This year Brampton Minor Lacrosse is celebrating its 126th year, one of the longest standing tenures in Brampton sports history and one that has provided Brampton with numerous accolades based on its sports program accomplishments over the years at the recreational and elite level.

The recreational level house league lacrosse program is meant to not only introduce players, parents, and coaches to the fastest game on two feet and Canada’s first national sport but to also provide ongoing opportunities for participation. Over 500 participants will suit up in 8 divisions from the Peanut level at the age of 4 through to the Intermediate level of up to 21 years of age. The program begins in early May and ends in mid July.

The recreational level house league lacrosse program includes two tournament weekends. The first tournament is the mid season Heritage Tournament (June 11 - 13) and the second is the season finale Tournament of Champions (July 16 - 18). These occasions to celebrate improvements and accomplishments at both a personal and team level.

The recreational level house league is conducted in the spirit of “co-opetition”  (cooperative competition) with no personal statistics and no team standings. The house league program is based on the following core values and beliefs that are permanent and unwavering.


TEAMWORK

Recreational house league lacrosse is a 6 man team game dedicated to the encouragement of effective  involvement of all stakeholders in this great game. It is our belief that effective teams engage the talents of individual people while encouraging team growth and development.


TRUST AND RESPECT

We have no greater asset than the people who participate in this sport, be they player, coach, referee or parent volunteer. We believe that demonstrating respect for the uniqueness of every individual builds confident, creative and competent people possessing a high degree of initiative, self-respect and self-discipline.


CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Sustained success in sport as in life is based on our ability to continually improve the quality and quantity of opportunities to participate in stimulating and challenging physical activities.


ENTHUSIASTIC JOY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND FUN OF COMARADERIE

We are committed to continually exceed the expectations of our players, parents, coaches, referees and other stakeholders in providing a happy, healthy and safe environment for all participants in our recreational house league lacrosse program.

It is our ultimate hope that by participating in this great game, our players will become better people, better sportspersons, better team mates, and better citizens.

1. The Canadian Lacrosse Association rules will apply with the following exceptions.

2. This is recreational house league lacrosse designed to encourage physical activity, social activity, develop lacrosse skills and learning to love the game. Fair and equitable "co-opetition" (co-operative competition) is a requirement. Team balancing will be executed . Players are always encouraged to Love to Win and Learn to Lose Graciously, Demonstrate respect for the Individual, respect for the team, respect for the opponent. Demonstrate fair play and sportsmanship. AND all while having FUN.

3. All players SHALL receive equal playing time.

4. All players SHALL play every position unless the team is fortunate enough to have a dedicated goalie. In recreational house league, there is no requirement for offensive and defensive specialists.

5. The following equipment rules will apply:

Appropriately fitting mouth guards in good condition (off the shelf/custom fitted)
Appropriate "court" shoes in good condition and properly laced up
Stick length for Peanut/Paperweight  = 28"
Stick length for Tyke  = 30"
Stick length for Novice  = 32"
Stick length for Peewee on down = 34"
Stick length for Bantam and up = 40"- 42"

6. There is a 4 Goal limit rule per player per game that applies to all House League levels, except Tyke where there is a 3 goal limit per player, per game.  During tournament play, only when there is a need for overtime will this rule will be waived.

7. Any one handed overhand “tomahawk” type of sticking checking or two handed “woodchop” during ball play on the floor will be considered a Slashing penalty.

8. Players are not permitted to take more than three steps to check their man otherwise it is a Charging penalty. If a player leaves his feet in the act of hitting it is a Charging penalty. Aggressive hitting of a player while he is standing still will be considered a Charging penalty.

9. At the novice level on down, if any player coming straight on to check another player picking up the ball within 3 feet / 1 metre from the boards, possession will be called with the ball going to the first player with the ball.

