How the MCLA and its Conferences are run

[NKlaxguy]

I must say I am appalled and somewhat embarrassed by your comments Dustin. Assuming the NCAA model for collegiate lacrosse administration is what this league strives for, then I can tell you, that from an organizational standpoint, the MCLA mimics the NCAA model about as well as it can considering it has significantly less resources. I currently work for an NCAA Division 1 athletic dept. with a successful lacrosse program and have worked in athletic administration for nearly 3 years now, and I can tell you that, for a club and volunteer organization, the MCLA structurely is very sound.

It seems to me that a lot of your arguments are based on laziness on your part. Your question, do you know your conference electoral board, it seems to me is missing a possible answer; No, I am too lazy to make the effort to get to know them. Because that is the case with some teams. Also in regard to your concerns about conference budgets, have you ever attempted to contact your conference treasurer? I know at PCLL meetings the budget was distributed to every team so we saw where all our dues were going, and I am sure the same is true for national level meetings as well. I am sure this information is available if you were to request it.

Aren't you usually motivated in some way to volunteer?

Because they love the game? Is your paranoia really that extreme?

Aren't the people with the most amount of free time usually the team coaches that have a school financially backing them, so that these coaches can make lacrosse a full time job?

There is not one full time coach in the MCLA, and even if there is...that is an extremely poor coach. And schools paying their coaches is a lot rarer then you think.

And still this whole argument of, "they can't do it, why don't you just let a few selected individuals do it" is total non-sense.

This is how the NCAA works!!!!!!!!! But not in the negative sense the you spin it. Nothing would ever get done if each of the 340 D1 basketball teams had to vote before finalizing national governing body decisions. New rules and regulations would be stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Thats why ncaa teams have administrators that represent them and those administrators elect individuals to represent their conference interests at the national level.

Send out an email to every teams voter and give them 24 hours to respond.

I guarantee you 1/3 of the teams wouldn't respond in 24 hours. For various reasons, not out of laziness, but going back to the volunteer comment, these people have jobs, school, etc. I think you have a skewed view of reality here. So when all the teams don't vote then what happens?

I enjoy hearing explanations from EB members on this stuff , but frankly I don't care for it

Is this sarcasm? How can you come on this board and complain when you refuse to educate yourself by reading EB explanations of league policies and procedures.

Honestly, I pitty you man. It must be sad living in such a paranoid existence. I think you are young, and naive and really don't have a good understanding of the realities of this organization. A lot of your questions and comments here could have been answered just by a small amount of effort on your part.

I understand it may be frustrating when you are part of a small team and see the big boys getting all the press and love. Well you know what, then do something about it... besides blaming the league. Work harder, fundraise harder, play harder. Despite what you may think, there is no organizational glass ceiling or conspiracy created by the higher ups holding you back from being a successful team.

[CATLAX MAN]

Amen

[DRich17]

I can appreciate those condescending remarks.

Now the point remains about free speech and involvement. How much more ignorant would I be now if i had not started the conversation. The only thing I was trying to accomplish here, was to address the fact that, myself along with countless others, who by this point are not about to say they are in the same boat as me, (thanks to the above), are not aware of a lot of things that go on. Now whether or not anyone has agreed with me is really not my concern, but ALL of you would agree that there are some things I did not and do not know. You don't think there are others like me? You pitty me. wow. At least now I am aware of more than I was when I started. I've learned a lot about the system and those involved.

Questioning accepted standards should be encouraged by everyone.
Why is it that people get so defensive when you do that?
Is your ego at stake here? Are you losing something by my perceived or real paranoia and questioning? There have been a couple people that have given a straight answer. There have been a lot that have gotten pissed off that I don't agree with them or their views. Free speech is not about agreement upon right or wrong but about listening and responding in a civil manner. Have I dont that perfectly? im sure not, probably not.

But i pitty no one for holding a different opinion, however "skewed" I may think it is

[CATLAX MAN]

What you fail to see is that the problem doesn't lie in the system, it lies with you. Nobody is restricting your rights to free speech here. If you want to find out how things work, you need to make the effort to educate yourself...not come on a public board and make it sound like you are being trod upon and abused in some fashion. You need to get off your ass and find out who your team, league & conference representatives are and find out the answers to the questions that you have. After you have done that and you think something is wrong, state your case with facts in hand. Then it won't seem to some that you are making statements that are ill-informed, arrogant & ignorant.

[Sonny]

Shouldn't the MCLA cater to the majority of the membership, since they're the ones paying for 2/3 of the bills?

Nope.

At the risk of sounding like an snob, let them leave the MCLA if they don't like the support/benefits they receive for their money. There is no reason to cater to team that can't follow the rules as written right now.

[Sonny]

If Missouri State is so unhappy in D1, they can always move to D2 by our rules. If they are unhappy in the GRLC or the MCLA, they can always drop out. Missouri State CHOSE to be a part of the MCLA and the GRLC and they CHOSE to be a part of the organization and all of its rules. If you do not want to be in the MCLA, then don't. The money paid to the GRLC and MCLA to run tournament, run the administration of the league, insure the entire operation, and provide a legitimate, even playing field for all teams to compete is cheap for what you are getting.

Well said Matt. Very well said.

[LaxRef]

As an official, I don't know much about the politics/structure/policies/etc. of the MCLA executive board or the MCLA in general. Keep that in mind, and take these comments for what they're worth.

I think it is entirely reasonable to ask for an accounting of how the total MCLA annual dues are spent. The customers--the teams--should know what they're getting for their money. My guess would be that costs (annual tournament, administration, meetings, website) would add up more quickly than you might think, but you do have a right to know where that money is going.

