Frequently Asked Questions

 

If you have some questions about the league, please read this page before contacting the PBLA.  Most likely the answer you are looking for is on this page.  Click on the question to see the answer.

 

• When does your season take place?
• Where does the PBLA play?
• On what days of the week are games played?
• How old is the league?
• What are the age requirements? What are the skill or experience requirements?
• Do you have a youth or high school division?
• What equipment do I need?
• I want to play goalie.  What equipment do I need? Where can I get box lacrosse leg guards?  
• How much does it cost?
• How do I get on a team if I am new to the PBLA?
• What are the requirements for entering a team?
• When is the deadline for registering?
• If I register and decide not to play, can I get a refund?
• Can I come down and play one night just to try it without registering?
• How does Box Lacrosse differ from field lacrosse?
• Does the PBLA use the same rules as the National Lacrosse League?
• Why does the PBLA not play in the Fall or Winter?

When does your season take place?  Open scrimmages will commence in mid-April.  The PBLA regular season usually runs from late May until mid-August.  Games and scrimmages will be on Monday and Wednesday nights.

Where does the PBLA play? All PBLA games are played at the Ralph Rizzo Ice Rink located at Front Street and Washington Ave in the Penn’s Landing Area of Philadelphia.   All games are played on a sport court surface in the main rink building. 

On what days of the week are games played? Games are played on Monday and Wednesday nights.  Two games take place each night.  The first game starts at 7:00 PM exactly and the second will start immediately after (usually around 8:15 PM.)  All games will start on time!  If your team does not have 5 forwards and a goalie by game time, your team automatically forfeits the game.  No exceptions!

How old is the league?  The Philadelphia Box Lacrosse Association was founded in 1986 by Bill Malizia and has been growing every year.  Originally consisting of four teams (14 players each) sharing 2 goalies between themselves, the PBLA now boasts of a membership of seven teams (21 players each) and about 150 players.  The PBLA could easily double its size if our facility had more open rink time.

What are the age requirements? You must be at least 17 years old by the start of the season to play.  Also, those under 18 must submit a parental consent form.  The PBLA consists of players of ages 17 through 40 with the average age at 22.

What are the skill or experience requirements? 

Individual Players:  There are no set requirements for single players but registering does not guarantee you will play in the league.   The majority of the players in our league have NCAA or Club experience, which makes for a very competitive atmosphere.  If you are a newbie with absolutely no or little skills, the PBLA is not for you!  You may not receive that much playing time and you can get seriously hurt.  After all, say you never played football in your life, I doubt you would join a full-contact men’s league consisting of very large and experienced players.  The same reasoning applies here.

Here is a breakdown of PBLA player experience:

85%:  NCAA, professional, college club, or men’s club experience

          12%:  High School experience.

          3%:  Players with little formal experience.

Team Requirements: All players submitted as members of the team core(14 and a goalie) must be experienced and skilled players.  All team entries must be approved by the PBLA before participation.  Team entries have been rejected in past because they were not able maintain our competitive standard.   Since the PBLA is a very competitive league, we request that all team core entries be composed of experienced lacrosse players.  The PBLA reserves the right to reject any team entry based on the lack talent and/or experience. In other words, if you and your friends who have never played lacrosse decide to form a team over a case of beer and you don’t know the difference between a Lacrosse stick and a fishing net, the Philadelphia Box Lacrosse Association is not for you! Indoor Lacrosse can be a dangerous contact sport and even more so if do not know how to play.  In addition, it’s not fun to be blown away every game or have your closest game end with the final score of 43 to 1.

 

Do you have a youth or high school division?  Because of our limited schedule, the Philadelphia Box Lacrosse Association does not have a youth or high school program at this time.  However we do support and promote youth leagues in the area.  Email Steve for the latest info.

What equipment do I need? Most standard lax equipment will do the trick but here’s a breakdown of what you need.   Stick (no long sticks), lacrosse gloves, athletic cup, arm pads, shoulder pads, rib and back pads, and helmet with cage or other full face guard.  (Lacrosse helmets or ice hockey helmets with full face guards are fine.) Knee pads are optional but recommended.

