standards, player safety, and education."
Not surprisingly, MBYLL becomes one of the nation's first recognized organizations for its leadership practices, philosophies, and dedicated services. Taking a closer look into the seven criteria for the Gold Stick Standards affirmation, one familiar with MBYLL may discover a pattern of striking resemblance.
Standard #1: Rules
To establish a "level playing field" among players of similar age, size, and ability, Gold Stick affirmed leagues must abide by all current US Lacrosse youth rules and age guidelines. In addition, the rules must be publically available and consistently communicated to town directors, coaches, and parents enjoying the game.
Designed to "emphasize player safety, enjoyment, and retention through the development of individual stick skills, team play, safety, and sportsmanship," US Lacrosse Youth Rules were established to provide "age appropriate" regulations for boys and girls.
MBYLL's game rules are US Lacrosse Youth rules with some modifications debated and voted on by members of the MBYLL Competition, Rules, and Game Administration (CRGA) Committee. The CRGA is comprised of volunteer town representatives from each of the six geographical regions who convene every fall to propose new rules, lead discourse for all town directors to opine, and ultimately vote to make any changes, amendments, or nullifications.
Some modifications include eliminating face-offs during a lop-sided game, enforcing harsher penalties for "take-out" checks and other extreme personal fouls, and other minor game adjustments including pace-of-play and substitution guidelines.
Standard #2: League Administration
With the goal of establishing clear expectations and communication, US Lacrosse expects its Gold Stick programs to have written policies for league governance. League administration is expected to occur "through a multi-faceted communication system" in which all league affiliates are made clearly aware of the current bylaws.
According to US Lacrosse, "[We] believe that in order to provide the optimal lacrosse experience for all lacrosse participants, leagues need to have publically available and agreed upon bylaws and operational procedures specifically defining: purposes, governance, committee/office structure, eligibility, league membership, grievance procedures, conflict of interest, etc., which will ensure consistency, fairness, and transparency."
The MBYLL all-volunteer Board of Directors meets monthly throughout the entire calendar year to create the policies that shape the largest youth lacrosse league in the United States. A fourteen member board made up of regional directors, vice presidents and directors of various specialties, a recording secretary, a treasurer, and a president represent each of the one-hundred and twenty town programs, whose collective voice guides the leadership in their effort to administer the best possible playing environment for the youth athletes of Eastern and Central Massachusetts.
Standard #3: Safety and Risk Management
To establish an educational and transparent "player safety first" culture, the third pillar of excellence requires affirmed leagues to have written policies and procedures for safety and risk management:
"US Lacrosse believes all leagues/organizations/programs need publicly stated policies that are regularly communicated to all stakeholders to ensure the safest possible environment is provided for its athletes," reads the US Lacrosse Gold Stick Standards Guide.
Annually, MBYLL publishes a town leader's guide which outlines the safety policies including concussion awareness, equipment compliance with
The Scoop / Spring '15 29
MBYLL President Tom Spangenberg received the "Gold Stick" from US Lacrosse at the National Convenstion in January 2015
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