Policies/FAQs

Our year is based on the HPISD calendar and runs from the first of June to the end of May the following year.
Registration typically opens for the Fall June 15th and the Spring November 15th for all three divisions:

- High School (Grades 9-12)
- Youth (Grades 5-8)
- Bantam (Grades 1-4)

There are two primary seasons (Fall and Spring) with Summer and Winter camps available to all Bantam and Youth players.
Due to high demand Bantam and Youth registration space is limited. The later parents wait to register there is a likely chance a spot will not be available for your player. There is wait list registration when all available spaces are full with no guarantee a space will open up for your son at a later date. Since 2010 there has been wait list Spring registration for Bantam and Youth.
High School players are asked to register as soon as possible even if they are only playing in the Spring.
The registration page that will have the latest information, dates and instructions to register your player.

Player fees are refundable up until the time that teams are chosen or two weeks after the season begins whichever comes first. After that time, no refunds will be issued. Each refund request will be issued less any out of pocket expenses, credit card processing fees, uniform costs incurred etc..

To cancel a player's registration, please use our Registration Change Request Form to expedite your request. List your player's name and reason for cancellation on your refund/cancellation request.

Players who reside within the Highland Park Independent School District (HPISD) but attend a school (public or private) without a lacrosse program are eligible to play for HP based on NTYLL rules and will be allowed to participate based on the following criteria:

1st Priority registration is for HPISD residents with boys registered and attending HPISD Schools.
2nd priority if registration room is available, we will allow HPISD residents with boys attending non-HPISD schools with no available school related program.
3rd priority if registration room is available, we will allow HPISD residents with boys attending non-HPISD schools with a program available (those trying out for a youth championship level team if their program has a competitive team)

If you are unsure of your player's eligibility we ask that you please contact Beth Lee, HP Administrator for clarification before registration.

Please review the NTYLL page on our site and the NTYLL web site for more information.

Grades 5-12

Highland Park Boys Lacrosse adheres to the HPISD UIL Academic Eligibility Requirements. Please read below for more information and details pertaining to this policy:

• At the end of the six weeks grading period, the players coach will request players to bring a copy of the original HPISD report card sent home to parents. (no copies from the online grade report will be accepted).
• Coaches will give players a deadline to submit their grade report and if a player does not adhere to this deadline, he will not be allowed to practice until he has shown his grades to his coach.
• If the student has a grade of 70 or above in all subjects, the coach will check him off his list to confirm the player has submitted his grade report and that the report card has been given back to the player. He is then cleared to play.
• Any player with a grade of 69 or below is ineligible for a three week period.
• A player may regain eligibility when his coach has reviewed the 3-week mid-term report to see that his grade is above a 70 and the player is now passing. If the player still is not passing by the mid-term grade then he sits out another six weeks.
• Students with an "Incomplete" instead of a final grade are ineligible until the "I" is replaced with a passing grade.
• While a player is serving his suspension, the player is allowed to practice but may NOT play in games. However, if he needs more time for tutors, homework, etc. then he is excused from practice.

More Info

Updated: 8/1/2011

It is a privilege and an honor to be a member of the Highland Park Lacrosse Team. Being a member of the team is not only a position of honor, but also one of responsibility and accountability. A Highland Park Lacrosse Player is held to a higher standard of conduct than the general student at HPISD. Students and their parent/guardian must sign and adhere to the following pledge as a condition of participation in Highland Park Lacrosse.

