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Leagues

Lacrosse leagues are exceptional platforms to have fun, demonstrate skills, develop friendships, learn team-based concepts, and explore the meaning and context of safe and productive competition. FLYLax leagues are designed to offer a convenient, local experience for youth athletes interested in advancing their skills, knowledge and athleticism in an organized competition-based league format. 

FLYLax- The Game, Space and Equipment

FLYLax is a small-sided game concept that was initially developed as part of a pilot project to identify and determine the optimal training environment for competition-based activities. FLYLax was designed to specifically improve the athleticism, skill and IQ of its participants regardless of age level (youth, adolescent, high school, college, adult), gender (Boy’s, Girl’s) and/or competency (beginner, intermediate advanced, professional).

Using a standard lacrosse field, the game is played within the fields boundaries in a variety of configurations based on age, stage, and skill development preferences and priorities.

FLYLax is primarily a passing game, so movement on- and off-ball is emphasized. Box-style principles are strongly encouraged. Specific skills such as passing/catching; rapid ball movement; two-man games; communication; and faking are considered requisite. Dodging and single-player ball dominance is reduced by rule. 

The up-tempo style of play builds lacrosse game physical conditioning, speed, mobility, agility and strength. Competition is a featured aspect of FLYLax, but emphasis is on proper performance rather than win-at-all-costs philosophies. There are no championship brackets in publicly-held events. 

The fast-paced, short-duration game time does not require referees to officiate as players apply the rules, self-regulate, and productively resolve disputes, using fairness, character, honesty and integrity to settle all matters.

FLYLax is a non-contact activity designed to promote the principles of the sport in a safe and fun manner. The safety of all players is our priority. Rough, dangerous or out-of-control play not only disrupts the flow of play and interferes with learning, but also places players at significant risk for injury. 

All players are responsible for their behavior and equipment and will attest to their accountability to meet all required and allowable rules, guidelines, standards, and principles.

USA Lacrosse encourages all participants to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner before, during, and immediately following each contest. Calm, patient and productive dialogue is expected at all times between players, parents and tournament officials.

We believe that the participation ethos should be built on a foundation of values, and that these values can be used to support the athlete as reflective learner and promote quality teaching, training and instruction. These are some of the values we promote and embrace:

Respect

Responsibility

Honesty

Humility

Trust

Friendship

Love

Courage

Tolerance

Thoughtfulness

Empathy

Cooperation

Positivity

Unity

Peace

                            

FAIR PLAY RULES AND PRINCIPLES

This game is a gender-neutral version of lacrosse and is intended to be fun and simple. If players adhere to the below 10 laws, play will be safe and enjoyable. In some cases a player may intentionally or unintentionally violate a law and foul another player. Below are the laws all players are expected to abide by and what the penalty is if they are violated.

  1. No stick to stick, body to body, or body to stick contact
  2. Maintain control of your body at all times
  3. No covering the ball with your stick or body
  4. Other than using your foot, no intentionally playing the ball off the body
  5. No entering the crease with your body (except to get the ball out of the goal after a shot is scored)
  6. No defending goal by standing in the 5 yard space in front of the goal (except when playing a stick’s length away from an attacking opponent)
  7. No dangerous propelling (passing or shooting through someone, or passing or shooting without looking first; it is the responsibility of the person with the ball to make a safe pass or shot)
  8. No dangerous follow through with the stick (following your pass or shot)
  9. Respect your teammates and opponents at all times—use good sportsmanship
  10. Take care of the equipment and the space

The Game

  • 8U – The objective of each team is to score by causing the ball to enter the opponent’s goal and to prevent the other team from possessing the ball and scoring. The ball is kept in play by being carried cradled, thrown and caught, rolled or batted with the crosse. The ball can also be kicked in any direction as long as the player kicking the ball has a crosse in his/her hands.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

General Field Layout

  • 8U - Using a standard men’s/boy’s lacrosse field, the game is played within the boundaries of the restraining box. To get started the minimum layout needed is end-lines, sidelines, a center line and two goals. 
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Space Behind the Goal

