CONNY Girls’ Division Chairs:

Amy Alvord, Westport, amyalvord13@gmail.com

Amanda Gerich, Stamford, agerich44@gmail.com

Jamie Czajkowski, West Hartford, laxcoachjamie@gmail.com

The following, very useful, documents are available for coaches, players and parents. Please go to the link, download the PDF version of the Girls’ rules and save them:

2017 USL Official Rules for Girl’s Lacrosse

2017 USL Official Rules for Women’s’ Lacrosse  (Hyperlink will be added when available)

Unless modified below, CONNY Girls’ Youth games are to be conducted in accordance with all US Lacrosse Rules. Red items are points of emphasis or and Green are a deviation from the USL.

USL Official Rules for Girls Youth Lacrosse

The purpose of the Official Girls Youth rules is to familiarize young players with the sport of women’s lacrosse by introducing them to the terms, the field, the playing positions, the concept of teamwork and the skills required to play the game safely and fairly.

Part of the philosophy of the girls game is that intentional body to body or stick to body contact is not permitted.  Some incidental contact will occur but coaches, players and officials are required to promote fair and safe play and react to dangerous play involving intentional contact or force by players.

The girls’ youth rules are divided by developmental levels and shall be organized by age: 14U, 12U, and 10U as of August 31 in the year preceding competition. Players may not play below their designated age group.

Equipment Requirements for all CONNY Youth Girls’ Divisions

Required Goalie Equipment for all CONNY age groups

• Helmet with face mask and properly secured chinstrap
• Separate throat protector,
• Padded gloves
• Mouthpiece, can have a tab or be attached to helmet with cord
• Chest protector
• Pelvic protection (accidently left out of 2017 US Lacrosse rulebook)
• Padding on the shins and thighs

NOCSAE certified balls are required for 10U, 12U and 14U

NO JEWELRY of any kind is to be worn, NO TAPE WILL BE ALLOWED

Optional Headgear Parameters for CONNY Field Players:

• The use of headgear is optional in girls' and women's lacrosse.
• Any headgear used after January 1, 2017 must meet the ASTM standard, F3137.
• The ASTM standard, F3137, is a performance standard, not a design standard.
• Product designs will likely vary from one manufacturer to another.
• Products must provide full coverage of the head.
• Products must be worn with required ASTM women’s lacrosse eyewear.
• There must be marking on both the packaging and product that states that the headgear conforms to ASTM standard F3137.

10U LIGHTNING DIVISION GIRLS’ GAME FORMAT SUMMARY AND EQUIPMENT

• 8v8 includes goalies (1 GK, 3 midfielders, 2 attackers, 2 defense)
• 60-70 yds apart, 35-45 yard wide (cross field), goals 40-50 yards apart, adjustable for local conditions
• 9’ radius goal crease, 6’x6’ goals (4’x4’ and 6’x4’ goals optional)
• If team does not have a goalie, other team plays without a goalie also. 
• Traditional stick and balls, either modified (recommended) or regulation pocket.  Sticks may be shortened for smaller players
• 1 Adult official or 2 junior officials are required
• Score will be kept
• Time factors:
  • 25 minute halves with running time, 5 minute half-time,
  • Two 2 minute timeouts per game, 1 per half.
  • No overtime in a Lightning Division game.
  • End of halves: If there is a direct 8m shot set up and time expires, the play will NOT take place, regardless if the game is a tie.
  • Home team keeps time and official book.

ELIGIBILITY: Students in the Third or Fourth Grade. CONNY strongly recommends single-grade teams, but if a member program needs to group two grades together, it should strive at scheduling to limit the maximum age difference between players in any Lightning game to no more than twenty-four (24) months.

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION AT LOCAL PROGRAM’S DISCRETION:
 

Age 10 or Under on the September 1st of the year preceding the start of the CONNY season (e.g., born 9/1/2006 or later for 4^th Graders during the 2017 season; 9/1/2007 for 3^rd Graders).