1. Abstain from the use or possession of illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcoholic beverages and tobacco. Never willfully attend or remain at an activity where the student knows alcohol or illegal drugs are being consumed.
2. Follow the spirit and letter of the rules and regulations of Highland Park Boys Lacrosse with no exceptions at Home, School, Practice and Games for any and all sporting events of any team member.
3. Refrain from the disrespectful act of texting and/or calling, including Facebook postings, Twitter updates or other social networking sites either under your name or an alias name under your use, bullying and harassing or any form of physical violence or any act of physical aggression or property damage of any person or a team member. When any of these acts are reported, or known by any administrator, coach or any representative of the Highland Park Boys Lacrosse program, it is subject to the same Consequences as determined by the Head Coach that follow the Code of Conduct (page 2) listed under “Violations”.
4. Attend with punctuality all classes, scheduled practices, and meetings.
5. Maintain a passing grade in all academic classes for each six weeks for any Highland Park Boys Lacrosse season as set forth in our Grade Policy and the No Pass/No Play standards as outlined in the Highland Park Kiltie. Applies to players in grades 7-12.
6. Treat teachers, coaches, peers, and competitors with respect. Refrain from the use of profanity, poor sportsmanship and hazing.
7. Be a positive role model for my teammates and classmates, in attitude, appearance, and behavior.
8. Treat Highland Park and competitors’ facilities and equipment with care and respect. Respect the property of your fellow athletes and understand that equipment and/or any article not belonging to you will be turned in to the coach or the league.
9. Communicate and demonstrate to teammates and coaches my expectations for the team in a respectful manner.
10. Follow, trust and commit to the decisions of the Head Coach.

VIOLATIONS

Violations of the pledge and consequences for such violations will be determined by a discussion and recommendation by the Head Coach. A Player will have the opportunity to discuss with his coach the facts involved in the violation before a decision is made regarding the disciplinary action to be imposed.

If any player or coach gets an unsportsmanlike penalty during a game (such as coach chewing out an official, a player curses on the field or questions an official’s call, or a player talks trash during a game to an opposing player) then they will sit a minimum of 2 quarters after their non-releasable penalty is served.”

1. First Offense
a. Suspension from current or nearest competitive season or activity for a period of three (3) games.
b. A Student may self-report to his coach and receive a lesser suspension of two (2) games if agreed by the Head Coach.
2. Second Offense
a. Suspension from current or nearest competitive season or activity for a
period of six (6) games.
b. Self-report by student does not apply after first offense.
3. Third Offense
a. Suspension from the team for a period of one calendar year. After a one
year period, the Board of Directors, Administrator and the Coach will
determine reinstatement. Reinstatement will be based on such things as
academic record, attendance, behavior record, and any other information
deemed appropriate for review.
b. Any offense which occurs after reinstatement will be treated as a third offense.

All Youth and High School players (grades 5-12) beginning Fall 2010 are required to have a blue helmet. This rule does not currently apply to Bantam players. If you will be purchasing a new helmet for your Bantam player we strongly suggest a blue helmet.

Official Helmet Policy:
As has always been the case at the high school level, youth players (grades 5 - 8) have historically been expected to practice and play games wearing a navy blue helmet, consistent with Highland Park’s blue and gold colors. While this has never been an issue in the past, the proliferation of youth lacrosse travel teams requiring their own uniforms, including helmets, has the led the Highland Park Lacrosse Board of Directors to adopt a formal policy requiring that all youth players wear their navy blue helmets at Highland Park youth lacrosse practices and games. The Board believes this is important in promoting team unity and Highland Park lacrosse. If you should have any questions, feel free to contact Kyle Green, President of Highland Park Boys Lacrosse.

HP Boys lacrosse supports the participation in select lacrosse programs for the players that choose to participate in those programs, as long as those select programs do not interfere with their obligations as a member of their particular HP Boys Lacrosse team. This policy pertains to spring, summer and fall HP Lacrosse obligations. HP Boys Lacrosse DOES NOT endorse any one particular select lacrosse program in the area, regardless of any of its coaching staff’s connections with such programs. In NO WAY will any HP Boys Lacrosse player be given any special treatment or consideration based upon his participation in a select program involving current, past or future HP coaches. This policy also pertains to private lessons, camps, clinics and the like. HP Boys Lacrosse will continue to disseminate information from various programs for the benefit of its players from time to time, but this is for informational purposes only and the dissemination of any particular select program marketing material (or the absence thereof) in no way suggests an opinion of the HP Boys Lacrosse program, positive or negative.