The same goes for conference fees, which I would guess go primarily toward officials fees.

I absolutely agree that if the teams don't feel they are getting their money's worth they should either ask that the money be spent differently or withdraw from their league and/or the MCLA. The same goes for issues of representation.

I think perhaps a better way of starting this thread would be to simply ask how the money is being spent. It seems like the OP has a hodgepodge of issues that are producing a muddled discussion.

One other comment: as far as transparency goes, I think everyone in the thread seems to think it's a good thing and should be a goal of the MCLA and the conferences. I seem to recall other threads where people have been asking for information. The idea of "the MCLA exec communicates with a conference representative, from whom you can then contact to get the information you want" seems to hinder communication.

Again, I'm no expert on internal MCLA issues, so I apologize if I'm missing something, but it seems like it would be easier for everyone and that it would increase transparency immeasurably to just post things like bylaws, treasurer's reports, etc., on the MCLA website. This would certainly dispel the notion that some people--not me, BTW--apparently have about the MCLA having something to hide.

I'm trying to tread delicately here because I'm an outsider on most of these issues, and I hope I haven't offended anyone. If I did, I apologize.

[CharlotteLAX16]

A question that I have, and other may have it as well, is does the MCLA allow for independent teams like Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, etc. are in the NCAA?

Not wondering for any specific team, just in general.

[bste_lax]

A question that I have, and other may have it as well, is does the MCLA allow for independent teams like Syracuse, Johns Hopkins, etc. are in the NCAA?

Not wondering for any specific team, just in general.

You have to be in a conference now. There used to be independents roughly 3-4 years ago, but not so much anymore.

I think Buffalo used to be an independent when they made the National Tourney "back in the day", prior to joining the CCLA.

[Jolly Roger]

To be eligible for inclusion in the MCLA, a team must be a member of a recognized MCLA conference.

Independents were allowed a few years back and, I think one of the EB members put more time into those few teams than all other members combined.

[beckner11]

In response to Matt's comments about Missouri State...
Dustin never mentioned anything about Missouri State feeling as though they are pissed off. While I may know slightly more about the GRLC as an organization than Dustin (since I was the team representative for 4 years), during that time I would never discourage another team member from openly and publicly asking questions. His means of educating himself might be a bit more open and controversial than others, he is still trying to educate himself regardless, and for that I commend Dustin for his efforts. We should never shoot one down for saying they have questions and want to learn more, even if they take the wrong steps to find out the information. Don't discourage misdirected steps to educate, focus on the positive and encourage the search for knowledge.

Dustin, keep searching for answers any way possible, but also keep listening with an open mind and take some of the positive things that people have suggested, as some of them are willing to assist you rather than criticize.

[CharlotteLAX16]

Anyone know why independents are now disallowed? It seems that with the MCLA growing as fast as it is, within 2-3 years there will be a need for another conference maybe two. Having independent teams under the MCLA umbrella sounds like it could be a viable solution for teams wanting to be in the MCLA but arent looking to be in a conference at the time or it isnt viable with travel/whatever.

[onpoint]

Believe me, I'm not one to blindly defend the BOD, but we received a budgetary summary from the RMLC at our league meeting in the fall. While there are certain things that I think we can do better, I believe that on the whole, our BOD absolutely has our best interests in mind.

[Steno]

As an official, I don't know much about the politics/structure/policies/etc. of the MCLA executive board or the MCLA in general. Keep that in mind, and take these comments for what they're worth.

I think it is entirely reasonable to ask for an accounting of how the total MCLA annual dues are spent. The customers--the teams--should know what they're getting for their money. My guess would be that costs (annual tournament, administration, meetings, website) would add up more quickly than you might think, but you do have a right to know where that money is going.

The same goes for conference fees, which I would guess go primarily toward officials fees.

I absolutely agree that if the teams don't feel they are getting their money's worth they should either ask that the money be spent differently or withdraw from their league and/or the MCLA. The same goes for issues of representation.

I think perhaps a better way of starting this thread would be to simply ask how the money is being spent. It seems like the OP has a hodgepodge of issues that are producing a muddled discussion.

One other comment: as far as transparency goes, I think everyone in the thread seems to think it's a good thing and should be a goal of the MCLA and the conferences. I seem to recall other threads where people have been asking for information. The idea of "the MCLA exec communicates with a conference representative, from whom you can then contact to get the information you want" seems to hinder communication.

Again, I'm no expert on internal MCLA issues, so I apologize if I'm missing something, but it seems like it would be easier for everyone and that it would increase transparency immeasurably to just post things like bylaws, treasurer's reports, etc., on the MCLA website. This would certainly dispel the notion that some people--not me, BTW--apparently have about the MCLA having something to hide.

I'm trying to tread delicately here because I'm an outsider on most of these issues, and I hope I haven't offended anyone. If I did, I apologize.

I very delicately agree with this.

[culax]

Don't discourage misdirected steps to educate, focus on the positive and encourage the search for knowledge.

First, I would encourage you to speak with your coach when you have questions about the MCLA or your conference. If he can't answer something, I would then look to the conference leadership (Division 1 or 2 Director in the GRLC depending on your team, and then the Conference Commissioner). Every team in the GRLC has a vote through their commissioner and he attends every national meeting to represent the GRLC member teams.

Sometimes, some of us are put off when an individual comes on the message boards to whine or complain about or question something that their coach could have easily explained to them.