Category: Players

by Brian Salgado

LAXtravaganza Celebrates Milwaukee’s Youth Players, History of Lacrosse

Jim Calder has attended lacrosse events of every kind across North America throughout his four-decade career, so he knows when a community has truly embraced the sport. As he arrived at University School of Milwaukee’s campus for LAXtravaganza on Saturday morning, he quickly realized the Milwaukee market was pumped for the occasion.

“There’s a buzz,” said Calder, a longtime ambassador of the sport based in Canada who came to the Milwaukee Area Youth Lacrosse Association’s (MAYLA) annual event to deliver a presentation on the history of the sport.

“You know when things are dead, and you know when there’s a buzz, and there’s a buzz here. You can see people are excited.”

That excitement has translated to ongoing growth for lacrosse at just about every level of competition throughout Wisconsin, and the youth divisions are no exception.

According to Mary DiGiacomo, secretary of MAYLA and the director of LAXtravaganza, the 2017 edition grew to 90 teams playing across seven fields over two days. In 2016, the “festival” attracted 72 teams.

MAYLA uses the term “festival” to differentiate its event from tournaments that are run throughout the area. DiGiacomo said the association launched LAXtravganza in 2012 as an annual affair (it was canceled in 2013 due inclement weather delaying the start of the youth season) to celebrate youth lacrosse, so teams may keep score, but there is no final champion declared at the end of Day 2.

“We started this as a way to give back to what MAYLA provides the members of the league,” DiGiacomo said.

With hundreds of boys and girls participating in 171 games over two days, DiGiacomo estimated that between 2,800 and 3,300 spectators would attend LAXtravaganza 2017 – if the weather cooperated. Considering the dreary conditions most of the weekend, that expectation might not have been met.

However, the excitement was still palpable, especially because someone with Calder’s pedigree in lacrosse was in attendance. These days, Calder travels throughout this continent reminding athletes and parents alike about the historical significance lacrosse has in the cultural fabric of North America.

The Creator’s Game – as the First Nations of Canada call lacrosse – was first played by these tribes long before it evolved into its current format, and Calder is on a mission to make its participants aware of their role in the game.

“I think it’s important because it gives you respect for the game from the beginning because you understand you’re just a little tiny part of a thing that’s been going on 10,000 years,” said Calder, who has penned two books about lacrosse and is presently planning the 150th anniversary celebration of the game’s organization as a modern sport. “It’s important to understand that you’re playing a game unlike any other in the world – it’s a spiritual game.”

Each week WisconsinLacrosse.com will highlight select games from around the State of Wisconsin. Made possible by a donation from Amplify Lacrosse.   

by Brian Salgado

Girls LAX Players Head to Women’s National Tournament for Consecutive Year

With the unbridled growth of lacrosse in the state, athletes from throughout Wisconsin are getting exposure to some of the most prominent tournaments in the U.S. Later this month, the girls side of the sport will be making its second appearance the Women’s National Tournament (WNT), one of high school lacrosse’s most prestigious events.

Team Wisconsin first played in the WNT – which runs alongside the Women’s NCAA Final Four on Memorial Day weekend every year – in 2016. In its first WNT appearance last year, Team Wisconsin held its own, walking away with a 2-2 record.

Before 2016, athletes from Wisconsin had to try out for co-op team shared with Illinois, which was focused primarily on players from Illinois. Now, a Wisconsin player can try out for the state squad after being nominated by her coach.

Team Wisconsin selects 22 players and two alternates for the squad. Two coaches are selected to run the team by a committee of their peers.
The 2017 tournament will be held at Yale University.

