Version 7.2017

Handbook of Policies and Rules

As adopted by the SCILL Board of Directors

MISSION STATEMENT: To organize, develop, and promote boys lacrosse in the state of South Carolina, and to honor the game by instilling the values of scholastic achievement, sportsmanship, and individual development.

The strength of the South Carolina Independent Lacrosse League lies in the willingness and ability of the membership to support the rules and regulations adopted and, if necessary, to support the penalties placed upon members, if it is determined that those same rules and regulations have been violated.

1. NAME OF ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization shall be the South Carolina Independent Lacrosse League, hereinafter referred to as SCILL, and this shall be its official Handbook.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SCILL

The responsibilities of the SCILL shall be to organize, develop, supervise, administer, and promote boys and girls high school and middle school lacrosse in South Carolina.

3. TEAM QUALIFICATIONS
   1. A team must adhere to High School Federation Guidelines (NFHS.org/) with the exception of matching gloves.
   2. A team must be affiliated with or supported by a host school; i.e. AD and/or Faculty Advisor must oversee some aspect of the team.
   3. If a team is not affiliated with or supported by a school, then a Board of Directors must exist that oversees eligibility, coaches, and player conduct for that team.
   4. In order to promote growth of the sport, a school-supported team may draw up to 25% of its players from schools that do not have established lacrosse programs, subject to the limitations described in 11 below.
   5. A club team may draw players from any source, as long as that source is not another member SCILL program and selected players meet all other eligibility requirements required by the League.

4. INSURANCE

Current US Lacrosse Membership is required for all players and coaches. The insurance program included with membership provided by US Lacrosse and underwritten by Bollinger is required.

5. VARSITY

Each program will have at least one Varsity team. All subsequent teams established from the same program will be established as Junior Varsity or Freshman/Sophomore teams.

6. JUNIOR VARSITY

1. Each program may have more than one team competing at the Junior Varsity (JV) level.
2. Junior Varsity teams will be comprised of players from any grade level except Senior / Grade 12.
3. New teams that are not ready to field a Varsity team may field a JV team subject to 3b above, or Exhibition games (See 7).

7. EXHIBITION GAMES

Games scheduled individually by coaches outside of scheduled League play are considered Exhibition games. Such games may use personnel agreed upon by the exhibition game coaches and count toward League standings, but not championship seeding.

8. ADMISSION OF NEW TEAMS

1. New teams will enter the League provided they meet all the criteria set forth in Article III.C.2.a-e of the South Carolina Independent Lacrosse League By-Laws.
2. A team not meeting the criteria set forth in Article III.C.2.a-e will play a JV schedule or schedule exhibition games on their own.

9. DUES AND FEES

1. Every team in the League shall pay fees to the SCILL. These fees are to be determined by the Board and must be paid in full on the first day of the season or, by prior arrangement with the League, may be paid one-half (½) on the First Day of the Season and one-half (½) on April 15.
2. Every Provisional and Regular Membership team will pay league dues to be determined by the Board.
3. Failure to pay regular fees or League dues or to institute a payment plan approved by the Board can cause the team’s games to be forfeited until fees and dues are paid.

10. AGE LIMITS AND GENDER

1. A player must be a boy of appropriate age requirements.
2. A player must be under 19 years of age by March 1st of the lacrosse season.
3. A player must be at least 14 years of age by March 1st of the lacrosse season to participate in high school lacrosse.

11. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE and ELIGIBILITY
    1. All players are required to play for the team affiliated with the school that he attends.
    2. If a player’s school does not offer lacrosse, then the player may choose a club or school program in the general area in which they live. As a general rule, this should be the attendance area of the public school in which he lives, but may be extended to adjacent areas when no SCILL program exists.
    3. A full-time student in a private school is eligible to play for the team of a member public or private school if the player resides within the attendance area of the schools unless the school’s athletic or other school policies preclude participation.
    4. A full-time student in a public school is eligible to play for the team of a member public or private school if the player resides within the attendance area of the schools unless that school’s athletic or other school policies preclude participation.
    5. A full-time student in a private or public school may play for the unaffiliated club lacrosse team of his choosing, unless the member school he attends has a lacrosse program.
    6. Home based instruction students are categorized as private school students.
    7. No player will be able to play for more than four (4) seasons.

12. COACHES

1. The Head Coach of each program in the League is accountable for the conduct of Players, Assistant Coaches, and team Parents during every contest.
2. The Head Coach of each program in the League will be held responsible for knowing the rules and ensuring that all those coaching under the Head Coach comply with the rules of the game. This requirement is demonstrated by successfully passing the annual US Lacrosse Rules Test for Coaches.

