Announcements

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  • *Deadline Extended* Wayne Goss Scholarship, Dorothy Robertson Bursary And Ted Fridge Scholarship

    June 19, 2020

    In light of the current Covid-19 pandemic the deadline for submission has been extended to July 6, 2020 at 4:00 PM into the BCLA Office (original deadline was June 4, 2020).

     

    The nomination forms for the Wayne Goss Scholarship, Dorothy Robertson Bursary and Ted Fridge Scholarship are now posted on the BCLA website.
     


    The direct link to the nomination forms here

  • COVID-19 Update-Refunds

    May 20, 2020
    Hi Bellies Family,

     

    As always, we hope you are all staying healthy and safe. We are encouraged by the progress our province has made in flattening the Covid-19 curve, and thank all of our front-line health care workers, first responders and those working in essential roles, for their heroics on our behalf.

     

    While the Province’s plans to carefully, gradually ease Covid-19 restrictions continue, it has become apparent that a return to the sport of box lacrosse will not happen this summer. Though at this time there has been no official decision from the CLA, our executive has voted unanimously to cancel the 2020 box lacrosse season in conjunction with other Lower Mainland lacrosse associations. 
     
    Our lacrosse families will receive a 100% refund of 2020 Box Lacrosse registration fees. The only funds that will not be returned are the try-out fees for A Team Evaluations, as these sessions did take place and the floor time was paid for. All refunds will be issued by cheque, regardless of original means of payment, to avoid the high cost of credit card processing fees. 

     

    While our executive is united in this decision, it does not come without careful deliberation. Our Association is a non-profit organization that operates on a very tight budget. Though the box season will not proceed, our Association has nonetheless incurred costs and expenses that we remain responsible for. We’ll have some tough choices to make as we manage our budget going forward, but feel this is the right thing to do for our member families. 

     

    The CLA, BCLA and other bodies governing the sport continue to work on ideas to get our athletes back on the field in a safe, physically distanced manner. However, any return to play this summer will not resemble the sport of box lacrosse for which you registered your child. We know these times are difficult for everyone, and you are as eager to see a return to normalcy as we are. We sincerely hope that when a return to play is possible, we’ll see you and your children back at the field, arena, or box alongside us. Moving forward we’ll keep you updated with any news or information from our governing bodies.

     

    Warm regards,

     

    Rich Catton
    President
    NWMLA

     

    April 17, 2020

    Hi Bellies Family,


    We hope you’re all staying healthy and safe, as we all do our part to help flatten the COVID-19 curve. 

    As announced previously, all formal lacrosse activities remain on hold until at least May 15th. While we remain hopeful that we’ll be able to hit the floor in some format, that remains far from certain. The CLA, BCLA and Lower Mainland Minor Lacrosse Commission continue to monitor the situation and discuss plans for the possible resumption of lacrosse, should it be deemed appropriate by the relevant government authorities. We, as your Executive, are doing the same. 

    Recently, we've received a few inquiries regarding the refund of registration fees. As resumption of lacrosse activity remains a possibility, the Club may yet be responsible for floor times, BCLA and league fees etc. As a result, we are unable to make a plan for potential refunds until final decisions on the season are made by our governing bodies.

    We appreciate your patience in these uncertain times, and will continue to provide updates as they come available.

    Warm regards,

    Rich Catton
    President -     NWMLA

  • BC Lacrosse Association Update

    March 26, 2020
     
    March 25, 2020
     
    LETTER FROM THE BCLA PRESIDENT RE: COVID‐19
     
    Dear BCLA Members:
     
    As we continue to navigate through the implications of COVID-19, we hope that you are coping
    with the ever-changing environment that is the world right now.
     
