Boys New England Youth Lacrosse All-Star Tournament (NEYLAT)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I stay informed about the Tournament information?
- For the 2nd year we are proving the ability for anyone/everyone to join a distribution list to get access to: Important Information, Schedules, updates and important information in case of changes due to weather for the Boys Tournament – please encourage your coaches, team coordinators and parents to join one of the available distribution lists – go to www.neylat.com to sign up.
- What’s different from last year (2012 vs 2011)?
- The football stadium field will be available for us this year. The playing surface on this field is field turf.
- We will use 4 fields at Amherst High School which will be our only remote site. The UMass Football Stadium fields will continue to be the main location.
- We will continue to utilize the email distribution list via Constant Contact so more people to have access to important information and updates regarding the tournament.
- Where are the playing fields located?
- We have two (2) field locations this year:
- Location #1 (Main Site): University of Massachusetts, 10 Stadium Dr, Amherst, MA 01002-2217 (For MapQuest users use: 10 University Dr, Amherst, MA 01002-2217 – continue North for 0.25 Miles - Stadium and fields will be on the left) Fields: #1 - #12 will be at this location.
- Location #2: Amherst Regional High School, 21 Mattoon St., Amherst, MA 01002-2217. Fields: #13 - #16 will be at this location
- Are there instructions on driving directions to these locations?
- How do I locate the fields at each site?
- Each field will have field numbers on white banners attached to the nets in the goals
- Where can I park?
- At the UMass facilities – please park in designated areas only - cars are subject to being ticketed or towed – this is our largest site; we will be monitoring parking and please be respectful of the NEYLAT Staff when they ask for your help to address a parking issue/problem. It is the safety of those participating in the event that is our ONLY CONCERN
- At the Amherst High School – only park in the main parking lot or the designated areas – cars are subject to being ticketed or towed as it is a town owned facility – we had some problems at this location last year so please part in designated parking locations ONLY.
- Where can I find the most current schedule?
- Schedules will be posted on the www.neylat.com web site – starting 2 weeks prior to the tournament,
- Schedules will be supplied to those identified as the Points of Contact for each team, and
- Go the www.neylat.com web site and join one of the distribution lists and they will be emailed out to you when the bulk emails are set out.
- Do the players need to register when they arrive at the tournament?
- No - all coaches are required to register their teams at least 45 minutes prior to the start of their 1st game. Players should discuss a meeting place with their coaches.
- Are Waivers required?
- No – not if they are US Lacrosse members and we have their US Lax Membership # on the rosters – if they are not members a waiver will be required.
- Where should players go when they first arrive at the tournament?
- We recommend arranging for a meeting time/location with your coach prior to arrival at the tournament.
- Will there be trainers available?
- 4 Trainers will be at the UMass site and 1 Trainer will be at the remote site. They are there to address injuries ONLY – no taping services are included, however for a fee, the trainers may offer these services.
- How do I locate a trainer?
- All Trainers will be co-located in a tent with field coordinators – look for bright yellow “First Aid” banners. All the trainers and field coordinators will have radios.
- What do we do in case of a medical emergency?
- Contact one of the Field Coordinators or anyone on the NEYLAT Staff that will be in or near a golf cart – we will contact the proper authorities to assist with any emergency situation.
- How many games will each team have?
- All teams will have 3 games on Saturday. All teams will play at least 2 games on Sunday – could be more depending on playoffs. Due to some scheduling constraints – some U15 and all U16 Teams will play 2 games on Saturday and 3 games on Sunday – could be more depending on Playoffs.
- What is the format of each game?
- All games are 45 minutes long – 21 minute 1st half, 2 minute halftime, 22 2nd half – a central horn will start and stop all games.
- Are there playoffs?
- That depends on the outcome of the games in each bracket as well as the number of brackets in a specific bracket or level. We have a U11, U12, U13, U14, U15 and U16 Brackets and many have: A – Most Competitive, B – More Competitive and C – Competitive levels.
- How are the Brackets defined?