The competition playing rules for 10U encourage multiple opportunities for each athlete to “touch” the ball, work with teammates, develop general physical literacy and a progressive development of existing technical skills. With respect to the competition at this level, coaches, parents, and officials should emphasize:

• FUN - Good Sportsmanship - Trying new skills in a team setting - Learning and exploring overall play of the game

The Field

The Field Measurements:  60-70 yards in length and 35-45 yards in width. The boundaries of the field shall be marked with contrasting colored lines so that boundaries are easily identifiable. All lines on the field shall be between 2 - 4 inches in width. 

NOTE: If marked/painted lines cannot be added to create a reduced field, especially one laid out across a standard artificial turf field, low profile athletic cones, disks, or other markers such as tape that do not present a safety hazard may be used.

A popular option is to play 7v7 lacrosse across a standard 110 yard by 60 yard men’s/women’s field, separated into two or three reduced size fields:

• Two reduced size fields may be bounded by the standard field end lines and sidelines, yielding two 60 by 35 yard reduced size fields. In this instance, the goals would be centered on the standard field goal area lines (making them 10 yards from the end lines).
• If a third reduced size field is inserted across the middle of the standard full sized field, it should be 60 by 30 yards, with 5-yard bench/buffer areas between it and the other two fields. Low profile athletic cones, disks, or other markers such as tape that do not present a safety hazard should be used to mark the sideline.
• Standard 9-foot radius creases should be marked at the midpoint of the standard field’s goal area lines, equidistant from the end lines. When marked/painted creases cannot be applied, use of portable creases is recommended. If portable creases are not available, low profile athletic cones, disks, or other markers such as tape that do not present a safety hazard may be used to delineate the crease.
• 8m arc or no 8m arc: Because of the changes in field size, some fields may not have a properly marked 8m arc on these reduced fields.  If this is the case, then there will be no direct shots allowed on a free position.  All free positions must be indirect, requiring one more pass before shooting.
• Sample Field: 7v7 play across a standard 110 yard by 60 yard men’s field, separated into two reduced size fields. Other configurations are permitted to accommodate local conditions.

Center Spot: An approximately a four-inch circle, square or, X shall mark the center of the field. NOTE: This may be a flat disk.

Goals: A 6x6 foot goal with securely affixed netting that will not permit the ball to pass though may be used. Smaller goals (e.g., 4’x4’) or a 2-foot drop net to reduce the height of the goal opening to 4 feet are permitted. If a drop net is used it should be constructed of a material that minimizes rebounds to protect the goalkeeper. The goal shall be centered within the goal crease.

10U LIGHTNING DIVISION RULES OVERVIEW

• At the draw, players line up in both the offensive and defensive end, tradittional line up
• Introduction of the 8 meter arc and restraining line at midfield
• After goal, draw. 
• No deputies are allowed.
• No checking and 3 seconds closely guarded applies
• Must play 1v1 defense in the midfield, if there is an 8m arc, double teaming is allowed
• Mercy rule after a lead of 4 goals is available to losing team at coach’s option
• Players are not allowed to cover the ball at any time
• 2 players must stay back behind the midfield line. A team is offside when they have more than 5 players in their offensive end or more than 6 in their defensive end including the goalie.  Players hold after draw until possession is obtained.
• Kicking of the ball is not permitted.
• Coaches are not permitted on the field of play in Lightning play.  They shall stay confined to their designated coach’s area on the sideline.

Play of the Game            

Coin Toss: A coin-toss will be used to determine first alternating possession or choice of goal to defend to start the game.

Player Line-up:  Before the start of play the official shall bring all the players on both teams in lines facing each other at the center of the field, with their left sides toward the goal they are defending, and explain any special ground rules, emphasize safety, fair play, and sportsmanship.  After the lineup, all the players other than the starters will return to their team areas.

Draw:  A draw is administered to start each period and restart play after a goal. NOTE: If a team is winning by 4 or more goals and the coach concedes, the the losing team has the optioni to take possession instead of having a draw.

