TOURNAMENT RULES

Visiting programs must certify that all their players are current members of US Lacrosse.

The lacrosse official(s) is the final word on all calls made on the field of play.

Length of Games: All games will be two 19 minute running halves, with a 2 minute halftime timeout and 5 minutes between games. A central clock will control all game start and end times. There will be a horn with two minutes left in each half and another to signify the end of each half.   Please be ready to play at the scheduled game time. In fairness to other teams, we need to clear the field quickly to start the next game on time.

Tie Games: If a game is tied at the end of the second half, there will be a BRAVEHEART.   The tie-game Braveheart rules match the Braveheart Contest rules below with 2 exceptions - the goals will NOT be moved to the restraining lines and if no one scores after 2 minutes, the Braveheart will end and the game will end in a tie.

Substitutions: Substitutions will be done on the fly except for penalties. Substitution should be on the whistle and on the fly with delay of game strictly enforced for any substitution on the whistle that takes longer than ten seconds.

Mercy Rule: A six-goal rule will be used for all games. As long as a team has a six-goal lead, the opposing team will have the option to receive the ball at the centerline following the goal or facing off. All coaches are requested to take appropriate steps to manage the total goals scored by their teams in an unbalanced team situation. The second half will begin with a face off regardless of the score.

Advancing the ball: There will be 20 second clearing count and a 10 second advance the ball into the box at the 7th and 8th grade level ONLY, similar to High School rules. Four-second counts for goalie clears will apply to all teams. 

Body checking: Body checking is NOT permitted at the 4th, 5th and 6th grade levels. Body checking is permitted at the 7th and 8th grade levels ONLY against a player in possession of the ball. No take out checks are permitted by any player at any level. DEFINITION: A takeout check occurs when a player contacts an opponent with the force and intent to take out (put on the ground) the other player.

Stick Checking: One-handed stick checks or attempted stick checks are NOT allowed. This violation will be called as a slash with no exceptions. Any stick contact with the helmet of magnitude considered more than "a brush" shall be considered slashing. NO ICE PICK CHECKS. Any such check will be considered a slash, whether or not it makes contact with the opponent.

In the final 2 minutes of the game, once the winning team brings the ball into the box they must keep it in the box - applies to 7th and 8th grade only.

Time Serving Penalties - Personal and Technical Fouls: All time serving Personal and Technical Fouls will start on the whistle following the foul and will be running time except if a time-out is called or an injury occurs on the field.  Each team needs to provide a coach to keep the penalty clock.

4th Grade Exceptions:

• No Man Down, players committing fouls will leave the field for the amount of penalty time, time will be allowed to insert a substitute and play will restart.

• Long Poles are NOT permitted per US Lacrosse guidelines.

• 1-Pass Rule - Whenever a team has possession of the ball in their defensive side of the field, they must attempt one pass prior to taking a shot on goal. The pass must be caught on the offensive side of the field but may originate from the defensive zone. If at any time a loose ball is created (other than intentionally by the player in possession) the one pass is no longer needed. Once one of these requirements is met another pass is not required until the ball has returned to their defensive side of the field.

• If the player taking the faceoff is first to possess the ball no pass is required regardless of where on the field they gain possession.

Team Time-Outs: One timeout per team per game, and no timeout may be called in the last two minutes of the game. If the two minute warning horn sounds during a timeout, play must resume immediately.

There is ZERO TOLERANCE for fighting in the game of lacrosse, period. Any player involved in a fight, as determined by the on-field officials or by one of the Tournament Directors, will be ejected from the game and ejected for the remainder of the tournament. Additionally, the game may be terminated immediately at the discretion of the Officials and Tournament Directors, based on their evaluation of the circumstances. Any fight and other events that result from that fight, whether it involves player and/or parents, could result in a program losing the ability to attend future tournaments in Hillsborough.

Unsportsmanlike conduct: In addition to the Federation or the US Lacrosse rules, any player, coach or anyone associated with the team who: uses derogatory language (starting with damn) whether addressing a player, coach or official; engages in fighting or trash talking; argues with an official unnecessarily, will be ejected from the game and/or from the tournament.  Anyone ejected from a game will not be allowed to participate in the next scheduled game. Anyone ejected from the tournament will not be allowed to participate in any remaining games in the tournament.

Game Scores: There is a scoreboard at each field that the teams can use to keep score.

Clean up of bench areas after games: Each coach is requested to ensure that the bench area is picked-up after each game. Trash cans are available near bench areas and trash bags, if needed, are available in the Registration Tent.

In addition to the 3 x 40 minute games, there will be a stand-alone 2v2 Braveheart Contest in the middle of the day.   This is a single-elimination tournament to determine a champion.   The contest rules are outlined below.

Braveheart Contest Rules:

• Each team fields a goalie and a field player.
• The field players face off at center.
• Goalies must stay in the crease during the faceoff, and cannot cross midfield during play.
• The first team to score a goal wins.
• The goals will be moved to the top of the restraining boxes with portable creases to shorten the distance between goals.   The full size field is still in play though . . . if a shot goes past the goal, the ball is still in play unless it reaches the regular end line or sideline.
• 2-minute time limit – if no one has scored at 2 minutes, the ref will blow the whistle, coaches can choose to substitute one or both of their players, then we will faceoff again for another 2 minute period.   This continues until we have a winner.   Coaches – make sure you have subs ready with gear on if needed!
• There are no timeouts
• If a team commits what would normally be a timeserving penalty during the Braveheart, play is restarted with offended team’s field player in possession at midfield, the offending field player in the crease with their goalie teammate
• 4-second count in the crease will be the only count monitored