Rules of Play
The sport of lacrosse is similar to the sports of basketball, soccer and hockey. Anyone can play lacrosse--the big or the small. The game requires and rewards coordination and agility, not brawn. Quickness and speed are two highly prized qualities in lacrosse.
An exhilarating sport, lacrosse is fast-paced and full of action. Long sprints up and down the field with abrupt starts and stops, precision passes, and dodges are routine in men's and women's lacrosse. Lacrosse is played with a stick, the crosse, which must be mastered by the player to throw, catch, and scoop the ball.
The rules of lacrosse for boys and girls are very different and require much different types of pads equipment.
The boys wear a lot of protective gear that is required that include a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, and mouth guard. Suggested equipment include a cup, cleats (soccer, football, or lacrosse) and any athletic gear you are comfortable wearing. Despite what many people think you do not wear anything on your legs. Every player is required to have a stick that meet the approved specifications.
The girls wear eye protection and a mouth guard. Other then that, they can wear hand protection but it is not required since there is far less contact then the boys. Every girl needs a girl’s lacrosse stick which have different requirements then the boys.
1. Competition Committee Decisions
2. Rules Of Play
3. Age and Eligibility
4. Complaint Procedure
5. U9 Rules
1. Competition Committee Decisions
•Eligibility of players not falling within league parameters.
•Grievances that cannot be resolved between coaches of the member towns' leadership.
•Referee complaints that cannot be handled by the leagues' head official.
•Violations of league rules.
2. Rules of Play for U15, U13 & U11 Age Levels
1.All Age Levels: Games will be played in four (4) - (10) minute start/stop quarters for the U15, U13 and U11 age groups. Game time EXCEPTION - 15 minute running time quarters could be an option, however ONLY IF BOTH head coaches agree before the start of the game. (MBYLL) The Home Town/Program team is encouraged to have a dedicated person as time keeper/scorekeeper for game who is stationed at midfield between both team benches.
2.All Age Levels: There will be two timeouts per half per team. (USLYC)
3.All Age Levels: Overtime will be played upon unanimous agreement of both coaches & referee, and will only be played as one (4) minute sudden-death period. (MBYLL)
4.All Age Levels: All helmets must be NOCSAE approved lacrosse helmets. Any offending helmet must be removed from play, and the referee has the final say on all helmets. (MBYLL/USLYC)
5.All Age Levels: If any team gains a FIVE-goal lead; the trailing team MUST receive the ball at midfield without a face off. Face offs resume when the margin returns to four goals or less. (MBYLL)
6.All Age Levels: If a team acquires a ten goal advantage in the second half of a game, the coaches and referee will meet, in the spirit of the MBYLL, to discuss adjustments to play. (MBYLL)
7.All Age Levels: Poke checks will be permitted with proper intent of contact of opposing stick and/or gloves. (USLYC)
8.All Age Levels: The home team will confirm a MBYLL certified referee has been scheduled for all MBYLL games. If a scheduled referee fails to show, the coaches will both agree on how to proceed or game will be rescheduled if possible. Coaches should consider the potential liability issues of proceeding to play a game without a MBYLL certified official. Towns are also encouraged to enlist parents or high-school age students to become certified as a MBYLL Associate Official (AO) by attending a pre-season MBYLL AO Certification Clinic.
9.All Age Levels: NO take out checks at any age level. Example: Any hit with or without possession that has the intent--in the Ref Officials opinion--of injuring or putting the opponent on the ground. (USLYC) On 1st offense player will be called for an unsportsmanlike personal foul with an automatic unreleasable 1, 2 or 3 minutes time-serving penalty (Ref Officials descretion). If same player is called for a 2nd offense, player is automatically ejected from game and will stay on the sideline for the remainder of the game. (MBYLL rule)
10.All Age Levels: Uniforms must conform to NCAA standard jerseys with 6" numbers in front and 8" numbers in back. Programs with existing non-compliant jerseys should make the necessary changes at the next possible opportunity.
11.All Age Levels: All other rules & guidelines not otherwise noted here, will be played according to USLYC rules as listed in the National Federation of State High School Associates Rule Book.
12.U15 Age Level specifically:
13.U15 only: Two (2) Referee Officials will be assigned to officiate all MBYLL U15 games. It is recommended that one of the two Ref's come from the MBYLL Associate Official's program, however if an AO is not available then two (2) MBYLL EMLOA Referee's can be assigned. EXCEPTION: if only one MBYLL EMOLA Referee shows up or if no MBYLL AO is available, coaches can agree to play game with only one MBYLL EMLOA Referee. (MBYLL rule)
14.U15 only: The 2-minute stalling rule will only apply to U15 teams. Exception: The 2 minute rule will be used in the fourth quarter for the U15 age group. The offensive team in possession must keep the ball in the offensive box during the last two minutes of the game if they are ahead of the opponent. (MBYLL & USYLC rule)
15.U15 only: U15 teams will apply the 20 second count to clear the ball over the half field line and will apply the 10 second count to keep the ball in the offensive box. This rule would be suspended if one team had a 5 or more goal lead at any point in the game. It would be reinstated if the lead goes back under 5 goals. (MBYLL & USYLC rule)
16.U15 only: Up to four (4) long poles, each measuring up to 72" (including stick head & shaft), are permitted on the field at any one time.
