Team Formation and Placement Guidelines

With this guidance, YLM intends to provide member associations with standards to aid association leaders in placing teams in YLM’s divisions within each age group of YLM league play. 

“Division” refers to the level of play at a given age group. For example, at the 12U and 14U ages, YLM hosts an A-division, a B-1 division, and a B-2 division. 

By placing players and teams in the appropriate division at a given age group, YLM’s member associations ensure the most developmentally productive experience for their own players and help YLM foster parity in league play. 

Player and team placement must always be based principally on a balance of two considerations – individual player development and league integrity, which includes considerations of both divisional competitiveness and player safety. 

Secondarily, programs may consider the effect on their overall program health. 

Anticipated win-loss record should not be a significant consideration.

A-Division

• Strong stick skills for the age group; consistent ability to catch and throw with the strong hand, emerging ability with the off-hand. 
• Generally players with several years’ lacrosse experience, some with club-lacrosse experience.
• Above-average athleticism; high “motor” and assertive “level of compete”

B1-Division

• Mixed roster of A- and B-level players; roughly two-thirds of the roster (or more) B-level players, one-third A-level players.
• Competent stick skills with strong-hand, but less confident and consistent than A-level players.
• Appropriate when the association lacks enough A-players to form a true A team.

B2-Division

• Inconsistent stick skills. 
• Lower overall athleticism or physical development.
• Lower levels of “compete” and “motor.” 
• Undeveloped or still-emerging game IQ; majority of players on team still gaining an understanding of game flow and strategy. 
• Typically, more than two-thirds of the roster should be new or newly-developing players.
• Strong emphasis on growth and foundational skills at this division.

Generally, YLM encourages associations forming multiple teams at a given age group to place those teams in different divisions. But, where the foregoing considerations indicate it to be appropriate, an association may place more than one team in the same division at a given age group subject to the rules below:

• If registering two or more teams at an age group, one must be in the A- or B1-division.
• If registering multiple teams in the same division at a given age level, then teams must be balanced, i.e., rosters must be roughly equal in overall skill and ability based on pre-season player evaluations. 
• Exception: Multiple A-teams need not be balanced. 
• Examples:
• A-team and two B2 teams => B2 teams must be balanced
• Two B1 teams and B2 team => B1 teams must be balanced
• B-1 Team and Two A-teams => No team balancing needed

If an association can field only one team at a given age group, that team must be placed in the division that best matches the overall ability of the full player group as per the association’s pre-season evaluation.

• A single team of mixed ability should not be placed in a B2 division solely to increase chances of winning; placement should be based on the considerations set forth in this guidance.
• If the team will roster more than one A-level player, the team should probably be placed at least in the B1 division. (At the B-2 level, even one A-player can have an outsized impact on games.) 
• B1 generally will be the appropriate placement for a team that includes a mix of higher- and developing-level players
• B2 generally will be appropriate only when two-thirds of the roster consists of newer or clearly developmental players.

In the rare event that an association registering multiple teams at a given age group believes it cannot field either an A or B1 team at that age group and therefore wishes to register multiple B2 teams at the age group, YLM board approval will be required before registration.

Per the member vote at the 2025 Annual General Meeting, the YLM Board of Directors has the power to reclassify team’s divisional placement during the season or for the state tournament whenever, in the Board’s discretion – and based on team record and other evidence – a team’s divisional placement clearly warrants reconsideration. The Board expects that reclassification determinations will be based primarily on a team’s regular-season record, but the Board may consider other factors in the exercise of its discretion.