Senior league championship rules (men and women)
A. Organisation
The Competition shall be called the Northern Lacrosse Leagues (hereinafter referred to as NLL) Senior League Championship, and shall be limited to clubs, who are members of NLL. The Leagues will be organised for both Men and Women.
Before 1st July in each year, all clubs wishing to compete shall give notice in writing to the Management Committee Fixtures’ Secretary, with appropriate details.
Each season shall commence on the last Saturday in September but no later than the first Saturday in October and shall end with the Flags Final Festival at the end of April. Games will commence at 2pm unless otherwise agreed with NLL. England Lacrosse (hereinafter referred to as the EL) Men’s Rule 31.3 shall apply to all games for both Men and Women. “Overtime will only be played in knockout competition games. In all other games that are tied at the end of regulation playing time, then that match shall be declared a draw.”
B. Leagues and fixtures
The Leagues shall be looked at annually by the committee to ensure the most competitive structure possible is being adopted.
A win shall score two points, and a draw one point.
The teams which have scored the highest number of points shall hold the Championship of their respective divisions.
The Fixtures Secretary shall maintain complete league tables for all teams.
If a match is not played, one team having conceded the match due to reasonable circumstances, its opponents shall be awarded two points as if it had won the game, and the records shall show the result of the match as one goal scored by the winners, none by the losers.
Teams cannot decide to change the date by mutual agreement. All requests for date alterations must be addressed to the NLL Fixture secretary at least 14 days prior to the fixture taking place for consideration by the committee. Both teams face points deduction if the Fixture Secretary is not informed.
All games must be played on the allocated date and failure to do so could result in a point deduction for both teams.
No fixture shall be postponed on account of a participating team having one or two players engaged in an international, territorial, or other representative game. Clubs should name the players and state the trials they are attending in their email requesting the postponement of a fixture.
If a match is not played, for reasons which the Management Committee considers inadequate or unreasonable, the Management Committee may deduct or allocate points at its discretion. The Fixture Secretary should be informed of all cancellations prior to the scheduled start of the game.
Postponement/cancellation of a fixture due to an unfit pitch. In the first instance, contact should be made with the opposition to request that the game be moved to the opposition ground providing it is with reasonable travelling distance and there is a playable pitch available. Where it is possible to swap the home and away fixtures this will be attempted by the fixture secretary. Every effort should be made to get the game played. In the event of the opposition’s pitch also being unfit or unavailable due to other fixtures or players being unable to travel due to lack of notice, then please refer to the following procedure if a game is cancelled due to an unfit pitch the following people need to happen.
Contact fixture Secretary by text or email.
Text the referee’s secretary by Text or email. (Men only)
Confirm the cancellation with the opposition.
When a club, for whatever reason, is unable to fulfil all its fixtures on the officially appointed date, preference must be given to the completion of its scheduled matches with priority given to Flags and Cup Competition matches, thereafter in order of seniority of its teams.
In the event of an official non-league match (i.e. a match subject to the Flags and Cup Competition Rules) not being played, for reasons which the Management Committee consider inadequate or unreasonable, the Management Committee may deduct not more than two points from the teams’ league total.
If a match is played, after which the Management committee upholds a protest or claim for points made by the losing team, the records shall show the result of the match as one goal scored by the team whose protest or claim is upheld (being declared the winners), none by the losers, and the points for the match awarded to the winners. All protests or claims for points must be made within 11 days of the match concerned taking place. All claims will cost £50 which will be refunded on a successful claim.
Re-arranged fixtures will be organised by the Fixture Secretary. This may result in some fixtures being moved forward so that as many matches for that division can be accommodated on a particular day. At least two weeks’ notice will be given to the clubs for all re-arranged fixtures. The variable weather which we experience means that fixtures could be moved to any “free” Saturday in the season. The exception being Flags and Cup games which will take place 7 days after the postponed match ahead of any scheduled league fixtures.
A trophy for each division shall be provided by NLL and the winning team shall have its name inscribed thereon. The team shall be entitled to hold it until the first day of April in the following season, after which date it must be delivered to the General Secretary of the Management Committee upon request. The holders shall in each case be held responsible for its safe custody and preservation.
The Team that wins the Premier league will represent the Northern Lacrosse Leagues in the National Club Championship and also play for the Referee’s Trophy. If a club wins both league and Flags then the league runner up will also play. This applies to both the men’s and women’s League and Senior Flag winners. Failure to fulfill either of these fixtures will result in a 2 points deduction from each team in the club and a £50 fine.
C. Promotion/relegation
At the close of each season the top two teams of each division within the Premier and North divisions respectively shall be promoted to the next higher division, circumstances permitting. Failure to accept promotion at the end of the season will result in a £50 fine and starting the next season with a 10 point deduction.
At the close of each season the bottom two teams of each division within the Premier and North divisions respectively shall be relegated to the next lower division, circumstances permitting.
No two teams of the same club shall, by virtue of promotion or relegation, be included in any division, except for the lowest division. Relegation of a team from a higher division to a lower division will automatically move a lower team of the same club to be relegated from that division unless it is the lowest division.
When only one team is eligible for automatic promotion, it shall change places with the bottom team in the next higher division. The next promotion place when no team automatically qualifies, will be the next highest eligible team, providing they finish in the top four, who shall play the lowest team available for relegation, in the next higher division. The winner of this play-off shall be the team to play in the next higher division the following season.
Should two or more teams be equal in points in any division at the end of the league programme, the placings for the Championship promotion or relegation will be determined as follows:
Matches conceded will be taken into account. The team which has conceded more fixtures over the course of the entire season will be awarded the lower placing. If the teams concerned are still equal, then:
The season’s records of the specific matches between the teams in question will be examined, i.e. if two teams have equal points, the records of two games will be examined; if three teams have equal points, the records of six games will be examined, etc.
