The NWMLA provides box lacrosse during the months of March to July for boys and girls aged 5-21. The association organizes box lacrosse into different age groups with mixed gender as well as female only teams. Lacrosse provides an excellent opportunity for the youth of New Westminster to gain physical activity and acquire the benefits of team play. Box lacrosse is played in two indoor facilities (Queens Park Arena and Moody Park Arena) and two outdoor lacrosse boxes (Hume Park and Moody Park).
The program is also promoted in our local elementary schools which helps to keep the pride and long standing tradition of lacrosse alive in New Westminster.
Box Lacrosse Season
December
Registration begins online.
February – March
Doug Hazelwood skill development clinics for 4 to 10 year olds.
February-March
Evaluations begin for U11 and above.
April
Practices and games begin – usually the second week of April.
Tiering games for all teams U11 and above.
May – June
Each team plays a minimum of sixteen games in U13 and higher levels and about twelve games in the U11 and lower levels. Teams also practice once or twice a week depending on the team level.
June
U7, U9, and U11 finish their season by the end of June.
July
U13, U15, U17, and U22 (Female only) Provincial competitions.
Evaluation Process U11-U22 Mixed & Female Divisions
Purpose
For the U11-U22 age groups players participate in skill based tiered divisions. New Westminster Minor Lacrosse Association (NWMLA) uses a transparent and consistent two stage evaluation process to assess players abilities and make informed decisions about team caliber and division declarations. All evaluations being completed by current and former NLL and WLA players who are not affiliated with the teams they are evaluating either as current or former coaches.
Fee/Registration
Players need to be registered with the NWMLA and have paid the $50 online evaluation fee prior to attending A evaluations.
Commitment
It is expected that players prioritize their club team when committing to try out for an A team.
Team and Division Declarations
Team and Division declarations are determined by the relevant VP in consultation with association Head Coach.
Stage 1 ‘A’ Team Evaluations
• All players trying out for an ‘A’ team (A1 or A2) are required to attend ‘A’ evaluations. Players cannot simply bypass the A1 evaluations and head straight to A2 (goalies included). Players are expected to play where placed after the process.
• The association VP’s and Head Coaches will assign independent evaluators for all stage 1 ‘A’ evaluation sessions.
• Volunteers on the floor helping run evaluation drills are not part of the evaluation process.
• Each player will be given an overall ranking out of 4 for the following criteria: Passing, Catching, Shooting, Athleticism, Game Sense, and Compete.
• After players are ranked, the relevant VP and Head Coach of NWMLA will determine the number of players staying in ‘A’ and moving to Stage 2 of
evaluations in consultation with the assigned ‘A’ teams Head Coach.
• At the end of the ‘A’ evaluations, a maximum of 22 players (20 players and 2 goalies) will continue with the Stage 2 ‘A’ evaluation process per team.
Notifications
• Players will be notified of their placement by email after the Stage 1 evaluation process. Parents/guardians can ask for their child’s evaluations upon completion of the process.
Stage 2 A1 and A2 Evaluations
• The A1 team will have two more evaluations for final team placement. Practices or games can be considered evaluations.
• If an A1 player is released, they will be guaranteed a spot on the next available tier.
• Once the final placements from A1 have been made, the A2 team will have two
additional evaluations to finalize their team.
• If the Association only declares one A Team, the above process will apply to B team.
• Team Head Coaches are responsible for choosing their final team rosters based upon the roster size determined by NWMLA.
• Team Head Coaches are responsible for providing player assignments to the division manager and selecting the way players are notified of their team placements.
Head Coach Assignments for ‘A’ Teams
• Head coaches of each team will be declared after the initial evaluations.
Team Roster Sizes
• The number of players selected to a team is contingent on the number of players registered within the division.
• Team roster sizes will be determined by the VP and Head Coaches of the association. Skill level and number of players available are determining factors in roster sizes.
• Individual Head Coaches will be informed of their roster limit after the first round of the evaluation process.
B/C Evaluations
• All remaining players are required to attend B/C evaluations/balancing. This process begins after the initial releases are made from the A1/A2 evaluations.
• The B/C evaluations and placements will be done by the Head Coach of each team in consultation with the Association Head Coach and/or VP. Players will be assessed using the same criteria as ‘A’ evaluations.
• There will be a minimum of two B/C evaluations.
• At the end of two evaluations, ‘B’ teams will be selected, with the remaining players placed at the ‘C’ level.
• Coaches are responsible for providing player assignments to the division manager and selecting the way players are notified of their team placements.
Final Team Assignments
• The Head Coach of each team will make the final team assignment decisions. Division managers and Team managers are NOT involved in the placement decisions at any level.
Balancing and Merging Teams
• In the event more than one team is declared within a particular caliber, teams will be balanced as agreed upon by coaches of these teams, the association Head Coach, VP of Box Lacrosse, and if necessary, the President.
• In the event of a merge, the association will coordinate and agree upon an evaluation process with the merging association.
Special Circumstances
Injuries
• In cases where a player has paid the evaluation fee but is unable to participate due to injury, it is the player’s responsibility to inform both the Head Coach and VP of the association by email.
• Communication should ideally occur at least 7 days prior to the evaluation dates.
• The association Head Coach and VP will work with the injured player to reasonably arrange for participation once available.
Missing Evaluations
• In cases where a player has paid the evaluation fee but is unable to participate due to reasons other than injury, it is the player’s responsibility to inform both the Head Coach and VP of the association by email.
• Communication should ideally occur at least 7 days prior to the evaluation dates.
• The association Head Coach and VP will review the request and, if deemed appropriate, plan for the player to participate in evaluations once available.
• Not all requests will be accommodated. Players unable to participate in ‘A’ evaluations may be assigned to a ‘B’ or ‘C’ team.
Releases
• In the event of a player being released to NWMLA, the association will coordinate and agree upon an evaluation process with the released players association.
Evaluation Times
• Will be posted and updated on the website and are subject to floor availability.
Questions or Concerns
Please direct questions or concerns to Head Coach or VP of the applicable Division of NWMLA Executive.