• The ball is placed between the backsides of the midfield players’ sticks. The stick is placed right wall (as seen facing the pocket) down between the ball and one’s own goal. Sticks are waist level and parallel with the center line. After concluding the set-up official calls “ready”. Until the official blows the whistle to start play the midfield players taking the draw may only move heads. On the sound of the whistle midfield players taking the draw must move their sticks up and away. The ball must fly above the heads of both players, otherwise the official will set up a new draw.
• Positioning of players and starting play: Center midfielder takes the draw. On the draw, three players from each team must be placed in each 8m arc (Team 1 will have two defense and one middie in the defensive 8m, and two attackers and one middie in the offensive 8m) and must remain there until one of the center midfielders gains possession of the ball.

Minimum Number of Passes before Shot on Goal: Team must attempt at least 3 passes before taking a shot on goal with at least two over the midfield line. Incomplete passes count as pass attempts. Only one of the three pass attempts may be made behind the net. NOTE: This rule is intended to have the passes be in the natural flow of the game of lacrosse. This rule is to promote ball movement and team play. Coaches will announce pass attempts and holds up fingers to indicate how many pass attempts have been made.

The Pass attempt count will reset after the ball crosses the midfield line. To encourage the re-defend, if the offensive team in their offensive half recovers the ball, the count will not reset.

Substitutions Procedures: CONNY believes that Lightning players should play a variety of positions and NOT focus on one position exclusively. Substitutions on the fly are allowed as long as there is not a whistle. There will be NO substitutions during a dead ball whistle. Substitutions are through a box, which is defined as cones spaced 10 yards apart on the sideline between the team benches. The substituted player must stay within the cones until the player comes off the field.

Timeouts:  Teams are allowed one timeout per half.

Sphere: Players must keep stick away from opponent’s sphere or “bubble” which is an imaginary area, approximately 18 cm (seven inches) which surrounds a player's head. No sticks are allowed to break the sphere.

Shooting Safely:  Players are responsible for not shooting or following through into other field players and for not shooting hard from short distance at the goalie's head, neck or into her body. 

3 Seconds Closely Guarded (Offense): Player with the ball may not hold the ball for more than 3 seconds when

• closely guarded ie a defender stays within a stick's length
• the defense has both hands on their stick
• the defense is in a position to legally check if checking were allowed. (Minor Foul)

Note: If the player with the ball moves her stick to where the stick is not legally checkable, ie behind her body, the 3-second count ends. If the defender adjusts her position to where she can make a legal check. the stick is brought back to a checkable position or another teammate joins the defender and that second defender is in good position to check, then the count starts again. The official will give an audible and visible 3-second count. The count should follow this sequence: "One thousand - 1, One thousand - 2, One thousand - tweet." The foul is committed when the official blows the whistle or says "3.

 12U JUNIOR GIRLS’ GAME FORMAT SUMMARY AND EQUIPMENT

• 12v12 (full field) includes goalies
• Required line: Center circle, restraining & goal lines, 8M arc & 12M fan
• Regulation pocket and length stick
• Time factors:
  • 25 minute halves with running time except for stop clock on every whistle in last 2 minutes of each half, 5 minute half-time,
  • Two 2 minute timeout per game at any time in the game, either possession or deadball when in possession.
• No overtime 
• Home team keeps time and official book.

12U JUNIOR GIRLS’ RULES OVERVIEW

• At the draw players line up in both offensive and defensive end, traditional line up
• Draws after goals, Players hold after draw until possession is obtained.
• 4 goal mercy rule available to losing team at coach’s option
• Modified checking is allowed and 3 seconds closely guarded applies

14U SENIOR GIRLS’ GAME FORMAT SUMMARY AND EQUIPMENT

• 12v12 includes goalies (full field)
• Regulation stick and pocket.  No shortened sticks permitted.
• Time factors:
  • 25 minute halves with running time except for stop clock on every whistle in last 2 minutes of each half,
  • 5 minute half-time,
  • Two 2 minute timeout per game at any time in the game, either possession or deadball when in possession.
  • No overtime
  • Home team keeps time. 

