2018GirlsYouthRulesU11&U9

Alsoknownas3rd/4thand2ndgrade

AND

10/9uand8u

Thisdocumentsupersedesthe2018USLacrosseRulebook

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TABLEOFCONTENTS1. Mission,PurposeandObjectives.........................................................................................................4

1.1 MISSION......................................................................................................................................4

2.PlayingAreaandGoals

2.1.1-LENGTHANDWIDTH.................................................................................................................4

2.1.2-8METERARC.............................................................................................................................4

2.1.3-GOALCIRCLE..............................................................................................................................4

2.1.4-GOALS........................................................................................................................................4

2.1.5–TEAMPLACEMENT,TIMERTABLEANDSPECTATORS...............................................................5

3:EquipmentandUniforms.........................................................................................................................5

3.1-BALLS............................................................................................................................................5

3.2.-THELACROSSESTICK...................................................................................................................5

3.2.3-UNIFORM..................................................................................................................................5

4.GamePersonnel.......................................................................................................................................6

4.1-NUMBEROFPLAYERS...................................................................................................................6

4.2-COACHES......................................................................................................................................6

4.3-OFFICIALS......................................................................................................................................6

4.4-TIMEKEEPER................................................................................................................................6

4.5-SCOREKEEPER..............................................................................................................................6

4.6SIDELINEMANAGER.......................................................................................................................7

5. TimeFactorsandScoring.....................................................................................................................7

5.1-LENGTHOFTHEGAME.................................................................................................................7

5.2-TIMEOUTS....................................................................................................................................7

5.3-OVERTIME....................................................................................................................................7

5.4 –GAMEROSTER..........................................................................................................................7

6.PlayoftheGame......................................................................................................................................7

6.1–PLAYERPARTICIPATION...............................................................................................................7

6.2-PRE-GAMEOFFICIALMEETINGANDSTICKCHECK........................................................................7

6.3-COINTOSS.....................................................................................................................................7

6.4-STARTOFGAMEORHALF.............................................................................................................7

6.5-RESTARTAFTERAGOALISSCORED.............................................................................................8

6.6-MINIMUMPASSRULE..................................................................................................................8

6.7-OUTOFBOUNDS..........................................................................................................................8

6.8–KICKINGTHEBALL........................................................................................................................8

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Kickingtheballispermitted.................................................................................................................8

6.9-RESTRAININGLINE........................................................................................................................8

6.10-GOALCIRCLERULES....................................................................................................................8

6.11-ALTERNATEPOSSESSION............................................................................................................9

6.12-SUBSTITUTIONSPROCEDURES...................................................................................................9

6.13-COMMUNICATIONWITHOFFICIALS...........................................................................................9

6.14-MERCYRULE...............................................................................................................................9

7. Fouls....................................................................................................................................................9

7.1 -CATEGORIES..............................................................................................................................9

7.2 MINORFOULS...........................................................................................................................10

7.2.1 FieldPreparation.......................................................................................................................10

7.2.2-CONTESTEDGROUNDBALLS...................................................................................................10

7.2.3-3SECONDSCLOSELYGUARDED(OFFENSE).............................................................................10

7.2.4-GOALKEEPERFOULS................................................................................................................10

7.3MAJOR...............................................................................................................................................10

7.3.1-RESTRAININGLINEVIOLATION.................................................................................................10

7.3.2-3SECONDSINTHEARC(DEFENSE).........................................................................................10

7.3.3-SHOOTINGSPACE....................................................................................................................10

7.3.4-GOALCIRCLEVIOLATIONS.......................................................................................................10

7.4MAJORORCARDABLE.......................................................................................................................11

7.4.1–MAJORNOCONTACT..............................................................................................................11

7.4.2 -CARDABLE................................................................................................................................11

7.4.2.1-SHOOTINGFOULS.................................................................................................................11

7.4.2-UNSPORTSMANLIKECONDUCT...............................................................................................11

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1. Mission,PurposeandObjectives1.1MISSIONWashingtonSchoolgirlsLacrosse(WaGLAX)isadevelopmental,athleticorganizationthataspirestoprovideahigh-qualityexperiencetoeveryathlete.Ahigh-qualityexperienceisoneinwhicheveryathletehasfunplayingthegame,feelslikeanimportantmemberoftheteamandlearns"lifelessons"thathavevaluebeyondtheplayingfield.

