The three second rule states that a player must not "hold the ball for more than 3 seconds when closely guarded (the defense must have two hands on the stick – if not, the 3 second rule does not apply), when the defense is in a position to legally check if full checking were allowed. "

The purpose of this rule is to reward players who establish and maintain good defensive position by giving them the ball after 3 seconds of maintaining this position. Umpires have complete discretion in making this call and will count out the three seconds when appropriate. Coaches are NOT to count. The player with the ball can break the 3 second count by switching hands (cradling on the other side), rolling away from the defender, or otherwise protecting the ball.

The three pass rule states that "a team must not take a shot on goal until three passes, including the goalkeeper’s clear, are completed or attempted.  Officials have the final say in determining 3-pass completion/attempts and will count passes out loud. Once the offense has fulfilled the three pass requirement, a new three pass count is not necessary -  as long as the ball has remained within the fifty-yard line (even if the defense plays the ball)."

The purpose of this rule is to get as many girls involved in every play as possible. It was implemented because teams would get the ball into the hands of one strong player who would run up the field alone and shoot the ball. A team must make three bona fide pass attempts (the ball does not need to be caught to count).
MBGLL has asked umpires to use their judgement in assessing a bona fide pass. Typical criteria include: the ball must go above the shoulder during the pass, the players must be six feet apart. Umpires will count passes out loud and will tell the players when they have completed three passes. Coaches are NOT to count. NOTE that umpires will not (as coaches should not) tell players that "they can shoot", because additional passes might be the right thing to do. The intent of this rule is not to have teams make three passes and then, regardless of where the ball is, compel the player run to the goal and shoot.
Once a team has completed three passes, this count is "reset" only when the opposing team gains possession of the ball in the opposing team's attacking half of the field. This rewards teams for playing good defense in their attacking zone...if they recover the ball they can immediately shoot. This rule also means that both teams can have three completed passes at the same time (if the defending team completes three passes in their defensive half of the field).

No yelling at opponents. The rule states that "players may not yell at their opponents.  Any form of verbal intimidation, i.e., “Ball, ball, ball” will result in a change of possession. "

Players are encouraged to always communicate with their teammates, including letting them know that they are covering the player with the ball. Generally this is done by yelling "ball", or "I've got ball". However, players are not allowed to yell when the intention (as determined by the umpire) is to intimidate an opponent. For example, continuously yelling "ball...ball...ball" when everybody on the field knows who is covering whom is illegal intimidation.

EQUIPMENT:

Goals: regulation lacrosse cages.

• Ball: regulation solid yellow ball.
• Crosse: U13 and U15 field players and goalkeepers must use a regulation women’s crosse cut to a comfortable length. U11 players may use "youth crosses" with modified (looser) pockets.
• Pocket depth:  the ball must remain above the crosse wall after pressure has been applied to and released from a ball dropped into the pocket of a horizontally held crosse.
• Protective Equipment: mouth guards with no protruding tabs.
• Goggles: regulation women’s lacrosse goggles are mandatory. ASTM approved.
• Goalkeeper: regulation helmet meeting NOCSAE standard for lacrosse, separate throat protector, mouth guard, chest protector and gloves.  Leg padding and pelvic protection is recommended.

Absolutely no jewelry, (medical alert jewelry must be taped securely).

PLAYING AREA:

• No measured boundaries.
• Desirable field length is 100 yards between goal lines, 10 yards behind each goal circle, and 70 yards wide. The field will be marked according to US Lacrosse Women’s rules.

START OF THE GAME:

• No scoreboards allowed.
• Parents are to be on the opposite side of the field from players
• Eleven field players, one goalkeeper
• The game is started with a draw. There will be a draw after each goal. Each half is started with a draw.
• A free position will be taken at the center by the team with fewer goals if a four or more goal differential exists.
• The draw: each center opponent has one foot toeing the centerline. A maximum of five players from each team may be between the restraining lines during the draw.  All other players must be below either restraining line.  Players must not enter the circle or cross the restraining lines until the whistle blows. The crosse is held above the hip, and parallel to the centerline. Each players crosse will be between the ball and the goal they are defending. The ball must attain a height higher than the heads of the players taking the draw. An illegal draw will result in a free position. If both players draw illegally, or it cannot be determined which player was at fault, a throw will be taken.

START/STOP PLAY:

• All play is started and stopped with the whistle.
• When the whistle blows players must stand, unless directed by the official. Play will resume on the next whistle. The goalkeeper may move inside the goal circle.

