The Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) has pushed the pause button on its new participation policy at non-sanctioned events.
The policy, which could have suspended many Barrie minor lacrosse players, was put on hold Dec. 31.
On that day, the OLA’s board of directors accepted a recommendation from a majority of minor lacrosse league governors, according to a statement on the OLA’s website.
It is “to fully delay the enactment of the non-sanctioned participation policy for the 2024 season, which will allow for detailed consultation from stakeholders to ensure that policy needs and objectives are met.”
The OLA says this means the policy is formally tabled for further consideration in order to define fairness for all OLA stakeholders. A consultation period has been suggested for amendments and clarifications during the next several months, which allows club presidents and league representatives to gather clear feedback for submission and consideration.
The OLA oversees 66 associations competing in 13 leagues. Non-sanctioned programs all operate without being recognized by the provincial government in Ontario or the Canadian government, and are not governed by Lacrosse Canada or World Lacrosse.
The OLA unveiled its policy Dec. 22. It meant any players, managers, administrators, coaches, officials and trainers who participated in a non-sanctioned event after March 11, and through to the end of October 2024, were ineligible to participate or apply for reinstatement to any Ontario Lacrosse-sanctioned program for the remainder of the current season and the entire following season — not including adult recreational leagues or teams, high school and university lacrosse teams.
Barrie Minor Lacrosse Association (BMLA), which has as many as 400 players, responding on Facebook, said last week it was neither consulted nor informed in advance about the policy.
BMLA president Andrew Prestwich did not respond to interview requests from BradfordToday and InnisfilToday.
But a Tuesday afternoon Facebook posting reads in part: “Barrie minor lacrosse was amongst those organizations requesting, in strong terms, that the policy be revoked. We look forward to being an active participant in further consultations and discussions to ensure any policy passed serves our membership first and gives our players the widest opportunity to participate in the game of lacrosse while ensuring the growth and strength of our programming.”
Through a third party, Prestwich later sent a comment to BradfordToday and InnisfilToday.
“We are glad that the OLA was receptive to the feedback from minor lacrosse associations across Ontario,” he said, “and are excited to start hosting our annual Try Lacrosse clinics for new players, along with training opportunities for our returning players in advance of the 2024 season.”
Lacrosse Canada, the sport’s national governing body, said in a statement on its website that its board of directors has great concerns about the impact the OLA policy has on its membership.
The statement also says Lacrosse Canada was not made aware of the OLA’s non-sanctioned policy prior to its release.
The OLA has said non-sanctioned organizations don’t support the development of the OLA or its clubs and there’s no way of ensuring fundamental safeguards are in place.
“They may or may not be using the same rules that are in place to protect player safety or provide adequate insurance coverage for participants. They also cannot claim that the quality of play in these events matches the level advertised, that officials are appropriately trained, or that background screens have been completed, all of which are important safe-guards that exist within the OLA for the benefit of everyone,” reads an OLA statement.
A change.org petition opposing the OLA policy has more than 5,500 signatures as of Jan. 2 at 4 p.m.