    It is too early for anyone to make a call on whether or not the box lacrosse season, or some
    format of the season, will take place. So, because we have no idea of what is going to happen
    over the next several weeks, we are taking a wait-and-see approach at this time
     
    We urge all of our members to take this same approach. It is too early for any
    association/club/league to make any firm decisions about their seasons at this time. We need to
    protect the future of the not only the BC Lacrosse Association, but all of our member
    associations/teams/leagues. We believe cancelling the box lacrosse season is premature. It is a
    drastic step that would be detrimental to the sport of lacrosse in BC as we hope to facilitate some
    form of box lacrosse competition this summer.
     
    The BCLA insurance is still in place, and the BCLA office is still fully operational, albeit mostly
    remotely. Most minor box athletes have stepped on the floor which put the insurance into play.
     
    So, I would assume that if refunds are necessary (if there is absolutely no box season), the
    refunds will be a portion of, to cover both portions of the BCLA’s fees and the minor association
    expenses incurred.
     
    We are in communication with the BCLA Minor and Senior Directorates, and they are
    discussing contingency plans that include looking at new alternatives for lacrosse activities in
    2020.
     
    You will continue to hear about major events being cancelled, many that were supposed to occur
    in the summer of 2020. Most recently, the BC Games Society just announced that they have
    cancelled the BC Summer Games that were going to happen in Maple Ridge in July 2020; and
    the 2020 North American Indigenous Games event has also been cancelled. This does not mean
    that sport will not happen this summer.
     
    For now, in the same way that we are asking for patience and calmness from our member
    association/club/leagues, we ask that you reach out to your community members to do the same.
     
     
    Yours in Lacrosse,
     
    Gerry Van Beek
    BCLA President

  • **UPDATED April 03/20**A Message From Rich Catton, NWMLA President About COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

    March 13, 2020

    Updated April 03, 2020

    Hi Bellies,

    I hope you're all staying healthy and safe during these uncertain times. Based on recent direction from both the BCLA and CLA, all lacrosse activities will remain on hold until at least May 1st. While we remain hopeful that some semblance of a season can be salvaged, we will continue to prioritize public health and safety. We encourage you to continue to follow the advice of our public health officials - stay home and practice physical distancing. As updates become available, we'll be sure to share them with you.

    Best regards,

    Rich Catton
    President, Minor Bellies

     

     

     

    Updated March 14, 2020

    Please read message below from NWMLA President Rich Catton:

    Subsequent to the Covid-19 update we emailed to our membership earlier today, the Canadian Lacrosse Association issued a recommendation that all lacrosse activity in Canada be postponed until April 5th.

    In the interests of the safety of our players, coaches, officials, staff and fans, the Minor Salmonbellies will follow this recommendation.

    We will continue to closely monitor COVID-19 developments in consultation with the CLA, BCLA, and public health authorities, and provide updates. 
     

     

    Posted March 13, 2020

    A message from Rich Catton, NWMLA President about COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

    As per the recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is now a pandemic. The situation both here in BC and around the globe is changing hourly and daily, and we wanted to provide an update on how the New Westminster Minor Lacrosse Association (NWMLA) is responding.

     

    We’re lucky to have had strong leadership from the province’s public health officials. This is why we’re basing our response on the expert advice of those organizations, as well as the BC Lacrosse Association and the Canadian Lacrosse Association. While, like you, we are concerned about the turn of events in the last 48 hours, the risk level to Canada and British Columbia remains low as defined by the leading health authorities.

     

    Despite that assurance, we know the situation will evolve. We want to assure you that the NWMLA is taking steps to ensure that the health and safety of our players is paramount.

     

    We are in the early stages on the 2020 Box Lacrosse season with evaluations nearing completion. As such we will continue to proceed with completing evaluations, balancing teams and beginning the process of scheduling games and practices.

     

    We will also be taking further steps, including:

    • No handshaking after games
    • No shared water bottles

    Some may ask why we don’t go further at this point. The simple reason is as stated above: we are committed to following the advice from federal and provincial public health agencies and right now this is based on what they’re advising.

