Penn Valley Lacrosse League

SECTION 1: MEMBERSHIP
To be eligible for renewal and scheduling, Member Teams must have fully paid their Annual Dues prior to the beginning of the October meeting of the season for which these dues are owed. In all cases, dues are nonrefundable. If a member team fails to submit payment by the required date, the PVLL will assume that it has withdrawn from the league.
A Member Team is required to designate a Team Representative to the Board of Team Representatives. Each Team Representative must attend two-thirds of the regular meetings, one of which must be the final regular meeting at the end of the season. Failure to comply with the attendance requirements shall result in the automatic suspension of the Member Team, unless excused by the President. The suspension shall remain in effect until lifted by a majority of the Voting Members.
To gain Member Team status, an Applicant Team must:
1) Acknowledge and abide by the authority of the Executive Board, the Board of Team Representatives, the Constitution and the By-Laws of the PVLL.
2) Pay at least one-half(1/2) of the Annual Dues prior to the beginning of the October meeting of the season for which these dues are owed and pay the balance no later than the beginning of the next regular meeting in November. In all cases, dues are nonrefundable.
3) Present a verifiable roster of at least twenty (20) committed players.
4) Receive a simple majority of votes from Voting Members present at the meeting at which a request for Member Team status is made.
5) Survive a minimum of a one (1) year probationary period, as determined by the Executive Board.
If the applicant organization does not receive the simple majority of votes necessary for membership, the Applicant Team may reapply for Member Team status at the next regular meeting. Whenever possible, the Applicant Team shall be advised of the reason(s) for which it was denied membership.

SECTION 2: ELIGIBILITY
Only players of Member Teams or players of probationary Member Teams who are enrolled high school students who have not graduated and who are not over the age of nineteen (19) years of age and have signed the Letter of Intent shall be eligible to play in any regular season game. This restriction does not include non-league play. Only players of Member Teams who have played in at least three (3) regular season games, tournaments are not considered regular season games, shall be eligible to participate in the PVLL playoffs. A player injured during the season is eligible for the playoffs provided he has played in at least one regular season contest prior to the injury. A player is eligible for the All-Star game if they have satisfied the aforementioned criteria. Players satisfying the aforementioned criteria may play down one (1) grade only with a waiver provided by the PVLL. No roster additions after May 1 are eligible for league play.

SECTION 3: ROSTER
Each Member Team must submit at the beginning of each season, prior to any PVLL play, a team roster which lists each player’s full name, his date of birth, his school, his academic year, and his jersey number. Jersey numbers may not be exchanged between players unless submitted to the PVLL in writing prior to any PVLL game, PVLL related tournament and PVLL playoff games where this may go into effect. If a jersey must be changed during a game, all officials and the opposing team coach must be notified of the change, prior to the player entering the field with his new number, and the new jersey number must be entered into the game book.

SECTION 4: CONDUCT
Each Member Team will be bound by the conduct and academic rules for athletic participation as defined by the school which their players attend. If a Member Team has players from multiple schools, that Member Team agrees to adopt, for all of its players, the most demanding conduct and academic rules of the schools represented by its players. Abusive behavior will not be tolerated by the PVLL. In addition to the aforementioned, Member Teams agree to the following:
a) any offender of any form of discrimination will be subject to review and discipline according to SECTION 6
b) any form of derogatory comment related to the racial, religious, ethnic, personal or physical character of a player(s) is subject to review and discipline according to SECTION 6
c) any Team Member players engaged in abusive behavior, either individually or as a group, is subject to review and discipline according to SECTION 6.
Because each Team Member represents the PVLL, all Team Members will abide and be governed by the aforementioned at all team functions, PVLL related or not.

SECTION 5: PLAYOFFS AND LEAGUE STANDINGS
Each year, the PVLL will evaluate the composition of the league and establish an official schedule of play (Play Format). Factors will include the effects of, and risks in travel time, competition and rivalry development. The Executive Board will present the Play Format to the Member Teams at the September meeting for ratification. Member Teams will vote to accept or amend the Play Format at the September meeting prior to the season of play. All Member Teams must confirm any changes to the PVLL Executive Board no later than two weeks after presentation of the schedule to Member Teams. PVLL will submit the Play Format to the PDLOA no later than November 15 prior to the following season's commencement. Teams that play each other more than the prescribed amount during the regular season must choose which game(s) will count towards the final league standings; prior to the play of any of the games. The PVLL shall sponsor championship playoffs for the top eight (8) teams in the league determined by the following formula for the regular season standings:

1) Overall league win/loss record, forfeits shall be treated as a 1-0 score.
2) Head to head win/loss record.
3) Total goals in head to head play.
4) Total overall goals in PVLL play.
5) Coin flip call by the Team which finished higher in the previous year's regular season.

SECTION 6: ARBITRATION AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
The PVLL Executive Board shall serve as arbitrator for any disputes between Member Teams. It also has the power to suspend any Member Team, player, non-playing member of a Team, coach, or anyone officially connected with a Member Team or the PVLL, for any period of time deemed necessary for any action contrary to these By-Laws, the PVLL Constitution, sportsmanship, or spirit of the game of Lacrosse. Any Member Team, Executive Board Officer, Team Representative, referee, or player may request that disciplinary action be taken by the PVLL within 48 hours of a circumstance giving rise for disciplinary action. Any request for a disciplinary hearing must be in writing and include the following information if possible:

1) Name of person or Member Team filing the complaint.
2) Name of defendant(s) or Member Team the complaint is filed against.
3) Date and time of game or incident.
4) Location of game or incident.
5) Participating Teams or players.
6) Names or officials or witnesses.
7) Affidavits from witnesses, coaches, players, referees and defendant(s).

