The Monmouth County Athletic League

The Monmouth County Athletic League Believes Sportsmanship is an Expectation.   So Please Let The Players Play, Let The Coaches Coach, Let The Officials Officiate, Let The Spectators Be Positive.  M.C.A.L. PRIDE 

General Information​ 2024-2025

​Policies 

 I. Official Title of Organization - Monmouth County Athletic League 

 II. Aims and Objectives of the League

This league has been organized to provide an opportunity for children to grow and develop in many ways.

 Among these are:

• The development of good character.
• The instillation of good sportsmanship.
  
• To promote sound interschool relations.
  
•  To develop skill and confidence in children through athletics.
  
•  To develop a healthy social interest.
  
• To develop an understanding of the rules of play for the various games in which the children will participate.
  

III. Organization

A. Participating Schools

Antrim                          899-3737        Tara Weber
Avon                            775-4328         John Russo
Bay Head                     892-0668         Frank Camarado
Belmar                         681-2388         Jimmy Alvarez
Bradley Beach            775-4413         Michael Heidelberg
Brielle                          528-6400         Stacie Poelstra

College Achieve         774-0727         

Deal                             531-0480          Donato Saponaro
Manasquan                 528-8810         Don Bramley AD

Lavallette                    793-7722         Dr. Lisa Gibson
Mountz, H.W.              449-6380         Stephen LaValva
Neptune City              775-5319          Raymond Boccuti    
Sea Girt                       449-3422         Richard Papera 
Spring Lake Heights  449-6149         John Spalthoff   
St. Catharine               449-4424         Donna  White

B. The number of teams in the league is presently sixteen. (any change would require a 75 percent approval vote.) When a vacancy arises, additional schools may be admitted by approval of a majority of administrative heads of the member schools. 

C. Any school which desires to withdraw from the league must present a written request to the league director for withdrawal, by May 1st of the participating year.

D. Each district will pay a yearly fee to cover the operational costs of the league. 

E. The league shall be under the direct supervision of the administrators with a League Director (Don Neice).
    1. Suggestions made by coaches will be subject to final approval of  League Director.
    2. Any changes will require approval of the League Director.
    3. The League Director will set all schedules and assign all officials through an assigner.

F. Any disputes or grievances shall be submitted by coaches to their school administrator, who will then submit said grievance to the League Director. The League Director will make a binding decision. 

G. Any administrator may initiate a general meeting at anytime by contacting the League Director and requesting one.

IV. Officials

• A. The following assigners will be use for the2024-2025 school year:
  • 1. Soccer: Don Neice 848-258-2896
    
  • 2. Basketball : Paul Christopher 732-610-5020
  • 3. Baseball: Mike Merves 732-598-6927
    
  • 4. Softball: Mike Merves 732-598-6927
• B. At all times qualified referees are to be utilized. Coaches of the teams in the League will not be permitted to officiate within the league. Coaches may not officiate in any game in lieu of officials not showing.
  
• C. The rate of pay will be in accordance with the Shore Conference Officials Association for two officials, and by agreement with the M.C.A.L. for one official.
  
• D. Complaints concerning officials should be submitted, in writing to your school administrator, who will then notify the League Director. The League Director will then take appropriate action.
  

V. Requirements for Athletic Participation: (SEE ADDENDUM AT END)

• A. It is recommended that each school develop their own standards for participation, dependent upon academic achievement, attitude and conduct.
  
• B. Participants must not have attained age 15 prior to September 1 of the current school year. Also, any student who has completed 8th grade studies will be prohibited from participation in the M.C.A.L. no matter his or her age.  Students who are ineligible due to the age requirement should apply for a waiver by the N.J.S.I.A.A. for participation in high school athletics. (H:CL4 - Students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grades who will reach age nineteen (19) prior to September 1 while properly enrolled in a member school may request a waiver of the Bylaws, Article V, Section 4.1, Pre-High School Student, to have an opportunity to participate in interscholastic athletics for four (4) years prior to becoming ineligible.) (J:CL - In order to assure the opportunity for eight consecutive semesters of interscholastic eligibility member schools may request waivers to permit classified students who are enrolled in 7th and 8th grades and who are otherwise academically eligible, to participate on the junior varsity and varsity teams.)
  
• C. All ages must be verified by the principal or administrator of each district.  Rosters will be submitted prior to the teams first game.
  
