Boys' Rules of Play & Game Information

NFHS rules (as modified) apply

GAME FORMAT

TWO 20-MINUTE HALVES/5-MINUTE HALF-TIME - teams change field direction for the 2nd half.
RUNNING TIME, BUT CLOCK STOPS DURING TIMEOUTS (and injuries, in the discretion of the official).
Officials start and end the game on their own clock.
PENALTIES: Penalized players must serve (except goalie); penalty time kept by officials on the field.
TIMEOUTS: Each team has one 45-second timeout per half. Playing time stops with each timeout.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- U15 players substitute on the fly.
- U9, U11 and U13 – substitutions permitted on dead ball situations on sidelines (not endlines); substitutions will be facilitated by officials if requested promptly by coaches (coaches should yell "Horn!").
ADVANCEMENT RULE (U15 only): 20 second count to clear the midline; 10 seconds to advance into the box.
BOX RULE: winning team must keep ball in the offensive box during last 2 minutes of play.
OVERTIME:
- POOL PLAY: 3 v 3 (plus goalie) sudden victory BRAVEHEART (4 players per side) for maximum of 2 minutes to determine the winner, if neither team scores, game ends in tie.
- PLAYOFF ROUNDS: There will be one 5-minute sudden victory OT period, followed by a 3 v 3 (plus goalie) BRAVEHEART format until winner is decided.
TOURNAMENT ADMINISTRATION - Points will be awarded after each game - 5 for a win, 2 for a tie, 0 for a loss.
Tie Break Procedure: 1) head to head; 2) fewest total goals allowed; 3) coin-flip (1st team alphabetically calls the flip).

LIMITED BODY CHECKING; NO BLATANT HITS; NO TAKE-OUT CHECKS: Big hits and overly physical play (even within five yards from a loose ball), as well as excessive force, roughness, checking or hitting off the ball, constitutes unnecessary roughness and will result in a 1 minute penalty.
- Liberty Lacrosse Shootout directors expect tournament officials to "err" on the side of safety. All coaches involved with teams in the tournament are expected to understand, support and communicate our philosophy with regard to officiating and the promotion of player safety.
MERCY RULE in effect during pool play but not during playoffs (applies when there is a 4 goal differential). Teams down by 4 goals or more will be awarded the ball at midfield after each goal. The second half starts with a face-off regardless of goal differential.
BALLS - All teams are responsible for balls on their offensive end-line (it is anticipated that field fences will stop many, but not all, of the shots). Each team will be provided with five (5) balls at the beginning of the tournament at check-in. Teams are responsible for those balls and for making sure there are an adequate number of balls on their offensive end-line during games.

8 v 8 (1 Goalie, 2 Defense, 3 Middies, 2 Attack)
Player serves all penalties, team does not (i.e., no man-up/down)
No defense sticks longer than 4'
Ball is hot at all times (no minimum number of passes)
Mercy Rule will apply when there is a 3 goal differential (rather than 4; no Mercy Rule in playoffs)
Limited body checking (officials will be asked to call it close and discourage aggressive play)

Officials are responsible to keep score on each field and to report scores following the games.
Following each game, coaches from both teams are asked to help facilitate the reporting of scores to the site headquarters. Unreported scores will be treated as a tie for both teams.
FORFIETS: Any team that forfeits a game during the tournament will be ineligible to compete in any playoff games. All forfeits will be considered a 3-0 victory for the team that is prepared to play.

Poor sportsmanship, taunting, trash talking, fighting or other unbecoming behavior on the part of players, coaches, parents or fans will not be tolerated. Tournament organizers and officials reserve the right to eject offenders, terminate a game and/or escort coaches, players, teams or fans from the premises.
Only head coaches are permitted to address the officials; coaches are expected to do so in a courteous manner.
Any questions or disputes will be discussed only by the head coach and the officials on the field. Disputes will be resolved on the field in the spirit of the game. Determinations of officials are final and binding.
All persons involved with the Liberty Lacrosse Shootout or visiting the facility are expected to "Honor the Game."
Coaches are asked to make sure their players clean their bench areas of water bottles and other debris after each game