2017 Team Wisconsin

Head Coach: Tom Truttschel, Arrowhead
Assistant Coach: Ashley Lochner, Waunakee

Players/HS Team:

Isabella Barnard, Franklin
Jacklyn Batley, Arrowhead
Emily Becker, Kenosha
Grace Black, Brookfield
Bridget Brown, Homestead
Cassidy Darling, Ozaukee
Tara DeLeo, Middleton
Landry Elliott, WNS
Audrey Engman, USM
Julia Fermanich, Middleton
Lauren Flemma, WNS
Sophia Gehling, Waunakee
Ashley Hoffman, Franklin
Lauren Lex, WNS
Abbey Lippold, Arrowhead
Eleanor Mackey, Middleton
Aubrey McLaren, WNS
Lia Oren, WNS
Chloe Smith, Mukwonago
Catherine Taphorn, WNS
Lindsay Tazalla, WNS
Brook Uihlein, USM

Alternates:
Megan Mikolojewski, DSHA
Lexi Basel, Middleton

by WisconsinLacrosse

Hudson Boys Update

By Bob Burrows, Hudson Star Observer on Apr 28, 2017

The Hudson Area Lacrosse Association varsity boys team will take a record of 3-3 into its only home games of the season this weekend.

The varsity and junior varsity teams, members of the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation will both be home this weekend with the varsity taking on Waunakee at 11 a.m. Saturday at the EP Rock Elementary School East Field and Red River at 7 p.m. at Newton Field.

Saturday’s schedule also includes JV games against Waunakee at 11 a.m. at River Crest Elementary and Red River at 5 p.m. at Newton Field.

On Sunday, the varsity will host Wausau at 2:30 p.m. at Newton Field.

So far this season the Hudson varsity has posted wins over Waukesha by a score of 8-7, Franklin 10-6 and Appleton, 15-9, while losing to Wauwatosa, 9-3, Verona, 12-9, and Middleton, 13-10.

“We are a very young team overall but lean heavy on the senior leadership of defensemen Jake Gabrielson, Robert O’Rourke, attackman Tanner Gornick, and long stick midfielder Nick Holter,” head coach Jake Johnson said.

Hudson’s JV has been dominating this season with wins over Waukesha (11-1), Wauwatosa (12-1), Franklin (20-0), Appleton (17-0), Verona (12-6) and Middleton (15-2), with its lone loss a 7-5 decision to Eastview (Minn.)

In addition to Johnson, the varsity assistant coach is Brandon Larson. The JV is coached by Roger Heath and his assistants Brandon McDonald and Troy Austin.

WLF note:  Outcome of Saturdays games

Hudson JV 8 – Waunakee 4

Hudson Varsity 8 – Waunakee 5

The above is a repost from an article published in the Hudson Star Observer by Bob Burrows on Apr 28, 2017.  

by Chelsea Mueller

Lacrosse Preseason

Preseason captains’ practices started last week and I shoveled snow off my driveway this morning. With temperatures below freezing, it’s hard to imagine that green grass, months like April and May or short sleeves still exist; however, in seven short weeks the first games of the 2017 season will be played. Snow will (hopefully) be gone, fields will be lined and players will step onto fields, bundled in layers, to begin another season. Watching players in these first practices is so exciting because we get see the beginnings of a team and their potential. Walking into open gyms, beginning to pass, getting in the first rounds of wall ball for 2017, rust begins falling off of sticks that sat idle for too long in the offseason. Returning players step up and take ownership of their team – setting the tone for practices and games to come. New girls who have never touched a lacrosse stick learn the fundamentals. With every caught pass and moderately on target throw, their confidence – and by extension, the team’s confidence –  grows. To think that come May, these same girls – girls who currently can barely cradle let alone catch a pass on the fly – will be zooming up and down the field only builds anticipation for the weeks and months to come.