17.U13 Age Level specifically:
18.U13 only: Three long sticks, each measuring up to 60" (including stick head & shaft), are permitted on the field at any one time during MBYLL games. (MBYLL rule)
19.U13 only: Substitutions are allowed on all out of bounds (sideline/ end line) for the all U13 games. (MBYLL)
20.U11 Age Level specifically:
21.U11 only: NO body checking at the U11age level per the US Lacrosse Youth Council Rules for U11 play. U11 players are expected to play the ball and NOT the man when the ball is loose. When defending a player in possession with the ball, the U11 & U9 defender should use no more than equal pressure to prevent progress. (USLYC rule)
22.U11 only: One coach from each team is allowed and encouraged to be on the field at all times during U11 (& U9) games. The purpose is to enable coaches to provide positive instruction to their players without having to yell from the sidelines. (MBYLL rule)
23.U11 only: Substitutions will be allowed on all out of bounds (sideline/ end line) for the all U11 games. (MBYLL rule)
24.U11 only: Long sticks are NOT permitted at U11 or U9. (MBYLL rule)
3. Age and Eligibility (for Spring Season)
Teams will be based on grade level, providing that current age eligibility requirements are met.
•Grade levels are defined as follows:
U 15 8th and 7th grades
U 13 6th and 5th grades
U 11 4th and 3rd grades
•Waivers for age eligible players to play down can be requested following MBYLL's waiver process.
U11 - Player is Under 11 years of age as of January 1st prior to start of season
U13 - Player is Under 13 years of age as of January 1st prior to start of season
Waiver required if age eligibility is not met
U15 Player is Under 15 years of age as of January 1st prior to start of season
Waiver Requirements:
I) Must be age eligible.
II) Must have NO high school program at town or school they attend.
III) Any 9th grader who meets all the above requirements MUST apply for a waiver to be eligible to play. Waivers for 9th graders are only for programs in their First, Second or Third years.
All waiver requests must include accurate details regarding date of birth, height, weight and level of experience. They must be submitted by February 1st prior to the start of the spring season to the chair of your regional competition committee.
Age Certification - All teams must submit a roster with name, grade and date of birth to the designated regional director at least one month prior to the beginning of the season.
4. Complaint Procedure
Step I:
Report to Regional Competition Committee -
A) Regional competition committee will notify competition committee chairman.
B) Regional competition committee head will contact the following week's opposing coaches and scheduled referee, asking them to observe if the action in the complaint repeats itself.
Step II:
Report received from coach & referee -
A) If no problem is detected, no further action is required.
B) If a problem is detected, the Regional Competition Committee contacts town representative to address the issue and the necessary corrections.
C) Opposing coaches & the assigned referee for the next game are again notified. If the problem is not detected, no further action is required.
D) If a problem is detected, MBYLL Competition Committee Chairman is notified.
Step III:
MBYLL Competition Committee will determine necessary sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion from the league or a team.
5. U9 Rules
1.Adopt U-9 (1st and 2nd grade players, no 3rd graders are allowed at U-9, all 3rd graders must be placed at the U-11 age group) into MBYLL
2.Each Region votes individually to play either in a 10 v. 10 traditional format or 8 v. 8 (2 Attack, 3 Midfielders, 2 Defensemen, 1 Goalie) set up.
3.Field Size would be for 10 v. 10 a regulation size lacrosse field.
4.Field Size for 8 v. 8 would use the approximate dimensions of 60 yards long by 35 yards wide (Diagram Attached on how to turn a full field into a short sided field.
5.Equipment: All players would conform to current MBYLL lacrosse equipment rules requirements (i.e. No Hockey Helmets)
6.All rules used by U-11 will be followed with the following exceptions/additions
a.No downward stick checks are allowed, Only Poke Checks and Lifts are acceptable stick checks
b.A team must make two attempted passes (they do not need to be completed) in the offensive side of the field prior to being able to shoot.
c.If two pass attempts have occurred in the offensive end and the defensive team gains procession of the ball but does not successfully clear the ball before losing procession, the original offensive team does NOT have to attempt any additional passes prior to shooting.
d.Regardless of meeting the shooting criteria, AFTER every whistle, at least 1 pass must be attempted prior to shooting (example: Team A attempts their two passes in the offensive end and then takes a shot. Team A backed up the shot for procession. Even though they have attempted their two passes, they still need another pass attempt prior to shooting.)
e.Teams can have up to 2 coaches on the field (4 total between the two teams) with the players. If there are two coaches, one must stay on the offensive end and one on the defensive end.
f.No time-served penalties. No fast breaks on penalties. Penalties will be explained to all players by the referee during a stoppage and then a change of possession will occur. If a player is deemed to be “out of control,” it will be up to the referee and coaches to sit him down until he can continue in the game. If an incident occurs with the same player after he has been sat down once, he will be removed from the game.
g. Games will consist of two 25 minute running time halves.
h.There will be a 6 game schedule for the U-9 level with their first game scheduled for week 3 of the MBYLL schedule.
i.EACH PROGRAM WHO ENTERS A TEAM INTO U-9 MUST HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL AGED OR OLDER INDIVIDUAL BECOME AN ASSOCIATE REFEREE THROUGH THE ASSOCIATE REFEREE PROGRAM OFFERED THROUGH THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS LACROSSE OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION AND MBYLL.