     

    As the situation evolves locally and the risk level changes, we will respond accordingly, whether that’s further restrictions on practices and / or games, or postponing the season.

     

    As for what players and parents / guardians can continue to do:

    • Keep following the recommended practices, such as washing your hands more frequently with soap and water, using proper coughing & sneezing etiquette
    • If you or your child is ill, please stay home
    • If you think you have coronavirus-type respiratory symptoms or have travelled to a country with a travel health notice, immediately speak to a medical professional or call 811
    • If you are returning from a trip outside of Canada, please follow the 2 week self quarantine period recommended by government health authorities

    There is a ton of information in the news and online about the virus, some factual and some not. It’s important to make sure what we’re consuming comes from credible health sources (the links below offer a few good ones).

     

    We understand that we’re all anxious and that right now things are changing

    quickly. Thankfully, this province has some of the leading public health institutions and testing practices. We’ll continue to monitor and update you on the situation as it pertains to the NWMLA.

     

     

    If you have any questions about what we’re doing at NWMLA, please reach out to either of the board members listed below.

     

    Rich Catton

    President NWMLA External links:

     

    NWMLA Board Contacts

     

    2019/20 Directors

    President

    Rich Catton

    1st VP - Boys Box Lacrosse

    Kevin Stewardson

    2nd VP - Girls Box Lacrosse

    Tonya Roy

    3rd VP - Boys Field Lacrosse

    Bill Tyler

    4th VP - Girls Field Lacrosse

    Julie Edgar

    5th VP - Equipment

    Jason Plante

    6th VP - Scheduler

    Mark Smith

    Secretary

    Karen Poole

    Treasurer

    Nicole Christiansen

    Registrar

    Lynda Callard

    Director At Large - Head Coach

    Steven Porter

     

  • Wall Ball Challenge

    March 12, 2020

    *CONTEST TIME*
    With most of us home for Spring Break and organized activities on pause, you can stay ready for the season by...HITTING THE WALL!

    Send us a video of you and your most creative wall ball work out for a chance to win some cool Bellies swag! The Winner will be announced after Spring Break.

    Keep that stick in hand - box lax will be back Bellies!

  • Bellies Store At The Hazelwood Clinic

    February 19, 2020

    The Bellies Store will be selling a small selection of youth sized hoodies, t-shirts and shorts at the Hazelwood Clinic this year. February 19th only from 6-8pm.
    Come check it out!

  • Coaches For 2020 Box Lacrosse Needed!

    January 09, 2020

    NWMLA is always on the lookout for great coaches!  If you have coached before or are interested in coaching during the 2020 box lacrosse season please fill out the coaches application form.  Scan and send completed forms to headcoach@minorbellies.com.  All training is covered by NWMLA and no prior experience is necessary.

  • Bellies Store Open Dec. 14th

    December 06, 2019

    The Bellies Store is open in QPA on Dec. 14th from 11:00 - 2 pm.  Get your XMAS shopping done early!

  • BCLA Awards Banquet, Whistler Oct. 19th

    October 19, 2019

    Congratulations to all the NWMLA volunteers who were presented with awards at the BCLA AGM Awards Banquet in Whistler, Oct. 19th!

    Tyler MacLeod - John Cavallin merit award in the field lacrosse category                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matt Black - Bill McBain merit award in the box lacrosse category

    Candidates are selected from the ranks of team coaches, irrespective of division level, league or winning record.  They are judged on their accomplishments of instilling playing ability, sportsmanship and competitiveness in their players.  NWMLA are very proud of our coaches!

    Julie Edgar and Steve Porter were also presented with the President's Award which is given out by BCLA member organizations to thank individuals that demonstrate the spirit of volunteerism within their organization.

  • Field Lacrosse Practice Schedule

    August 30, 2019

    The field lacrosse practice schedule for the season is now posted under the "Field" heading above or go directly to http://www.minorbellies.com/2019-20+field+lacrosse+practice+schedule/5/194/

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