10. Any player who has amassed 4 minor penalties in any match will be ejected from the game.  Checking From Behind is considered 2 infractions (two 2-minute penalties).  If a player is called for Two CFB penalties during any one game, they will be ejected from the game

11. Any incidents of abusive harassing use of language (profanity, taunting), disrespectful physical gestures or fighting WILL NOT be tolerated and result in major penalties, expulsions and suspensions. Any major penalty (5 minute) will result in the player being ejected from the game.  If the major penalty occurs in the last five minutes of the game the player will be ejected from that game plus suspended for one additional game.

12. When the ball hits the goalie in the head area, the play will stop.  Once the goalie has been assessed and is deemed fit to play on, possession of the ball will resume with that goalie.

13. At the Peanut, Paperweight and Tyke level when a player gets a penalty they will serve the entire penalty time.  If a goal is scored or the buzzer sounds the penalized team will return to full strength, but the individual penalized player will remain in the box until their time is up  The penalized player can return to the bench on the next stoppage of play after having served their entire penalty time.

14. When a penalty is called that gives one team a man advantage ball possession will be given to the team on the power play in the centre circle area. If players from both teams go to the penalty box with off-setting penalties, then play will resume with a face-off.
    
    
15. Home teams are responsible for time clock volunteers and Visiting teams are responsible for shot clock volunteers for Peewee and above.

Brampton Minor Lacrosse Association will be offering a full program of recreational level Houseleague Box Lacrosse in 2009 for participants aged 4 to 21 years of age.

PEANUT SOFT LACROSSE (2005-2006)

This age group primarily represents children that are being introduced to structured sports and the game of lacrosse for the first time. Children at this age group can not play at the higher age group, as per the OLA.

Soft Lacrosse is played without contact. The players do not need full equipment - just a helmet with cage, mouthguard, gloves, good running shoes, and a lacrosse stick.

GOAL: Introduce the basic skills of the game and keep these children in our system by making it an enjoyable learning experience which will allow the children the ability to progress into future levels. Teaching basic lacrosse skills will be achieved through a variety of drills and games.
Each child will be on the floor for one hour each week for approximately 10 weeks and the program will consist of the following:

Week 1 to Week 4: Participants rotate through drills and skills in small groups for 40 minutes followed by a half floor 20 minute scrimmages consisting of 2 ten minute periods.

Week 5 to Week 8: Participants rotate through drills and skills for 30 minutes and end with a half floor 30 minute scrimmage consisting of three ten minute periods.

HERITAGE TOURNAMENT the teams will play an exhibition game.

Week 9 to Week 12: Participants will rotate through drills and skills for 20 minutes and will have 40 minute game consisting of three 12 minute periods

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS the teams will play their final games.

Drills and Skills will consist of:

1. Ball pick up - trap and scoop, scoop from a stationary position, scoop while running

2. Cradling the ball - stationary, walking, running

3. Loose ball drills - coach throws the ball into the corner of the arena, the players run to pick it up, one player at a time, one-on-one

4. Throwing - coaches will teach the players how to throw the ball properly, against the boards, simple passes

5. Catching 

6. Shooting

Scrimmages will consist of:

1. half floor to begin, possibly moving to full floor by the end of the season

2. no goalies, but wooden character "cut-outs" secured to the goal nets no face-offs after a goal, possession will be given to the other team

3. After a goal the team scoring will retreat to 15 feet circumference from the net determined by the referee.

4. minimum 2 coaches from each group on the floor to teach proper game techniques

5. 1 referee in a teaching capacity for the players

6. All "penalties" will result in an explanation from a coach and the referee, the coach teaching the player proper lacrosse methods.

7. 2 minute buzzers to change lines so all players get equal time on the floor

The Development Co-ordinator, the Recreational House league Co-ordinator and the on-floor Head Instructor will oversee the Program. There will be a set of drills that are required to be taught each week. This group will need assistance from the parents to run the various stations on the floor. It is our hope that we would recognize those parents who would make good coaches for the paperweight age group the following year. A first year referee will have the opportunity to help out and then referee the game to gain confidence and interact with the players.

PAPERWEIGHT (2004)

This group will include a variety of skill levels.  An emphasis will be placed on instructional time each week in order to work on improving the skills learned in peanut lacrosse the previous year.  Paperweight players will be placed in teams with coaches.

