Sportsmanship: We place great emphasis and value on always keeping a positive attitude and respecting your teammates, opponents, and referees, no matter what the score. Poor sportsmanship is not acceptable and will get you benched. Although winning is great, our goal is for you to develop the skills, discipline, and attitude that will help you succeed later in life.
Attendance: Players are expected to attend ALL lacrosse games and practices. Practices are as important as games. Please call or email the head coach at least 24 hours BEFORE practice if you are going to be absent. A medical emergency is an example of an excused absence. Failure to complete homework on time, or conflict with your work schedule are examples on unexcused absences.
Lombardi Time: Players should be fully dressed, on the field and ready to play at least 15 minutes before scheduled time. Example; If coach asks players to arrive one hour before a game you must arrive 15 minutes before then to dress thus allowing the full hour pre-game drills and warm up. As Coach Lombardi once said; if you’re on time, you’re late. Be early.
Why is the above important?
Respect: Respect for your coach, your teammates and yourself. Coaches spend considerable time in planning and running practices to teach skill and prepare for games. A practice plan relies on consistent attendance from all players. With just a few late or missing players, a practice plan can be thrown out the window.
Teamwork: Lacrosse is a team sport. Teamwork is a "life skill" that stays with young athletes long after they stop playing sports. It often makes them better in social, educational and, eventually, professional environments.
Commitment: On a team, the group suffers unless everyone is committed to its success. Commitment requires that everyone show up ready to play on time every session. Showing up "when you feel like it" just doesn't cut it in Glendale Lacrosse. We play a team sport and if you want to part of this team, be a part of this team. Making commitments and fulfilling them are important in both sports and life. We want to send the right message to our players.
The life skills learned in youth sports are much more sustaining than the sports skills that they learn (although we care a lot about developing sports skills, too).
We believe that all youth lacrosse players need ample playing time during both practices and games to develop in a sport and to get the most enjoyment out of the game.
We follow a simple equation:
Attitude + Effort + Attendance = Playing Time
Players who attend practice, try hard and follow the Code of Conduct will receive ample playing time. Players who do not attend every practice, do not show up on time, do not try their hardest and do not show respect for coaches, officials, opponents, and teammates will not get as much playing time as teammates.
EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY
Required Equipment:
Helmet, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves, stick, cleats, cup, and mouth guard.
Always wear a helmet when on the field or sidelines, especially when behind the goal. Lacrosse balls can do a lot of damage if they hit you in the head.
Concussion Awareness – If you get hit in the head at anytime during practice or a game please tell your coach as soon as possible. Whether it is a ball, stick or head to head contact tell the coach to check for the possibility of a concussion before you return to play. Please see here for more about Concussion Awareness
You cannot practice or play in games without your safety items. Mouth-guards must be worn during practices and games, and chinstraps must be buckled.
CLEAN UP
We are privileged with a great working relationship with the city that allocates our fields. One of the reasons for this is that we always leave the fields cleaner that we found them. Don't make others clean up after you. Put your empty water bottles and trash, pick up any litter you see, and advise the coaches of any standing water, holes, or anything that may effect the integrity of our field.
