Per MBYLL that our town teams play in: MBYLL ORG
Rules of Play for U15, U13 & U11 Age Levels
- 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 expected to have a dedicated person as time keeper/scorekeeper/bench official for game who is stationed at midfield between both team benches.
- All Age Levels: There will be two timeouts per half per team. (USLYC)
- 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)
- All Age Levels: All helmets AND balls must be NOCSAE approved & stamped. Any offending helmet OR ball must be removed from play, and the referee has the final say on all helmets. (MBYLL/USLYC)
- All Age Levels: If any team gains a 6+ goal lead; the trailing team MUST receive the ball at midfield without a face off (unless waived by trailing team). Face offs resume when the margin returns to five goals or less. (MBYLL)
- All Age Levels: If any team gains a 12+goal lead, then the Game clock goes to running time and the Coach of lead team should make discrete adjustments (i.e. STRONGLY encourage his players to use their off hand, 3-passes before any shot, play new position, etc. Always Honor the Game. (MBYLL)
- All Age Levels: The home team will confirm a EMLOA USL 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 certified official. Towns are also encouraged to enlist parents or high-school age students to become certified as a certified Associate Official (AO) by attending a pre-season MBYLL EMLOA AO Certification Clinic.
- 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 first offense player will be called for an unsportsmanlike personal foul with an automatic non-releasable 2 or 3 minutes time-serving penalty (Ref Officials discretion). 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)
- All Age Levels: All other rules & guidelines not otherwise noted here, will be played according to USLacrosse Youth Rules and the National Federation of High School Boys Rule Book.
U15 Age Level specifically:
- U15: 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) EMLOA Referee's can be assigned. EXCEPTION: if only one EMLOA Referee shows up or if no AO is available, coaches can agree to play game with only one EMLOA Referee. (MBYLL rule)
- U15: 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)
- U15: 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 get the ball in to the offensive box. This rule would be suspended if one team any team has a 6 or more goal lead at any point in the game. It would be reinstated if the lead goes back under 6 goals. (MBYLL & USYLC rule)
- 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.
- U15: substitutions are allowed on all sideline out of bounds (sideline only) for the all U15 games. (MBYLL)
U13 Age Level specifically:
- U13 only: Four 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)
- U13 teams will apply the 20 second count to clear the ball over the half field line and will apply the 10 second count to get the ball in to the offensive box. This rule would be suspended if one team any team has a 6 or more goal lead at any point in the game. It would be reinstated if the lead goes back under 6 goals. (MBYLL & USYLC rule)
- U13 only: Substitutions are allowed on all sideline out of bounds (sideline only) for the all U13 games. (MBYLL)
U11 Age Level specifically:
- U11 only: NO body checking at the U11 age 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)
- U11 only: One coach from each team is allowed and encouraged to be on the field at all times during U11 (& U9) games as long as they remain within 5 yards of the side or end lines at all times. The purpose is to enable coaches to provide positive instruction to their players without having to yell from the sidelines--OR when they are on the field. (MBYLL rule)
- U11 only: Substitutions will be allowed on all out of bounds (sideline/ end line) for the all U11 games. (MBYLL rule)
- U11 only: Long sticks are NOT permitted at U11 or U9. (MBYLL rule)
- U11: Games are 8v8 players. Teams are expected to play with 2 Attack, 3 Middies, 2 Defense and a Goalie.
- U11 only: one pass rule:
- A team must make one attempted pass (they do not need to be complete) in the offensive side of the field prior to being able to shoot. (West Central Region it is one completed pass).
- This includes a face off man winning the draw, he must make one pass attempt.
- This also includes a player awarded possession at the face off X after a penalty or a goal, or when using the fast break rule.
- On any restart of game in offensive end after a whistle or timeout.
- If one pass attempt has occurred in the offensive end and the defensive team gains possession of the ball but does not successfully clear the ball before losing possession, the original offensive team does NOT have to attempt any additional passes prior to shooting.
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
- U 9 2nd and 1st grades
US Lacrosse establishes eligibility guidelines in order to promote the game of lacrosse among the youth of America in a safe and sportsmanlike environment. To best achieve this goal, US Lacrosse believes that leagues, associations, and other organizers of youth lacrosse should seek to provide playing opportunities that, as much as possible, establish a "level playing field" among players of similar age, size, and ability.
Age and Eligibility Guidelines are not considered “game-day rules” and are not enforced as game-day rules by officials. Exceptions to age divisions cannot be made on game day and all coaches must adhere to classifications as determined by their league or association.
Leagues and associations should organize competition by age, and consider physical, cognitive, and emotional maturity when grouping players. Teams organized by grouping two years/grades together should strive to limit the maximum age difference between players in a youth game to no more than twenty-four (24) months.
Players who are participating in any high-school level program such as a high school freshman, JV-B, junior varsity, varsity or club team are not eligible for U15 competition in the same season. This means that a player who is age-eligible for U15 but plays on a high school level team should not concurrently play on a youth league U15 team.
