Intermountain Lacrosse Spring 2024 Coaches Meeting Highlights
Intermountain Lacrosse organization in Utah held a coaches meeting for the spring 2024 season, discussing mission, rule changes for youth, officials' pregame interactions, game termination protocols, and more. Key points include the promotion and development of boys and girls youth lacrosse, new rules for youth play distinct from high school, and guidelines for coach interactions with officials and reporting incidents. The focus remains on growing players, the league, and the game while ensuring safety and sportsmanship.
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INTERMOUNTAIN LACROSSE SPRING 2024 COACHES MEETING
Intermountain Lacrosse & Our Mission Grow the player, grow the league, grow the game Dedicated to the promotion, development, and administration of both Boys and Girls youth lacrosse in Utah 501 c(3) Non-profit Volunteer run 4 Staff Members IMLAX Executive Board 7 members General Council All programs represented
2024 RULE CHANGES YOUTH ONLY CHANGES - Rules Distinct from High School HS New Rule (5-4-2) USAL Youth Rules will not follow the change to a one-minute penalty option at the High School level. The youth committee felt that the stronger two-minute penalty remained a better option to control play. One-handed stick checks now allowed at 5th/6th & 7th/8th! USAL Youth Rules passed an allowance of one-handed stick checks for 12U and 14U youth play. The committee felt that the penalties around slashes were in place to ensure safe play and that the allowance of one-handed checks at this 14U and 12U level was an important part of the safe progression of skills for the player. *REMINDER* - Youth ONLY Change (2023): Penalty administration is no longer releasable. All fouls must be served for their full penalty time. Rationale: Increases the impact of penalties called ensuring commitment to safe and legal play.
2024 RULES Quick Links 2024 USA Lacrosse Boys Youth Guidebook (Click Here) 2024 Youth Rule Changes (Click Here) USA Lacrosse Boys and Men s Rules Home (Click Here) 2024 Youth Rules Exam (required) Available through your account with USA Lacrosse Login -> E-Learning
Officials Pregame Interactions Head coaches ONLY are allowed to talk with officials Coaches are not allowed on the field of play without acknowledgement from the official. Please be respectful of the officials! Stop the passive aggressive comments Understand that you and the official are on different spots on the field and may see things differently. Coach Certifications Time for age-appropriate questions Note: Officials may need to know up to 6 different sets of rules. Get clear on the age-specific rules. Line-ups
Officials Game Termination Reporting If you have a specific incident, we will have a form on our website for you to provide details regarding said event. This may be used to help improve the officiating. If you have video of a specific event you may provide that to us as well. Ejections result in an automatic suspension for the following game. This is for players, coaches and spectators. RULE 8: Game Termination Officials will have authority to terminate a boys youth game in response to flagrant acts of unsportsmanlike behavior including excessively rough play or the encouragement of excessively rough play by coaches, athletes, or spectators. A game termination will be the last resort in ensuring the players safety and preserving the integrity of the game. If possible, game officials will issue at least one strong warning that the game is in danger of being terminated. However, it is conceivable that games may be terminated on the first instance of a flagrant unsportsmanlike act. Every effort should be taken to avoid game termination, including the enforcement of existing rules for team-conduct penalties, unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties, and ejection fouls. All games terminated by an official will result in a 1-0 victory for the team that is innocent of the terminal offense(s). It is recommended that the game should count in league statistics as a full game, and all goals, assists, saves, and other team statistics should count toward team and league records.
