Cadet Classes for Lacrosse Officials

Ever want to become a boys lacrosse official? These are the requirements for first-year lacrosse officials and expectations for certified boys lacrosse officials in the state of New Jersey.

 

Cadets must be at least 18 years of age and currently out of high school.

 

Cadet training is intended to train adults interested in officiating high school boys lacrosse.

 

Cadets must be available during the spring high school season to officiate high school boys lacrosse games.

 

Cadet training is not intended to train high school or junior lacrosse coaches.

 

Cadet training is not intended to train only those interested in officiating junior lacrosse games.

 

Cadet training is intended to train adults interested in officiating high school boys lacrosse.

 

All cadets must attend an NJILOA administered cadet class and pass a written exam.

 

In order to become a certified boys lacrosse official in the state of New Jersey, cadet officials must attend a NJILOA administered cadet class and pass a written exam which will begin at the completion of the instructional program. Upon successful completion of the instruction and exam, cadet officials are obligated to provide availability to the NJILOA for high school boys lacrosse games and must provide at least five evaluations to the NJILOA Evaluations Chairperson.

 

In order to keep your certification up to date and remain an active NJILOA member in good standing, each year every official must attend a mandatory rule interpretation meeting at least three meetings and one clinic, pass a written exam, pay annual dues, provide availability to the NJILOA assignor and officiate a minimum of five games assigned by the NJILOA.

 

Organization vice president Charles Talley will continue to assume the role of Cadet Chairperson for the 2009 season. Locations for the upcoming 2009 Cadet Classes as well as application forms to join this year’s cadet class can be found on the organization website at www.njiloa.org.    

NLL Titans To Perform At The Rock

Published reports have announced that Major League Lacrosse’s New York Titans are planning to play five of their seven home games at the Prudential Center in Newark this season.

 

The Titans, which are going into their third year of play in the 13-team National Lacrosse League, consider their home to be Madison Square Garden where they played all of their games in their inaugural year. Last season the team played at MSG, but also played a few of its contests at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island.

 

It would be the third time an indoor lacrosse team has used a regular venue in New Jersey. The New Jersey Saints were one of the four original teams to start what was to become the MLL. They played in the Meadowlands in 1987 and 1988 before moving to Long Island for its long run as the New York Saints.

 

The New Jersey Storm began as an expansion team in 2002 and was owned by former New Jersey Nets basketball star Jayson Williams. Poor attendance and then later a tragic shooting at Williams’ estate doomed the prospects of the franchise which played its games at Continental Airlines Arena in the Meadowlands. They would eventually be sold and move to Anaheim in 2004 before going out of business in 2005.

 

The New York Titans team is led by Casey Powell, a former three-time All-America for Syracuse University. They are scheduled to play at the Prudential Center on Jan. 10 against Boston; Feb. 8 against Chicago; March 14 against Calgary; April 4 against Philadelphia and April 11 against Buffalo.

 

Last year, the Titans finished at 10-6 and had an exceptional season that ended with a 19-12 loss to Buffalo Banditsin the league semifinals.

 

The team also plans to provide instruction and equipment to local schools as part of a community outreach project.

Big City Classic Showcases College Lacrosse

Princeton

BALTIMORE

– The annual Syracuse-Princeton lacrosse showdown will take place at Giants Stadium this season as part of the inaugural Big City Classic on Saturday, April 4, 2009. The Orange and Tigers will faceoff at 2:30 p.m. as the middle game of a tripleheader that also features North Carolina versus Virginia (12:00 p.m.) and Delaware versus Hofstra (5:00 p.m.).

Syracuse and Princeton have combined to win 16 NCAA titles, and the game pits the two active Division I head coaches with the most NCAA championships against one another. Princeton’s Bill Tierney leads all active Division I mentors with six national championships. Orange head coach John Desko is second on that list with four, including the 2008 NCAA crown.

Tickets for the Big City Classic are scheduled to go on sale Dec. 1. Prices will be $15 for group purchases of 10 or more, $25 for lower level reserved seats and $40 for mezzanine level reserved seats at Giants Stadium.

The 2009 season marks the third consecutive year the Orange will participate in a major regular-season lacrosse event. The past two years Syracuse and Virginia have squared off in the Face-Off Classic, a doubleheader organized by Inside Lacrosse at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium.

