Rules & Guidelines

“A” QUALIFIERS PLAYING RULES

  1. All teams must report to the OLA Registration Desk at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled game times. 

  2. Only OLA registered Team Coaches and/or Team Managers will be permitted to represent their own clubs at the OLA Registration Desk. 

  3. Team Coaches and/or Managers must produce the following documents at registration: (a) All OLA-approved player registration forms signed by the Club, Zone and OLA; (b) All OLA-approved bench personnel forms signed by the Club, Zone and OLA. Please note the maximum of five (5) bench personnel per team. Of the approved bench personnel, the OLA recognizes only one mandatory trainer per team. Should clubs be unable to produce these documents, players, coaches and/or trainers will be ruled ineligible to participate. 

  4. Prior to the start of each game, all bench personnel must sign the electronic game sheet. Coaches cannot sign for each other (one coach cannot sign for another). Coaches may be required to present valid photo identification to verify their identity.

  5. GM45A (Fighting) assessed to any player in any OLA “A” Qualifiers game results in automatic disqualification from any further Provincial play, in any age division, in 2025. 

  6. GM28 (Unsportsmanlike Conduct/Abuse of Officials) assessed to any coach or trainer in any OLA “A” Qualifiers game results in automatic disqualification from any further Provincial participation, in any age division, in 2025. 

  7. Teams may be removed from the “A” Qualifiers for misconduct of their spectators, including violations of the OLA’s Code of Conduct and/or Substance Misuse Policies. This decision will be final and not subject to appeal.

  8. Teams are permitted one (1) timeout per team, per game. Each timeout is 60 seconds. 

  9. The OLA Provincials Tournament Committee will not entertain any protests of any game or game outcome based on any timekeeper’s and/or game official’s calls/conduct/decisions/rulings. 

  10. In all cases of any misunderstanding of tournament rules between OLA representatives and clubs, the OLA representatives reserve the right to determine the proper ruling in each situation. This decision will be final and not subject to appeal.

“A” QUALIFIERS TIE-BREAKER PROCESS

Ontario Lacrosse Association Rules & Regulations

TIE BREAKER FOR TWO TEAMS

  1. The team that won the greater number of points in games played, during the competition, between the teams tied shall be declared the winner of the higher position. (HEAD TO HEAD)

  2. If tie still exists, the Goal Average Formula will be used to break the tie. All goals scored in the games during the competition shall be used in the goal average computation.

  3. If a tie still exists, the team with least penalties in minutes in all Round Robin games played shall be declared the winner. In the case where the teams have not played the same number of games, the lowest average of the penalties in minutes in all Round Robin games shall be used to declare the winner.

  4. If a tie still exists, then a coin toss will decide the advancing team.

TIE BREAKER FOR THREE OR MORE TEAMS

  1. The team(s) that won the greater number of points in games played, during the competition, between the team(s) tied shall be declared the winner of the higher position. (HEAD TO HEAD TO HEAD)

  2. If tie still exists, the Goal Average Formula will be used to break the tie. Only goals scored in games between the tied teams during the competition shall be used in the goal average computation. 

  3. If tie still exists, the Goal Average Formula will be used to break the tie. All goals scored in all games during the competition shall be used in the goal average computation. 

  4. If a tie still exists, the team with the least penalties in minutes in all Round Robin games played shall be declared the winner. In the case where the teams have not played the same number of games, the lowest average of the penalties in minutes in all Round Robin games shall be used to declare the winner.

  5. If a tie still exists, then a coin toss will decide the advancing team.

THE GOAL AVERAGE FORMULA

The Goal Average formula is calculated as “Goals For” divided by the sum of “Goals For” plus “Goals Against”

The team with goal average closest to 1.0 shall be declared the winner.

“A” QUALIFIERS ADVANCEMENT

  1. The top six teams in each division, as determined by the standings, advance to the OLA’s Final Six “A” Provincial Championships.

  2. Final Six is a full round-robin tournament. At the conclusion of the round robin, the third and fourth place teams advance to the bronze medal game, and the first and second place teams advance to the gold medal game.

  3. An All-Star team, consisting of five players and one goaltender in each division, is selected by representatives of the participating teams and announced following the gold medal game.