Implement 3 teams for the U11 Age division within the KMMLA 2026 Season

The Ask

To get support from concerned parents and caregivers of children who are registered in the KMMLA. If you support the creation of three teams for the U11 Age Division, you only need to be a member of the KMMLA (registered and paid child in the program). You do not need to be affiliated with the U11 division, you can show your support either way! Read below for the issue and sign if you agree!

Background

• There are 43 children registered in the U11 age division.
• OLA allows a maximum roster of 23 per team, but only a maximum of 18 runners may dress/play in games.
• Tryouts included 8 evaluators to help ensure a fair and transparent selection process.
• During team selection, volunteers expressed willingness to support the creation of three teams. Board members present were willing to explore three teams.
• At a KMMLA meeting held the next day, the request to proceed with three teams was denied on the basis that the cons were viewed as outweighing the pros, because a similar attempt in the past did not work well, and that moving to three teams did not align with the Mission of the KMMLA.

KMMLA Mission:
“The KMMLA is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of minor lacrosse within the Town of Kahnawà:ke and surrounding areas recognized by the Ontario Lacrosse Association.
Our mission is to provide a safe, inclusive, and competitive environment where players of all skill levels can develop their abilities while enjoying the game. We are committed to promoting the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, respect, and integrity among players, coaches, officials, and members. Through the sport of lacrosse, KMMLA aims to instill essential life skills, build character, and inspire a lifelong love for our traditional game.”

Why three teams?

• More floor time = more development. At U11, development is directly tied to repetition and game exposure - more touches, more decision-making reps, and more confidence-building moments.
• Smaller rosters improve coaching effectiveness. Coaches can provide more individual attention, correct habits in real time, and progress drills more effectively with smaller groups.
• Better skill grouping. A third team narrows the skill range on each roster, helping newer players stay involved while allowing experienced players to be challenged.
• Stronger engagement and retention. When players are consistently involved in games, they are more likely to stay committed and return next season.
• Refined team classification. By narrowing the range of skill into three sectors (Team 1, 2, 3), teams will be more effectively classified in the division they belong and will be able to compete with other teams in the same skill range. Ie. Team 2 will not play a higher level than they should be classified at and vice-versa.
• Long-term program growth. Structuring teams to maximize participation supports the development pipeline and helps position Kahnawà:ke as a community known for strong development programming.

Why not two teams?

• Reduced game participation. With 20+ players per roster, and only 18 runners allowed to dress, players will be rotated out each game—including tournaments and provincials.
• Less floor time in meaningful moments. In close games and tournament play, rotations typically tighten, which can further reduce in-game opportunities for a portion of the roster.
• Development slows. Fewer touches and fewer decision-making reps limit skill growth and confidence at a critical development stage. Less individual time between coaches and players.
• Wider skill range affects involvement. When the range is too broad, less experienced players may touch the ball less, while stronger players may carry play more frequently.
• Value to families and retention risk. Families commit significant time and financial resources (especially with travel). Limited participation can reduce perceived value and may discourage players from continuing.

What are the challenges with three teams—and how can we address them?

• Coaching coverage. Three teams require additional coaches and consistent practice support.
• Scheduling and logistics. Coordinating games, tournaments, and practices across three teams can be more complex.
• Team selection and balance. Careful balancing is needed to support development and maintain a positive experience across all teams.
• Goalie availability. With a limited goalie pool, a shared/rotating approach may be required to ensure coverage for all three teams.

We understand the concerns raised regarding coaching commitment, prior experiences, tournament registration, and goalie shortages. However, we believe these risks can be reduced with a clear structure and shared support. A dedicated group of parents have indicated they are prepared to collectively commit additional time to assist with addressing the shortfalls such as goalies, coaching, practices, and game-day support to help ensure stability across the second and third teams. The proposed solutions by volunteers would be discussed with KMMLA in length once the decision to create three teams is complete.

What does it mean if it remains at 2 teams?
If the division remains at two teams, the practical outcome is that players will receive less floor time and two children will be benched for each game due to the 18-runner limit – per team. Across the regular season, tournaments, and provincials, this potentially mean each child sits out two games. Over the course of the season, this reduces meaningful in-game opportunities at a key development stage and increases the risk of reduced engagement and risks interest levels dropping and potentially children dropping from the program. Long-term, it is a devastation for a child to have a negative outlook on their experience and this creates the potential for them to never return to the game. Many times, parents worry about their child not making the team higher than they were placed. Proper selection means the child is placed within their skill range and helps parents and players identify areas of development that if worked on, puts them in a higher likelihood of being placed in the higher team in the next season. It creates a work ethic for the child and should not be looked at negatively. This stigma will exist whether there are two or three teams. Instead, being properly placed means they are able to develop more in smaller groups. 

Why this matters (long-term)

• Growing the game. The number of registrations shows strong interest. We should adapt our structure to support that momentum—rather than create barriers that can hold players back.
• Player development pipeline. Strong development at U11 builds better athletes and supports higher levels of play later on (including more competitive opportunities for those who want them).
• Opportunity for every player. A wider range of teams supports both competitive and more recreational participants while keeping more children engaged in lacrosse.
• Other opportunities. Players that choose to compete at higher levels have more opportunity to further their education with higher likeliness of continuing on to college and/or university and for some, with scholarships. Beyond this, professional lacrosse is even more achievable.
• Alignment with the KMMLA mission. Benching children solely due to roster size conflicts with a development-first approach and the values families expect from the program. Fostering improvements in programming bring the KMMLA in alignment with its mission.

Requested action
This petition respectfully requests that the KMMLA Board:

1. Revisit the Board decision to limit the U11 age division to two teams for the 2026 season.
2. Officially endorse the creation of three U11 teams for the 2026 season.
3. Work collaboratively with the dedicated parent volunteers to ensure three teams are supported, sustainable and successful.

By endorsing, the KMMLA will enhance current programming, ensure continued alignment with its vision, and solidify its commitment to keep with the growth that the game has had in Kahnawake. Additionally to these benefits, the players and teams will experience enhancements in the following areas:

• Maximized floor time and development opportunities.
• Maintained competitive balance while supporting all skill levels.
• Improve coaching effectiveness through smaller groups.
• Support continued growth and retention within the program.

As committed parents and members of the KMMLA, we are hopeful that the Board is willing to take this leap on the initiative, which, will no doubt come with challenges, but challenges we are all willing to face together and provide kids the best opportunity within our reach. As partners, we look forward to working collaboratively toward a solution that best serves the players and the long-term success of the program.

In closing, we need to ask ourselves what message we are sending to our kids as parents, coaches and an association who serves to provide the best lacrosse experience to our community: that we will fight to provide the best opportunities imaginable, or that we will not take the leap because we are afraid of failure? The signatures on this petition show that the members have spoken, the choice is now in the hands of the association.

Respectfully,
Members, parents, caretakers, coaches and volunteers for our kids

By signing below, you confirm that you have read the statements above and support the request for the KMMLA to establish three teams at the U11 age level for the 2026 season. You also confirm that you are a KMMLA member as a parent/caregiver of a registered player and are eligible to sign this petition. Your name will not appear publicly, it will only be shared with the petition when it is submitted to KMMLA.