1.2PURPOSEOFRULES.ThepurposeofWSLAGameRulesforU11andU9istoprovideadevelopmentallyappropriatesetofrulesthatwillimprovetheexperienceanddevelopmentofouremergingfemaleathletesinfirstthroughfourthgrade.WSLAhaddevelopedtheserulesafterreviewofUSLacrosseAthleteDevelopmentModel,consultationandinputfromWashingtonWomenLacrosseOfficialsAssociationandadecadeoffieldtesting.

1.3MAINOBJECTIVES

1.3.1Develophealthyathletes1.3.2Asafe,positiveenvironmentfortheathletes,coaches,officialsandfans1.3.3LearnteamworkandsportsmanshipthroughConstructiveCompetition1.3.4Improvelacrosseskills,tacticsandstrategies1.3.5HonortheGame

2. PlayingAreaandGoals

2.1THEFIELD

Thehometeamshallberesponsibleforprovidingafield,gamelinesandgameequipmentinproperconditionforsafeplayandincompliancewiththisrulebook.TherearefielddiagramsinAppendixAtotheserules.

2.2LENGTHANDWIDTHTheplayingfieldshouldberectangular,60-70yardsmaximuminlengthand35-45yardsmaximuminwidth.

2.2.1 Theobjectiveatthisageistoplaythegame.Fieldsizecanbemodifiedtoaccommodatetheavailablefields,however,hometeamsareexpectedtoprovide“appropriate”fieldspace.

2.2.2 Theboundariesofthefieldshallbemarkedwithcontrastingcoloredlinessothatboundariesareeasilyidentifiable.

2.38METERARCThe8meterarcmustbeincludedonallfields.

2.4GOALCIRCLEThefieldshallhavegoalcirclepreferablywithan8.5-footradius(2.6meterradius)andmaybepermanentlylined,paintedonfieldormarkedwithflatdisccones.

2.5GOALSAregulation6x6footgoalwithsecurelyaffixednettingisallowable.Adecreasedgoalsizeisalsopermissible.Thegoalshallbecenteredwithinthegoalcircle.

2.5.1 Twogoalsofdifferentsizesmaybeusedaslongaseachteamplayswitheachgoalforanequalamountoftime.

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2.5.2 AttheU9Level,ifaregulation6x6goalistheonlyavailablegoal,thegoalmaybeturnedsothatthetrianglesegmentofthecoalgageisfacingthemidfield.

2.6TEAMPLACEMENT,TIMERTABLEANDSPECTATORS2.6.1 Thetimertableandanyotherfieldsupportequipment,(medicalkit,horn,etc)willbesetupatthemidfieldlineononesideofthefield.

2.6.2 Teamssidelineswillbeoneithersideofthetimingtable,butonthesamesideofthefield,sothatthecoachingstaffandplayersareonthesamesideofthefield.

2.6.3 Teamsubstitutionareasaretotheleftandtherightofthetimingtable,consistentwithteamsidelines.

2.6.4 Spectatorsforbothteamsareontheoppositesideoftheplayer.Innoeventarespectatorsallowedonthesamesideasplayers.

3:EquipmentandUniforms3.1BALLS 3.1.1AtU11,allballsmustmeetcurrentUSLacrossespecifications.

3.1.2AtU9,ballsmaybeeitherUSLCertifiedBalls,ORaballthatisthesameweightandsizeasacurrentlyUSspecifiedball.(AnexampleofanacceptableballisaSwagLaxball,butthisisnotanendorsementofthisspecificproduct.)

3.2.THELACROSSESTICK 3.2.1StickPocket.

AlacrossestickmusthaveapocketthatmeetscurrentUSLspecificationsforawomen’slacrossestick.

3.2.2StickShaft.

