Evaluations & Team Formations

As we prepare for the upcoming season, we want to share that our league (GELC) is transitioning to a tiered system. Because of this shift, we strongly encourage all players (new and returning) to come out to our preseason events and evaluations.

TIERING FORMAT

🔸U7 and U9: Not tiered. Clubs must maintain team parity within the division.
🔸U11, U13, U15: Tiered into three levels - A, B, and C.
🔸U17: Tiered into two levels - A and B.
🔸Female Lacrosse: Not tiered. Will be organized as parity-based divisions.

 Need a visual on the tiering format? Look here.

Your participation in evaluations helps us accurately assess skills, interest, and places players where they’ll succeed and grow.

NOTES & CONDITIONS

- There are no grandfathered releases when a club offers the highest tier available within that club.

- Requests that do not meet the above guidelines must be submitted to the GELC Board for approval.

- A club may enter additional teams in higher divisions if desired.

- When a club has multiple teams in the same division, those teams must be parity teams, determined through preseason evaluations or exhibition games.

- If a team is deemed stacked or dominant in league play, the GELC Board of Directors may re-tier or disqualify the team from playoffs.

- If a club has fewer than three teams in an age division, placing a team at the A level is encouraged but not required.

MEMORANDUM

To: Member Clubs, Coaches, Parents, and Athletes
From: Greater Edmonton Lacrosse Council (GELC)
Date: December 3, 2025

Subject: A-Level Tryouts - U13, U15, and U17 Procedures for the 2026 Season

The Greater Edmonton Lacrosse Council is providing the following direction regarding A-level registration, tiering, and tryout procedures for the 2026 playing season.

1. A-Intent Requirement - U13, U15 & U17 Athletes
All U13, U15 & U17 players who wish to be considered for A-level tryouts must complete an A-Intent declaration on their registration page at the time of registering for the 2026 season.

2. A-Team Declarations by Member Clubs
Zones have been removed for U13A & U15A. Member Clubs will formally declare whether they are hosting U13A and/or U15A teams in January 2026.

3. Home Club Tryout Requirement
Players must attend A-level tryouts with their Home Club as defined by GELC boundaries and registration rules. There will be no secondary tryout opportunities at other Member Clubs. Players who do not make their Home Club’s A-level team will be placed on a B or C team within their Home Club.

4. Tryout Opportunities for Players Whose Clubs Do Not Host A Teams
If a Member Club does not declare an A-level team at U13 or U15, those athletes may be offered the opportunity to try out with another Member Club that is hosting an A-level team. The GELC Board of Directors will determine placement and assign the appropriate tryout location based on registration data and boundary alignment. There will be no secondary tryouts beyond the assigned opportunity. Players who do not make an A-level team will be placed on a B or C team at their Home Club.

5. U17A Structure for 2026 Season
For the 2026 season only, U17A will operate using a Zone-based model. Additional details will be communicated as finalized.

6. Team Formation Overview

U11, U13, and U15 will operate with A, B, and C levels of play.
U17 will operate with A and B levels of play.
Associations may form an A-level team when they also have a team registered in a lower division within the same age group.