NCLL teams joining MCLA?

[Madlax16]

I have a BUNCH of my friends on several teams in the NCLL, and i talked to them all about this and they said that the organization of the league is a total mess and is no way as efficient as the MCLA, and that its just total chaos, and becoming more of a just grab and go lacrosse league. I was up in Md during the NCLL lax tourney and saw some of the teams before. Their rules and regulations are ALOT more lax than ours. They were tailgating just as hard, if not more than we were for the UVa vs Md lax game. So in my own opinion, i think it would be great for our current league to expand to involve all teams so that we can have one TRULY NATIONAL lax league, and helps correct this.
Uva has a club team, and my friends on the teams have said that they allways play Virginia Tech in a close game. I dont believe that having teams that have varsity programs in our league would change things very much. Seeing as the kids on the club teams are not the caliber for their said varsity program. I think that, (for the most part) it is the same with our league. The kids that are good enough generally are playing in the ncaa. Im not saying that our league is full of player that just aren't "good enough", there are kids that have played competitively at the varsity level and just transferred to club, like myself. I just think that we should not count out a team just because they have a varsity program, and i am an advocate for a possible joining of the leagues.

[scooter]

I could be just talking out my rear end here, but why don't they just drop out of the NCLL? There are always a ton of teams looking to play pickup games against other quality programs. Granted, each conference has specifics for admission, but I think that almost anyone would play a NCLL team in the fall, or even during an off weekend in the spring.

[OAKS]

Maybe they don't wanna drop out because they want the chance to play for a league/national championship and the corresponding awards?

[bste_lax]

I smell a nice 5-6 page thread brewing with a possible long-winded but great reply by JP.

[Madlax16]

I mean since coming to play club in the MCLA, ive allways wondered why we cant have just one league instead of two. I understand that there can be teams that drop out and join, but the fact of the matter is that most of the schools are in the mid-atlantic, and the majority of the teams in the NCLL CANT join due to the fact that they have a varsity program. If they were to all try and join a conference, they by giographical reasons would be left with the ccla, and the selc. There are a little less than a hundred teams. And if im not mistaken, i believe that would be a little much for one conference, right? So that would make the thought of "why cant they just drop out and join join our league", a little difficult. I dont see a reason why we couldnt just absorb the NCLL into our league and have one governing body. I think they should break off into their own conferences. The level of play would be the same. There would be a few conferences that may be a little better than other, so is the same with our league. Ive played in a fall ball game with one of the teams and the level of play is the same. I just dont see how having a varsity program is such a big deal. If anyone could give me a little insight to this that would be fantastic.
TJ

[bste_lax]

I mean since coming to play club in the MCLA, ive allways wondered why we cant have just one league instead of two. I understand that there can be teams that drop out and join, but the fact of the matter is that most of the schools are in the mid-atlantic, and the majority of the teams in the NCLL CANT join due to the fact that they have a varsity program. If they were to all try and join a conference, they by giographical reasons would be left with the ccla, and the selc. There are a little less than a hundred teams. And if im not mistaken, i believe that would be a little much for one conference, right? So that would make the thought of "why cant they just drop out and join join our league", a little difficult. I dont see a reason why we couldnt just absorb the NCLL into our league and have one governing body. I think they should break off into their own conferences. The level of play would be the same. There would be a few conferences that may be a little better than other, so is the same with our league. Ive played in a fall ball game with one of the teams and the level of play is the same. I just dont see how having a varsity program is such a big deal. If anyone could give me a little insight to this that would be fantastic.
TJ

Via the FAQ page:

Why are there no club teams from schools with varsity programs in the MCLA?

The MCLA has decided to hold off on admitting club teams from varsity schools upon the request of the Varsity Coaches Council and US Lacrosse. There is a concern among some varsity coaches that MCLA lacrosse could influence the loss of more varsity programs as athletic directors see the success of "virtual varsity" club teams on their campuses at minimal cost to the school. The MCLA has received applications from club programs on varsity campuses, but so far the Board has honored the Varsity Coaches Council request.

http://www.collegelax.us/faq.php

[OAKS]

I think one of the arguments is that if an AD sees a successful club team on campus that plays for a Conference Championship, National Championship, has things like All-Conference and All-America awards and can successfully run itself without money coming from the Athletic Association then they might be inclined to axe the varsity team to save money, saying that the guys still have the opportunity to play for the school (and can beat varsity teams occasionally).

My question is that if the NCLL gets more organized and keeps teams happier than what people are talking about on the message boards, then what would the real difference between NCLL and MCLA teams be? It would essentially make that point Sonny posted above about the bargain moot. There would be a successful alternative to varsity lax on campus, but just under a different banner.

