Greater Houston Youth

Lacrosse Association

Rules and Modification for the 2020 season

US Lacrosse Rules

• For the 2019 season propose using US Lacrosse rules as the baseline

and modifications at each age group as needed.

• All modifications will be approved, and published, by the GHYLA

Board as soon as possible and prior the start of the 2019 season.

• The following modification proposals are based on the 2019 US

Lacrosse rules. (https://www.uslacrosse.org/rules/boys‐rules)

2019 US Lacrosse Rule Changes

The points of emphasis for 2019 include:

• Sportsmanship: Players, coaches and spectators should exhibit the highest levels

of sportsmanship at all times. Violations of rules involving conduct or

sportsmanship can result in time‐serving penalties for violators. Communication

with, and by officials, should be in a calm, professional and business‐like manner.

• Targeting: The creating of a “targeting” penalty aims to identify and remove the most dangerous body checks in the game with harsh penalties. The creating ofnew language should result in an easier identification of those fouls and a decrease in the number of dangerous checks.

• Legal contact when holding the crosse: Holding with the portion of the crosse

between a player’s hands, known as crosse check holding, has been a gray area

for many years. By legalizing this form of contact, and setting strict guidelines for

how this can be applied, should result in greater clarity within the rules of the

game.

2019 US Lacrosse Rule Changes

• Targeting. The creation of a new penalty for body checks that “target” a player. Targeting body checks are those in which a player

takes aims with the intent to make violent contact to a player in a defenseless position, or aims his check towards the head or neck

area. Penalties which fit this description will result in a 3‐minute non‐releasable penalty and ejection from the game. [GHYLA approved this rule at all levels]

• Crosse check holding. A change to what constitutes a legal hold with the crosse, commonly known as “crosse check holding” by

the defender. Under the new rule, holding with the portion of the crosse which is between your hands is now legal as long as your

hands are no more than shoulder width apart and the pressure being applied by the defender is equal pressure to the pressure

from the offensive player. [GHYLA approved this rule at all levels]

• Warding. A clarification was issued to the warding off rule for offensive players. It is illegal for the offensive player, with two hands

on the crosse, to push their opponent with their crosse to create separation. However, it is legal for a player with the ball and two

hands on their crosse to contact the crosse of their opponent using their arm. [GHYLA approved this rule at all levels]

• Small‐sided faceoff release. Language was updated for players releasing on a faceoff when using a small‐sided game format. Under

the new language, all players can release from their positions on the sound of the whistle and all players must play the ball until

possession is gained on the faceoff. Failure to play the ball on a faceoff can result in a penalty. [GHYLA will utilize a 15 yard

restraining line for 3/4 in place of this new rule – see 3/4 rule modification 4.4]

• Goalkeeper awarded nonreleaseable

penalties. Each coach is required to name a defender at the start of the game who will serve penalties for teams that dress

only one goalkeeper for a game in the event the goalkeeper is charged with a penalty. [See rule modification 2.1 (Does not apply to 2U as they do not use goalies)]

2U

2U – based on stated 2019 USL rules for 8U boys (pages 8 – 21 of the rulebook)

• 1.2: Field Measurements

• Modification – Fields will be 60 yards in length x 40 yards in width.

• 1.7: Goalkeeper Crosse

• Modification – Not applicable, see rule modification 2.1

• 1.9: Personal Equipment

• Modification – (B) Goalkeeper Equipment = Not applicable, see rule modification 2.1

• 2.1: Number of Players

• Modification – 5 v 5 with no goalies

• 2.5: Officials

• Modification – no officials

• 4.1: Coin Toss

• Modification – coin toss winner will determine first alternating possession or choice of goal, see 4.3 below

• 4.3 Facing Off

• Modification – start the game and 2nd half with a faceoff; all other times follow rule 4.22

• 4.4 Positioning of Players and Starting Play

• Modification – disregard rule 4.4, see proposed rule 4.3 above

• 4.21 Substitution Procedures

• Modification – disregard rule 4.21 and do not limit substitution procedures

• 4.23 Change of Goals

• Modification – teams alternate goals at halftime

• 4.32 Scrum Situation

• Modification – Coaches on the field should give approximately 7 seconds instead of 4 seconds for players to pick up the Ball

3/4

3/4 ‐ based on stated 2019 USL rules for 10U boys (pages 22 – 35)

• 1.2: Field Measurements

• Modification – Fields will be 80 yards in length x 40 yards in width.