BECOME AN OFFICIAL! ->>> CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AS AN OFFICIAL <<<- 2024 Spring Training Schedule!! 2024 Training Schedule Date Tuesday Time Location 50 East 2500 North Suite 200 North Logan, UT 84341 NORTH LOGAN Training Boys Officials Rules/Mechanics Training February 27, 20247:00 PM - 9:00 PM IMLAX Office: 676 W. Confluence Ave. Murray, UT 84123 10:00-11:00 AM Brand New Officials 11:00 - 12pm New & Returning Officials Saturday March 2, 2024 Training #3 Boys Officials Rules/Mechanics Training ***Minimum age to officiate is 16 years old***
Coach Requirements 1. Register - Please get coaches to register ASAP. They will not have access to their rosters and/or receive communications from the league of they don't register on the website. 1. Click the REGISTER button on the home page & register as volunteer/staff NOT Participant. Remember - we cover costs for USA Lacrosse Membership, background check and provide you a code to provide them a free registration for their child. 2. ALL COACHES Must complete USA Lacrosse Bronze Level Certification CLICK HERE FOR Bronze Certification Info & Instructions 3. ALL COACHES Must complete Background Check with Spectrum Security Group! www.specgroup.org NOTE: Coaches without badge will be asked to leave the sideline
Schedules/Rules Schedules Rules Schedules will be released on or before March 8, 2024 Cannot complete schedules without team splits (Feb 16th) SUPER IMPORTANT TO GET ON THIS!!! Get your players REGISTERED EARLY It is your responsibility to teach the players the rules Bring rules matrix to all games for reference Please be respectful of the officials! K-4th Grade Coaches please review the Small-Sided guidelines and field diagrams. K/1 Rules & Guidelines 2nd/3rd/4th Rules & Guidelines Spring Break Each program has designated up to 2 Saturdays off for Spring Break. Please communicate your no play date to your program players/parents immediately. - Teams may forfeit games if not enough players. Everything Available on YOUTH RESOURCES PAGE!
Practices Coaches/Programs are responsible to coordinate their team practices and location May have began as early as February 21st All players and coaches (Coaches Matrix) at practice must be registered with ACTIVE US Lacrosse Memberships. Please check your rosters online with your attendance from practice. (Players think they are registered when they really are not, or might have selected the incorrect team, or league. ) If a player does not appear on your team roster online something is wrong 5-8th grade teams: May have up to 3 Practices per week, up to 2 hours per session K-4th grade teams: May have up to 2 Practices per week, up to 1.5 hours per session
Games 7 regular season games per team + Laxfest(5/11) for 5th-8th 8 regular season games for K-4th Most games played on Saturdays in Spring (3/16 - 5/11) A few weekday games may occur in late April early May Approximate game times between 9am-5pm ALL GAMES SCHEDULED ON 1HR TIME SLOTS *GAME DAY MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBILITY OF HOST* Setup/takedown, cleanup, etc. Coaches will record scores in the system All coaches on sideline must have league issued ID/coaches badge - https://www.specgroup.org/backgroundchecks .
Fall vs. Spring SPRING Season 7 Games Playoffs May 11th Lax Fest-2 games May 19th Championships Time & Locations TBD Overtime is played Ties only apply if teams are tied after two 4-min OT periods (only @ 5th - 8th) 1 Timeout per half per team 3 Divisions for 7th/8th grade 3 Divisions for 5th/6th 5th-8th Each have A, B, & 7 s FALL Season 5 Games NO Postseason No Overtime Games end in tie at end of regulation 1 Timeout per game per team 2 divisions ONLY B (10v10) & 7 s
Rosters and Team Splits Team Splits Due Friday February 17th, 2023 Number of teams and skill level at each age-group Please have program director use Spring Team data sheet. Enter teams and levels. Coaches can move players between rosters Rosters locked March 15th All teams must have completed rosters (Numbers and Positions) entered on www.IMLAXutah.org