  • 8U - You can have anywhere from 7-10 yards behind the goal where space is permitted. If there is no space for play behind the goal, you can set boundaries like soccer or field hockey where the goal line is out of bounds.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Crease/Goal Circle

  • 8U - The recommended crease/goal circle size around the goal is 9 feet in diameter, however this can be adjusted based on size of goal and space available. If there is no room behind the goal, a half circle starting and ending on the goal line can be used. Flat cones may be used instead of painted lines if necessary to define the crease. The game may be played without a crease, however this makes scoring not as challenging. These guide lines assume use of some size crease.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

The Ball

  • 8U - A STX PE soft-lacrosse ball (used with a soft-lacrosse PE stick), soft STX pink/orange (aka “Pinkie”) ball or tennis ball will be used in games given players do not wear safety equipment.  Do not use standard lacrosse balls.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8I

The Lacrosse Stick

  • 8U - All players will use a lacrosse stick based on preference—men’s, women’s, adult or youth sized, fiddle stick, and PE soft stick are all permitted. However, no long poles or goalie sticks are allowed. Note that the PE soft stick is the only stick in which the orange PE lacrosse ball will fit.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Player Equipment

  • 8U - Players are required to wear closed toed athletic shoes. No other protective equipment is needed given the use of the PE lacrosse ball, Pinkie lacrosse ball, or tennis ball. A mouthguard may be worn if a player desires. Ideally players should have a jersey, pinney or shirt color similar to their teammates’ but this should not preclude the ability for the game to occur unless in the context of championship-style or tournament play where this distinction is critical for officials to make proper calls. The color should be a color that contrasts their opponent.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Number of Players

  • 8U - No more than 6v6 on the field at a time. It is recommended to have no more than 4 players as substitutes to maximize playing time. There is flexibility to adjust the number of players based on the size of the space or the number of players available for game play. 5v5 and 4v4 work just as well, but play may be more strenuous with fewer players on a basic small-sided field. If using a basketball or tennis court, 3v3 is recommended with 1-2 substitutes. All players are considered field players and there will be no goalie position played. A trashcan or similar object can be placed in the center of the goal to act as the “goalie”. If playing with a mixed gender team, consider having a balanced number of boys and girls on the field at one time.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Out of Bounds and Ball Possession

  • 8U - Play shall be stopped immediately when the ball goes out of bounds, touches the line, or touches something that is out of bounds; the ball goes to the opposite team. Play restarts closest to the location where the ball went out of bounds and the player will self-start once inbounds and are stationary for at least one second.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Goal Scored

  • 8U - Goals count when a ball passes completely over the goal line and into the goal. A ball can be kicked, propelled, or shot as long as a player has both hands on their crosse. If a crease is used, the player cannot cross into the crease on a shot.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Restarts After a Goal

  • 8U - To restart play after a goal, a player from the defending team must take the ball out of the goal, put it in their crosse, and either pass or run it out of the crease to resume play.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Substitutions

  • 8U - Substitutions on the fly are permitted by players touching sticks. Exceptions are for injury substitutions or when a team does not have enough players on the field when play is ongoing.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Points of Clarification

Stick Checking

Stick Checking is NOT permitted. Incidental stick contact may occur and should not result in a penalty. Incidental contact may occur while the ball is on the ground and players are attempting to pick up the ball.

Defending

Players defending the ball carrier should be a stick length away from the ball carrier and the defender’s stick should not be used in a menacing or dangerous way near the ball carrier’s body. The stick shall not enter the space around the ball carrier’s neck or head. Imagine a bubble an arms-length wide around each player’s head. This is the space that a stick may not enter.

Illegal Touching

Touching the ball with a hand not wrapped around the crosse is a violation of Law 1. Kicking a crosse is not allowable.

Warding

A player in possession of the ball shall not use their free hand or arm to hold, push, or control the direction of the movement of the crosse or body of the player.

