I love the work done by US Lacrosse and our good friend TJ Buchanan on this 2017 release of the new youth initiatives. As fast as lacrosse is growing, close to 70% of the kids are leaving the sport by the age of 14… This is long overdue, and a must read for all lacrosse programs,
2017 Youth Initiatives, MAJOR RULE CHANGES
For the 2017 seasons and from this point forward US Lacrosse will
be publishing 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U rule sets. Since there are
a number of changes this season, we have a brief overview of 6U,
8U, 10U, and 12U lacrosse.
For the full US Lacrosse pdf, just click here…
6U
• Players: 3v3 with no goalie
• Field Size: 60 yards x 35 yards (cross field)
• Equipment: Sticks only, soft-type ball
• Goal Size: 3 feet by 3 feet
• Penalties: Player leaves the field. No time-serving penalties.
Penalties used as a teachable moment to explain the foul that
has been committed.
• Body Checking: Body contact is not permitted
• Stick Checking: Stick to stick contact is not permitted
8U
• Players: 4v4 with no goalies or 3v3 with goalies
• Field Size: 60 yards x 35 yards (cross field)
• Equipment: Full equipment, soft-type ball
• Goal Size: 3 feet by 3 feet
• Penalties: Player leaves the field. No time-serving penalties.
Penalties used as a teachable moment to explain the foul that
has been committed.
10U
• Players: 6v6 with no goalies or 5v5 with goalies
• Field Size: 60 yards x 35 yards (cross field)
• Equipment: Full equipment, NOCSAE lacrosse ball
• Goal Size: 6 feet by 6 feet (5×5 or 4×4 allowable)
• Penalties: Time-serving penalties
12U
• Players: 7v7 or 10v10, depending on size of field used
• Field Size: 60 x 35 yards (cross field) or 110 x 60 yards
• Equipment: Full equipment, NOCSAE lacrosse ball
• Goal Size: 6 feet by 6 feet
• Penalties: Time-serving penalties.
• Body Checking: No Body Checking. Please See 12U rules for
additional information.
• Checking with the Crosse: See 12U rules for allowable stick
checks.
14U
• Arm pads are now optional pieces of equipment for goalies.
• Eye black and eye black strips are allowable as long as
they do not contain offensive words, shapes, images, or logos.
• If a player or team commits a foul before any faceoff, the
ball will be awarded to the offended team in its offensive side
of the field at the center.
• No defensive player, other than a properly equipped
goalkeeper, can enter his own crease with the perceived intent
of blocking a shot or acting as a goalkeeper. A second violation
by the player will be enforced as a releasable unsportsmanlike
conduct foul.
• Any player who accumulates 3 personal fouls or 5
minutes in personal foul penalty time shall be disqualified from
the game.
• Failure to wear the required mouthpiece, unless it comes
out during play, is now a technical foul.
• During the last two minutes of regulation play, stalling
rules are in effect for the team that is ahead by four goals or
less. When the score differential is five goals or more, neither
team is forced to keep the ball in the box.
Please please click here to listen to entire podcast w TJ on this new program, the depth of the research that went into all of this will amaze you, Congrats to US Lacrosse, best initiative ever!