• D. Any team that uses an ineligible player will forfeit any game said player plays in.
  
• E. Any request for age verification should be made in writing to the League Director. The League director will  call the school involved and ask that the school administrator to check their age.
  
• F. To participate in the M.C.A.L. a student must be a resident in the town in which they wish to play and/or attending member school.
  

VI. Conduct - See Code of Conduct guidelines

• A. It is expected that coaches will conduct themselves in such a manner as to reflect credit upon the profession, as well as to set a prime example for the young people exposed to this activity. Any disagreement must not be settled in the presence of players. The coach or a representative of the home team is responsible for the conduct of players and spectators. No abuse of visiting teams will be tolerated. Any spectators or players who are not behaving properly are to be sent from the area immediately. All incidents should be reported, in writing, to the League Director.
  
• B. Fighting/Sportsmanship
  
  • 1. There will be an automatic one-game suspension for fighting. It shall be the next game immediately following the incident.
    
  • 2. Any athlete who is in a second fight during a season will receive a three-game suspension.
    
  • 3. All incidents of fighting must be reported to the League Director the next day, by both teams. Appropriate action will be taken by the League Director.
    

VII. Miscellaneous Procedures

• A. If a problem arises, such as bad weather the coach/administrator will call the opposing school prior to 1:00 p.m. on the day of the game. All canceled games must be with administrative approval of the schools involved. The League Director and the official assigner (except soccer) must be notified of any cancellations. 
  
• B. Both teams are responsible for notifying the League Director of the results of their particular game on the day following the contest.
  
• C. Standard rules of play will be utilized for all games. Field of play may be modified due to particular conditions. Coaches must be informed of said modifications or special provisions before the start of the game.
  
• D. The number of games to be played will depend on the number of schools participating in each sport, and are determined by the guidelines for each sport.
  
• E. Schedules will be rotated each year.
  
• F. Plaques  - Plaques will only be presented to the first place team in the American and National Divisions.  A perpetual plaque (All sports plaque) with 12 spaces for smaller plates will be presented to a championship winner.  Each succeeding championship will get a plate to put on the perpetual plaque.
  
  • In case of a tie duplicate plaques/plates for first place will be presented. 
    
• G. Annual revisions to this document will be made as needed.
  

Re: Eligibility/Alternatives - All Sports

As you are aware, our league has an age limit of 15. No athlete who is 15 prior to September 1st is eligible to participate in M.C.A.L. activities. Also, any student who has completed his 8th grade studies will be prohibited from participation in the M.C.A.L. no matter his or her age.  In the past we have had 3 challenges to this age limit. All challenges were denied. N.J.S.I.A.A. does not govern non High School sports. We are exempt from their rules. As long as we have a clearly stated age limit we are on very stable legal grounds.

After discussions with Manasquan Athletic Director, Ron Kornegay (2008) we felt it was important to restate your alternatives for those students who will not be eligible due to age restriction. As stated in our General Information, Section V, Sub-section B:

Participants must not have attained age 15 prior to September 1 of the current school year. Students who are ineligible due to the age requirement should apply for a waiver by the N.J.S.I.A.A. for participation in high school athletics. (H:CL4 - Students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grades who will reach age nineteen (19) prior to September 1 while properly enrolled in a member school may request a waiver of the Bylaws, Article V, Section 4.1, Pre-High School Student, to have an opportunity to participate in interscholastic athletics for four (4) years prior to becoming ineligible.) (J:CL - In order to assure the opportunity for eight consecutive semesters of interscholastic eligibility, member schools may request waivers to permit classified students who are enrolled in 7th and 8th grades and who are otherwise academically eligible, to participate on the junior varsity and varsity teams.)

To prevent future challenges it would really help if you ascertain those students who are ineligible due to age and petition the appropriate High School to request a waiver to participate on the High school level. This will allow that athlete to have four years of high school participation. The High school age limit is 19, based on the same September 1st date. Also, 16 year olds are not allowed to participate in freshman sports. You should allow two months time, prior to the start of the season, to start the process.

Also, please make sure your coaches are fully aware that if an athlete is 15 prior to September 1st of the school year that they should not be allowed to try out for the team. It is important to check ages prior to the first practice.

Please Call In or Email Don Neice, M.C.A.L. Director, After Each Game - 848-258-2896 donneice@comcast.net