The program will consist of the following;

Week 1 to Week 3: Participants will rotate through drills and skills in small groups for 40 minutes and end the session with a 20 minute game consisting of two 10 minute periods.

Week 4 to Week 8: Participants will rotate through drills and skills for 30 minutes and end with a 30 minute game consisting of two 14 minute periods with one 2 minute rest period.

HERITAGE TOURNAMENT teams will play a full game/s.

Week 9 to Week 12: Participants will work on drills and skills for 20 minutes and have a 40 minute game consisting of three 12 minute periods with two 2 minute rest periods.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS the teams will play a full game/s.

Drills and Skills will consist of:

1. ball pick up

2. cradling

3. throwing

4. catching

5. shooting

6. loose ball drills (one-on-one, two-on-one)

7. checking

8. game rules

Scrimmages and Games will include:

1. goalies

2. 2 coaches per team on the floor to teach proper game/lacrosse techniques

3. referees

4. no face off after a goal, possession is given to the other team while the scoring team will retreat outside the 24’ half circle

5. penalties will be served in full, with an explanation by the coaches and referees as to proper game techniques

6. 2 minute buzzers to change lines so all players are played equally

The instructional drills will not be done in individual teams.  Players will start as one group working in stations then split into teams for the game.

The Paperweight age group will also have a Select Team that will play in a few selected tournaments each year. This team will be given an hour of practice time per week. Practices will be open to any registered six year old to develop and learn new skills.  From this group the coach will select 15 runners and two goalies to participate in the tournaments. Paperweight Select Team jerseys will be collected after every sanctioned event, as the select team will be open to all paperweight aged children that participate in the practices. There may be a rotation of children depending on the number of participants. Cost of this program will be a "pay as you go" and is an extra cost over and above registration fees to cover the costs of weekly floor time, tournament costs etc…

The Development Coordinator, the Recreational House League Co-ordinator, the Rep Co-ordinator and the Paperweight Select Coach will oversee this program. It will be the responsibility of the Paperweight Select Coach to ensure the instructional part of the house league program is being carried out properly.

TYKE (2002 - 2003)

GOAL:  To develop the skills of our young players.

In the Tyke division, there will be 15 minutes of skill development before each game consisting of three 12 minute periods, running time with 2 minutes between periods for the first 3 - 4 weeks. Three 15-minute periods will commence at that time. 

During games there will be no face-offs after goals, with possession going to the non-scoring team.  The scoring team must retreat to the half line before play will continue.

The Recreational House League Co-ordinator, Tyke Convenor and possibly one coach will oversee the Tyke house league age group.

PLEASE NOTE: Home teams are responsible for time clock volunteers. Visiting teams are responsible for shot clock volunteers for Peewee and above.

NOVICE, PEEWEE, BANTAM, MIDGET & INTERMEDIATE

5 minute warm-up & practice

Three 12 minutes periods, running time

2 minutes between periods

Who decides when the houseleague season begins?
We need to wait until the ice is out of the arenas and the floors are dry enough to be played on safely. Most of the arenas in Brampton are used for the Canadettes hockey tournament that is scheduled on Easter weekend every year. The arenas are usually ready for floor use one week after the ice is removed. At that time the rep team try-outs are held over a period of a couple of weeks. We can then begin our houseleague clinics and season. We end our season in mid-July so families still have most of the summer to take their holidays.

How are teams balanced?
Teams are put together based on ratings from the previous season, the amount of experience players indicate on their registration forms and the year they were born. The houseleague co-ordinators collect the gamesheets for the first 3 – 4 weeks of the season. A meeting is held with the coaches of each division and together they try to balance the teams. If a team practices on a regular basis, the players will improve over those who don’t practice, some players pick up the game quicker than others. These kinds of things effect how well the team will do over the course of a season.

Where can I get my questions answered?
Contact the Box Houseleague Co-ordinator by emailing: boxhouseleague@bramptonlacrosse.ca