Alacrosseshaftmaybecutdownforuseatthisagelevel.Werecommendthatasticknotbecuttoalengthshorterthan27inches.NOTE:AtlateragesaUSLspecifiedshaftwillberequired.

3.2.3UNIFORMS3.2.3.1AllPlayersoneachteamwillwearthesamecolorshirt,butadifferentandcontrastingcolorthantheotherteam.

3.2.3.2Eachshirtoruniformpieceshallhaveavisiblenumberonthefrontandbackoftheshirtoruniform.

3.2.3.3Intheeventoftheteamsbeinginnon-contrastingcolors,itistheresponsibilityoftheHometeamtobringpinniesorotheroptionstoassurethattheteamsarenotwearingthesamecolor.

3.2.4 MOUTHPIECE

Eachplayermustwearamouthpieceatalltimesonthefield.

3.2.4.1 Mouthpiecesmaynotbewhite.

3.2.4.2 Mouthpiecesmustbeacolorsotheyareeasilyvisibletoofficials.

3.2.5 EYEWEAR

EachfieldplayermustwearcurrentlyUSLapprovedeyewear.Itmaybeanycolor.

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3.2.6 GOALKEEPEREQUIPMENT

Thegoalkeepermustwear,ataminimum,thefollowing:

3.2.6.1 HelmetthatmeetscurrentUSLacrosserequiredstandardsincludingafacemask,properlysecuredchinstrap,andaseparatethroatprotector,

3.2.6.2 Chestprotector

3.2.6.3 Paddedgloves,

3.2.6.4 Mouthpiece,

3.2.6.5 Paddingonthethighs

3.2.6.6 ShinGuards

3.2.6.7 Agoalkeepermayalsowearanyotherprotectivegearasdecidedbytheplayer.Includingbutnotlimitedtoelbowpads,kneepadsorotherprotectivegear.

3.2.6.8 Goalkeepersmustwearauniformovertheirchestprotector.

4.GamePersonnel4.1NUMBEROFPLAYERS

4.1.1 AtU11,8players(7Fieldand1goalkeeper)fromeachteamonthefieldatatime.

4.1.2 Ifoneteamisunabletofieldagoalkeeper,bothteamsmustplaywithanon-goalkeeperformat.1NOTE:WSLAstronglyencouragesplayattheU11leveltoincludegoalkeepers.

4.1.3 AtU9,5playersinanon-goalkeeperformat.

4.2COACHESEachteammayhaveasmanycoachesastheyelect.Howeveronlyonecoachmaybeidentifiedastheheadcoachtotheofficials.Allcoachesmustremainintheircoachingbox,unlessofficiatingattheU9level.

4.3OFFICIALS4.3.1 AtU11,AllLeagueandExhibitiongamesshallbeofficiatedbyaUSLcertifiedwomen’slacrosseofficial.

4.3.2 AtU9acoachofeachteamwillserveasanofficial.

4.3.2.1 Whileservingasanofficialofthegame,theteamcoachshallstrivetobefairintheirassessmentofgamestoppageandfouls.Ateamcoachmayonlycallfoulsandplaystoppageforinfractionsoftheirownplayers.Thepurposeofcoachofficiatingistomaintainsafegameconditionswhileallowingforconstructiveandappropriatecorrectioninplay.

4.4TIMEKEEPERThehometeamwilldesignateatimekeeperwhowillkeeptimeduringplay.

4.5SCOREKEEPERScorewillnotbekept.

1ANonGoalkeeperFormatisdefinedasagamewithoutgoalkeepers.

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4.6SIDELINEMANAGEREachhomeandawayteamshallprovideasidelinemanagerwhosedutyshallbetoeffectivelycontroltheactionsofspectatorsnotinconformitywithstandardsofproperconduct.

4.6.1 Teamsshallidentifytheirsidelinemanagertotheofficialspriortothegame.4.6.2 SidelineManagersshallstandontheSpectatorsideofthefieldandencourageproperconductamongfans.4.6.3 Ifateamdoesnotprovideasidelinemanagerpriortothegame,theteamshallbeassessedadelayofgamecardandtheopposingteamshallbeginthegamewithafreepositionacentermidfield.4.6.4 Ifateamdoesnotprovideasidelinemanagerpriortothestartofthesecondhalfofthegame,theteamshallbeassessedaseconddelayofgamecardandtheopposingteamshallbeginthesecondhalfwithafreepositionatcentermidfield.

