Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse Mission, Philosophy, and Season Goals

As Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse (MYL) prepares for the 2023 spring season, we continue to look for ways to improve the league & organization. We’d like to reinforce MYL’s mission, philosophy & goals to all our member towns & coaches and share some history & key reasons why MYL continues to grow & thrive today.
 
Mission: Our mission is to teach, grow, and honor the game of lacrosse in your town and in every community in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by providing leadership, guidance, training, and structure to all town and city programs participating in MYL’s spring league as well as the annual MYL Jamboree held each June at the end of our season.
 
Philosophy: Our philosophy in the MYL Classic program is all players participate equally (i.e. equal playing time) in all games on evenly balanced teams based on a player’s grade, age, skill, size and experience playing a local game schedule in their region. There are no "A" and "B" or "stacked" teams, nor standings and playoffs at any level of the MYL Classic program (our traditional league games on Sundays). 
 
Our Select league is an additional town-based playing opportunity—NOT a replacement for a player's participation in the MYL Classic program. Select team players must also participate on their MYL Classic team (Why? See Goals).  Select has division-based standings, playoffs, Championship, and All-Star games.
 
Our coaches are trained and certified to be teachers of the game and role models focused on player development, teamwork, and learning the fundamentals—especially the "fun" part.  MYL is an inclusive organization open to all towns and cities where, collectively, we strive to always provide a safe, enjoyable learning experience for all participants in an environment not swept up in the pressure filled, win-at-all-cost mania too common in youth sports today.

Goals: Our primary goal is all MYL players, coaches, parents, officials, and program leaders will have a fun experience while always demonstrating role-model sportsmanship on-and-off the field as together we learn, share, and teach the fundamental skills and teamwork required to play the game well. Responsible growth and participation in every member town is a secondary, but important goal.
 
MYL provides training, guidance, certification, and grade & age-specific rules of play for all member towns, coaches, players, and officials with a particular focus on player safety, sportsmanship, and fair play for a positive, fun experience for all participants. 
 
Honor the Game: We honor the game by practicing positive coaching, teaching life lessons beyond the playing field, and by developing a strong community among all MYL players, coaches, parents, officials, and fans that will last a lifetime.
 
As MYL town members, we continue to improve our lacrosse knowledge & program capabilities each season as we learn, share, and teach the game based on speed, stick skills, athleticism, and teamwork—and not physical intimidation.
 
Your League: Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse (MYL) represents 150+ towns with programs for boys & girls. The Boys programs are split in to six geographic regions and the Girls currently have 1 region —for local game scheduling—in eastern & central Massachusetts with over 13,000 players in 1^st to 8^th grades on 900 teams led by 2,000 active MYL certified coaches each spring.  Below are some of the services and value the organization provides its members along with a few key highlights about what Mass Youth Lax, your league, represents today:

• MYL is one of the largest youth lacrosse leagues and organizations in the United States with over 40,000 players, parents, and coaches.

• MYL Jamboree held each June is the largest youth lacrosse event in the USA with over 400 teams and 20,000 players, coaches, and fans.

• MYL Jamboree event sponsors and partners contribute over 40% of our total annual operating budget—keeping member fees low.

• MYL funds & organizes coaching education, certification, clinics, and online training for all our coaches and town leaders each spring.

• MYL funds & organizes our Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) partnership for workshops and online Coach / Parent / Player courses.

• MYL mandates all our coaches be MYL-certified at least every 2 years through MYL coaching clinics.

• MYL funds & organizes the Classic (Sunday), mid-week, and Mass Youth Select spring game schedules with over 3,000 games played each season.

• MYL funds & coordinates with EMLOA and EMWLUA to contract for referee Assignors to schedule game officials for all MYL league contests.

• MYL funds & contracts with EMLOA and EMWLUA to train, certify, or re-certify all MYL Associate Officials (AOs) & Junior Officials each spring for town members.

• MYL funds & organizes the Regional Referee Coordinators & our AO/Junrior Official support resources in each of our six geographic regions and girsl league.

• MYL is led by an all-volunteer board of directors who—as MBYLL town leaders and coaches—are all passionate about the game.  

    Thank you for your participation and efforts in making Massachusetts Youth Lacrosse a continued success ...