Coaching lacrosse in Arizona

I HEREBY PLEDGE THAT AS A Youth Lacrosse of Arizona COACH I WILL:

• Honor the Game of Lacrosse and the YLA organization

• Consider it a privilege to coach youth and recognize that the game I am coaching is for youth and not for my benefit as an adult.

• Recognize that as a coach I am the single person who is the most responsible for setting the tone of behavior for my players and my team’s parents and fans.

• Lead by example in demonstrating a sense of fair play and superior sportsmanship to all my players.

• Strive to master the rules of lacrosse and teach those rules to my players and their parents.

• Teach lacrosse skills, and use coaching techniques, appropriate for the age I coach.

• Emphasize positive coaching methods designed to foster a love and appreciation for the sport of lacrosse in my players.

• Place the emotional and physical well being of my players ahead of my personal desire to win.

• Remember to treat each player as an individual and recognize that there is a large spread in emotional and physical development of players within the same age group.

• Avoid displays or outbursts of anger in the presence of my players.

• Not threaten, harass or abuse a player physically, verbally, mentally or sexually.

• Not use alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs in the presence of players.

• Not maliciously criticize, badger, harass, or threaten any official.

• Comply with Arizona law and USA Lacrosse policy regarding concussions; educate myself about the risks and symptoms of concussions; and not return to play a player who has been suspected of sustaining a concussion until I have received reasonable assurance that the player has been evaluated by a licensed physician who has provided the player with written clearance to return to play.

• Not use the media (including electronic media such as websites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) or other forms of communication to criticize an official, opposing coach or player, or those associated with administering the sport of lacrosse thru YLA. All inquiries or arguments of outcome must go through the board of directors.

All the above are non-negotiable. Any failure to comply may lead directly to the loss of coaching opportunity for clubs under Youth Lacrosse of Arizona.

Discipline Procedure:

Ejections are an automatic one (1) game suspension in addition to the initial game infraction. In the youth league, with two (2) games per weekend, the suspension is served either the second game of the weekend, or the first game of the following weekend depending on occurrence.

Depending on the severity of the Ejection, such as Fighting, bench clearing brawls, etc, two (2) games or more will be considered. 

A second ejection in the same season will be an automatic two (2) games, a third ejection in the same season the Disciplinary Committee will consider expulsion for the remainder of the season. 

Please know the best coaches will self suspend their own players every time if the ejection is merited, which 99% of the time ejections are merited.

If a coach requests an “Appeal”, the appeal must be submitted with film to substantiate the request. Without film, the appeal will not be reviewed. We will however take into account the opposing coaches view if pertinent.  

If a person (coach, player, parent) does not serve their respective suspension, either due to pending appeal or other reason, any played game(s) will add directly to the suspension. Example: Coach A receives and ejection in the first game of the weekend. Coach A is still on the sidelines for the second game. Coach A is now subject to an automatic (2) two game suspension UNLESS the Appeal is ultimately granted.