- U11 - 2020 & 2021 HS graduation years – 10 or younger as of 8/31/11 (3rd & 4th Grade in the ’11-’12 School year)
- U12 – 2019 & 2020 HS graduation – 11 or younger as of 8/31/11 (4th & 5th Grade in the ’11-’12 School year)
- U13 - 2018 & 2019 HS graduation years – 12 or younger as of 8/31/11 (5th & 6th Grade in the ’11-’12 School year)
- U14 – 2017 & 2018 HS graduation – 13 or younger as of 8/31/11 (6th & 7th Grade in the ’11-’12 School year)
- U15 - 2016 & 2017 HS graduation years – 14 or younger as of 8/31/11 (7th & 8th Grade in the ’11-’12 School year)
- U16 - 2015 & 2014 HS graduation years – 15 or younger as of 8/31/11 (Freshman – Sophomores in the ’11-’12 School year)
- How are the levels determined?
- Each coach or organization defines the level and strength of their team when they register for the tournament. Our goal to provide competitive games for all teams that participate in the tournament.
- Are there any awards / medals at this tournament?
- Yes – all teams finishing in 1st place for their Bracket and level will be given medals. All medals will be awarded at the conclusion of the games or playoffs – we have an awards ceremony and take photos that are put on the www.neylat.com web site.
- How can I stay informed of our team’s progress?
- Near the registration area at the UMass site there will be a standings area where the NEYLAT Staff will post the standings – we will do our best to keep the remote site informed of all the teams’ progress.
- How are the 1st places determined?
- Teams winning a game get 2 points/ Teams that tie a game get 1 point. Teams that lose a game get 0 points. The winner for the bracket and levels will be determined based on the total number of points after all 5th games are completed – it is not based on the scores of each game.
- What happens when there are teams that are tied after the 5th game is completed?
- We have defined policies that will be followed regarding ties in the Tournament Rules. The rules are given to every coach when they register and are posted near the Tournament Registration Tent.
- What should I do if I feel the results of a game are posted incorrectly or there are no results posted for a game?
- Referees keep the scores of each game they participate in, at times it can get confusing with all the different team numbers. We "strongly" encourage all head coaches to initial the scorecard at the end of each game to address any mistakes prior to the cards being turned into the Registration Tent for posting the wins/ties/losses - this should address 99% of all mistakes prior to them being posted. If a mistake is discovered on the master results board, we would like to request that "ONLY" the Head Coach inform one of the Tournament Staff in the Registration Tent of this error. A Tournament Staff representative will work with the Head Official as well as the opposing Coach to get any error corrected.
- What if a team is not following the rules, by having a player outside the age or grade parameters play on their team?
- The Grade and Age requirements for each age group are well documented and communicated to coaches / organization. If you become aware of a team that is not in compliance with the grade or age requirements - please inform your Head Coach. We would like to request that "ONLY" the Head Coaches bring this information to the attention of one of the members of the tournament staff in the Registration Tent. The tournament staff takes these matters very seriously and will approach the reported offending team Head Coach to investigate the reported violation. Teams found to be in violation of the Grade or Age requirements will forfeit all of their prior and future games resulting in a win for all opposing teams and will not be allowed to participate in any play-off games.
- Does the NEYLAT have a policy on sportsmanship?
- The NEYLAT has had a sportsmanship policy in place for over 6 years. All coaches are made aware of this policy and are required to sign this policy when they register their teams the day of the tournament. This policy is strictly enforced – unsportsmanlike behavior by a player, coach, parent or bystander will not be tolerated and the policy will be enforced to include involvement of the local authorities if needed. This sportsmanship policy is also posted near the Tournament Registration Tent.
- Is the NEYLAT the only tournament at UMass that weekend?
- No – there are two tournaments at UMass on the weekend of July 7 & 8 – the NEYLAT event will be located around the football stadium located on Stadium Drive which is off of North University Drive.
- Please plan ahead and confirm the location of all games.
- Do all the players get tournament T-shirts?