“We are very excited to be playing in Giants Stadium against Princeton the first weekend of April,” Desko said. “After being involved in the Face-Off Classic the last two years, we know that being part of the Big City Classic will be a great experience for everyone associated with Syracuse lacrosse.”

“For the past three years, Inside Lacrosse has been committed to creating events that will expose fans to the energy and passion of college lacrosse,” IL publisher Bob Carpenter said. “One of the glaring absences our sport’s had to date is that the top level of Division I men’s lacrosse has never been played on the doorstep of New York City. This is the No. 1 media market in the world. To showcase the sport on such a big stage, we knew we had to bring together as much talent as possible. With the combination of these programs, we feel we’re bringing to the New York metropolitan area one of the strongest lineups ever assembled.”

The six teams involved in this year’s event have advanced to the NCAA semifinals a combined 67 times and have won 24 NCAA Championships. The Orange has accounted for 25 of those semifinal berths and almost half of the NCAA titles (10).

Syracuse and Princeton have met 24 times with the Orange holding a 16-8 advantage in the series. Ten series meetings have come in the NCAA playoffs, including four that have decided the national championship. Syracuse defeated the Tigers in 2000 and 2002 to win the title. Princeton knocked off the Orange in overtime in 1992 and 2001 to claim the crown.

Schmidt Joins Scarlet Knights

Rutgers

PISCATAWAY – After a stellar playing career at Rutgers, Nick Schmidt returns as a volunteer assistant coach on the Scarlet Knights staff in 2009. He will focus primarily on player development, working directly with the attack. He’ll be focusing on teaching fundamentals with shooting and dodging and analyzing film.  

Schmidt, who played for Rutgers from 2000-03, was a part of the incredible turnaround of RU lacrosse. In his first three years, the team won a combined 10 games. During his senior campaign the Scarlet Knights went 10-5 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years. As a senior, Schmidt tallied 16 goals and added eight assists.

 

 

Additionally, Schmidt is entering his sixth year playing Major League Lacrosse (MLL). In 2007, he tallied 18 points and scooped 23 ground balls. He is a current member of the Chicago Machine after playing for both the New Jersey Pride and the Los Angeles Riptide.

The former Scarlet Knight has also had the chance to coach at the youth and high school levels for the last five years. Schmidt has received his teaching certification and has founded the South Brunswick Youth Lacrosse program to help the growth of the sport in the state of New Jersey.

From 2004-08, Schmidt was the assistant coach at South Brunswick High School. His team compiled a 75-21 overall record during his tenure and in 2007 they captured the Greater Middlesex Conference Division Championship. While at South Brunswick, Schmidt coached current Scarlet Knights Kory Kelly (2008 ECAC Co-Rookie of the Year) and Zach Zenda.

Schmidt and current assistant coach Jason Basso both graduated in 1999 from Hicksville High School in Long Island. Both played together at RU during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Schmidt graduated from Rutgers in 2003 with a degree in Management and Labor Relations. He also received his teaching certification from Kean University in Union.

TCNJ Helps Tommy

EWING –Members of different sports teams from The College of New Jersey participated in the Trails for Tommy 5K on Sunday, October 19. The event took place at the Hopewell Elementary School in support of Tommy Belsky and his battle with acute myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

Former TCNJ field hockey and women’s lacrosse player and current assistant coach, Jackie Scullin is spearheading the Lions’ participation in conjunction with TCNJ head field hockey and women’s lacrosse coach, Sharon Pfluger. Scullin, is a teacher in the Hopewell School District and became aware of Tommy Belsky and his situation last year when he was in kindergarten. TCNJ’s field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams have committed to raise $1,000 and be major sponsors for the event and have solicited additional participants and volunteers from the College’s Athletic Teams.

For more information visit: www.teamtommy.net
 

Centenary Tabs Lynch For The Defense

HACKETTSTOWN — Samantha Lynch begins her first season with the Lady Cyclones Lacrosse program this spring. Coach Lynch comes to Centenary following a stint as the Freshman Lacrosse Coach and Varsity Defensive Assistant at West Windsor High School 2005-2006. There she was responsible for developing basic skills, organizing practices, individual workouts, and assisted with the development of the team’s defensive program.