This is when a team begins. Of course, there are returning players and already formed relationships, but each season is full of fresh perspective and new approaches to the game. Key players graduate, leaving space for new players to show up and deliver. New plays are hashed out, skills are added to the arsenal. There are many exciting moments in a season – first goals, big upsets, deep playoff runs … the list could go on; however, preseason is one of my favorites because it is full opportunity. It’s a bit of a blank canvas and with our players we can create an incredible team and season. Best of luck to the coaches, officials, players and parents beginning the season, make it a great one.

by WisconsinLacrosse

2017 Girls’ rule changes

Effective for the 2017 girls’ high school lacrosse season, US Lacrosse has announced the following rules changes.  US Lacrosse writes the rules for high school girls’ lacrosse, and those rules are endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

“The rule changes and approved revisions are a continued effort to minimize the risk of injury in girls’ lacrosse,” said Kathy Westdorp, chair of the NFHS girls’ lacrosse rules committee and a member of the US Lacrosse Women’s Rules Subcommittee. “Several of the rule revisions will reinforce that effort.”

US Lacrosse also authors separate rules that govern youth girls’ lacrosse. Those youth rule sets, also effective January 1, 2017, will be announced in mid-September.

The approved 2017 high school rule changes include updates on eyewear and headgear equipment certifications, the allowance of some ball contact by players, and clarifications on the requirements for the Obstruction of Free Space penalty.

Arguably the most noteworthy revision involves the rule governing the draw. Beginning in 2017, players below the restraining lines on the draw may not cross the lines until possession has been established. This rule change was influenced by concerns that the number of players contesting the ball, either in the air or on the ground, following the draw often leads to a scenario where an excessive number of players were competing in close physical contact.

“By limiting the number of players attempting to put the ball in play after the draw, we trust that there will be fewer fouls and that the ball will more quickly be put into play,” said Laurette Payette, a member of the US Lacrosse Women’s Officials Subcommittee. “The focus of the officials will be on the six players (three for each team) between the restraining lines.”

A player leaving the restraining line early, before possession is established, shall be penalized.

“The rules that govern the game play an important role in both safety and growth,” said Kristen Murray, chair of the US Lacrosse Board of Directors and a girls’ high school coach. “We continue to look for opportunities to simplify the rules to make it easier for officials to make calls and to improve the flow of the game. We want lacrosse to be a safe, fun and enriching experience for everyone who plays.

“We appreciate the efforts of the volunteer officials and coaches who spearheaded the comprehensive rules review and approval process. This process included a thorough review of suggested rule changes submitted to US Lacrosse and NFHS, as well as a review of pertinent injury surveillance statistics.”

A closer look at all the rule changes approved by the US Lacrosse Women’s Game Committee is below. Rule references are from the 2016 US Lacrosse Rule Book and will change for 2017.

Rule 2, Section 9: Outlines the certification changes to eyewear protection.

Rule 2, Section 10: Outlines the ASTM certification changes to headgear.

Rule 5, Section 1: Players below the restraining lines on the draw may not cross until possession has been established.

Rule 5, Section 28: Stick checks may only be requested during a stoppage of the game clock.

Rule 5, Section 28: Stick checks may be requested immediately following regulation or overtime.

Rule 6, Section 1: Adjusted the “note” to remove ‘looking to shoot’ from the Obstruction of Free Space criteria.

Rule 6, Section 2f: Added the wording “except with a kicking action on a non-shooting attempt” to the rule that ‘players may not use their bodies to play the ball.’

Rule 7, Section2: Penalty administration for dangerous shot and illegal shot to be aligned, with the ball being given to the closest defender no closer than 8m to the goal.

In addition, secondary material has been further defined in the Manufacturers Specifications, and the alternate officials duties are now stated within the Appendix.

Suggestions for future rule changes and modifications may also be submitted hereat any time. All submissions are reviewed by the US Lacrosse Women’s Game Rules Subcommittee.

by WisconsinLacrosse

What’s the rule?

Each season the US Lacrosse Officials Education Program receives emails from coaches, players, parents, and officials on game situations wondering what the correct ruling is. Here are the top 10 questions from the 2016 season.

1. Player A is legally body checked and falls to the ground. While on the ground, he still chops at the other player’s stick with his own. I called this as illegal procedure, but the coach wanted to see it in the rulebook. Was this the right call? I could not find any ruling in the rulebook. My thoughts were it gave him an advantage to be on the ground.

