No decision determined for fighting
The Canadian Lacrosse Association will levy heavy punishment to players who engage in fisticuffs
Maple Ridge Burrard Kevin Reid tangled with Langley Thunder's Alex Turner during WLA action July 25 at the Langley Events Centre. The WLA is exploring ways to deal with the Canadian Lacrosse Association's ruling to dole out harsher penalties to players who fight.
Photograph by: Troy Landreville , TIMES
The Western Lacrosse Association is planning its next course of action, as it contemplates a recent ruling by the Canadian Lacrosse Association to crack down on fighting.
The WLA's board of governors had a conference call on Dec. 13 to speak about the CLA's changes in its rulebook that will see combatants given not only a major penalty but also a game misconduct if they engage in fisticuffs.
How the ruling will affect the WLA and its teams - including the Maple Ridge Burrards - is yet to be determined.
"There is no decision as of yet," Burrards' president Lance Andre said. "We are going to be conferencing quite a bit about it. We're standing pat. We haven't made any decision yet."
"The way it went is this," explained WLA commissioner Casey Cook.
"The board of directors has tasked the [WLA's] commissioner and assistant commissioner to contact other affected parties in lacrosse such as Major Series Lacrosse, the junior leagues, the referees' association and our insurers, and the wording of the motion was, 'To determine how Rule 45 can be more effectively implemented.'"
Cook added, "What we are doing is, we are gathering information to see what our options are."
A task force was established in the spring 2012 to examine fighting in lacrosse. The task force reported back to the CLA's board of directors with recommendations in the fall, at the annual general meeting.
As a result of the recommendations, the CLA Board of Directors has approved changes to Rule 45 in the Box Lacrosse Rule and Situation Handbook.
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