Every player is required to provide his own equipment. At a minimum every player must have:
- A legal lacrosse stick and head
- HP approved blue lacrosse helmet
- Mouth Guard
- Lacrosse Gloves
- Lacrosse Elbow Pads
- Lacrosse Shoulder Pads
- Soccer, Football or Lacrosse cleats are highly recommended
- Water for all practices and games

Highland Park Lacrosse will provide game related equipment including, goals, balls, goalie equipment (for Bantam grades 3-4 and Youth).

Lacrosse is a club sport and as such receives no funding from the Highland Park Independent School District (HPISD). Parents pay a fee for their children to play and attempt to raise funds in various ways throughout the year to help supplement the high cost related to operating the program. Please consider donating to HP Lacrosse.

All Bantam players must complete the following three steps. Players will not be allowed to start practice until all forms have been received by the club.

1. Become a member of US Lacrosse. Go on-line to http://www.uslacrosse.org and complete the registration. With your membership in US Lacrosse you will receive the US Lacrosse magazine and will have coverage under their insurance program. This is a 1-year membership fee. During HP registration you will be asked for your US Lacrosse number.

2. Register with NTYLL (North Texas Youth Lacrosse League)*. Please go to http://www.uslacrossentx.org. Once on the site, click on the NTYLL box (on the left hand side) and complete the process.

3. Register online with HP Lacrosse (Currently Closed)

4. You will receive notification by email about the season, schedule and your team. Please make sure info@highlandparklacrosse.org is added to your email address book. If you have not received any emails please check this web site for the latest, most up to date information.

All youth players must complete the following three steps. Players will not be allowed to start practice until all forms have been received by the club.

1. Become a member of US Lacrosse. Go on-line to http://www.uslacrosse.org and complete the registration. With your membership in US Lacrosse you will receive the US Lacrosse magazine and will have coverage under their insurance program. This is a 1-year membership fee. During HP registration you will be asked for your US Lacrosse number.

2. Register with NTYLL (North Texas Youth Lacrosse League)*. Please go to http://www.uslacrossentx.org. Once on the site, click on the NTYLL box (on the left hand side) and complete the process.

3. Register online with HP Lacrosse (Currently Closed)

Please complete forms and return them, along with your payment, to the following address:

Beth Lee
Administrator
Highland Park Boys Lacrosse, Inc.
4333 Stanhope
Dallas, Texas 75205

4. You will receive notification by email about the season, schedule and your team. Please make sure info@highlandparklacrosse.org is added to your email address book. If you have not received any emails please check this web site for the latest, most up to date information.

NCAA Revised Crosse Rule

Effective January 1, 2010, the Texas High School Lacrosse League has endorsed the new NCAA lacrosse rule regarding crosse head measurements. This rule will be in effect in Texas on the same date and all high school players (with the exception of goalies) will have to buy new crosse heads for the spring season. Member schools were asked via written consent to either affirm the NCAA crosse specifications effective January 2010 or vote to waive the NCAA crosse specification change. The outcome of the written consent was majority support by the THSLL member schools to affirm the NCAA crosse specifications.

If a high school player needs to purchase a new head for the fall season, do not spend money on any heads that aren’t compliant with the new rule. Note: The North Texas Youth Lacrosse League member teams voted on whether to adopt this rule for 7/8 grade teams and the vote did not pass. Therefore, 7/8 grade players will not be required to purchase new heads for the 2010 season.

Crosse Specifications (Effective Jan. 1, 2010)
APPENDIX IV, Page 108
Beginning January 1, 2010, measurements for the crosse shall include the following, in addition to current specifications:

Note: From the 1.25-inch measurement to the top of the crosse, the distance between the sidewalls of the crosse must be at least 3 inches.
Penalty: Illegal Crosse

SECTION 5. A player may not use a crosse that does not conform to required specifications. Use of an illegal crosse carries a one- or three-minute nonreleasable penalty. A crosse found illegal due to a deep pocket will carry a one-minute nonreleasable penalty and the crosse may be returned if adjusted. A player using a crosse found to be illegal for any other reason will receive a three-minute nonreleasable penalty, and the illegal crosse will remain in the table area for the remainder of the game. Every crosse on a team is subject to inspection, and the crosse need not have been in the game to be inspected. (See Rule 4-28.)