Most recently she has worked as the Marketing and Public Relations Director for the Modesto Nuts, the High Single-A Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies in Modesto, CA. With the organization she handled their external marketing, promotions, managed the intern program, and was responsible for the all their corporate partnership agreements.

As a lacrosse player, Coach Lynch was a four-year Varsity letter winner at James Madison University from 2000-2003. While at James Madison, the Dukes were three-time CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) Champions (2000, 2001, and 2003), advanced to the NCAA’s Second Round twice (2002-2003), and were an NCAA Final Four participant once (2003). She was the team’s Buttercup Award winner in 2000, 2001, and 2003, while also being named the Coaches Award winner in 2002.

“We did a very thorough search, and some outstanding applicants; but Samantha really stood out. She will help us a lot here in building what we are looking for”, said Centenary Head Coach John McCloskey, who enters his third year with the program. This spring Lynch will be the program’s Defensive Co-ordinator with her primary responsibilities being individual and team defense.

MLL Goes Long

 

New Jersey Pride

BOSTON 

— Major League Lacrosse (MLL) has announced two new rules changes which will be implemented for the 2009 season. According to Commissioner David Gross, the League will expand the number of players per team that can dress for a game to 19 and will introduce the addition of a fourth long pole for the first time.

Under previous MLL rules, teams were allowed to dress 18 players on game day. By expanding the number to 19, the goal is to improve the quality of play on the field and to involve more of the League’s elite players.

“Over the past two seasons, the four best MLL games all occurred in the semi-finals, where teams are allowed expanded post-season rosters,” said Gross. “Those were thrilling, one-goal games, two of which went into overtime. It is our hope that this move will give fans more of those exciting games, and we are looking forward to seeing these changes implemented on the field next season.”

Furthermore, the addition of a fourth long pole is expected to assist in creating closer games by helping to generate a more balanced game at the professional level. This move brings MLL rules more in-line with those at the high school and collegiate levels, where a fourth pole is allowed.

“The creation of an extra roster spot allowed for the addition of this position,” added Gross. “And with so many of today’s collegiate players specializing as long-stick midfielders, this is a move that should add a lot of excitement to the game for both our players and fans.”

The changes were proposed by the MLL Rules Committee and were presented at the League Meetings last week where MLL Team Owners voted unanimously to approve both measures.

The Rules Committee is comprised of General Managers Brian Reese of the Denver Outlaws, G.W. Mix of the Los Angeles Riptide, Scott Hiller of the Washington Bayhawks, and Jody Gage of the Rochester Rattlers. The Committee’s Players Council Representative is former New Jersey Pride member Jesse Hubbard currently with the Los Angeles Riptide.

From a recent MLL media release.

Fall and Winter Lacrosse Leagues

Courtesy of New Jersey Lacrosse Network

This is a list of organizations that are traditionally involved in youth and high school fall and winter lacrosse league being held in the state of New Jersey.

 

 

 

 

Nearly all of the indoor facilities listed also offer winter leagues and sponsor clinics. Many offer spring and summer activities as well. Several of them offer adult league. However, the leagues may be subject to change. Please call the respective league director or check the facility website for further information.

 

North Jersey

 

Ath-Ed Lacrosse League – various Morris County sites.

973-691-9419

www.ath-edlacrosse.com

Boys fall and winter leagues

 

TriLax

Turf City – Wayne

973-646-3400

www.trilax.com

 

 

Indoor Sports Pavilion

973-895-4007

www.indoorsportspavilion.com

Boys, girls and a beginner men’s league.

Clinics given by Patriot Lacrosse and Steps Lacrosse

 

Soccer Coliseum

Teaneck Armory

201-986-0096

www.soccercoliseum.com

Boys and men’s indoor leagues

 

Mike Springer’s Vision Lacrosse

Superdome Sport – Waldwick

201-841-5198

www.visionlacrosse.com

Indoor boys league and boys and girls clinics

 

 

 

CENTRAL JERSEY

 

Leading Edge Lacrosse

908-719-1324

www.leadingedgelacrosse.com

Fall boys outdoor league and instructional youth leagues and clinics.

 

T3 Lacrosse

908-766-4664

www.T3lacrosse.com

Girls leagues and clinics

 

Two Knights Lacrosse – Somerset

908-707-9033

www.2knightslax.com

Outdoor fall leagues for youth and high school boys. Winter indoor and outdoor leagues for youth and high school boys and high school girls.

