Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's this game all about?
A: The Ontario Lacrosse Association has put out a beginner's guide to
Lacrosse in Ontario. Click on this link to get the
Parent/Player Guide
to Lacrosse.
Q: What Age Group will my son/daughter play
in this year?
A:
| Year of Birth | Division |
| 2002-2005 | Peanut |
| 2000-2001 | Tyke |
| 1998-1999 | Novice |
| 1996-1997 | PeeWee |
| 1994-1995 | Bantam |
| 1992-1993 | Midget |
| 1987-1991 | Intermediate |
Q: When/where will my son/daughter play this
year?
A: The 2008 times have been finalized and are listed below:
| Monday (Practices) |
Tuesday (Practices) |
Wednesday (Games) |
Thursday (Games) |
|||||
| Kinsmen | Stronach | Kinsmen | Stronach | Kinsmen | Stronach | Kinsmen | Stronach | |
| 6:00- 7:00 |
Tyke/ Novice |
Peanut | Girls 6:30 Nov |
Tyke/ Novice |
Peanut | Girls 6:30 Nov |
||
| 7:00- 8:00 |
Tyke/ Novice |
Bantam | Peewee | Girls 7:30 Peewee/Bant |
Tyke/ Novice |
Bantam | Peewee | Girls 7:30 Peewee/Bant |
| 8:00- 9:00 |
Bantam/ Midget |
Peewee | Girls 8:30 Mid/Int |
Bantam/ Midget |
Peewee | Girls 8:30 Mid/Int |
||
| 9:00- 10:00 |
Midget/ Interm. (1.5 hr games) |
Midget/ Interm. (1.5hr games) |
||||||
Competitive times and days vary but are usually at Kinsmen and Stronach with home games on Tuesday nights at Medway (til July 1) then at Kinsmen.
Houseleague runs from mid April to the end of June - 2 floor times a week - usually 1 practice and 1 game. Competitive runs mid April to the end of July/first part of August - usually 2.5 floor times a week. Competitive tournaments don't start until the first week of June. Field lacrosse runs late April till the end of May - 2 practices a week and then games every weekend for 4 consecutive weekends (Saturday OR Sunday) then another weekend of playdowns and finally a weekend of Provincial Finals for teams that qualify to go that far.
Q: What equipment is needed for lacrosse?
A: The Ontario Lacrosse Association has put out a beginner's guide to
Lacrosse in Ontario and the equipment pages are still valid. Click on this link to get the
Parent/Player Guide
to Lacrosse. Here are some additional box lacrosse equipment
graphics -
In general hockey equipment (helmet, mask, shoulder pads) is suitable to
start. Hockey gloves are sort of OK but lacrosse gloves are much more
flexible and easier to use. A lacrosse stick ($60-$125), kidney pads
($35) and arm guards($25 - $55)
are unique to box lacrosse. Any indoor running shoes are acceptable.
Knee pads are allowed but usually uncomfortable - the arena floors are
smooth enough that a fall/skid will not leave skin behind. Lacrosse
sticks are available at most sporting goods outlets and some big box
stores. Most new sticks throw reasonably well as received but some
adjustments are often needed. If the stick does not throw where you
think it should talk to your coach or one of the HL conveners - there
are people available that can make the necessary adjustments to "fix"
the most obvious stick related problems.
Goalie equipment (except for helmet/mask and gloves) is provided in
House League.
Q: My son/daughter has never
played before? Is it difficult to learn?He/she is older, is it too late
to start the game?
A: Not really and it depends. At the younger ages, a willingness to
learn and to run is important. The most important thing to ensure an
enjoyable on-floor experience for your child is for you, as the parent
to get a stick as well and play catch with your son and daughter for
10-15 minutes a day. After 2-3 weeks you will be amazed at how much more
fun the practices and games will be for him/her.
It is never too late to start to play. As long as the player is willing
to run (and make an effort), no age is too old. Given some effort
playing catch with a parent or friend or even tossing the ball against a
convenient building wall, you can pick up enough
passing/catching/shooting techniques to get by - we have had numerous
parents (mothers as well) come out to play Masters Lacrosse (Old Timers)
after seeing how much fun their offspring are having.
Q: Isn't this sport insanely
violent? I've seen the Rock play on TV - they kill each other on the
floor and the pro players fight! (I'm afraid my child will get hurt out
there/Give me a stick, I want to get out there and hit someone/get in a
fight)
A: Lacrosse is not a violent, dangerous sport and injury frequency is
surprisingly low for a full contact sport. There is no question that
there are a lot of bumps and bruises but serious injuries
requiring medical attention are exceedingly rare - injury frequency is
much lower than either hockey or soccer - in fact lacrosse was well down
the list of sports injuries - equal in injury frequency to bowling and
broomball but well behind gymnastics and dancing(!). Though similar in
style to hockey the fact that the players are on their feet as opposed
to skates appears to make them less prone to injuries of all types. As
in hockey, violent or improper behavior is not acceptable - high
sticking, slashing, charging, boarding, illegal cross checks, checking
from behind are all penalized. Fighting and violent play are not
tolerated at all and are dealt with as in minor hockey.