13. QUALIFICATIONS

1. The Head Coach shall be at least 25 years old and a high school graduate unless the Board, prior to the First Day of the Season, has granted a waiver.
2. It is recommended that all coaches be First Aid certified, CPR qualified, and attend a yearly coaches clinic provided by US Lacrosse chapters.
3. All Head Coaches shall read and agree to abide by the USL Code of Conduct.
4. The Head Coach and Assistant Coaches of each program must be current members of US Lacrosse.

14. SEASON

1. IN SEASON – DEFINITION – The Season Calendar shall be defined by the Board of Directors and followed for the beginning and ending dates of the lacrosse season. START indicates the first day of practice for lacrosse; END indicates the final day culminating in the Finals tournament for lacrosse. Specifics dates will be published by the Board every year.
2. OUT OF SEASON – DEFINITION -- Out of season is that time during which coaches cannot coach (have formal and organized practices) with more than two (2) high school squad members. Out of season for lacrosse shall be the first day of football practice until the first day of spring sports. Specific dates will be published by the Board every year.
   1. A coach of a lacrosse team cannot conduct practice Out of Season beyond provisions made by the Board for fall play. This includes clinics for future squad members. Coaches may, however, conduct clinics for youth and middle school players at any time.
   2. A coach must meet with his/her team prior to the opening day of practice to discuss equipment, insurance, season plans, training requirements, and any other pertinent information deemed necessary by the coach. This does not restrict fund-raising activities or player information meetings.
   3. A coach may sponsor, coach, or direct activities with any team members from the day after the final tournament is complete until the first day of fall football practice. The summer is an open contact period until the beginning of Out of Season.
   4. A coach may organize and supervise a year-around conditioning program to include weight training, running, and exercising provided the program does not include instruction in lacrosse skills and is open to all students.
   5. Full lacrosse practice for the team may take place during the fall open period as determined by the Board of Directors.

15. GAMES

1.  South Carolina Independent Lacrosse League will abide by the NFHS rules with the following exceptions:

1. Goal Specifications: In-grounds or flat-bar goals are recommended but not required.
2. Uniforms: Jerseys and shorts must be uniform; helmet shell color should be the same, but gloves need not be uniform.
3. Field Specifications: Flexibility on field size; however, no obstruction or permanent physical structure may exist within 5 yards of end lines or side lines; all field lines and markers (cones) must be present; furthermore, goals must be properly positioned 15 yards from each end line and dimensions of the restraining boxes must be legal (35 yds X 40 yds).
4. Games will be conducted according to South Carolina Independent Lacrosse League Standards of Play and Sportsmanship. Violation of the Standards will result in coach and team fines/sanctions, disqualification from the league playoffs and championship and, ultimately, expulsion from the league.

16. SCHEDULING

1. League games counting toward playoff standings are scheduled at the scheduling meeting or independently among coaches.
2. Exhibition or non-league games are scheduled at the discretion of the coach, but must be reported to the Board.
3. Any change to a scheduled game must be agreed upon between coaches of both teams and reported to the league.
4. Changes to a scheduled game must be reported to the league scheduler 48 hours or as soon as possible prior to the originally scheduled date and time.
5. All League teams must schedule games in accordance with parameters outlined by the Board. Failure to do so will result in team being ineligible for playoffs.

17. STATISTICS

1. It is the responsibility of the home team to keep the official scorebook for a contest.
2. The following statistics will be kept by each team for each contest and reported to the league within 48 hours after the end of each contest:

1. Goals
2. Assists
3. Groundballs
4. Shots on Goal
5. Goalie Saves
6. Face Offs Won
7. Penalties

18. UNIFORMS

1. Jerseys and shorts will be of uniform color or contrasting colors. Manufacturer and sponsor logos are limited to one 2-3 inch embroidered or screened logo, placed so as not to obstruct or in any way interfere with the reading of player number.
2. When an official decides the jersey colors are too close in color, it is the responsibility of the home team to wear alternate jerseys or pinnies.

19. MISCONDUCT BY PLAYERS AND FANS

1. Coaches are responsible for controlling their parents, players, and fans. Coaches will work with game officials to control the players and crowd as necessary to ensure a safe event and to honor the game. Failure to do so may result in sanctions by the Board, up to and including expulsion from the League.
2. Spectators are not allowed immediately behind the bench areas or within or immediately behind the penalty box and table area. If permanent bleachers are present, all spectators and parents are to be located in those bleachers, if possible.
3. Where permanent bleachers are not present, it is strongly recommended that teams be located on the opposing sidelines from the spectators and parents.
4. Spectators are not allowed behind either goal area to include the entire endline.
5. Fighting is defined as a player, substitute, non-playing member of a squad, coach, or anyone officially connected with a team deliberately striking or attempting to strike anyone in a malicious manner or leaving the bench or coaches area in order to participate in such an altercation.