 

The Center Circle – Rahway

732-396-9100

www.thecentercircle.com

Indoor lacrosse boys and high school girls. Also men and women’s leagues.

 

 

 

SHORE AREA

 

Good Sports USA – Wall Township

732-681-8898

www.goodsportsusa.com

Indoor fall and winter youth boys and high school boys and girls leagues.

 

 

 

SOUTH JERSEY

 

International Sports Center

Mt. Laurel – 856-273-2828

Cherry Hill – 856-428-8582

www.intsports.com

Winter indoor youth and high school boys at Cherry Hill. High school girls league in Mt. Laurel.

 

 

All-State Lacrosse – Washington Twp.

856-341-6720

www.allstatelax.com

Youth and high school boys and girls

 

 

 

Pinelands Sports – Southampton

609-859-2677

www.pinelandssports.com

Fall youth and high school boys, youth and high school girls. Boys and girls winter leagues.

 

TriLax

Peddie School – Hightstown

609-371-7000

www.trilax.com

Boys and girls leagues and clinics.

 

 

The list presented is informational in nature and is subject to change. The New Jersey Lacrosse Network does not endorse any individual league or sports facility.

Helmet Safety

BALTIMORE, Md. — Is your child considering playing the sport of lacrosse? Safety is always the number one goal when outfitting a lacrosse player. US Lacrosse and its Sports Science & Safety Committee offer 10 tips to parents and players when shopping for a new lacrosse helmet.

1. Make sure the helmet is NOCSAE approved. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment conducts rigorous tests and sets standards for safe athletic equipment, including lacrosse helmets.

2. Helmets are measured in inches. Check manufacturers’ charts to show the proper size helmet for your child’s head.

3. A helmet should sit squarely on the head, with the front of the helmet approximately one finger width above the eyebrows. This way, the helmet will protect the forehead.

4. Padding of the helmet shall give firm and uniform pressure about the head. The skin of the forehead should move as the helmet is moved from left to right and from front to back.

5. Be sure there is a four-point chin-strap attached to the helmet. The chin-strap should be tightened so that there is no slack.

6. Properly fitted helmets must take into account the hairstyle of your child; if your child has a great deal of thick hair and then receives a summer haircut, the helmet must then be refitted.

7. Proper helmet fit should never cause headaches.

8. Always remember to replace screws and t-nuts on the helmet at the beginning of each season.

9. The facemask should attach cleanly to the helmet and should be replaced if it is bent.

10. Always review the specific helmet manufacturer’s recommendations for proper helmet fitting either on the manufacturer’s website or in the store.

These tips plus more information on the US Lacrosse Sports Science & Safety Committee can be found at www.uslacrosse.org/safety

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stevens Women’s Lacrosse Supports Shana Foundation

Stevens

HOBOKEN

– On Sunday, September 21, the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s lacrosse team participated in The Shana Foundation Shana Classic 5k Race. The event, and foundation as a whole, raises money to promote the education of the public and healthcare professionals about the dangers, warning signs, symptoms, and treatment protocol of Bacterial Meningitis.
 
The Shana Foundation was founded in memory of Shana Wasserman (Monmouth Beach), the sister of women’s lacrosse team member Leah Wasserman who passed away in 2006 because of Bacterial Meningitis. She was 19 years old.

 

 

Bacterial Meningitis is a potentially fatal infection that can be transmitted person to person. College students, particularly freshmen who live in campus residence halls are especially vulnerable. Combating this killer demands a person to person approach; student to student, dorm to dorm, school to school, campus to campus blitzkrieg.

The ultimate mission of The Shana Foundation is to recruit, train, and deploy teams of young college students to disseminate information through onsite presentations, events, and internet technology to the very young people who are at risk to become victims.

All 27 members of the women’s lacrosse squad ran in the 5k race as sophomore Sloane Collins  was the top Ducks finisher. Collins finished the 5k in 21:45 and was the third female finisher (eighth overall) as 116 people participated in the event.

“We are happy to support an organization that educates the public, in particular, college students about the dangers and warning signs of Bacterial Meningitis,” Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Celine Cunningham said. “It was very gratifying for our team to participate in an event that supports a cause that hits close to home for a member of our Stevens lacrosse family.”

To learn more about The Shana Foundation please visit http://www.theshanafoundation.org