5. TimeFactorsandScoring5.1LENGTHOFTHEGAMEAcompetitionwillconsistoftwo(2)twenty-minuterunningtimehalves,withafive-minutehalftimeperiod.Durationofplayorhalftimemaybeshortened,asnecessary,ifteamsagree.

5.2TIMEOUTSEachteamhason90secondtimeoutperhalf.

5.3OVERTIMEOvertimeshallnotbeplayedatthisagegroup.

5.4 GAMEROSTERAgamerosterisencouraged,butnotrequired,atU11.

5.5BRAVEHEART

Thereshallbeno“braveheart”playordeterminationatthisagelevel.

6.PlayoftheGameConsistentwiththeWSLAHandbook,everyeffortshouldbemadetotakeadvantageoftheavailablefieldtime.Atthediscretionofthecoaches:gamedurationscanbeshortened,playerscanbesubstitutedtofilloutateam,playerscanbeborrowedbetweenopposingteamsoranyotherreasonableeffortstoallowappropriateplay.

6.1PLAYERPARTICIPATIONAplayer’seligibilitytoparticipateinagameisdefinedintheWSLAHandbookandshallbeenforcedbytheplayer’scoach.Officialsarenotresponsiblefororrequiredtodetermineaplayer’seligibilitytoparticipateinagame.

6.2PRE-GAMEOFFICIALMEETINGANDSTICKCHECKAtU11,atthebeginningofeachgameduringthegamewarmup,theofficialwillcallanofficialmeetingwithbothheadcoaches.Atthismeeting,theofficialwillgooveranygameinformationandansweranyquestions.Followingthismeetingtheofficialwillperformastickcheckofeachplayertoassurethatallsticksarelegal.

6.3COINTOSSPriortothestartofcompetition,theofficialwillcalloneplayerfromeachteamandconductacointoss.Thewinnerofthecointosswilldeterminefirstalternatepossessionandwhichgoaltodefend.

6.4STARTOFGAMEORHALF6.4.1Adrawwillbegineachhalf.Afterthisdraw,restartaftergoalproceduresbelowwillbefollowed.

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6.4.2AtU11,thecompetitionisstartedwitheachteamplacing7fieldplayersand1goalkeeperonthefieldtostartthegame.Eachteamshallhave1goalkeeperintheirdefendinggoalcircle,2fieldplayersneartheirdefending8meterarc,3fieldplayersatmidfield,and2fieldplayersneartheopponents8meterarc.Themidfieldertakingthedrawwillbeatthecenterwithpossession,themidfieldermarkingherwillbeonesticks-lengthawaytowardsherowngoalkeeper.Allothermidfieldplayerswillbe8metersawayfromcenterpoint.

6.4.3AtU9,thecompetitionisstartedwitheachteamplacing5fieldplayersonthefieldtostartthegame.Eachteamshallhave2defenseplayersneartheir8meterarc,1midfielderatthecenterpoint,and2attackplayersneartheopponents8MeterArc.Themidfieldertakingthedrawwillbeatthecenter,themidfieldermarkingherwillbe4metersawaytowardsherowngoal.

6.5RESTARTAFTERAGOALISSCOREDTheplayersreturntothecenterandtheballisawardedtotheteamthatwasjustscoredupon.

6.5.1AtU11,afteragoalhasbeenscored,butitisnotthebeginningofahalf,eachteamshallreturn7fieldplayersand1goalkeeperonthefieldtorestartthegame.Thepositioningshallbeaslistedin6.4.1withthefollowingexception:Themidfieldertakingpossessionoftheballwillstartatthecenterfieldpointandtheopposingmidfieldermarkingherwillbeonesticks-lengthawaytowardsherowngoalkeeper.Allothermidfieldplayerswillbe8metersawayfromcenterpoint.