14U GIRLS’ MODIFIED CHECKING RULES OVERVIEW

• All Tier 2 and 3 teams will play modified checking unless both coaches agree to play full checking and notify their schedulers and assignor so adult HS officials can be assigned
• Traditional line up for draw.  Players hold after draw until possession is obtained.
• Draw after goals
• 3 Second closely guarded applies

14U FULL CHECKING RULES

• Games between Tier 1 teams will be played under HS Full Checking Rules.  Coaches do not have the option to play under modified checking rules.
• Check to the head is a mandatory red card.  Player committing this foul is disqualified from remainder of game and ineligible to play in team’s next game.  Team plays short for 4 minutes.
• Full Checking games require 2 high school rated officials. If 2 adult refs are not available, the game will be played under modified checking rules.  No junior ref is permitted to referee a Full Checking game.
• All participants - players, coaches and officials - are covered under the USL general insurance policy provided by Bollinger Insurance.  

EYE BLACK permitted - CONNY REVISION

CONNY has not adopted the USL eye black limitations in the 2017 rules.  Players are permitted to wear eye black that is wider than 1 inch under the eye and down the check.   Players may have numbers or letters as decoration.  If CONNY teams play away at Non-CONNY sites, players should not wear eye-black since that is a minor foul under USL rules.

CONNY GIRLS UNIFORM POLICY

CONNY Member program uniforms do not need to meet the USL rule requirement for jersey panel size and color or under garments.

CONNY member programs MUST meet the USL rule requirement for numbers on both sides of the jersey. (January 2014)

Note:  If CONNY teams play outside of CONNY, particularly tournaments with full USL rules, non-conforming uniforms can be penalized as a minor foul and the opposing team will receive possession to start the game.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

ATTEMPTED PASS occurs when a player attempts to pass using the mechanics of a throwing motion in the specific direction of a teammate.

BLOCKING takes place when a player moves into the path of a player with the ball without giving that player a chance to stop or change direction causing contact. When a player is running to receive the ball, a “blind side” defense player must give her enough time and/or space to change her direction.

BODY CHECKING is a technique whereby a defender moves with an opponent without body contact occurring, following each movement of the opponent’s body and crosse with her body and causing her to slow down, change direction, or pass off.

CHARGING takes place when the player with the ball pushes into, shoulders, or backs into and makes bodily contact with her opponent, displacing from a legally established her position (though not necessarily stationary).

CHECKING is an attempt to dislodge the ball from an opponent’s crosse by using controlled crosse to crosse contact.

CHECK TO THE HEAD  Hit or cause an opponent's crosse to hit their head. Player must initiate a swing, even if small, to be charged with this foul. MANDATORY CARD If contact occurs because a player goes into a legally held stick, there is no foul.  

CLEAR is any action taken by a player within the goal circle to pass or carry the ball with her crosse out of the goal circle.

CLEAR SPACE indicates the space between players which is free of crosses or any parts of the body.

COACHING AREA is the area on the bench/table side of the field extending from the substitution area to their end line, and even with the level of the scorer’s table extended (at least 4 meters from the sideline), and does not include the area directly behind the scorer’s table.

CONTESTED GROUND BALL occurs when a loose ball shall be contested by no more than 2 players. If a third player comes into the scrum, then the whistle will be blown and the ball will be awarded via alternate possession.  Applies to 8U and 10U.

CRITICAL SCORING AREA indicates an area at the end of the field where the attacking team is shooting for goal. Its boundaries are 12 meters (13.1 yards) in front of the goal circle to the end line and 12 meters (13.1 yards) to each side of the goal circle. No extra lines will be marked on the field and this will be called in the judgment of the official.

CROSS-CHECK uses the shaft of the crosse to hit, push or displace an opponent.

