(from an SLC release)

SAN DIEGO – Due to an ineligible player on its roster for two games this season, Arizona State has been ruled ineligible for the 2022 Southwestern Lacrosse Conference (SLC) and MCLA tournament.

In preparation for the postseason, the member conferences conduct its second player eligibility check. During this process, Arizona State received word that one of its players had been ineligible for play due to falling below the credit hour requirements necessary to participate in the SLC, the MCLA and ASU program.

The penalty is a forfeiture of games the ineligible player participated in and exclusion from any post-season play.

“As one can imagine, the members of the ASU program are devastated,” said SLC director Matt Holman. “The MCLA is a member-driven organization of students and dedicated coaches who strive to offer a premier college lacrosse experience second only to the NCAA.

“Much of the difference being the ‘behind the scene’ process players and coaches go through to maintain their programs. ASU is one of those programs who consistently does things right. As unfortunate as the season ended, the staff and players are sure to make some noise in the MCLA next season.”

MCLA Eligibility is based on the concept of ensuring all student athletes are progressing towards a degree by maintaining the widely accepted (NAIA, NCAA, etc.) procedure that the student athlete maintain 12 credit hours per semester/quarter.

Some member institutions also require an overall GPA of 2.0+. Again, all designed to keep the ‘student’ in student-athlete.

It’s often difficult for a team to balance right to privacy rules/laws, with the overall welfare of its program. The MCLA requires two certified roster checks (certified the students submit and allow the registrar to certify that each is enrolled in 12 credit hours or more) – one prior to the start of game play and one following the school’s spring ‘drop’ day and before the conference or national championship.

Teams have developed creative ways to conduct additional checks throughout the season on an informal protection basis. Even still, in the end, team leadership is at the mercy of the student-athlete immediately self-reporting. Thus, removing himself from official team contests until he is able to increase his credit hours to the minimum acceptable level.

The entire SLC is saddened by this development, but will continue to work with all of its member teams to share and develop ideas that serve to protect all of the student-athletes while they pursue their course of study and fulfill their dreams on the lacrosse field.