PLAYER EXPECTATIONS
Time Commitment
All Players
Players are expected to attend all scheduled practices and games. In the event a player is unable to attend a scheduled practice or game, that player’s head coach must be notified directly at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled event. (In the event of an emergency (within 24 hours) please inform the head coach ASAP. Continued abuse of this rule will be noted may affect playing time as well as team suspension). If a player does not attend a practice during the week leading up to a game, that player’s coach has the discretion to limit that player’s field time in that game.
Maroon Team Commitment
Players are expected to participate in off-season training with their team to the extent their schedules permit. In the event their availability to participate in off-season training is limited due to other scheduled commitments, those commitments must be communicated to the head coach of that Maroon Team at the outset of the off-season training. Players who are unable to attend off-season training or who are limited in their ability to participate should understand that their inability to attend could impact their role(s) on the team during that upcoming season.
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Playing Time
All Players
Players should understand that although their coaches will strive to play all players for an equal number of minutes during any given game this result may not always be achievable. Players should further understand that coaches will use their best efforts to distribute playing time equally among players over the course of the year.
Maroon Team Commitment
Players should understand that there is no guarantee that playing time will be evenly distributed over the course of any given game or over the course of the season and that playing time will be largely determined by game opponents and match-ups.
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Field Position / Team Role
All Players
While coaches will use their best efforts to provide players with an opportunity to play field positions that interest each player, players should understand that their coach has complete discretion to determine the field position(s) played by each player.
Maroon Team Commitment
Players should understand that they have been selected to participate on their team to play a specific field position and should have no expectation of playing a different position unless so directed by their coach. Players should further understand that they may be asked to play a specialized role(s) on their team (ex. defensive middie, faceoff specialist, long stick middie) and are expected to accept any such assigned specialized role(s).
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Sportsmanship/Player Safety
Towards Teammates
Players are expected to treat their teammates with respect and encouragement. Players should understand that they are prohibited from using foul language at practice. Players should also understand that they are prohibited from taking any measure that unnecessarily threatens the safety of any teammate or that recklessly or intentionally threatens to physically harm any teammate.
Towards Coaches
Players are expected to treat their coaches with respect at all times. Players should also understand that it is within the scope of their coach’s responsibilities to provide them with constructive criticism concerning their play. Players are expected to accept such constructive criticism and attempt to improve their play consistent with the content of the constructive criticism.
Towards Opponents
Players are expected to treat their opponents with class and respect. Players should understand that they are prohibited from using foul language or arguing with officials during games. Players should also understand that they are prohibited from taking any measure that unnecessarily threatens the safety of any opponent or that recklessly and/or intentionally threatens to physically harm any opponent.
Players who fail to meet the expectations described in the preceding paragraphs concerning Sportsmanship/Player Safety should understand that their coach has the complete discretion to limit his or her game playing time or suspend his or her team membership. Violations deemed serious enough for suspension, will be presented to the VLA Board for final review.
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Protective Equipment
All players are required to wear all standard protective equipment during all practices and games. Players who fail to wear standard protective equipment for any practice and/or game shall be prohibited from participating in that practice and/or game.
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Skill Improvement
All Players
At the suggestion of their coaches, players should participate in individual practice time (independent from team practices and games) to improve their playing skills.
Maroon Team Commitment
Any player who does not participate in individual practice time at the suggestion of his or her coach should understand that his or her role(s) on the team could be impacted at the discretion of his or her coach.
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Punctuality
Players are expected to arrive 15 minutes before the start time for all scheduled practices and be fully dressed and prepared to participate in practice at the scheduled start time. Players are expected to arrive 45 minutes before the start time for all scheduled games and be fully dressed and prepared to participate in warm-ups 30 minutes prior to the start time of all scheduled games. Players who arrive late to any practice and/or game should understand that their playing time may be impacted at the sole discretion of their coach.