6.5.2AtU9,afteragoalhasbeenscored,butitisnotthebeginningofahalf,eachteamshallreturn5fieldplayers5torestartthegame.Thepositioningshallbeaslistedin6.4.2withthefollowingexception:Themidfieldertakingpossessionoftheballwillstartatthecenterfieldpointandtheopposingmidfieldermarkingherwillbeonesticks-lengthawaytowardsherowngoal.

6.6MINIMUMPASSRULETheminimumtwopassruleappliesatthislevelofplay.Afterateamgainspossessionoftheball,oraftertheteam’sgoalkeeperpassestheball:theballmustbepassedatleasttwice,ortwopassesattempted,beforeashotismade.Morethantwopasses(orpassattempts)isaccepted.

6.7OUTOFBOUNDS6.7.1Playshallbestoppedwhentheballgoesoutofbounds.Thelastteamtotouchtheballwilllosepossessionoftheballandplaywillberestartedclosesttothelocationtheballwentoutofbounds.

6.7.2Outofboundsasaresultofashotongoalresultsinpossessiontotheplayerclosesttotheball.

6.8KICKINGTHEBALLKickingtheballispermitted.

6.9RESTRAININGLINERestraininglineisnotintroducedatthisagelevel.

6.10GOALCIRCLERULES 6.10.1Noplayerotherthanthegoalkeepermayenterthegoalcircleatanytime.

6.10.1.1AtU9,ifaballrollsintothegoalcirclebutdoesnotcrossthegoalline,thecoach/officialwillretrievetheballandgiveittotheclosestdefendingplayer.

6.10.2Aplayermaynotfollowthroughintothegoalcircleonashot.

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6.10.2.1Penalty:Immediatestoppageofplayandpossessionisawardedtothegoalkeeper(atU9defender)ofoffendedteam.

6.11ALTERNATEPOSSESSION6.11.1Alternatepossessionshouldbeusedwhentheofficial(orcoach-officials)cannotdeterminewhoshouldbeawardedtheball,ifoffsettingfoulsoccurorwithcontestedgroundballfouls.

6.11.2Thetimingtableisresponsibleformanagementofthealternatepossession.

6.12SUBSTITUTIONSPROCEDURESCoachesshouldemphasizeregularsubstitutionsfocusingonplayerdevelopmentinmultiplepositionsonthefield.Itisrecommendedthatsubstitutionsoccuronastoppageofplaybecauseofagoal,butsubstitutionscanoccurduringplay.6.13COMMUNICATIONWITHOFFICIALS

6.13.1 Onlytheheadcoachmaycommunicatewiththeofficialduringgameplay.6.13.1.1Forthepurposeofteaching/learning,ALLU11playersmayaskquestions,butnotquestion,theofficialduringtheplayofthegame.

6.13.2 Headcoachesmayasktheofficialsquestionspriortothestartofthegame,duringtimeoutsandduringhalftime.

6.13.3 Officialsshalladdressquestionsduringtimeoutsandhalftime.6.13.4 Coaches,playersandotherteampersonnelshallnotmakecommentstotheofficialsduringthe

game.6.13.5 Coaches,playersandotherteampersonnelshallnotmakenegativecommentsabouttheofficialsor

abouttheofficiatingduringthegame.6.13.6 Coaches,playersandotherteampersonnelshallnotmakenegativecommentstotheofficialsafter

thegame.6.13.7 Aviolationoftheserulesshallconstituteamisconductfoulandresultintheissuanceofayellowor

redcardtotheheadcoach.

6.14MERCYRULEThecoachofateamwhichisclearlydominatingagameisencouragedto:a)Askhisgirlstoenforcea3-pass-rule,or4-pass-rule.b)Asksomeofhisstrongerplayerstoplayontheirweakstick-side.C)takeotheractionstobothencourageteamdevelopmentwhilebeingrespectfuloftheopponent.

6.15COMPETEWITHCLASSCEREMONY

ThegameisimmediatelyfollowedbyaCompetewithClassceremony.

7. Fouls7.1 CATEGORIES.Foulsfallinto3categories:

7.1.1Minor(misplay,procedural),penaltyadministrationis8metersawayfromtheballandtheballisnocloserthan12meterstothegoalcircle.

