Lacrosse is the oldest American game. Native Americans have played the game long before our colonies were settled. Through the sport of lacrosse, our Native Americans celebrated their spiritual values and highest ideals. Lacrosse has been played at the club and collegiate level since the late 1800's.
In an effort to promote the purest and best values of the game, USL has partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance to promote positive coaching and good sportsmanship throughout the sport of lacrosse. US Lacrosse has developed a "Code of Conduct," to enhance the quality of participation and the development of a sense of community for all people and organizations involved with lacrosse. This code will help to encourage and foster the highest ideals and character traits in the players, coaches, parents, officials, spectators and fans involved with the sport of lacrosse. USL is committed to the preservation of the true meaning of "Honor the Game" for all those who enjoy the sport.
To fulfill this commitment, USL requires all players, coaches, officials, parents and spectators to sign and abide by a "Code of Conduct" that embodies basic common sense principles; demonstrates consideration of others; and projects a positive image to our youth as well as men and women of all ages participating in the sport.
The value of good sportsmanship, the concepts of fair play, or and the skills of the game should always be placed above winning.
Coaches should always demonstrate positive behaviors and reinforcement toward players, parents, officials and spectators alike. Players should be specifically encouraged and positively reinforced by coaches to demonstrate respect for teammates, opponents, officials, and spectators.
Players should always demonstrate positive behaviors and respect toward teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, parents, spectators, and fans alike.
Coaches, players, parents, spectators, and fans are expected to demonstrate the utmost respect for officials and reinforce that respect in his/her players. Coaches are also expected to educate their players as to the important role of the lacrosse official and to reinforce the ideal of respect for the official by his/her players.
Spectators involved with the game must never permit anyone to openly or maliciously criticize, badger, harass, or threaten an official, coach, player or opponent.
Coaches must be able to demonstrate a solid knowledge of the rules of lacrosse, and should adhere to the rules in both the letter and the spirit of the game. Coaches should encourage and help to educate the players and spectators surrounding his/her program to develop a basic knowledge of the rules. Attempts to manipulate rules in an effort to take unfair advantage of an opponent, or to teach deliberate unsportsmanlike conduct, is considered unacceptable conduct.