New names, same games.
Both the Canadian Lacrosse Association and Canada Hockey are changing age division names to meet modern standards and more inclusive classifications.
Say goodbye to peewee, midget and juvenile delegations, and welcome the universal age-under division titles.
The Canadian Lacrosse Association voted last month to do away with the old division names in box lacrosse, five months after the organization introduced the age groups in the field lacrosse game for the present season.
Beginning in 2020, box lacrosse organizations will see players organized in age group divisions of 16-under, 14u etc.
“These new division names better reflect the age categories in lacrosse,” said Shawn Williams, president of the CLA. “Allan Redford, president of Little People of Canada, reached out to the (CLA) just under a year ago about this movement in sports. Since then, (we’ve) taken active steps to address this and all name changes to the age categories will be in place for next season.
“As an organization, we believe that sports, and the language used in them, should be inclusive and respectful.”
“This is a win-win-win. A win for the sport, the fans and all Canadians,” said Redford, whose organization had long requested the elimination of such terms as ‘midget’ from sports groups. “The ease with which this was embraced and adopted across all Canadian sporting organizations is a testament to Canada’s core desire for inclusion, dignity and respect.”
Hockey Canada, at their recent Winter Congress in Montreal, also approved a regulation change to revise the naming of the age divisions used in minor hockey across Canada.
Following the recommendations of a task team, the age divisions will become U7, U9, U11 through to U21, impacting all minor and female hockey programs under the Hockey Canada umbrella. The change was initiated by Hockey Canada and its 13 provincial and territorial members and will be implemented nationally with their input and support for the 2020-21 season.
“We believe everyone should feel welcome in the game and in our ongoing effort to make hockey more inclusive, the members at the Hockey Canada annual meeting determined that the names of our age divisions will change,” said Michael Brind’Amour, chair of the Hockey Canada board of directors. “Following a comprehensive review, we believe this change will simplify the system for families who may be new to the game.”