A: There is no advantage gained from playing while on the ground. That player is likely more disadvantaged than the opposing players because his movement is significantly limited while on the ground. Remember that NFHS Rule 5.3 states that it is illegal to body check an opponent who is on the ground (stick checks are okay), and the rulebook does allow for the player on the ground to legally participate in play if he is able to.

2. Can a player be flagged twice for going offside once, returning to his half of the field, and then going offside again?

A: No. NFHS Rule 4.10 Situation F is clear on this game situation: “The same player going offside twice is one technical foul.” This is why many coaches will tell the player that went offside to go and play defense because the team may then play with 8 defenders (7 + 1 goalie) and increase their chances of putting the ball on the ground during the flag down.

3. Offensive player shoots and scores, the ball enters the goal first and then the player touches the crease due to his normal momentum. Is the goal good or does the player entering the crease wipe out the goal?

A: NFHS Rule 4.9.2.n states that a player “may legally score a goal and touch the crease area, provided the ball enters the goal before the contact and with the crease and his feet are grounded prior to, during and after a shot.” As long as the player does not dive (remains grounded) and he touches on or inside the crease line then the goal stands.

4. Assistant coach of Team A is holding a stick while on the sideline during a game. Coach of Team B asks for that stick to be checked. Referee rules it violates pocket depth and issues the penalty per the rules. Does the stick check apply to coaches or just to the players?

A: Under NFHS rules a coach-requested equipment check must refer to a specific player on the opposing team. The major reason is because under NFHS rules the officials must also check the required equipment of a player, and that cannot be done on a coach. According to NFHS Rule 4.27.1 these requests must be made during a dead ball and only one player’s equipment and crosse may be inspected per coach request. The coach may not ask the officials to check the assistant coach’s crosse, nor may be point to a stick on the opponent’s bench and ask the officials to check it. The request must be for a specific player on the opposing team.

5. When are horns permitted? Some folks say they are no longer allowed; or is their use more narrowly specified?

A: Horns are no longer permitted in games played under NFHS rules. All substitutions must be made on the fly. There are youth provisions permitting horns for play in the U9 and U11 age divisions if the local league authorizes their use (NFHS rulebook page 107).

6. Team A is man up and loses possession of the ball right before the end of a period. Team B (man down) gains and maintains possession when the period ends (still man down). Question: Is there a faceoff to begin the next period or does Team B (man down) get the ball?

A: There is no faceoff. Team B gets possession to start the next period at the spot the ball was when the period ended. Rule 4.3.1. Exceptions 1: “In the event of an extra-man situation or a flag-down creating an extra-man situation at the conclusion of a period, the next period shall be commenced by awarding possession of the ball in the same relative position on the field to the team that had possession of the ball (or is entitled to possession by a play-on) at the conclusion of the prior period.” This is why many coaches when there is short time on the clock but longer time on the penalty tell their players to hold onto the ball and not shoot. This is only applicable on a flag-down or when there is an uneven situation. If Team A and Team B have one player in the penalty box then even if one team has possession at the end of the period the next period will start with a faceoff.

7. A goal is scored using a stick that is found to be illegal after a coach requests a stick check to an official during the dead ball before the next faceoff. Does that goal count or should it be waived off? Also, if the player scored multiple goals are all of the goals he scored waived off?

A: The goal should be waved off, the shooter serves the penalty time (1-minute deep pocket, or 3-minutes for any other violation), and the ball is awarded to the opposing team at Center X. Rule 5.5 Situation F states: “Team B is a man down and A1 scores. Before the next whistle, it is discovered A1 was playing with an illegal crosse. RULING: Goal does not count. A1 serves a one- or three-minute non-releasable penalty.” The only goal that gets waived off is the goal scored right before the equipment check that discovered the illegal crosse. If the player scored goals earlier then they remain on the board.