Divisions 7/8th grade A division Top 7thand 8th graders 7/8 grade B division Middle level 7th and 8th graders 7/8 grade 7 s division Beginning level 7th and 8th graders *7v7 80x40 field* 5/6th grade A division Top 5th and 6th graders 5/6th grade B division Middle and Beginning 5th and 6th 5/6th grade 7 s division Beginning level 5th and 6th graders *7v7 80x40 field* 3/4th grade - one division- 3rd and 4th graders (programs should make these competitively equal) 2/3rd grade - one division- 2nd and 3rd graders (programs should make these competitively equal) K-1 grade - one division - K through 1st graders (programs should make these competitively equal) Conditions: - Programs with only 1 team per Level Must play in the B Division or above - Programs with 2 teams per Level Must play one team in the A Division - Programs with 3 teams per Level Must play one team in the A Division - Programs with more than 3 teams are encouraged to play more than one team in A Division - If you feel your program cannot meet these criteria you must present an argument to the league as to why. The league will aggregate player experience data to see if you qualify for a variance. ***NEW SPRING 2023 program receiving variance to not field teams in A division are not eligible for playoffs in B divisions*** Notes: - B and C divisions are for new and developing players. - We are encouraging all programs to push players up to a higher level when appropriate. We have seen player development increase at a faster rate when we challenge a player to play a higher level. - If a program has multiple B or C teams those teams must be divided in an equal manner. Meaning they should be split such that they are equally competitive. - In order to accommodate the creation of teams with appropriate number of players or to provide appropriate development level, the league may allow variances for 6thgraders to play in 7/8 B Division and 4thgraders to play in 5/6 B Division. You submit a formal VARIANCE REQUEST.
5th/6th & 7th/8th C Format 7 vs. 7 w/ goalies (2A, 2M, 2D, G) 10-14 players/ team Field: 80X40 yards or (inner box) Standard Goals and crease Games 12 min. (running) quarters Face-offs are standard Off-side 2 on offensive half & 3 on defensive half Full team substitutions during dead balls Strongly encouraged Not strictly enforced *Strongly recommend ALL COACHES download NEW USL Mobile Coach APP* Full practice plans & drill diagrams specific for each age group 8U 14U
K-4 Format K-1st: 2nd/3rd/4th: 4 vs. 4 (no goalies) 6-10 players/ team Field: 60X35 yards or (cross field offensive box) Goals are 3X3 w/ 6 ft. crease Games 10 minute (running) quarters Face-offs only occur to start game and all quarters Restart Team with ball starts at GLE. Defensive team starts on their side of the field. NEW NO off-side Full team substitutions during dead balls Strongly encouraged Not strictly enforced 7 vs. 7 w/ goalies (2A, 2M, 2D, G) 10-14 players/ team Field: 80X40 yards or (inner box) Standard Goals and crease Goalies for 3rd/4th Goal Blockers for 2nd/3rd Games 10 min. (running) quarters Face-offs are standard Off-side 2 on offensive half & 3 on defensive half Full team substitutions during dead balls Strongly encouraged Not strictly enforced *Strongly recommend ALL COACHES download NEW USL Mobile Coach APP* Full practice plans & drill diagrams specific for each age group 8U
LAX FEST *Playoffs - In the place of traditional playoff formats, IMLAX will sponsor an end-of-season festival called LaxFest. LaxFest will provide an opportunity for all teams to participate if they choose to do so. The festival will provide two games for each team grades 5-8 that enters excluding the top 8 teams in the A & B divisions who will participate in a more traditional playoff (new spring 2023) The teams will be grouped in two conferences, NORTH and SOUTH, according to their ranking prior to LaxFest. Each grouping of 4 teams will play a round robin with winners and losers of the first set of games then playing each other. 1v4 and 2v3 Winners play Losers play 5v8 and 6v7 Winners play Losers play and so on Note: With this change we will reduce the regular season game total to 7 games. Each team will then have a total of 9 games guaranteed. Grades K-4 will still have an 8 game season. LaxFest format will be shorter games of two 18 minute halves.
