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Local lacrosse league planning season with restrictions in effect

March 25, 2021   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

It looks like there will be a minor lacrosse season this year, however expect restrictions.

The Orangeville Northmen have said they are following the direction of the Ontario Lacrosse Association, and this will not be a typical season.

Northmen executive stated the “Association is working hard on a plan to offer the best possible lacrosse programs in Women’s lacrosse, Men’s Field lacrosse, and Box lacrosse for 2021, while following all health and safety protocols to keep you, our members, safe. We are continuing to discuss different ways of returning to play, not only within our own organization, but possibly also with other organizations.”

Currently the Northmen don’t have a definite date when programs will start, but they plan to update the lacrosse community in the next few weeks.

Due to the fact the teams can’t cross health districts, there will be limited play.

The Northmen have not yet started registration for this season.

The OLA issued a statement saying, “The return to lacrosse will not be linear, and it will require flexibility from everyone involved. This will be a slow and careful process of individual strength training and skill development, physical distancing and adaptive efforts on the part of everyone involved. It is imperative that the resumption of lacrosse training activities and modified games must not compromise the health of individuals participating or the communities in which we operate.”

The Associating said there is hope for OLA clubs and leagues throughout the province to have a return to play in a modified environment in 2021, with the recent introduction of COVID-19 inoculations.

They are planning a slow and careful process of individual strength training and skill development, and modified games that eliminate body contact, with physical distancing and adaptive efforts of everyone in involved in the game.

The Association’s website has a full list of things like maximum number of players and spectators, league sizes, travel, and protocols that should be followed depending on what level of alert a Health District is flagged as.

The site also has a full detailed list of facility protocols that must be followed for pre-game, game play, and post-game activities.

Game play will have a number of restrictions this year including a ban on body contact – only stick to stick contact will be allowed.

For local league play, teams will be 

grouped in cohorts to minimize any kind of risk.

The Lacrosse Association is planning their return to play guidelines in keeping with provincial and Health District rules to make sure all players, coaches, and spectators are kept safe during lacrosse activities. 

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