1. An individual participating in a fight shall be charged with a three minute non-releasable penalty, ejected from the game in which the violation occurred, and suspended from the team’s next game.
2. If the same individual participates in a second fight, the penalty is a three-minute non-releasable penalty, ejection from the game in which the fight occurred, and suspension from the team’s next two games which can carry over to the following season.
3. If the same individual is involved in a third fight, the penalty is a three-minute non-releasable penalty, ejection from the game in which the fight occurred, and suspension extended to the entire season or for a minimum of four (4) games which can carry over to the following season if there are less than four games remaining in the season.
4. A suspended individual cannot be in the team’s bench area, in uniform, or anywhere on the sideline.
5. The appropriate officiating authority is responsible for notifying league officials of any suspension.

20. OFFICIALS

1. The home team will arrange for at least two game officials.
2. Procedure for No-Shows by Officials - If an official fails to show up for a game by ½ an hour after the scheduled start time, the decision to play the game is up to the head coaches. While the League suggests rescheduling the game for a later date, in some instances playing may be the most practical solution given scheduling difficulties. If it is decided that the game will be played, one assistant coach from each team will officiate the game. If assistant coaches are not available, it is up to the discretion of the head coaches to use others to officiate the game. Games will only be counted as official league games if both coaches agree with the decision to play the game.

21. AWARDS

1. ALL-STAR – All-Star teams will be selected by the coaches. The All-Star team members will be nominated by the coaches and be comprised of the following:
   1. A maximum of one (1) attack, one (1) midfield, one (1) defense and one (1) goalie – total 4 per team – may be nominated. These should be stand out players whose nomination is supported by individual statistics.
2. There will be a league MVP award. Each coach may nominate a player from their team.
3. There will be a league Sportsmanship award. Each coach may nominate a player from their team.
4. There will be individual league awards based on submitted statistics for 1) Most Points 2) Face Offs Won 3) Ground Balls.
5. Awards may, at the discretion of the Board, be denied any player who has accumulated “excessive” fouls or has been sanctioned for unsportsmanlike play. Any player accumulating 20 or more personal fouls (excluding stick penalties) during the regular season will automatically be ineligible for awards.

22. CHAMPIONSHIP AND PLAYOFFS

1. Eight Team Playoff – North and South Divisions. In each Division, Game 1: #4 Seed @ #1 Seed; Game 2:  #3 Seed @ #2 Seed.
2. Semi-Final- Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 in each Division
3. Championship: Winner in each Division on neutral field, if possible. When a neutral field cannot be procured, game will played at the field of the higher seeded team. A neutral field is defined as any field that is not the home field of any participating team.
4. Seeding Tie-Breakers: 1) Head-to-Head 2) League Record 3) Weighted Strength of Schedule. If the tie is still unbroken, then the process would continue with the #2 seed and so forth until one team has beaten a common opponent and the other has not. Example: Team X and Team Z are tied for 4th place with records and the games between X and Z split. Team Z beat the #1 seed in their division and Team X did not, so Team Z would be the #4 seed and Team X would be the #5 seed.

23. RULE VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

1. The strength of the South Carolina Independent Lacrosse League lies in the willingness and ability of the membership to support the rules and regulations adopted and, if necessary, to support the penalties placed upon members, if it is determined that those same rules and regulations have been violated.
2. USE OF INELIGIBLE PLAYER – The use of an ineligible player shall result in forfeiture of all games in which that player took part. An ineligible player “takes part” in a game when he steps onto the playing field during competition of a contest in which he is ineligible. Coaches are strongly encouraged to keep ineligible players distinctly away from the sideline area of a contest for which they are ineligible.
3. FAILURE TO REPORT TOTAL ROSTER INFORMATION – The failure of a team to report to the League by the third Monday of the season the entire roster information required (player name, grade, and school attended) shall cause that team to forfeit each game until the information is reported. Any changes to rosters need to be reported to the League immediately.
4. FAILURE TO REPORT TOTAL CONTESTS – By season’s end, all games played during that time period should have been reported to the League. Failure to report total contests shall place the program on probation.
5. FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THE LEAGUE’S STANDARDS OF PLAY AND SPORTSMANSHIP – It is the responsibility of all programs to communicate to coaches, players, and fans the tenets of the Standards of Play and Sportsmanship adopted by the league, and to create an expectation of compliance. Behavior by coaches, players, and fans that violates the Standards of Play and Sportsmanship will be sanctioned and penalized accordingly.
6. EXCESSIVE PERSONAL FOULS – Any team accumulating more than 72 personal fouls during the regular season will automatically be ineligible for playoffs. At any point during the season, whether or not a team has been assessed 72 personal fouls, the Board may elect to declare a team playoff ineligible for reasons relating to unacceptable standards of play or sportsmanship.