NEW Playoff for 2023 Boys 5th/6th & 7th/8th A & B Division Playoff Structure: *C divisions do not have championships & only have standard Lax Fest* The top 8 teams in the final regular season standings from each respective division will make the playoffs Standings Calculated as follows 1. Win percentage (if a tie occurs it is counted as .5 win and .5 loss) 2. Head-to-head (if team A beat team B) 3. Goals Against Final tie breaker coin flip The playoffs will NOT be broken north/south and will be standard 8 team bracket play (i.e., first round matchups = 1vs8, 2vs7, 3vs6, 4vs5) ALL games are standard full length 12-minute running quarter games (1TO per team per half) First and Second Rounds will take place on May 11th and will be similar to Lax Fest 1vs8 and 4vs5 will be at same location. Winners will play each other same day in (semifinal) Championships will all be on Wednesday May 15th times and location TBD
Supplies Available during office hours 11AM-6PM Monday - Friday 50 balls per team at 5-8th grade 40 balls per team at K-4th grade Team Gear will now be DONATED to each program to manage. IML will replace gear as needed Goalie Gear (Chest pad, throat guard, stick) Hectors for 2nd/3rd K/1 goals Player Scholarships Head Coach (need to contact your program administrator/coordinator to get a coupon code before you register) Please email info@imlaxutah.org if you need to be refunded Team Scholarship 1 per TEAM Need based. Coaches or Program can contact the office for coupon code to be scholarship their player
Important Policy Reminders ALL COACHES MUST BE REGISTERED AND PASS BACKGROUND CHECK IN ORDER TO COACH. BADGE MUST BE WORN AT PRACTICE AND GAMES. Players must play for the team within their high school boundaries where they currently live. Players CANNOT play up into the league above their age group without successful completion of Age/Division Variance Form and approval by IML. Players CANNOT play on multiple teams if your program fields two or more teams. Absolutely NO scheduling requests. (can t accommodate them all) Coaches should not coach multiple teams. NO cancelling games without league consent and notice to opponent If you have a change, you need to make arrangements with the other team, then contact Collin at Collin@IMLAXutah.org
Policy Reminders Continued Concussion Weather/Lightning Intermountain Lacrosse Utah Concussion Policy Player Concussion/Med Reporting form Coach/Program responsible to report. League will follow-up with family Player cannot return until cleared by medical professional and the league Inappropriate conduct and player treatment (review Coaches Contract) Discipline at the sole discretion of IMLAX. May include warning, suspension or dismissal. Intermountain Lacrosse Utah Youth Policy - VIII If you observe a lightning flash that is followed by a thunder bang in less than 30 seconds, suspend the game and instruct teams to seek shelter off the field. Warn spectators as well. Wait a minimum of 30 minutes for the storm to pass then consult with the coaches. Game is complete when any time has elapsed in the 2nd half Game reschedules - the coach must contact the opposing team s coach, IMLAX office, by phone and then by email. All parties must agree to the rescheduled date and/or time, or the game must be played as originally scheduled.
General Policy Reminders *Field Monitors - We are moving the responsibility of providing table personnel to the game host program. These field monitors will need to register with league on our website. You can also see the description of their responsibilities on our website. Certified Athletic Trainers 1 trainer per location (can t guarantee 100% coverage) *IMLAX Weekly Sportsmanship Award Each week during the Spring Season nominations may be taken for an individual, group, official, coach, player, parent, etc. that was seen exhibiting great sportsmanship. Our local lacrosse vendors will help sponsor these awards. CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE!
Sportsmanship Be professional with the officials. Keep fields clean! Park in designated areas only on Game Day Be respectful of the table, parents, players, trainers, and officials!! Remember that your players parents are watching you! No foul language period! It is the coaches responsibility to remind fans to be respectful if the crowd becomes rowdy- Please Have a Parent Meeting before the season starts to discuss sportsmanship!
Thank You! We really appreciate the time and dedication you all devote to these children each season. You all make a tremendous impact on these kids lives, and this sport. Again, from IMLAX Thank You!
Join Us! We are You! If you would like to make a difference, come join us! We are Always looking for other members to join the Youth League Board. If you are interested please fill out an application online. www.imlaxutah.org Youth Council Executive Committee Chair: Dan Dugan 801-791-1971