Any comparison of minor lacrosse to professional or even Junior A/B
lacrosse is unwarranted. Minor hockey play is very different from the
NHL and Major Junior hockey as is minor lacrosse from the NLL.
This is not to say that lacrosse is the perfect game for every child -
each individual is different but past experience has shown that given a
chance to try the game a majority of players come back again and again.
Q: Can I have my son/daughter play with a
certain player/coach/group of players/his hockey team/a stacked
team....?
A: In general the answer is probably NO! We will make some accommodation
for players travelling from out of town and there are Travel Request
forms to fill out for players needing special car pooling arrangements
(2 players per Travel Form, both sets of parents must sign, no
guarantees). The conveners will try to accommodate these travel requests
as best as they can but multiple player requests, full team requests
(same team as last year, 15 players wanting to play with one coach, full
hockey team registrations) will usually not be considered - the work
involved in distributing players and then the issues that inevitably
arise with re-balancing, make such requests unworkable.
Q: I missed all previous registrations, Can
I please register online/by mail/at the registrar's home, by phone?
Can I register my neighbour's child? What proof of age is required?
A: We cannot register players online or by phone because of the OLA
requirement that we get original parent/guardian signatures/initials on
the OLA insurance waivers c/w a copy of a birth certificate for new
registrants. Keep an eye on this website for additional dates and times
for registration. A parent or legal guardian MUST sign the registration form.
You cannot sign for someone else's child. Players 18 years or older must
sign their own forms at registration. A birth certificate, passport, Certificate of Live Birth,
Status Card are all suitable as proof of age. A new Health Card that has the child's birthdate
on it is acceptable if you, as the parent, offer it as a proof of identity/age. We have a
photocopier at registration to provide copies for our records.
Q: I keep hearing in the news about a
Fitness Tax Credit, what is it?
A: Your registration receipt (3rd page of the LMLA registration form) is
your receipt. Please keep this safe as no other receipt will be issued.
Further tax related questions regarding the new Fitness Tax Credit are
answered at the following link
Parks and Recreation
Ontario - Fitness Tax Credit
Q: Can I volunteer/timekeep/referee for LMLA
this year?
A: Yes, yes and maybe! We are always looking for additional help -
convening, organizing, COACHING (!), Asst-Coaching. Call our HL Director
Karie Wells (936-0532)for further information. Level 0 and Level 1
Coaching clinics will be available near the start of the year for
interested coaches (16 or older). Older players can also volunteer to
help on the floor with the younger teams - a good way to get High School
community service volunteer hours. For older players (+14), timekeeping
is another option - timekeepers are paid but are required to be
conscientious and reliable. Contact our Referee-in-Chief, Ron Earnshaw
(472-5470) for further details. For referees, Ron Earnshaw prefers
candidates to be +16 and have taken or be willing to take the Level 1
Referees' Clinic. To attend the clinic you must get Ron Earnshaw's
approval prior to registering.
Q: Girls House League Lacrosse - what are
the details?
A: Girl's Box Lacrosse is a go for 2008. After fantastic inaugural years
in 2006 and 2007 we are looking forward to more girls playing Canada's
Summer National Sports. LMLA is offering a Girl's Box House League
program. A girl's program has been in place in Toronto for a couple of
years with huge interest and success - Hamilton and a couple of other
centres are also planning girl's teams this year. LMLA hopes and expects
that there will be enough interest to run at least 2 mixed age teams
this year. We expect that we may have enough players for a Novice/Peewee
and Bantam/Midget/Intermediate team. Everything will depend on numbers.
We expect most of last year's girls to re-register this year. If YOU
want Girl's Box Lacrosse to succeed in London, put your name forward to
volunteer to help. Become involved with the Girl's program by talking up
potential players and their parents, recruit more players to come out -
recruit the entire Devillettes organization if you have to (1 team at a
time). Remember that raw numbers will make all the difference in whether
this program gets further off the ground or not. Note that most of the
projected participants will likely be new to the sport as most of the
experienced girls (+3 years lax experience) seem to be leaning towards
remaining in the Coed/Main HL program. If you have any questions contact
Doug Paddick.
Q: I would like to coach but I know nothing
about lacrosse?
A: Not a problem - see the volunteer note above. There are always people
to turn to for help. There are training sessions available for new
coaches. The game is fast paced and fun, the basics of the game are easy
to pick up and you'll learn the rest as you go along. Without coaches we
can't have a program and it only takes a couple of hours a week. If
you're still unsure contact Karie Wells or any director.