7.1.2Major(safety),penaltyadministrationis4metersbehindandtheballisnocloserthan8meterstothegoalcircle

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7.1.3Cardable/Misconduct(excessive),penaltyadministrationisacard.Ballisnocloserthan8meterstothegoalcircle.WhilecardsareadministeredatU11andtheplayerwillserveaspecifictimepenalty,theteamdoesNOTplayshort,nonethelessthecardedplayermustberemovedfromtheplayingfieldforthedurationofthepenalty.

CARDS:Aplayerwillserve2minutesforayellowcardandservethedurationofthegameforaredcard.Yellowandredcardsarenon-releasable.

Thepenaltyforallmajorandminorfoulsisanindirectfreeposition.Allfreepositonsawardscreateindirectfreepositionsituations.Sinceallpassingrulesmustalsobeobserved,evenifateamhassuccessfullycompleteditsrequiredpassing,apassisrequiredpriortoashotintheeventoftheindirectfreeposition.Innoeventshallthetwo-passrulebewaived.

7.2 MINORFOULS 7.2.1FieldPreparationIfthehometeamdoesnothavethefieldreadybythescheduledgametime,thehometeamshallbeassessedadelayofgamecardandtheopposingteamshallbeginthegamewithafreepositionatcentermidfield.

7.7.2CONTESTEDGROUNDBALLSDuringacontestedgroundball,playersarenotpermittedtocovertheballwiththeirstickorbodyunderanycircumstances.

7.7.33SECONDSCLOSELYGUARDED(OFFENSE)

Playerwiththeballmaynotholdtheballformorethan3secondswhen:a)closelyguardedb)thedefensehasbothhandsontheirstickandc)thedefenseisinapositiontolegallycheckifcheckingwereallowed.

7.7.4GOALKEEPERFOULSThegoalkeepermustnot:

7.2.4.1 Allowtheballtoremaininthegoalcirclelongerthan10seconds.7.2.4.2 Stepbackintothegoalcirclewhenshehaspossessionoftheball.

7.3MAJORFOULS7.3.1RESTRAININGLINEVIOLATIONRestraininglinesarenotintroducedatthisagelevel.

7.3.23SECONDSINTHEARC(DEFENSE)

Defenderscannotremaininsidethe8meterarcunlessmarkinganopponentwithinastick’slength.Morethanoneplayercanbemarkingtheballcarrierinthearc.However,morethanonedefendercanmarktheballcarrierinthe8meteraslongastheyarewithinastick’slength.

7.3.3SHOOTINGSPACEDefenderscannotobstructthefreespacetogoalunlessmarkinganopponentorplayingtheballcarrierwithinastick’slength.

7.3.4GOALCIRCLEVIOLATIONSNoplayerotherthantheproperlyequippedgoalkeepermayenterthegoalcircleatanytime.Offensiveplayersmaynotfollowthroughintothegoalcircleonashot.

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7.4MAJORORCARDABLEFOULS7.4.1MAJORNOCONTACTIntentionalsticktobody,sticktostick,orbodytobodycontactofanytypeisNOTpermitted.Checkingisnotpermitted.Intentional,dangerousorexcessivecontactiscardable.Ifthereisillegal/incidentalcontactitwouldbeamajorfoul.DangerousContactisamandatorycard.

7.4.2CARDABLE7.4.2.1 SHOOTINGFOULS

7.4.2.1.1 Playersareresponsiblefornotshootingatotherplayers.7.4.2.1.2 Playersareresponsibleforasafefollowthroughonallshots.Thestickcannotfollow

throughintoaplayerorthegoalcircle.7.4.2.1.3 DangerousPropelandDangerousFollowThrougharemandatorycards.

7.4.3 UNSPORTSMANLIKECONDUCTPlayersareexpectedtoupholdthehighestlevelsofsportsmanshipatalltimes.Arguing,threatening,theuseofprofanelanguageorobscenegesturesbyplayersorcoachshallresultinapenalty,yellowcard,redcardand/orotherpossibleWSLAaction.