DANGEROUS CONTACT is the thrusting or shoving of a player in a defenseless position.  Players are considered defenseless when they are head down playing a ground ball, in the acting of passing or shooting or are contacted from their blindside.  MANDATORY CARD

 DANGEROUS FOLLOW-THROUGH  occurs when a player follows-through her crosse in a dangerous manner, such as striking another player with her stick on the follow-through of a shot or pass. This can be called without contact if the follow-through is reckless.  MANDATORY CARD

DANGEROUS PLAY are actions that are rough, threatening and/or are without regard to player safety. May be carded.

DANGEROUS PROPELLING occurs when a player throws, shoots or bats the ball in an uncontrolled manner without regard to the safety of any player including a teammate. Ball does not have to hit anohter player for foul to be called. MANDATORY CARD

DANGEROUS SHOT is a dangerous uncontrolled shot taken against the goalie.  Players may not shot with force at short distance at the goalie's head, neck or trunk.  The foul is judged on distance, force and placement.  It is a major foul and is not a mandatory card, unless there are repeated fouls.  

DIRECTLY BEHIND THE GOAL CIRCLE is the area between two lines extending perpendicular and back from the goal lines extended, tangent to the goal circle.

8-METER ARC is the area in front of each goal circle inscribed by two lines drawn at 45-degree angles extending from the intersection of the goal circle and the goal line (extended); connected by an arc marked 8 meters from the goal circle.

EJECTED PLAYER is a player who has received a Red card and is disqualified from the game and shall be ineligible to play in her team’s next game.

FIELD PLAYER is any player other than the goalkeeper. It is a defense or attack player whose primary responsibility encompasses an area outside the goal circle and to whom no special privileges have been awarded according to the rules.  When the goalie leaves the goal circle, she becomes a field player and is subject to the rules that govern field play.

FREE POSITION is the penalty awarded for any foul. The player taking the free position may run, pass or shoot. A major defensive foul within the 8 meter will result in an offensive free position on a 8 meter hash. This player may go to goal.

FREE SPACE TO GOAL is a path to goal within the critical scoring area as defined by two lines extending from the ball to the outside of the goal circle. No defense player will be penalized if positioned below the extension of the goal line.

GOAL CIRCLE is the circle around the goal to protect the goalkeeper. No player’s stick or body may break the plane of the goal circle.

GREEN CARD is recorded in the scorebook against the offending team, indicating a team caution for delay of game and that the next team offense results in a green/yellow card to the offending player.

GROUNDED refers to any part of the goalkeeper’s body touching the ground outside the goal circle while she attempts to play the ball from inside the goal circle.

HELD WHISTLE is when the official refrains from enforcing a rule when a player is fouled and maintains quality possession and calling the foul would disadvantage the non-offending team.

ILLEGAL PLAYER is an extra player, suspended player, ejected player or a player not listed or incorrectly listed on the roster and/or in the scorebook at the start of the game.

ILLEGAL PROCEDURE refers to fouls that are procedural in nature, i.e. False Start; Illegal Substitution; Too Many players; etc.)

INDIRECT FREE POSITION is the penalty awarded for a minor field foul by the defense inside the 12-meter fan. The player taking the free position may run or pass but may not shoot until another player has played the ball.

LOWER SIDE OF CROSSE refers to the wood on a wooden crosse and to the right side of a plastic crosse as one looks at the crosse with the pocket facing the player.

MARKING is guarding an opponent within a stick’s length.

MODIFIED CHECK is an attempt to dislodge the ball from an opponent’s crosse which is entirely below the shoulder.  The check must be down and away from the body.  Upchecks in youth lacrosse are illegal.

OFFSETTING is when a player from each team commits a foul (major and/or minor) during the same play, or when the attacking team commits a foul during a slow whistle situation.

OFFSIDE refers to a team with more players over the restraining line than is allowed by the rules.

PENALTY AREA is the area directly in front of the scorers/timer’s table and at the rear of the substitution area where any player who has been carded will sit or kneel while serving their penalty time.

