Look away Don Cherry, you wonB次元官网网址檛 want to see this.

Fighting, of the bare knuckle variety, took a hit on Tuesday (Dec. 11) as the Canadian Lacrosse Association made any intentional occurrence of fisticuffs an automatic ejection from the game, at all levels of box lacrosse.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a nation wide rule change that affects local teams from the Western Lacrosse Association, B.C. Junior Lacrosse League, junior B and intermediate leagues.

Until Tuesday, any two willing combatants in a box lacrosse game could come together to trade punches, and serve a five-minute major for their effort, just enough time to catch their breath. And now the  barbaric one-on-one contests, which have magically existed outside the law, are being deemed a sideshow by the CLA.

Anyone who receives a fighting major also receives a game misconduct.

B次元官网网址淎fter lengthy discussions and revisions the updated rule enforces that fighting is not tolerated,B次元官网网址� says a CLA release.

The no-fighting decision is mostly based on a report presented to the CLA board in October. The presenters were an appointed committee which spent five months preparing their review.

Those at the heart of box lacrosse donB次元官网网址檛 believe this will end fighting, however, and some pressing questions remain. Among them is the fact that box lacrosse has a confusing set of rules and is a gladiator sport with stick work that could make a staff-wielding ninja think twice about standing in front of the net. Heavy cross checks, violent slashes and brutal interference, much of it away from the ball, happen without recourse on a nightly basis.

The biggest question for stakeholders of the game is why the CLA has moved to expel fighters but not suspend them. Fighting in youth lacrosse in B.C. brings automatic ejections and subsequent suspensions.

Without an automatic suspension tied to the fighting rule, the consensus is that fighting will continue in the WLA and BCJLL, predominantly at the end of games.

B次元官网网址淎re we going to solve all the problems or issues from fighting in year one? No weB次元官网网址檙e not. WeB次元官网网址檒l see what issues arise, and deal with them as they come along. Our objective is somewhere down the road when a fight breaks out, itB次元官网网址檚 a rare occurrence, and people will say B次元官网网址極h wow, a fight,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Ron McQuarrie, who is vice president of B.C. Lacrosse Association and was part of the committee to tasked with the fighting review.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a first step, an improvement, and people know that. Will there still be fighting? Probably, but there will be consequences. Fighting doesnB次元官网网址檛 play a part in sports, except (mixed martial arts).B次元官网网址�

McQuarrie said the decision was heavily influenced by the ultimate safety of players, with the modern concussion epidemic a part of that.

B次元官网网址淲e felt people will recognize this is a good move. ItB次元官网网址檚 where we want to take our box game,B次元官网网址� McQuarrie said.

Despite early reports to the contrary, the WLA has said it will have to abide by the new rule, though consensus is the league doesnB次元官网网址檛 like it.

B次元官网网址淢y understanding is that itB次元官网网址檚 a compulsory ruling, and weB次元官网网址檒l be examining that, but if thatB次元官网网址檚 the case, then (the WLA) will be moving forward in that direction,B次元官网网址� said WLA commissioner Casey Cook.

For years, junior and senior box lacrosse organizations in Canada simply defended its permission of fighting by pointing to its on-ice brother. That, too, is changing.

B次元官网网址淭he CLA decision is consistent with current values in society, given the discussions around (fighting and violence) in hockey and all sports,B次元官网网址� Cook said.

Whether or not suspensions will be attached to the instigator penalty can still be determined prior to the season.

Until then, call it the vulnerability factor.

B次元官网网址淥n the surface itB次元官网网址檚 a great rule but it leaves some tough decisions to the referees,B次元官网网址� said Victoria junior Shamrocks GM Rod Wood.

As it stands, a lesser-skilled player can challenge a skilled player into a fight with the potential reward of removing the B次元官网网址渧ictimB次元官网网址� from the game, Wood suggested.

McQuarrie, who is in a contradicting spot as assistant coach on WoodB次元官网网址檚 junior Shamrocks, said the CLA committee is aware of the vulnerability.

B次元官网网址淲e do expect that, if someoneB次元官网网址檚 beating the living daylights out of you, youB次元官网网址檙e going to defend yourself. ItB次元官网网址檚 up to the official to determine who the clear instigator is and that person gets tossed.B次元官网网址�

WLA and junior box seasons begin in May.

sports@vicnews.com