If the President deems it necessary, he shall appoint a representative to investigate the circumstances giving rise to the situation in question. That representative shall inform the accused Member Team of the specific charges and that team shall be given 48 hours to respond, in writing to the PVLL, with its view of the circumstances. The investigation shall include, but not be limited to the taking of affidavits and discovery of the events that led up to the situation in question. Any decisions or discipline administered by the Executive Board shall be based on witness testimony, affidavits and evidence provided at the hearing. No consideration shall be given to the past histories of the Member Teams, defendant(s) or witnesses when rendering a decision. As well, no consideration shall be given to the effect of the disciplinary action on the disciplined party.

Any Officer of the Executive Board associated with a Team involved in a dispute, or who is a member of the same Team as the defendant(s), or who is a member of the Team said defendant was playing against at the time the incident occurred shall be disqualified from voting in the disciplinary hearing.

Member Teams may also seek a mutually agreed upon third party as arbitrator to settle a dispute. The requirements for a third party arbitration shall be consistent with the aforementioned requirements. The arbitrator shall report it’s findings to the Executive Board, the defendant(s) and any party involved in the arbitration.

The defendant(s) shall be given one (1) week advance notice of the meeting during which the disciplinary hearing shall be conducted. This delay may be waived by the defendant(s) or Team Representative. The defendant(s) disciplined by these procedures may enter an appeal in writing, by or through their Team Representative. This appeal must be received by the President within ten (10) days after the disciplinary ruling is announced, and said appeal will be heard by the full Executive Board and Board of Team Representatives as soon as possible. Any discipline administered by the Executive Board shall be upheld by the Board of Team Representatives unless the Board of Team Representatives votes to reverse or to modify the Executive Board’s decision with a simple majority vote of the entire Board of Team Representatives.

SECTION 7: LETTER OF INTENT AND INSURANCE VOUCHER
The PVLL requires that all players, of a Team Member which is not a school program, sign a Letter of Intent prior to playing on any PVLL Member Team. The purpose of the Letter of Intent is to prevent players from switching to other Member Teams in mid-season. The details of the Letter of Intent are described on said Letter of Intent. A copy of each player’s letter of intent must accompany the submission of each Member Team’s roster to the PVLL.

SECTION 8: ADDITION AND DISSOLUTION OF MEMBER TEAMS
The PVLL shall actively encourage the addition of new Member Teams by assisting with organization, player recruitment and facilities. The PVLL shall not, however, encourage new Member Teams to form when said formation risks the health of existing Member Teams. When a new Member Team applies for membership under the guidelines set out in Section 1 of these By-Laws, the Executive Board shall hold a hearing to determine the risks involved to existing Member Teams.

The PVLL shall actively discourage the dissolution of existing Member Teams by assisting with organization, player recruitment and finances. The loss of Member Teams from the PVLL shall be considered contrary to the Charter Statement of the Constitution of the PVLL. If a Member Team is at risk of dissolving for any reason the Executive Board shall hold a hearing to assess the situation and propose options designed to maintain the viability of the Member Team.

SECTION 9: TEAM COLORS
Member Teams shall have a designated color scheme on it’s jerseys and wear said jerseys at every PVLL game. Each color scheme shall be unique enough such that any two (2) Member Teams can compete against each other and no confusion as to which player is on which team shall result. The Secretary shall be responsible for administering Team color schemes. New Member Teams shall have a designated color scheme and jerseys prior to playing in any regular season or probationary season games.

SECTION 10: HOME TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES
Member Teams hosting league games or tournaments must:
1) provide a properly lined field with regulation goals as defined by current NCAA rules
2) provide a scorer(s) to accurately enter all statistics into Brine Item HEP - Men’s Lacrosse Score Book or its equal
3) provide a timer with functioning game clock with table and chairs
4) provide balls and ball retrievers with helmets
5) provide an adequate first aid kit with ice packs
5) arrange for PDLOA officials
6) verify time and location of game, with opposing team and officials, 2 days prior to the game date
7) make all statistics available to any PVLL official upon request.
8) provide a charged and operational cellular phone and notify officials, prior to play, who is in possession of it.

SECTION 11: DISCIPLINARY Actions
PVLL adheres to NCAA and PSLA rules and regulations. PVLL will not tolerate fighting or disrespectful behavior in any manner towards spectators, opponents, coaches and officials. Each Member Team is expected to maintain strong sportsmanship standards. Failure to do so will result in the following:

PLAYER:
Ejection #1 - Suspension from the following League game.
Ejection #2 - Suspension from the following 2 League games & disqualification from all-star eligibility.
Ejection #3 - Suspension from following 3 League games (can carry over to following year’s play) & disqualification from any playoffs & all-star eligibility.

4 Unsportsmanlike penalties in a season - disqualification from any playoffs & all-star eligibility.

COACH:
Ejection #1 - Suspension from next League game.
Ejection #2 - Disqualification from League play for remainder of season, disqualification from any playoffs and All-star participation and discipline review by the executive committee for possible suspension or expulsion.

3 bench penalties - disqualification from All-star participation and review by executive committee with possible suspension.

Member TEAM:
Failure to submit a complete and verifiable roster: Suspension from regular league play until submitted.
Allowing players to enter field of play with incorrect number: Goals by and assists/ resultant goals disallowed.
Obstruction of an investigation: immediate expulsion from League.
Failure to pay PVLL & PDLOA dues and fees by date prescribed: If dues or fees are unpaid from the prior season, a Member Team will not be allowed to schedule regular season games until all accounts with PVLL & PDLOA are current. If dues or fees are in arrears during the season, a Member Team may not participate in post season play including any playoffs and all-star play until all accounts with PVLL & PDLOA are current.