Parent/Player Handbook

Parent/Player Handbook

Rams Lacrosse Player/Parent Handbook History of Lacrosse Fun Facts Lacrosse is also known as Baggataway or Tewaarathon. Lacrosse was a deeply spiritual activity, played by natives to bring glory to their tribes. In the 1840s, the first games of Lacrosse were played between the townsfolk and the Native People. Lacrosse was named Canada's National Game by Parliament in 1859. In 1867, the National Lacrosse Association became the first national sport governing body in North America dedicated to the governance of a sport. Lacrosse was the dominant sport in Canada at the turn of the 20th century. In 1901, Lord Minto, the Governor General of Canada, donated a silver cup which today symbolizes junior lacrosse supremacy in Canada. The 1930s saw the creation of Indoor Lacrosse, also known as Box Lacrosse or Boxla. Canada joined in the International Women s Field Lacrosse scene participating in the first World Championships in 1982, and has competed at every World Championships since. Lacrosse was re-confirmed by Parliament as the National (summer) Sport of Canada in 1994. History of St Albert Rams Established in 1973, the St. Albert Rams Lacrosse Club has seen its share of highs and lows. Led by a small group including a fellow named Phil Wyllie, the club was reborn in the fall of 1985. A member of the Greater Edmonton Lacrosse Council (GELC), the St. Albert Rams continue to grow and bring the game of lacrosse to St Albert and surrounding communities. St. Albert has a history of producing top level lacrosse players and consistently produces at least one provincial championship team a year as well as players for Team Alberta which compete nationally. The year 2003 was the first year the Rams offered Girls' Lacrosse. Interest in the program continues to grow and the girls program is generally offered at Divisions Novice to Midget. The Game of Box Lacrosse Box lacrosse is an indoor version of lacrosse played almost solely in Canada. The game is generally played in the spring and summer on ice hockey rinks from which the ice has been removed. The playing area is called the box, in contrast to the unenclosed playing field of outdoor lacrosse. The attacking team must take a shot on goal within 30 seconds of gaining possession of the ball. Box lacrosse differs from some sports by allowing crosschecking (hitting another player with the stick with one's hands apart on the shaft) when playing the ball. It also allows solid wooden sticks, while indoor lacrosse permits only hollow metal sticks.

Code of Conduct for Players and Parents Players Always play by the rules. Don't lose your temper. Cheer good plays made by either team. Don't talk trash or tease or goad the opponent. Win or lose, be sure to shake hands with the opponent and officials after a game. Don't yell at teammates for making a mistake. Never criticize teammates or coaches on the sideline. Admit your mistakes instead of making excuses or blaming others. Try your hardest on every play, even if your team is losing by a large margin of goals. Point out incorrect calls when they go in your favour. Don't argue with calls that go against your team. Don't show off. How Parents Can Help Support your child by giving encouragement and showing interest in their participation. Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Teach your child that hard work and an honest effort are more important than victory - that way your child will always be a winner despite the outcome of the game! Be a positive role model for your child. Applaud good plays by your child s team as well as good plays by the opposing team. Let your child establish his/her own goals - to play the game for themselves. Don't put too heavy a burden on your child to win games. Offer positive reinforcement to help your child achieve their goals and overcome their natural fear of failure. If your child makes a mistake, remember it's all part of learning, so encourage your child's efforts and point out the good things that your child accomplishes. Refrain from coaching or refereeing from the sidelines as these officials are usually parents just like you. They volunteer their time to help make your child's lacrosse experience a positive one. They need your support too. Offer your services as a volunteer a fundraiser, driver, timekeeper, scorekeeper, manager of equipment, board member, etc.

Equipment & Uniforms Individual equipment is the sole responsibility of the player. Equipment, i.e. goalie equipment, nets, timers, etc. are the property of the St Albert Rams Lacrosse Club or the City of St Albert and are paid for by the efforts of many. Jerseys are provided for the players use for the season. They are to be maintained in good order. Any damage determined to be other than regular wear and tear may be deemed a player s responsibility for repair or replacement. Loss may be treated the same way. Please remember, jerseys are a visual representation of our pride in our Club. They should be treated with respect.

