​In 2022 the ECJLL will expand its operations to include a 4-team female division to compliment its current 6-team coed division.  The league is seeking four franchise holders to operate a competitive female junior lacrosse team under the ECJLL regulations.

Click here for the "Expression of Interest" document 

Franchise Application Process 
Governance Structure
Team Selection
Team Draft Order Process
Proposed Schedule Structure
Game Operations
Budget


Franchise Application Process
This document will lay out the process for interested organizations to operate a female Junior team in the ECJLL.  This expression of interest is open to all associations/organizations who would be interested in operation a female junior aged lacrosse team.  The ECJLL welcomes all submissions, but due to athlete numbers the league may not be able to support all applications in the 2022 season.  The league will be available to support any association or organization in developing their submission to the league in hopes of bringing forward the strongest applications. 
Interested Association/team in operating a female ECJLL team beginning in 2022 are asked to follow the outlined process:

• Submit a ‘letter of interest’ to ECJLL Commissioner by Jan 24^th (requirements listed in Appendix B of the "Expression of Interest" document)
• Submit detailed written proposal to ECJLL Commissioner by Jan 31^st (requirements listed in Appendix C of the "Expression of Interest" document)
• Presentation to the ECJLL selection committee by Feb 14^th (virtual due to covid restrictions)
• Franchise awarded by Feb 18^th

As pointed out in team selection section of the expression of interest, the teams will be built through a draft process.  The focus of submission should be around operations and governance structure of team operations.  The league is looking for strong organizations structure while showing the ability to develop future female junior players. 

Governance Structure
The league has developed a governance structure (Appendix A of the "Expression of Interest" document) which will support both ECJLL divisions while supporting the unique needs of each individual division.  The ECJLL operations are outlined on multiply documents, which as a franchise holder you will be required to have full understanding of.  These documents are listed below:

• ECJLL By-Laws
• ECJLL Regulations
• ECJLL Games Day Standards
• ECJLL Code of Conduct

These regulations and standards will apply to all divisions in the ECJLL.  Any operations outside of these standards would require full board approval.  As the premier league for box lacrosse in Atlantic Canada, the ECJLL operates with a high level of professionalism and expects the same commitment from all our franchise holders.

Team Selection
The ECJLL has current regulations around protection and drafting of 16U players entering the league which the league will follow for players entering Junior age for the first time (birth years of 2004 & 2005).   Current junior aged players will be selected in the following manner:

• Each franchise will be allowed to protect between 3 - 6 players from their association list (final number will be confirmed by the board)
• Remaining players will be drafted through a draft lottery process

This process will help build parity within the league.  The league will operate a combine of all eligible Junior age players which will allow players to be evaluated by teams before making any selection.  The ECJLL combine will be a week before the draft allowing teams to asset any talent at the ECJLL combine. 
The draft for 2004 and 2005 will be held separately creating two draft classes.  This will mirror the current draft within the ECJLL.  Franchise holders will have the opportunity to protect a finite number of players while the remaining players will enter the draft.
Note: Players can only be entered/selected in a draft that includes teams from their home province.  (Example if there is one team in New Brunswick, they will not be part of the draft of Nova Scotia players)  

Team Draft Order Process
The Female Division entry drafts will occur in the following order:

1. Draft for current junior aged players (2003- 2001)
2. 17U entry draft (2004)
3. 16U entry draft (2005)

The Team draft order for junior aged players will be selected by an equally weighted lottery.  First name drawn selects first, second name drawn will select second, etc. 

The draft order for 17U entry draft will be selected through a weighted draft based on the selection order of the junior aged draft (1^st selection in Junior aged draft, will have one ballot, 2^nd selection two ballots, etc).  The draft order for 16U draft will be a weighted draft based on the draft order of the 17U draft.  This process of finalizing the draft order will be completed before the combine, so teams are aware of their draft position when selecting players.

Proposed Schedule Structure
The ECJLL female division goal to is operate in a 4-team league in 2022, under the follow schedule format, which will great a competitive and safe environment between teams:

• 12 game regular season (Quad round robin)
• 1 semi-final (#2 vs #3, best of 3 series)
• 1 Final (best of 3 series)

Note: Not all teams quality for the playoffs as only the top 3 teams within the division will move into the playoff structure. 
Note 2: This structure may change depending on the confirmed number of franchise holders in the 2022 season.
Game Operations
ECJLL Female division will follow all ECJLL regulations around game format.  A few key pieces of the format have been listed below:

• Game length: four 15-minute quarters with the following break times for intermission 5, 10, 5
• Home teams are required to provide a minimum of 30 min warm up time for team before the game
• All Game Day Standards will be in effect

A full list of operations can be found within the regulations and game day standards on this website.  Please ensure they are reviewed before submission. 

Budget
The draft budget for the ECJLL female division can be found in Appendix D of the "Expression of Interest" document.  Each team will be required to submit a $500 performance bond as part of the league operations.

Note: The league budget does not include the following, which teams’ budgets will be responsible for:

• Floor time costs (practice and regular season home games)
• LNS player fees
• Uniforms
• Travel
• Timekeepers (for regular season games)
• Any other additional items

The ECJLL is excited to expand its opportunities for junior aged players within Atlantic Canada.  If you have any questions about the process for a franchise holder, please contact ECJLL Commissioner Brendon Smithson by email at brendonlivestrong@hotmail.com