Greetings, we look forward to your participation in the AILA Heritage Cup this weekend.  Below are some details to help you get ready.  The website has additional information, including addresses and directions.  Check the home page for alerts/updates – http://ailacup.heritagelacrosse.com/.

PLAYER REGISTRATION:  All players must be registered on the team’s roster to participate.  Player registration is easy, just go to https://mytournamentregistration.com/ailacup/players.php. 

• Coaches are asked to review their rosters and certify that all their players have completed the registration process.  They need to be registered to receive tournament information, including updates, alerts or post-event communications directly.

BRACKETS / SCHEDULES:  Schedules will be posted shortly (draft is at bottom of this email), we don’t anticipate any material changes, but confirm you have the latest version (all versions are dated - see http://ailacup.heritagelacrosse.com/schedule/). Check to see when your team starts!  Generally, start times are as follows:

• Saturday (January 17th)
  • 8 am - “PeeWees/Squirts” (Grades 4/5/6)
  • 2 pm - “Bantams” (Grades 7/8)
• Sunday (January 18th)
  • 9:30 am - Midgets (Major and Minor)

RULES / FORMAT: 

• Rules are posted on the website – see http://ailacup.heritagelacrosse.com/rules/.
• Some highlights:
  • Games are 40 minutes (4 10-minute quarters), each team plays 4 games
  • Rules have been designed to limit checking (no checking in games involving Squirts) – no unnecessary roughness or illegal checks permitted – see website and “Penalties” below
  • Teams play 5v5 and a goalie
  • No timeouts; substitutions are on the fly
  • No pressing/back-checking in clearing team’s end following a goal
  • 30-second shot clocks will be in use (see shot clocks rules on the website); 10 second count for the clearing team to get the ball out of their defensive zone; no over-and-back
  • No more than three (3) coaches on team bench
  • See OT rules on website (we hope to see some 3v3 “Bravehearts,” always fun!)
  • Penalties:
    • Technical Fouls – change in possession
    • Personal Fouls – 2 minutes (releasable)
    • Major Fouls – 5 minutes (3 goals releasable) –Illegal Hits, Unnecessary Roughness, Foul Language, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, which, in the opinion of the officials, warrants a 5 minute penalty (more than 1 Major Foul in a game results minimally in game expulsion)
• Please coach the kids to play smart, under control and with class in the heat of battle
• Please respect our officials and remain cool even if you do not agree with the call

CLINICS

• Clinics will be conducted by Johnny Mouradian, Director of the Canadian National Indoor Lacrosse Program, and other members of the AILA staff.
• Clinics will focus on Canadian-style techniques, including goalie play, the “2-Man Game,” inside scoring tips and certain picks/checks, to help players become more effective, consistent with the convergence of box and field lacrosse concepts.
• Clinics for players/coaches will held periodically each day (check the schedule and identify which session you want to attend).

BUCKSMONT FOOD POLICY:  The BucksMont Indoor Sports Center has a full service café, which has the exclusive right to serve food on the premises.  No food or beverages are permitted to be brought into the facility, except for breakfast items before 11 am.  Please do not jeopardize our use of the site by testing this prohibition. 

SPORTSMANSHIP / CODE OF CONDUCT / HONOR YOUR KIDS / HONOR THE GAME:

• Please read the Tournament Code of Conduct, see http://ailacup.heritagelacrosse.com/code-of-conduct.  Let’s all be on the same page and adhere to high standards of play and sportsmanship.  If you cannot keep things positive from the sidelines, you are at the wrong tournament!  Please do not be “that guy.”
• Teams will be recognized for sportsmanship based largely on staff observations and sportsmanship scorecards kept by officials and directors, taking into account the spirit of the game and conduct on each team and their respective fans.  That recognition, more than anything else, should be every team's goal.

Please have a safe trip!  We look forward to seeing you at the AILA Heritage Cup and having a Happy Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend!

Inquiries: 

Joe Karpinski
jkarpinski@ailacrosse.net
 

Scott Growney, Esquire
sgrowney@comcast.net