I want to play goalie.  What equipment do I need? Where can I get box lacrosse leg guards?  So you want to be goalie, huh? Just keep in mind that box lacrosse is completely different from field.  Many hockey goalies find the transition to be more like hockey than field lacrosse.  Here’s the list of stuff you need:  lax goalie stick, ice hockey goalie arm and chest protector, ice hockey goalie pants, goalie cup, gloves (a good pair of hockey gloves is highly recommended), helmet with goalie cage and neck protector, and box lacrosse goalie leg guards.   If you don’t have any of this, expect to spend around $1500 for the right equipment.  We recommend that you buy top of the line equipment to prevent serious injury. 

As for the leg guards, there are currently two major manufacturers:   Rebel (Brine Canada), and MaxLax.  The prices range around $180-$200.  Currently, I'm using the MaxLax brand which was designed by Marty O'Neil.  MaxLax also makes Box Lacrosse goalie chest protectors, goalie pants, and equipment bags. Go MaxLax for more info.  (Note: the site has not been updated for a while and does not feature the newer items.  Call the company for the latest info and prices.)

Brine Canada also has the Rebel Box Lacrosse Equipment product line.  Go to Brine Canada for more info.

 

 steve@phillyboxlacrosse.org.

How much does it cost? Registration is $95.00 for the season.  The fee covers the cost of your jersey, rink fees, referee fees, administrative costs, game supplies, etc.  You can register online by clicking here.

How do I get on a team if I am new to the PBLA?  One-way is to sign with a team if you are asked before the season starts.  During the pre-season scrimmages, some captains may be present looking for a replacement and, if you are good, he may ask you to play on his team.    The second way is to be recruited from the list of available players.  Starting with 2001, teams can submit a roster with up to 21 players.  If they need players to fill remaining slots, they may recruit you from the pool of unsigned players (with your permission).  In the event you are not recruited, you will be given your money back.

What are the requirements for entering a team? Anyone wishing to enter a competitive team into the PBLA must submit a list of fourteen (14) experienced forwards and one goaltender by the designated deadline - May 2, 2003. All submitted players must have all fees paid and registration forms completed.  New teams must submit a team logo and colors also by May 2, 2003.  In addition, one player must be designated as the team captain who will be held responsible for the team’s actions, PBLA team requirements, and all PBLA rulings.  Failure to meet all of these requirements will result in the immediate nullification of the team entry request.

All team entries must be approved by the PBLA before participation. Since the PBLA is a very competitive league, we request that all team core entries be composed of experienced lacrosse players. The PBLA reserves the right to reject any team entry based on the lack talent and/or experience.

Advice: If you need an experienced goalie, contact us and we can help you find one. Many existing teams have more than one goalie and it is easy to find a good goalie in search of more playing time. For more information, drop me a line at steve@phillyboxlacrosse.org.

 

When is the deadline for registering?

          Team registrations: Applications AND money for all rostered players is due by May 2, 2003.   All team jerseys must be ordered at this time as well as the schedule must also be made in time for the season.

 

          Individual Players can register up May 28, 2003.  Remember, registration does not guarantee that will be selected to play.

 

If I register and decide not to play, can I get a refund?  Yes, provided you request your refund prior to May 28, 2003.  Once rosters are set, no refunds will be given to anyone regardless of the reason.

 

Can I come down and play one night just to try it without registering? Yes . . .but only for the pre-season scrimmages.  Once the regular season has started, you will have to watch the games like everyone else.

 

How does Box Lacrosse differ from field lacrosse?  Where do I start on this one?  Ok, here it goes.

 

For more differences and rule details, click on Officials Corner.

 

Does the PBLA use the same rules as the National Lacrosse League?  The PBLA uses the Canadian rules of box lacrosse.   While the rules are very similar to the NLL, some notable differences include a stricter crease rule concerning player entry and passing to the goalie in the crease.   Also, the only legal checks are crosschecks from the front and a stick check to the ball carriers stick arm.   Cheap hits are not tolerated and severely punished.

Why does the PBLA not play in the Fall or Winter? The facility we play at is not available in cold months because it used as an ice-rink.  Also, games are also played only on Mondays and Wednesdays so as to not interfere with local field leagues that play on Tuesdays and Thursdays.