• 1.3: Goals

• Modification ‐ use 6x6 foot goals and with no drop nets or alterations

• 2.1: Number of Players

• Modification – play 8 v 8, two long poles (47 “ to 54 “) allowed.

• Modification – Goalkeeper penalties. Before the start of the game, the head coach

shall nominate a starting attack player to be the In‐Home and a starting defender

to be the Nominated Defender, who may serve penalties for the goalkeeper.

Goalies will not serve releasable penalties. The Nominated Defender will serve in

their place. However, if a goalkeeper earns any nonreleasable penalty, the

goalkeeper will serve for the duration of the penalty, and the penalized team will

have to replace the goalkeeper. The penalized team will be given proper time to

suit‐up and warm‐up a new goalkeeper.

• 2.3: Coaches

• Modification – use certified officials, thus coaches are restricted to roam only their

entire sideline.

• 2.5: Officials

• Modification ‐ have at least two certified officials per game

• 2.7: Timekeeper

• Modification ‐ have at least one parent/representative per team at the scorer’s

table keeping time and score

• 2.8: Score Keeper

• Modification ‐ visual score for the D1 games. No score visible for D2 games. Also

see Rule 2.7 proposed modification.

• 4.4: Positioning of Players and Starting Play

Modification – Confine two players behind a restraining line, not goal

line extended. The restraining line will be fifteen yards (in the direction of

the mid‐line) from goal line extended. Goalkeepers are confined to their

crease during a face‐off. All players are released when possession is

gained or the ball crosses a restraining line.

• 4.10: Offside

Modification – A team is considered offside when during 8 v 8 – a team

has more than five players in its offensive half of the field (between the

centerline and the end line) including players in the penalty box, or more

than six players in its defensive half of the field (between the centerline

and the end line) including players in the penalty box. Standard Offside

penalties apply.

• 4.21 Substitution Procedures

• Modification – disregard rule 4.21 and do not limit substitution

procedures

• 4.25 Timeouts

• Modification – teams will be allowed one 30 sec timeout per half

• 4.32 Scrum Situation

• Modification ‐ D1 teams/games will not be subject to rule 4.32. For

D2 teams/games Officials will give approximately 7 seconds instead

of 4 seconds for players to pick up the bal

5/6

5/6 ‐ based on stated 2019 USL rules for 12U boys (pages 36 – 51)

• 1.2: Field Measurements

• Modification ‐ Fields will sized in accordance with the stated 10 v 10 USL recommendations

• 2.1.1: Number of Players

• Modification – Use 2.1 (B). Play 10 v 10.

• Modification – Goalkeeper penalties. Before the start of the game, the head coach shall nominate a starting attack player to be the In‐Home and a starting defender to be

the Nominated Defender, who may serve penalties for the goalkeeper. Goalies will not serve releasable penalties. The Nominated Defender will serve in their place.

However, if a goalkeeper earns any nonreleasable penalty, the goalkeeper will serve for the duration of the penalty, and the penalized team will have to replace the

goalkeeper. The penalized team will be given proper time to suit‐up and warm‐up a new goalkeeper.

• 2.7: Timekeeper

• Modification ‐ at least one parent/representative per team at the scorer’s table keeping time and score.

• 2.8: Score Keeper

• Modification– visual score for the D1 teams/games. No score visible for D2 teams/games.

• 4.21 Substitution Procedures

• Modification – disregard rule 4.21 and do not limit substitution procedures

• 4.31 Scrum Situation

• Modification ‐ D1 teams/games will not be subject to rule 4.31. For D2 teams/games Officials will give approximately 7 seconds instead of 4 seconds for players to pick up the ball

7/8

7/8 ‐ based on stated 2019 USL rules for 14U boys (pages 52 – 71)

• 2.1: Number of Players

.• Modification – Goalkeeper penalties. Before the start of the game, the head coach shall nominate a starting attack player to be the In‐Home and a starting defender to be the Nominated Defender, who may serve penalties for the goalkeeper. Goalies will not serve releasable penalties. The Nominated Defender will serve in their place. However, if a goalkeeper earns any nonreleasable penalty, the goalkeeper will serve for the duration of the penalty, and the penalized team will have to replace the goalkeeper. The penalized team will be given proper time to suit‐up and warm‐up a new goalkeeper.