteers only, so please be patient and support where you can.
We must all tighten up our games, ensure our players are out there playing a clean game, and treating others with respect. This is critical to support retention and growth within the program. Lacrosse is tough, it is fast, and it is fun! Lets all work together to keep it safe!
Good luck to all in these final weeks and everyone take a moment to think of how YOU can help make lacrosse better and set the best example possible for our players!
Wade Bowley
President
Calgary District Lacrosse Association