For a young player to get the most out of lacrosse, learning the rules of the game at an early age can help foster a passion for the game. Meeting age requirements, wearing proper equipment and attire, and maintaining sportsmanship are essential for developing a responsible and courteous athlete. Familiarizing yourself with a few league rules will help you and your young players have a positive and successful season.
Number of Players
A maximum of 10 players, including the goaltender, are required for each team to start play. If one or both teams are short of players, a minimum of six players and the goaltender are required. US Lacrosse suggests that teams or groups be organized by age with respect to physical and cognitive maturity.
Four-Goal Rule
If one team leads by four goals or more, the losing team will start with the ball after every goal following, or at the start of, each quarter at a point outside the attack box. Until the losing team trails by three goals or less, no faceoffs will occur unless an illegal action is called on a play. The attacking team must complete three passes before it can score, with one made in the attacking half and the other two in the attack box.
Length of Game
The length of the game depends on the youth's age group. In the Lightning and Bantam divisions, four 12-minute, running-time quarters will be played with a 15-minute, running-time quarter to follow in the event of a tie. This tiebreaker is not a sudden-death period. The team in the lead when time expires is the winner.
Three Seconds When Closely Defended
When a player is closely marked or defended, he has three seconds to pass the ball to a teammate or be penalized with a minor foul and loss of possession. If the player turns his body in the opposite direction and is no longer closely marked by the defender, the rule no longer is in effect. However, if the defender positions himself into a position where a legal check could be made, or if another defender also marks the offense, the count starts again.
Personal Fouls
Personal fouls can result from illegal positioning in the 8-meter goalkeeping arc, to illegal contact penalties such as slashing, checking, cross-checking or unsportsmanlike conduct. Any poke or intent to poke will be considered a slash. Any intent to hurt or put another player on the ground will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct. These actions result in a one- to three-minute penalty as a first offense. A second offense is a three-minute, nonreleasable expulsion penalty.
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