Body Contact

Body to body contact is NOT permitted. Incidental contact may occur and should not result in a penalty if the contact is very minor. Defensive players may occupy a space to prevent an offensive player from entering. Any offensive player who deliberately charges directly at a defensive player and makes contact will receive a penalty. This is considered a violation see below).

Illegal Pick/Screen

No offensive player, while in motion, shall move into and make contact with a defensive player. The player setting the screen must be stationary to be legal.

Witholding

A player shall not lie on the ball, trap it with their crosse longer than is necessary for them to control the ball and pick it up with one continuous motion, or withhold the ball from play in any other manner

Penalties

The penalty for violating any of the Laws is the ball is awarded to the offended team (Change of Possession). The player awarded the ball may pass or start running/cradling (self-start). All other players should move five stick lengths away from the player in possession of the ball, however the player with the ball does not need to wait for this to occur. If a player repeatedly violates the laws, particularly Laws 1 and 2, or it is deemed he or she is putting other players in danger, the player should be removed for a one minute penalty. Another player may be substituted.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

  • 8U - Any unsportsmanlike behavior such as vulgar language, conduct issues, arguing, and/or obscene gestures or abuse of equipment or the space in violation of Law 9 and 10 should result in a one-minute suspension from the game and awarding possession of the ball to the offended team. While the player is suspended from the game, another player may substitute in the person’s place.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Violation on a Shot

  • 8U - If a foul occurs on a shot that goes in the goal, the goal counts. Play will resume as normal with the defending team taking the ball out of the goal to continue play. If the violation occurs on a shot that does not go in the goal, play will stop temporarily so that the player fouled can regain possession and should restart at least 10 yards away from the goal (self- start).
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Officials

  • 8U - does not require referees to officiate as players apply the rules, self-regulate, and productively resolve disputes, using fairness, character, honesty and integrity to settle all matters. Officials are optional for this version of play. If there are no officials used, players will call their own foul and are on the honor system. In the event of a dispute that cannot be determined a stick spin, similar to a racquet spin in tennis can be used.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Length of the Game

  • 8U - A game should usually consist of (2) 10-minute running time halves, with a 5-minute halftime period. If there is an injury during play, time will only stop if the injured player needs assistance from medical professionals to exit the area of play (i.e. paramedics or athletic trainer). Length of the game can be adjusted if both teams agree.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Timeouts

  • 8U - Each team may have 1 timeout per game. Each timeout is 30 seconds and will not stop the game clock. If a player is injured, neither team will be charged with a timeout.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Overtime

  • 8U - Determine before the game if overtime will be played in the event of a tie. If overtime is agreed upon, and the game is tied at the end of regulation, there will be one 2-minute period of sudden victory overtime. See below on how to start overtime. The game is over after the first goal is scored during this time or after the 2 minutes has expired. In the event of no goal at the end of overtime, the game will end in a tie. In situations where a game cannot end in a tie (tournament, playoff situation etc) up to 3 sudden victory overtime periods of 2 minutes each may be played. If there is still a tie, teams can spin a stick or can play best of 3 in “Rock, Paper, Scissors” to determine a winner. This should be determined ahead of time.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Starting the Game and Overtime

  • 8U - Team captains or a chosen representative for each team will participate in a stick spin, similar to a racquet spin in tennis. Have a representative from one team choose ‘up’ or ‘down’. Spin the stick on the handle and let it fall to the ground. If it lands face up, the team assigned’ up’ gains the advantage and vice versa. The team that wins gets the first possession of a ball at the middle of the area of play (equidistant from each goal). The team captain that loses the round picks which side they will defend first.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U

Change of Goals

  • 8U - Teams will change goals between periods. After halftime, each team will defend the other side of the area of play—thereby scoring on a different goal in the second half of the game. In overtime situations, teams will change goals after each overtime period.
  • 10U – Same as 8U
  • 12U – Same as 8U
  • 14U – Same as 8U