- Yes – however, all coaches need to register when they arrive, pay any remaining fees that may be due and need to submit a complete roster at the Registration Tent – once all of these requirements have been satisfied the coach will be is supplied the T-shirts. Please note that T-Shirts will be supplied ONLY TO THE COACHES. See your coach to get your T-shirt. T-shirt sizes for all members of the team were to be supplied by June 1st – if your coach/organization missed that deadline – we guessed at the T-shirt sizes and quantities needed for each team. One T-Shirt is supplied for every player that is on the submitted team roster.
- What if the T-shirt my son is supplied is too small or large?
- There will be limited supplies of extra T-shirts at the Parent Information Booth that we will be happy to swap – depending on availability
- I have a parent / grandparent that would like to attend but can’t walk long distances from the parking lot to the fields – what can we do?
- Contact one of the Field Coordinators or come to the Registration tent and we will provide transportation to and from the fields.
- Will any vendors be at the tournament?
- Yes, Warrior is our sponsor and will be on site with their trailer and fun zone.
- Breakaway Sports is our sponsor for the T-shirts this year will also be on-site.
- A number of other vendors will be on site: MACWEAR, Athlete’s Connection, Outside the Circle, One Love Lax, RapStix, Promo Lacrosse, East Coast Lacrosse. Man-Bro Bro-Man Sunglasses and others.
- Will any food vendors be available?
- Yes - UMass will supply food service vendors at the UMass site only. No food vendors will be available at the remote site.
- Can we set up a tent at UMass or the other sites for our team / organization?
- There is space available to set-up tents at UMass but not at the other remote site.
- If you do set up a tent – please police your areas – there will be trash cans throughout the UMass site.
- Are their bathrooms available at all the sites?
- At the UMass site – we will use the bathrooms located to the south of the football stadium (inside the black metal fence) and a few porta-potties will be available,
- The remote site will have a limited supply of porta-potties available
- Is there a Lost and Found?
- This is a large tournament – we strongly encourage everyone to safeguard their valuables – many items that get reported to the NEYLAT staff are never found or turned in.
- We do have items that get turned over to the NEYLAT Staff – we will keep these items in the Parent Information Center tent - if you have lost something – please stop by the tent.
- Does the NEYLAT Recycle?
- Yes! Recycling is heavily encouraged. Please use the red recycle bins located around the fields for all plastic, paper, etc.
- RV’s and/or Trailers?
- If you are interested in bringing an RV or Trainer to the Tournament you will need to contact the University of Massachusetts directly to obtain information on their policies. We suggest that you contact UMass Amherst Police Department - 413-545-2121
- Pet policy?
- Dogs (pets) are not allowed next to (sidelines) or on the playing fields. UMass is a big campus and there are lots of other spaces available for pets.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO/FROM EACH FIELD LOCATION
- Location #1 (Main Site): University of Massachusetts, 10 Stadium Dr, Amherst, MA 01002-2217 (For MapQuest users we strongly suggest that you use 10 University Dr, Amherst, MA 01002-2217 and not use the Rt116 entrance to UMass due to the congestion that the other tournament will have to get to their fields – continue North for 0.25 Miles - Stadium and fields will be on the left) Fields: #1 - #12 will be at this location.
- Location #2: Amherst Regional High School, 21 Mattoon St., Amherst, MA 01002-2217. Fields: #13 - #16 will be at this location
- Location #1 to #2: (approx.: 5 Min/1.8 Miles)
- Go Left (North) on N. University Ave
- Turn Right on Fearing St
- Turn Right on N. Pleasant St.
- Stay straight to go onto Triangle St.
- Turn Left onto Mattoon St
- Park in main parking lot - fields are behind the school
- Location #2 to #1: (approx.: 4 Min/1.6 Miles)
- From main parking lot follow Mattoon St
- Turn Right on Triangle St.
- Triangle St. becomes N. Pleasant St.
- Turn Left on Fearing St.
- Turn Left on N. University Dr.
- Park in lots along Stadium Dr.