8. During play an official blew his whistle. The defense stopped playing once the whistle was heard, but the offensive player continued to advance toward the goal. He made a shot after the whistle and scored. The officials counted the goal. Should play have been stopped after the whistle?

A: Rule 7.13.3 states: “In the event of an inadvertent whistle, play shall be suspended immediately. The team with possession or entitled to possession when the whistle was blown shall retain possession.” In this situation the goal should not count because the official blew his whistle creating a dead ball. Had the ball been loose outside the crease possession would be awarded via AP. Loose inside the crease awarded to the defensive team. If a team had possession, they would retain possession for the next restart. Rule 4.9.2.f further clarifies that a goal is not counted “after one of the officials has sounded the whistle for any reason, even if the sounding of the whistle is inadvertent.”

9. If a player has five minutes in penalties, he has fouled out. However, if the player in question had three 1-minute fouls. He served 4.5 minutes for them, as we were in a running clock game. So is the 4.5 minutes of time served count towards the five minutes or is it based on the actual time called out by the referee for the foul(s); 3 minutes?

A: The rulebook is quiet on this calculation for running time games, and the convention is to use the penalty time that would be assessed in a stop-time game for the purposes of determining disqualification. Three-minutes of personal fouls (4.5 minutes in running time games) would mean the player still has two minutes of penalty time before being disqualified. As a point of clarification technical fouls do not count toward minutes before being disqualified, only personal fouls.

10. If there are 5 long poles on the field, what is the penalty? Illegal stick, 3 minutes non-releasable or something else? Offending team did not have possession.

A: This is not considered an illegal crosse. This is illegal procedure and is a technical foul according to NFHS Rule 6.5.2.p: “having more than four long crosses in a game.” If the ball is loose this is a turnover to the opposing team. If the opposing team has possession of the ball while there are 5 long poles on the field then a flag should be thrown.

The Officials Education Program enjoys reading and answering the questions. If you have a question from a game this summer let us know by filling out the form here.

by WisconsinLacrosse

How did you miss that?

The following is a post written by Gordon Corsetti, Manager of Officials Education for US Lacrosse.

We say officials have the best seat in the house. While it’s true that we are the closest to the action we can’t watch the game the same way everyone else does, which is typically watching where the ball goes. I love being on the field officiating, but I only see one-half or one-third of the entire game depending on if I’m working in a two- or three-person crew. That’s because proper mechanics demand that at least one official watches the action that no one else is paying attention to away from the ball.

In a two-person game the field is split diagonally between the two officials in settled situations. The Trail Official is the furthest from the goal and takes a position just above the attack box. The Lead Official is near Goal Line Extended (GLE). Depending on where the ball is on the field, one official is responsible for the area immediately around the ball, while the other official scans the off ball action. They are known as the On or Off official.

The clearest distinction between the two officials’ responsibilities is on a shot. When a player shoots the only official responsible for watching that player is the Trail official. This official stays with the shooter watching for late hits. The Lead official tracks the ball as soon as it leaves the crosse, and often has no eyes on the shooter at any point after the shot. These separate responsibilities make it possible for one official to cover the goal, while having another official focused on the safety of the player. That’s an easy situation though, let’s do a tougher one.

In transition, a penalty could occur on the far side of the field opposite the new Lead Official (the official running to GLE during the clear), and the new Lead Official may call a personal or technical foul near the far sideline because that official has an unobstructed angle to the play. The new Trail Official coming up field may not even have eyes on the play if there are two players behind that need to be watched to make sure nothing bad occurs away from the play upfield. But even if the new Trail Official is running up he might have a lot of bodies in front of him and has no way to make the call even if he is closer than his partner.