[Madlax16]

I think that with leaving Uslacrosse, i think we should change all this and just accept the "little brother" league up to play with the big boys. Maybe i am absolutely wrong in my thought, but that is my opinion. The teams that have transferred from the NCLL have always, as i was informed, taken a few years to adust to the level of play of the MCLA. If the Varsity Coaches thing were to change their stance, would the thought of accepting the league in ours be more of a reality?

[StrykerFSU]

I think the MCLA policy on school's with a varsity team will need to be revisited in the future but not because of the possible admission of a former NCLL school with a varsity program.

What is going to happen when a current MCLA school adds a varsity program? Are all of that school's MCLA players going to be left out in the cold? That has always been my fear about FSU. If FSU ever does go varsity, are the club players going to be left without a team? You could really insert any school into this discussion because I believe it is only a matter of time before an AD finally sees the writing on the wall and adds varsity.

That is all hypothetical so Quint K., if you are out there in cyberspace, don't go spouting off again.

[M]

I am currently a president of a NCLL school. Like many have said the reason this post even came about is because all of a sudden it appears that the leadership in the NCLL is falling apart. I attend school back east but am from California and have been around the MCLA (or former USLIA or whatever it was) my entire lacrosse career. Ever since coming to school and joining the club program I had wished it was a part of your league. Everything is much more serious and organized. The playoff procedures seem to be set in stone and not changeable as the NCLL's are, it seems like no one is really getting screwed out of your tournament. I feel like if the MCLA wanted, this would be the perfect time to absorb some of the NCLL's more competitive teams. It is not fun to have to get emails from within the league leadership that another officer should be overthrown. After playing in the Tahoe lax tournament over the summer with many good WCLL players and teams, and watching some mid-western lax, I am very confident that there are probably 10 or 15 highly competitive and organized teams who would definitley be able to match the competitiveness and organization of the MCLA. I am glad this post came about so that the idea of clubs with varsity squads on campus can at least be discussed. I mean if the NCLL totally fell apart would the MCLA not be willing to take in qualified and competitive programs purely because they have varsity squads? All we want is to be able to play fun and competitive lax and that definitely happens in your league.

[Beta]

What's to stop Varsity athletes or jv (practice squaded guys, freshman, etc) from playing? IF schools with varsity teams were someday permitted to join the MCLA is another problem I am sure.

[Sonny]

I feel like if the MCLA wanted, this would be the perfect time to absorb some of the NCLL's more competitive teams.

I understand your frustation, but frankly this isn't practical or feasible.

Individual teams have to apply to individual MCLA conferences. Teams have to join a conference and take that giant first leap of faith. Even if they wanted to, the MCLA isn't prepared to "absorb" another conference full of teams.

Check out our FAQ, if you haven't already done so (and feel free to share with others in the NCLL). It's a good read, I swear to you:
http://www.collegelax.us/faq.php

My college club team is not in the MCLA now. How do we get in?

The MCLA has grown so quickly over the last 10 years because of a "build it and they will come" strategy. Some individual conferences may recruit new teams, but the MCLA generally does not.

College club teams that wish to join the MCLA must be accepted by one of the current nine MCLA conference for membership. Because each conference has their own admission process, we suggest you contact the conference director in your area for more information on how & when to apply. Link:
http://www.mcla.us/about.cfm?conferenceid=&divisionid=1

[BigheadTodd]

I think with Simon Frasier in the league, you should all be calling it an "International League". Just to throw another question in there, are there any canadian teams in the NCLL? If not, where do they play?

[OAKS]

I think with Simon Frasier in the league, you should all be calling it an "International League". Just to throw another question in there, are there any canadian teams in the NCLL? If not, where do they play?

It's kind of implied, and maybe a small part of the reason for the switch from 'United States Intercollegiate yada yada' to MDIA and 'Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association'.

[John Paul]

OK, you guys sucked me in.

1. Our current rules stipulating that we do not accept teams from schools that have varsity programs is not going to change. We just wrapped up our winter Board meetings in Baltimore here at the IMLCA clinic. I met last night with the IMLCA Executive Board (Mead, Acee, Cottle, et al), and they are very supportive of our organization. As our two organizations grow and mature, we will be looking for ways to work together. In short, we are cultivating closer ties with the varsity world every year, and adding club teams on their campuses to our membership would jeopardize that relationship. There are other reasons for this rule as well, although I personally could care less about the possibility of varsity level guys playing on MCLA teams - one of the reasons that some people point to. In fact, I would welcome them if we allowed those teams. Better players make for a better league. Moot point though.

2. Our task is to have the best possible league for our current member teams. Our task is not to grow. Growth has happened (although much too quickly to my mind), but it's a result of our product - not the result of any directive. If NCLL or other teams that are eligible for membership are ready to make the jump and there is room for them and the ability to manage them in current conferences, then we'll welcome them.