The relevant match records will be reviewed as follows, stopping as soon as a team establishes an advantage over the other team(s) involved in the tie: fewer matches conceded, best goal difference; highest number of away goals scored; highest number of home goals scored; lesser number of away goals conceded; lesser number of home goals conceded.
If all the above options have been exhausted and the teams involved are still equal, the process will be repeated using the entire divisional programme.
Notes:
a) If any team in contention for the 1st or 2nd place in any division is unable to be promoted by virtue of a team from the same club being in the immediately higher division, the team(s) with the opportunity of promotion will be placed in the higher division for the following season.
b) If the tie is for the first place, the current seasonal championship will be determined using the above sequence.
D. Bona-fide status of players
All players must, in the opinion of the Management Committee, be bona-fide playing members of the competing teams. If players are determined by the Management Committee to be non bona-fide, not more than two points may be deducted from the defaulting team’s total and, whatever the result of the match, the opposing team shall be awarded the points for the game. The score for the match shall be recorded as if the match had been conceded by the defaulting team.
Bona-fide players are players that have played over 75% of their games for one team. However, players coming back from injury, being dropped for poor performance, being dropped for internal discipline can still play down a team, or teams, if the General Secretary is informed prior to the game taking place.
Any player who qualifies for the Men’s U19 league can play in any team as long as he only moves down 1 team or 1 division should the team he plays for not have a game that day. This rule does not apply to cup competitions.
A club is only allowed to play a maximum of 2 non-British, i.e. North American, passport holding student visas during one season. These players must be registered with England Lacrosse and their associated club a minimum of 1 week before they can be selected to play. Clubs must inform NLL of these players as soon as they become registered and these players cannot be changed during the season they are playing in. A non-British passport holding student is someone who has come to the UK for full-time study and is not residing in their normal country of residence. Education means undergraduate and post-graduate studies. Once a student has completed their studies and stays within the UK then they become exempt from this rule. Players who are Lacrosse Development Officers for clubs are exempt from this ruling, though clubs must prove that is their role.
E. Referees/Umpires and Bench Officials
It shall be mandatory for each team in all Premier and North divisions to provide one qualified referee/umpire for both home and away matches. The men’s home team should also provide a competent Bench Official.
Each club must nominate and notify their club referees, complete with qualifications, to NLL prior to the commencement of the season. Any changes to this list should be notified to NLL as they occur.
F. Expulsions
Any player being given an expulsion foul by a Basic Award Referee (or higher) or a straight red card by a Basic Award Umpire or higher shall be automatically suspended from playing in the next match in which they would otherwise play (defined as league matches, Flags and Cup competition matches, Under 19 league matches, Under 19 Cup and Plate competition matches, or any combination thereof).
The referee/umpire concerned shall notify the EL Lead for Officiating and Game Conduct in writing by completion of the EL Incident and Injury Form including details of the match, the player expelled, their club and the offence.
In all cases following expulsions with circumstances which a referee/umpire may consider to be best dealt with by the Disciplinary sub-committee they shall notify the EL Lead for Officiating and Game Conduct in writing by completion of the EL Incident and Injury Form. This will then be dealt with appropriately and be escalated to the Regional Disciplinary Chair who will follow the NLC disciplinary guidelines.
The Regional Disciplinary Secretary shall confirm in writing the suspension to the Secretary of the player’s club.
The secretary of the player’s club shall confirm in writing to the Regional Disciplinary Secretary the completion of the suspension as soon as possible, detailing the matches missed.
G. General
In the Men’s leagues no-one under sixteen years of age shall be allowed to play in matches. In the Women’s Leagues no-one under fourteen years of age shall be allowed to play matches.
No players shall be allowed to play in both the SEMLA and NLL leagues. Players can transfer from a Southern club to a Northern club outside of the normal transfer window if circumstances are appropriate. The only exception to this being the Midlands development league where players are allowed to play for Midlands and Northern clubs, but Rule 3 still applies.
Players can only play in 1 Flags or Cup competition whether it is in the North or the South (including Midlands teams). Players will have to apply for dispensation and fulfil eligibility criteria should they wish to play in 2 competitions.
When a club, for whatever reason, is unable to fulfill all its fixtures on the officially appointed date, preference must be given to the completion of its scheduled matches with priority given to Flags and Cup competition matches, thereafter in order of seniority of its teams.
Clubs shall notify the results of all matches to the Fixtures Secretary by entering the result on the appropriate platform on the day of the match.
Clubs shall record the names of all players selected and played for all teams and shall forward the team sheets to the General Secretary by Sunday 12 noon the day after the match. A photograph of the signed team sheet should be taken oncthe day. A failure to adhere to this rule will result in a 2 point deduction, thecsecond occurrence will be a 2 point deduction followed by a £50 fine.
When a senior team has no fixture, clubs shall select a notional team, and the details shall be entered on a team sheet to be submitted to the General Secretary. A failure to adhere to this rule will result in a 2 point deduction, the second occurrence will be a 2 point deduction followed by a £50 fine.
No team shall be numerically stronger on a particular day than any of its club’s more senior teams, with the exception that up to eighteen players may play on the lowest playing team of a club in any division, provided that all its club’s higher teams field fifteen players. Such a team may play more than eighteen players, provided the opponents’ agreement has been obtained prior to the start of the game, and the referee/umpire informed. The rule applies to the lowest team in the club not the lowest playing team on a particular day.
13th May 2025 (AGM)