MUSTANGS BOYS:
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Registration Fees
Players registering early are subject to a discount, while those registering after the established window are subject to a late fee. The purpose of discounts and late fees is to incentivize early registration. Early registration allows the Mustangs sufficient time to plan things such as reservation of field space, hiring of coaches, etc. All these activities are necessary to have a successful season, but are dependent in some form on registration numbers. Early registration also helps us to convey the most accurate expectations for the season to players and parents. Registration fees are non-negotiable and non-refundable.
Coaches and Board Members with children in the Mustang program must complete the registration process. Registration is subject to closure at any time.
Scholarships:
Players with one or more parents volunteering their time as a coach or board member are eligible for partial or full scholarship (i.e. waiver of registration fees) at the discretion of the Board President and Treasurer as a function of level of involvement and years of service. Coaches or board members that have a child that is the recipient of a Mustang scholarship are ineligible to receive a salary. Players subject to exceptionally challenging life circumstances or financial hardship are eligible for a partial or full scholarship at the discretion of the Mustang Board President and Treasurer.
Coaches and Board Members with children in the Mustang program must complete the registration process. Registration is subject to closure at any time.
Scholarships:
Players with one or more parents volunteering their time as a coach or board member are eligible for partial or full scholarship (i.e. waiver of registration fees) at the discretion of the Board President and Treasurer as a function of level of involvement and years of service. Coaches or board members that have a child that is the recipient of a Mustang scholarship are ineligible to receive a salary. Players subject to exceptionally challenging life circumstances or financial hardship are eligible for a partial or full scholarship at the discretion of the Mustang Board President and Treasurer.
Tryouts & Team Assignments
Each season, the Mustangs will hold a player evaluation for boys in late January or early February. The purpose of that evaluation is to assign players to the appropriate team based upon age, experience level, and ability. Within each division, the Mustangs offer “A” teams and “B” teams. “A” teams function on a competitive level, and are specifically intended for experienced, or naturally athletic players. While all teams are intended to be fun, our “A” teams place a higher emphasis on winning compared to our “B” teams. Our “B” teams are intended for newer players, or those that are less advanced. The emphasis on our “B” teams is both fun and developmental in nature. Assignment to an “A” team as opposed to a “B” team is at the 100% discretion of the coaching staff, and is independent of roster assignment in a previous season. A players teams can be changed at any time if the coach feels it is in the best interest of player development.
In order to ensure adequate playing time on all teams, the Mustang coaches reserve the right and bear the responsibility to cut players as needed. Registration capacity may, in some instances, exceed roster capacity. In the event that a player is cut, they will receive a 100% refund of their registration fee.
For many reasons, we are firm on athletes participating with the proper age group
PLEASE NOTE: "playing up" from 5/6th grade to 7/8th grade is no longer permitted under any circumstance
In order to ensure adequate playing time on all teams, the Mustang coaches reserve the right and bear the responsibility to cut players as needed. Registration capacity may, in some instances, exceed roster capacity. In the event that a player is cut, they will receive a 100% refund of their registration fee.
For many reasons, we are firm on athletes participating with the proper age group
PLEASE NOTE: "playing up" from 5/6th grade to 7/8th grade is no longer permitted under any circumstance
Playing Time
Encinitas Mustangs is a recreational lacrosse program. As such, it is the goal of the coaching staff to provide playing time for all participants on a per game basis. Obviously ensuring that all players play the same amount is likely unrealistic, but it is the goal of the coaching staff to foster each players’ development and that must include playing in a game. Although it is a recreational sports program, it should not be implied that the teams will not be competitive in a given game. Coaches have the discretion to play players to help the team. They do not have the discretion to only play a select group of players in a given game. Please keep in mind, one of the most important factors of playing time will be the player’s attendance at practice and
their positive attitude directed at their coaches, teammates, and referees.
Boys invited to play on the A teams should understand they would be participating on a competitive level where there is a significantly increased focus on winning. There is no “minimum” playing time on the A teams and enrollment on either roster constitutes acceptance of this policy. Any player offered a roster position on an A team concerned about circumstances in which, minimal, playing time is offered may elect to decline and join the B teams. Playing time is at the 100% discretion of the coaching staff and in most instances game outcome is a consideration.
Players on all other teams that demonstrate a positive attitude, high effort, “coachability”, and sportsmanship are entitled to play (on a seasonal average) at least one quarter of each game – ideally more if possible. Players demonstrating a negative, or disrespectful attitude to coaches, teammates, opponents, officials, or parents may be denied playing time. Coaches are required to make good faith effort to achieve minimum playing time criteria and foster player development while balancing that against potential impact to game outcome. Playing time is at the 100% discretion of the coaching staff, and equitability of playing time is not the intent of this policy.
their positive attitude directed at their coaches, teammates, and referees.
Boys invited to play on the A teams should understand they would be participating on a competitive level where there is a significantly increased focus on winning. There is no “minimum” playing time on the A teams and enrollment on either roster constitutes acceptance of this policy. Any player offered a roster position on an A team concerned about circumstances in which, minimal, playing time is offered may elect to decline and join the B teams. Playing time is at the 100% discretion of the coaching staff and in most instances game outcome is a consideration.
Players on all other teams that demonstrate a positive attitude, high effort, “coachability”, and sportsmanship are entitled to play (on a seasonal average) at least one quarter of each game – ideally more if possible. Players demonstrating a negative, or disrespectful attitude to coaches, teammates, opponents, officials, or parents may be denied playing time. Coaches are required to make good faith effort to achieve minimum playing time criteria and foster player development while balancing that against potential impact to game outcome. Playing time is at the 100% discretion of the coaching staff, and equitability of playing time is not the intent of this policy.
Positional Assignment
Positional assignment on all Mustang teams is at the 100% discretion of the coaching staff. All players are expected to play the position asked of them by their coach. Equitable playing time at a given position among players is not to be anticipated.
Attendance, Injuries, Conditioning
All absences from team activities, other than those due to a properly communicated injury, are considered unexcused. At the discretion of the coaching staff, Mustang players are subject to suspension from some or all team activities for up to one week per occurrence of unexcused absence.
Players that suffer injury of an extent that prohibits participation in a team activity should communicate that status immediately to their coach. “Team activities” include warmup exercise, practice drills, conditioning, scrimmaging, and games. During a period of injury, attendance at practice and games is permitted only upon mutual agreement of the coaching staff and the player’s parents. Return to normal team activities after a period of injury is contingent upon a communication of approval from the player’s parents to the coaching staff.
All Mustang players are subject to mandatory conditioning at any time during the season at the 100% discretion of the coaching staff. Players that are physically unable to participate in conditioning should bring that to the attention of the coaching staff. In that circumstance, the coach may elect to temporarily prohibit the player from participation in some, or all, team activities.
Players that suffer injury of an extent that prohibits participation in a team activity should communicate that status immediately to their coach. “Team activities” include warmup exercise, practice drills, conditioning, scrimmaging, and games. During a period of injury, attendance at practice and games is permitted only upon mutual agreement of the coaching staff and the player’s parents. Return to normal team activities after a period of injury is contingent upon a communication of approval from the player’s parents to the coaching staff.
All Mustang players are subject to mandatory conditioning at any time during the season at the 100% discretion of the coaching staff. Players that are physically unable to participate in conditioning should bring that to the attention of the coaching staff. In that circumstance, the coach may elect to temporarily prohibit the player from participation in some, or all, team activities.