If more coaches understood the basic mechanics of officiating (the Men’s Officials Rules and Penalty Course is available on learning.uslacrosse.org) and why we stand where we do, I think a lot of calls would make a lot more sense. For example, I officiated a tournament not too long ago where I was the Trail official in a settled play. The offensive player shot the ball near the crease, missed the goal, was pushed from behind, and landed in the crease. I put my hand into the air for a loose-ball push, and at the same time my partner as the Lead put his hand in the air and whistled the play dead for a crease violation. I asked what he had, and he said “White stepped in the crease.” I replied, “Yes, but he was pushed in first. The ball stays with White.”

Two coaches on the Blue team were not pleased with me and while my partner readied the ball for play they asked me what happened. I told them their defenseman pushed the shooter into the crease after he shot the ball, giving the ball to the White team. Then one coach told me that that call wasn’t my responsibility. He then told me that while in the Trail position all I was supposed to call was offside.

If I only had to call offside when the Trail Official then lacrosse officiating would be one of the easiest jobs I could think of! I’m only responsible for one thing? Great! I’m just going to stand on the midline and focus only on this four-inch line, and when a player gets destroyed on a late hit I’ll calmly inform the coach that I’m only supposed to call offside.

I’m being facetious here to drive home the point that the official furthest away from where the ball is may be in the best and only position to make the correct safety or fairness call for the situation. We have fundamental mechanics that are drilled into us in every training class and field evaluation because the referees that came before us experimented with a lot of different ways to officiate the game until they broke down the most effective ways to position officials to watch for safety and fairness.

Gordon Corsetti is manager of men’s officials education for US Lacrosse. You can support US Lacrosse officials education efforts through the US Lacrosse Foundation.

by Stephen Perez

View from the 3rd Team

I have just finished my 25th year as a high school and collegiate official. I wonder where the time has gone, and even though I have been working for a long time, I still want to be better.

After a season, I have found it to be helpful to think about what I did to improve myself over the last season – did I study the rules, more? did I attend a clinic? What did I do to become a better official?

If the answer is nothing, then, while experience helps, just working year after year, may not make you a better official. If you want to be better, you have to practice at being better, and to do that, one must educate him/herself.
Being an official is an incredibly difficult hobby. You invest your time away from family, and you invest money in all the accoutrements that are necessary to be prepared and play the role of an official.

We do that, why?

When people ask me, why, I say that it feels really good to be able to administer a highly competitive game, where the players, play, and the coaches are able to coach. In the best games, there is a sense of trust between the two teams and the officiating crew. The players, play. The coaches, coach.

Each of the three teams are able to do what each has prepared themselves for. Yet, those games do not happen by chance, they are the result of your willingness to be a constant learner.

First, read the rule book. More importantly, develop a common sense and fair play understanding in how to apply the rules. Next, attend more trainings and clinics. I learn something at every clinic and because of that, I have more arrows in my quiver of experience, to draw out, when I’m in the middle of a game. Last, want to get better. None of this matters, if you do not want to improve.

One conclusion that I have come to after all these years is that the better I am, the easier my games will be. Simply put, It is to my benefit to improve.

 

Stephen Perez is the President of the Wisconsin Lacrosse Officials Association 

 

Read more: Become an Official

by Dave Wollin

WI Lax is looking for a Jamboree Director.

Wisconsin Lacrosse Lovers,
US Lacrosse Wisconsin is looking is  for an event director for the Spring Jamboree. 
The planning for the 2017 WLF Spring Jamboree is underway. March 25 and 26th  at Woodside Sports Complex, Wisconsin Dells. 
The Jamboree is a great event to kick off the 2017 season.It’s an opportunity to knock the winter rust off the players and train new officials.
The Jamboree director will manage a committee format with duties for each of the 7 members of the committee. In this way, it will not be an overwhelming amount of work for any one person. the attached document is that outline. The WLF will  train and update each new member of the committee with background information. 
The Spring Jamboree needs volunteers .  If you are interested and/or would like more information, fill out the form below. 
We need to fill this position by mid November.
Thank you for considering volunteering to keep this outstanding opportunity in existence for all Wisconsin Lacrosse players.

Secretary

form routed to the Secretary