PENALTY LANE is the path to the goal that is cleared when a free position is awarded to the attacking team inside the critical scoring area in an area in front of the goal line. The path is defined by the imaginary parallel lines that extend rom the width of the goal circle. All other players must clear this lane when a free position is awarded in front of the goal.

PICK is a technique in which a player without the ball, who by her positioning, forces the opponent to take another route. To be legal it must be set within the visual field of the opponent allowing enough time and space to stop or change direction. It may be moving or stationary.

PLAYED in youth refers to an action whereby the ball leaves the player’s crosse and is touched by another player or play is stopped due to a foul by her opponent.  Under HS rules (for full checking play), played also occurs when the ball carrier’s crosse is checked crosse to crosse by an opposing player, whether or not the ball is successfully dislodged from the crosse.

PLAYER POSSESSION is when the ball is in her crosse and she can perform any of the normal functions of control such as cradle, carry, pass or shoot.

RED CARD is given to an offending player, coach or any team personnel, who is immediately ejected from the game. Anyone who has received a red card shall be prohibited from participating in the team’s next game.

RESTRAINING LINE in full field play is a solid line at each end of the field 30 yards up field from the goal line which extends fully from one side of the field to the other side. The restraining line in cross field play at 10U and 12U is at midfield.

RUNNING CLOCK means the game clock runs continuously without stopping unless the official calls for a card, injury/emergency timeout, or team timeout.

SCORING PLAY is a continuous effort by the attacking team to move the ball toward the goal and to complete a shot on goal. The scoring play is over when:

1. A shot is taken.
2. The attacking team loses possession of the ball.
3. The attacking team passes or carries the ball behind the level of the goal line and stops the continuous attempt to score.
4. The attacking team stops the continuous attempt to score or the player with the ball is forced by the defense to lose her forward momentum.
5. The attacking team fouls.

SLASH is the reckless and/or dangerous swing of the crosse at an opponent’s crosse or body whether or not the opponent’s crosse or body is struck.  MANDATORY CARD

SLOW WHISTLE is a held whistle, with flag raised, once the attack has entered the critical scoring area and is on a scoring play.

SPHERE is an imaginary area of 7 inches surrounding the head.

STOP CLOCK means the clock stops after each goal and on every whistle within the last two minutes of play in each half unless there is a 10 or more goal differential.

SUBSEQUENT FOUL is one that occurs after the initial foul has been called. For a example, a player is awarded a free position because of a foul by her opponent but then before play starts she, or her team, commits another foul such as taunting the opponent.

SUBSTITUTE is any player who has not been disqualified and whose name and correct number have been recorded in the scorebook.

SUSPENDED PLAYER is a player who has received two yellow cards in a game and is ineligible for the remainder of the game.

SUBSTITUTION AREA is the area in front of the scorer’s table, centered at midfield, and sectioned off by two hash marks that are each 5 yards from the center line of the field.

TEAM BENCH AREA is the area from the end of the substitution area to the team’s restraining line, and even with the level of the scorer’s table extended (at least 4 m from the sideline), and does not include the area directly behind the scorer’s table.

THREE SECONDS IN THE ARC is when a player while defending in the 8-meter are remains in that area more than 3 seconds without marking an opponent within a stick’s length.

THREE SECONDS GOOD DEFENSE is called when a player with the ball holds the ball for more than 3 seconds while closely guarded/marked and her stick could be legally checked if checking were allowed.

TOEING THE LINE refers to the placement of the foot up to, but not on a boundary line.

12-METER FAN is a semicircle area in front of each goal circle bounded by an arc 12 meters from the goal circles.

WITHIN A STICK’S LENGTH is when any part of the opponent’s body is inside a crosses’ length. It is the distance a player must be to her opponent to be actively marking this opponent.

YELLOW CARD is given to an offending player, coach or team personnel. A second yellow card to the same individual will result in that person being suspended from further participation in that game.