Sideline Managers are required for each team at each game.
The sideline manager’s main job is to help encourage, maintain and manage the sportsmanlike behavior of spectators, players and coaches on the sidelines, and fans. These adults are responsible for insuring that the spectators and fans support the athletes, coaches and officials in a positive manner and refrain from behavior not in conformity with the US Lacrosse code of conduct. It is the nature of the sideline manager’s duties to help prevent unsportsmanlike behavior so that the players do not witness such behavior and that such behavior does not require the officials to take action to stop or end the game. It is important that each club and team explain the duties and authority of the sideline manager to the parents and players of each team. It is important for all associated with each team to be informed that each club/team retains the authority to prevent a player, spectator or a parent/relative of a player from attending games with their team. Clubs and teams can prohibit their players and spectators from participation for exhibiting inappropriate behavior. The sideline manager, the head coach, and the club coordinator for that team are all individuals that can enforce this. Each team must clearly communicate this to all players and spectators on a regular basis. Once the officials arrive at the field, they have the authority (by the rules) to penalize and/or eject players, spectators, coaches, and other game personnel from the contest for inappropriate behavior. The officials also have the authority to stop/ terminate the game at any time if in their opinion the game is not controllable and behavior(s) are out of control. Officials will be instructed not to start games for which a sideline manager from each team is not present and actively policing sportsmanship.
1. Each team (Home and Visitor) must have one designated sideline manager for each game.
2. Sideline managers must maintain a calm and friendly demeanor during the performance of their duties. It is advised that individuals be selected to be sideline managers that are of “even temperament” and have good communication and “people skills”.
3. The head coach is responsible for instructing their sideline manager in these guidelines.
4. Each sideline manager must have received instruction from the head coach prior to participating as a sideline manager.
5. Approximately 15 minutes before each game, the sideline managers should be present at the table area. At that time, the officials will confirm the presence of the sideline managers for each team. The officials will provide the additional instructions, if any, to the head coaches to pass on to the sideline managers.
6. After the table area introduction, and approximately 10 minutes before the start of the game, the sideline managers will move to the spectator side of the field.
7. On the spectator side of the field, the sideline managers will each take ½ of the sideline and address groups of the spectators, in approximate 10 to 15 yard sections along the side of the field, to identify themselves to the spectators as to the acceptable behavior at WMYLC lacrosse games. Below is a proposed script:
Good day spectators, welcome to this Washington Schoolgirls Lacrosse game between ____ and _____ . Of course you all know that good sportsmanship is required. I am here to help you. So lets cheer for our players, and theirs, let the Umpires do their job, and be a good example for our players! Sticks Up!
8. Immediately before the game begins and during the game, the sideline managers must patrol to verify that all spectators remain on the opposite side of the field and approximately 10 yards away from the sideline (or as close to this as is possible given field constraints).
9. Once the game begins, the sideline managers will patrol the spectator sideline together to monitor the behavior of the spectators. If individual spectators exhibit inappropriate behavior, the sideline managers together should do the following:
- Together, ask the name of the individual and to which team the individual is associated.
- The sideline manager for that team is then to politely ask the spectator to stop the inappropriate behavior.
- The sideline manager can also present the individual with a “purple card” that reiterates in writing the proper behavior.
- The name of the individual is to be recorded (preferably at a time when the individual is not watching).
- The sideline manager for that team is then to forward the name to the club coordinator for that team.
- If the individual repeats inappropriate behavior, during the current game, the sideline manager for that team may request the spectator to leave the field area, not to return for the rest of the contest.
- If an individual is ejected from and game by an official, that individual is automatically not allowed to attend the next game for that team. The sideline managers are to report the ejections to the club coordinator for that team. The club coordinators are responsible for verification that ejected individuals do not participate in the next contest.
Inappropriate behavior and unsportsmanlike conduct is very serious. Teams must implement serious penalties for this behavior and enforce the penalties on first offenses to eliminate the inappropriate behavior from WSLA activities.
11. If a spectator threatens violence at any time, the police will be contacted to help remove the individual from the area. It is possible that the contest is very close to termination by the officials if behavior deteriorates to that level.
12. If the officials become aware of inappropriate behavior, the officials may elect to implement an “officials” timeout and discuss the situation with the head coaches. The head coaches will communicate to the head coach and sideline managers the issues involved. The sideline managers from both teams together will communicate the issues to the spectators. The head coaches and sideline managers are to communicate with the individuals involved to eliminate the inappropriate behavior.
13. At the beginning of halftime of each game, the officials will meet with the head coaches at the table area to review the 1st half and determine if any additional actions by the sideline managers are needed.
14. At the end of the game, the sideline managers are to meet with the head coaches to review the 2nd half and to receive from the officials any information regarding ejections that require subsequent actions by the team to prevent participation of the ejected individuals in the next contest. This information will be communicated by the head coaches to the sideline managers for communication to the club coordinators.
15. At the end of the game, the sideline managers are to observe the departure of the spectators, players, and game personnel to verify that inappropriate behavior does not occur during that time.