Box Lacrosse Equipment Player (not shown- mouth guard and kneepads)

Goalie (not shown mouth guard)

Expectations Scheduling The St Albert Rams Lacrosse Club supports the coaches in determining numbers of practice/dry land sessions for their teams. These can range from 1 per week at the Development level to 4 or more at the Competitive level and may not be scheduled on a strict day of the week. Games are scheduled by the GELC and schedules are usually communicated in late April. Games are generally held once per week; however there can be more games depending on the overall number of teams registered. Tykes will generally play games on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings. Mini Tykes will generally play games on Wednesday evenings. Novices will generally play games on Tuesdays and Thursdays nights, as well as required Friday evenings and Saturdays to get the season completed. Pee Wees and up game scheduling will depend on where your child is placed in the tiering system. GELC Playoffs start tentatively June 21 and run thru to July 10th (for some divisions of play only) Provincial play will occur the first two full weekends of July following Canada Day weekend Practice (Coaches may set alternate time requirements that need to be respected) 1. Scheduled practice time is START TIME. Please arrive early enough to be dressed and completely ready for practice by start time, which usually requires arriving a minimum of 30 minutes before start time. 2. Horseplay is strictly prohibited. 3. Attendance is taken at every practice. 4. IF A PLAYER CANNOT ATTEND PRACTICE PLEASE CONTACT THE COACH BEFORE PRACTICE. A Tier Teams - If a player misses an excessive number of practices, his or her playing time may decrease as a result. 5. Players are required to bring water, in an unbreakable container to practice and games. Absolutely no glass containers are allowed. No sharing of water containers is permitted.

Playing Time The coach determines the amount of time an athlete sees in a game. Time is based on the guidelines provided by the league, the athlete's participation/attendance in practice, and the competition level of play. As a guide, the following categories outline the coach's general guidelines for athlete playing time: Development Levels. Mini/Tyke/Novice. This level of play is for the purpose of introduction of playing skills, team building, and game awareness. Although competition is still important as in any sport, the primary focus will be on exposure to game situations. Athletes will be provided with equal instruction and playing time. Competitive Levels. Pee Wee/Bantam/Midget. This level continues with the introduction of playing skills, skill development and team play, while introducing game strategy and position play. Athletes will be assured of playing time, but the amount of time in each game will be dependent on the game situation. Grievance Procedure Knowing when to communicate and how to communicate with your athlete's coach is a concern for almost every parent at some time during the season. St Albert Rams encourages the athlete to talk to the coach when he or she has a problem, or if the player is unclear about what the coach expects from him or her either in practice or in competition. When parents have an issue that is specific to their own athlete, we also encourage them to talk to the coach. Many times issues are simply a matter of miscommunication or misunderstanding that can be resolved simply by addressing the issues with the coach as soon as it arises. The rule of thumb is to let the matter rest for a period of 24 hours to ensure that the issue can be discussed when emotions/tempers are not high. Specifically, the procedures to follow if you as a parent, or your son or daughter as a member of the team, have concerns about our policies or actions are, in this order: 1. The athlete is encouraged to speak to or meet with the coach about the matter. 2. If the matter remains unresolved, the parent should speak to or meet with the coach. 3. If the matter remains unresolved, the parent should speak to or meet with the Parent Liaison or Team Manager. 4. If the matter remains unresolved, the parent should speak with the Division Director. 5. The Division Director will discuss the matter with the Coach and facilitate another discussion between the parent and the coach as necessary. 6. If the matter is still unresolved, the Division Director will bring the issue to the attention of the Executive through the Coach Liaison. 7. The Coach Liaison will discuss the matter with the coach and parent and present it to

the Executive for decision as appropriate. 8. The Coach Liaison will provide any decision/ruling to the Division Director and/or parent/coach as necessary. Physical Training and Conditioning We are about to begin an exciting and successful lacrosse season, please remember that the athletes' best performances will occur when they are at the top of their physical shape. Stresses such as poor nutrition, illness, fatigue (i.e. lack of sleep), and insufficient rest between workout sessions, emotional stress from schoolwork, friends or family situations, or other extra-curricular activities can affect the athlete s ability to develop in their sport. It is of great importance that you take these factors into account when scheduling your time and activities. The body can only handle a certain amount of stress within a given time period before an illness or injury will occur. Diet and Nutrition In addition to physical recovery periods, the athlete should be sure to eat a well- balanced diet that will provide their body with enough long-term energy to sustain a game. Be sure to eat nutritious meals both the day before and the day of a game. Players will also need to bring plenty of water, fruit, and healthy snacks to games to refuel their bodies. Foods such as soda, potato chips, and chocolate should be avoided. Players are responsible for their own water bottles and are not permitted to share their bottles with others. Conflicting Activities St Albert Rams Lacrosse Club is very understanding of the fact that our athletes compete in other sports and activities. However for the good of the team, it is extremely important that our players attend as many practices as possible. It impedes the cohesion of your team and potentially your own development if you only attend sporadically. Players must discuss conflicting activities with other coaches before signing up for lacrosse. It is also important to note that lacrosse playing time may be affected by your attendance at practices and games in competitive levels.

Referee Hand Signals

Communication and Further Information The St Albert Rams Club website is a great resource used to provide information regarding the season as well as to provide contacts for both the Executive and Division Directors. If you have any questions, please visit: http://www.ramslacrosse.ca/default.aspx?p=home or email the Executive or Division Directors.