GAME & PLAY:

For 7th/8th, US Lacrosse Youth A Rules will apply with certain specifications and modifications.  Note: Summer Season will include girls just completing 7th & 8th grades.

• Modified Checking ONLY (checking allowed below the shoulder, in a downward and outward motion)
   
• Regulation Stick Pocket
   
• US Lax approved goggles and mouth guards to be worn at all times.  The mouth piece must fully cover the upper jaw teeth and must be of a visible color (not clear or white).
   
• No jewelry.
   
• Home team to pay for umpires.  All teams are encouraged to send older students and adults to umpire training.  MLUA will schedule umpires. Umpires must be members of US Lax. 

• Home teams are responsible for providing scorer, score board, scorer's table, timer, time clock, and substituion markings (area in front of scorer's table) a medical kit, umpire shirts/whistles/cards(if official umpires are unavailable), and numbered pinnies if applicable. Teams should expect to play approximately 1/2 of games at home.
   
• If a team does not have a home field, games may be played as "home" on an apponent's home field and visiting "home" team will be responsible for providing/paying for umpires and providing the above items.
   
• 4 & 8 Rule to apply: If the winning team is ahead by 4 or more points, the losing team will get the ball on the draw.  If the winning team is ahead by 8 or more points, the losing team will get the ball on the draw PLUS the winning team must complete 3 consecutive passes before shooting on goal.(Violation of this is a minor foul: Other team gets the ball at the site of the shot on goal and any goal would not count.)
   
• Coaches, please familiarize yourselves and your players with the 3 second rule. Umpires should blow the whistle upon the count of 3 for girls who cradle the ball in one posistion while be defended.
   
• Any player who receives 2 yellow cards shall sit out the rest of the game. Coaches/Refs should report any red cards (player name & jersey number) within 24 hours to:    Coaches are subject to the same red card and yellow card calls and penalties (see US Lax Women's rules).  Coaches can receive red cards as a result of unruly fans. Note: Effective 2009 a team will play short from the first red card issued (3 minutes) and the carded person is ejected and cannot participate in the following game. 
   
• Games will be 2 - 25 minute halves, stopping only in last 2 minutes.  Each team is entitled to 2 - 2 minute time-outs per half.  5 minute half-time or as specified by umpire.  NO overtime; ties are counted as ties. Spring Season games will be played in late afternoon and evenings on weekdays and on Saturdays. Summer Season games will be played Mon-Thu in the evenings only.
   
• All players must be members of US Lacrosse or members of fully school sponsored teams, for insurance purposes.
   
• Players may not play down to this division (no high school players and no younger players who play on high school teams-younger players who play on high school teams in the spring may play 7/8 in the summer season.). For Spring, up to three 6th grade players may play up if the coach determines that they can safely compete at the 7/8 level. Teams may request permission from the board to roster more than 3 6th grade players. Summer teams must contact MSSLax to request exceptions to the 3-6th grade players playing up.  Summer team grades will be the grade the student has just completed.
   
• Up to 3 non-team players may be substituted by a team short of players.  Substitute players must meet all the above criteria, and only be used if the short team has 16 or fewer players. In addition, 7th & 8th graders who play at the high school level shall not be substituted in.
   
• Games may be played with fewer than 11X11 players (plus goalie) upon mutual agreement of coaches. Otherwise, a team short of players will forfeit.

• If a team needs to reschedule, the coach must contact the opposing coach 48 hours or more in advance, to reschedule at a mutually agreeable time and place. The coach must notify umpires of rescheduled game. Exception to the 48 hour rule shall be made for weather related cancellations and some emergencies. If officials are not notified of a game change and arrive at the field, they are entitled to payment. If a game is called for weather and the umpires are on the field, umpires should be paid.
   
• Re-scheduled game information should be reported to Alex Christianson via email.  
   
• Games scores should be reported by both coaches within 24 hours to Sharon Hawkins.    

• Teams are asked to accommodate smaller than regulation field sizes, if regulation fields are not available, in order to develop the sport for the middle school girls.  However, fields deemed unsafe for play by either the opposing coach or official umpire shall play less than 11x11(+goalie), by mutual agreement, or the home team must forfeit.
   
• Other US Lacrosse youth A rules apply as per rule book.
   
• Team Fee for Spring Season: $175
• Team Fee for Summer Season: $175
• Separate Play Day fee for each season: $175