new teams?

[scooter]

Norway, i agree, but unfortunately, it is impossible to know how a team is going to be run until it is too late. Following your logic, Arkansas would not have been able to partipate, and they were more professional in there first year than some more established clubs. I also think it is awful to have to budget and play bushleague teams, but I think we need to take the good with the bad and hope that it will right itself eventually. Lacrosse is growing so rapidly, it would be a shame to alienate some clubs who just couldnt get it together in time who may be an elite team further along the road. Afterall, every team had to start somewhere

[Arklax]

While some of the scores were quite lopsided last year (WashU 21- Arkansas 1), I think we can see that kind of lopsided performances in every sport at every level. There will always be also-rans, and there will also be those at the top. We should base relegating a team to Div. B or any sub-division based on their organization, which isn't always apparent through their on the field performance.

[Sonny]

Norway, i agree, but unfortunately, it is impossible to know how a team is going to be run until it is too late.

Actually it's much easier then you think, if you ask the right questions. Interview the Sports Club Director, Faculty Advisor, Adult Head Coach before the application process begins. When you deal with adults (not playing Team Presidents) and ask questions about uniforms, travel, facilities, whom they played last year home, whom they played last year on the road, etc. - You will quickly learn if a team is ready for MCLA play.

[norway]

Arkansas did a great job this past year as a new team and I think Memphis did fine as well, but I didn't play at their fields. I do know that they both had two sets of jerseys like required. However, there are teams in the GRLC div. B that had not met that requirement in years past, and there were teams that did not have regulation goals or nets. Yes, you can require teams to have the correct goals and nets for a game. Insufficient goals and nets do affect the tone of a game. It is hard to keep the morale of a team up when you show up to a game that you just traveled 6 hrs to and the goals and nets are inadequate for any level of play other than backyard ball. We should not just be dumping teams in the GRLC div. B just b/c they want to play; we have to set standards! We have teams in our conference now that do not meet the standards and should be dealt w/ accordingly. yes, lacrosse is growing, but there is no reason to any and everybody to join OUR conference.

[scooter]

But then who decides what the standards are? I would wager that the better on the field teams are the ones who are organized off the field. Thereby making them competitive. But there are teams that are in the conference who, by your logic, would probably fail to meet any standards. Should these teams be bounced out of the conference for running their program into the ground?

[norway]

The commissioner of the conference and the head coaches of the A and B teams maybe by majority vote. I'm not trying to offend any teams, but there should be standards. There are teams in these league that are very organized and have everything together that do not have athletes to be a good team, and you have the other extreme. There are teams that are great on the field but are not organized and could careless about the administrative part of it. There are standards in every facet of life. you have to meet a certain criteria to get into to the college you play for, right? they are there for a reason. the same reason there are standards for this league. if a team wants to play busch league or backyard ball or whatever, they probably shouldn't be in the GRLC. I think most of the A coaches would agree that they do not want to take there athletes to some horrible field (that could injure their players) with homemade goals w/ nets that have holes. That wouldn't even work in a high school league; this is college, a step-up.

[Arklax]

expect an announcement soon regarding the grlc fall meeting. it is scheduled for october 7 2006.

So is it official yet? The 7th is a Saturday, and last year it was on a Sunday, so that's why I'm wondering. And will it be in Columbia again?

[cjwilhelmi]

I have heard October 7th in St. Louis but I cannot confirm. I will try to find out the details tonight at practice.

[Matt_Gardiner]

I do not know how to quote other posters from other threads. The CCLA forum is reporting that Rose Hulman has joined the CCLA.

[cjwilhelmi]

I wonder if they asked for permission to move from the GRLC. This could be the same situation as with Oklahoma State.

[culax]

It's possible that the CCLA will be a better fit for Rose Hulman in a geographic sense. I wish them luck next year in their new conference.

[Matt_Gardiner]

That is what I can not figure out, I do not think it is a better geographic fit. Carnegie Mellon is located almost 440 miles away and is in their subdivision. Playoffs in Michigan will be 5-6 hours away. RHIT was close to everyone in their subdivision. The crossover was always played relatively close to RHIT (2-4 hours away). The playoffs were close to RHIT (2-4 hours away). I can not figure the reasons behind the move, but wish them luck.

From my own selfish perspective, I am glad for the move because it puts an OOC opponent that much closer to us.