SCORING:

• A goal is scored when the ball passes completely over the goal line and into the goal cage.
• A goal is scored when the ball leaves an attack player’s crosse, not off the attack player’s body.
• A goal may be scored off the defender’s body or crosse.
• A goal is not scored when the ball enters the cage after a whistle, a crease violation occurs, an attack player fouls the goalie, the attack’s crosse is illegal, or the shot is ruled dangerous.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

• Substitutions may be at any time during play, after goals and at halftime.
• Each team may substitute an unlimited number of players at any time during play.
• During play, substitution must take place through the team substitution area by the scorer’s table.
• The player must be completely off the field before the substitute may enter the field. Players will pass a baton in the substitution area. This includes the goalkeeper.

DURATION OF PLAY:

• A game is two twenty-five minute running time halves for 5th/6th Grade and 7th/8th Grade teams, and two twenty minute running time halves for 3rd/4th Grade teams. No stopping of clock after goals or in last two minutes as in regulation women’s rules.
• The whistle will stop and start play. Official time is to be kept by the home team. The timer's horn (NOT the umpire's watch) will end each half.
• There is no overtime if the score is tied at the end of regulation time.
• Each team will have 2 timeouts per game. Timeouts may be requested after a goal is scored.

FOULS:

Major: A player must NOT:

1. Check roughly or recklessly. Checks will be controlled.  A check to the head is an automatic card.

A. No checking at the 3rd/4th Grade or 5th/6th Grade level.

B. Modified checking at the 7th/8th Grade level. Checks will be downward and away from the body. Checking will be below the shoulder only.  Both hands must be on the stick in a defensive position.

2. Slash. Checks will be short and controlled, there must be recoil.
3. Hold crosse within the seven-inch sphere around opponent’s face and throat.
4. Use the crosse in a dangerous or intimidating manor.
5. Hook the bottom end of an opponent’s crosse.
6. Reach across opponent when level or behind.
7. Block opponent; move in the path of an opponent with out giving her a chance to change direction.
8. Obstruct free space to goal, “shooting space”, denying the attack the opportunity to shoot safely.
9. Remain in the 8-meter arc for more than 3 seconds unless marking an opponent a stick’s length away.
10. Set a moving or stationary pick out of the visual field of the opponent, if she does not have enough space or time to change direction and contact occurs.
11. Detain by holding or pushing with body or crosse.
12. Trip an opponent, deliberately or otherwise.
13. While in possession of ball, try to force her crosse through an opposing crosse(s) in such a way as to causes her crosse to contact her own body.
14. Hold or cradle crosse within her own sphere or the sphere of an opponent.
15. Charge, barge, shoulder or back into an opponent, or push with hand or body.
16. Propel the ball or follow through with crosse in a dangerous or uncontrolled manner.
17. Shoot dangerously or without control. A dangerous shot is determined by distance, force and placement. A shot may not be directed at a field player or the goalkeeper’s body (especially head or neck). A shot may be called dangerous and a free position given to the goalkeeper even if it misses the goal.
18. Shoot from an indirect free position.
19. Violate the restraining line.  Seven attack players are allowed in the offensive end, eight defensive players (7 field/1 goalkeeper) in their defensive end. Any part of the foot over the line is a violation, players may reach over with their stick to play the ball. This call will result in a change of possession only if there is a trail official or if the official can make the call before his/her attention is focused on the critical scoring area.

Minor: A player must NOT:

1. Guard a ground ball with foot or crosse or cover the ball with the crosse.
2. Check an opponent’s crosse when she is trying to get possession of the ball (empty stick check).
3. Guard the crosse with an arm. No warding off, or elbows with free arm.
4. Touch the ball with hand or body.
5. Use hand or body to keep the ball in the crosse.
6. Use any part of the body to impede, accelerate or change direction of the ball.
7. Throw the crosse in any circumstance.
8. Take part in the game if she is not holding her crosse.
9. Draw illegally; either player draws too soon, movement of the crosse is not up and away, moves before the whistle, or the ball does not go higher than the heads of the players taking the draw.
10. On the center draw step into the center circle before the whistle or be in violation of the restraining line rule.
11. Play with a crosse that does not meet specifications.
12. Adjust crosse after it has been checked and allowed into the game.
13. Failure to be on the field immediately after a time out or at half time.
14. Take part in the game wearing jewelry or illegal uniform.
15. Substitute illegally.
16. Move before the whistle, or failure to stand when the whistle is blown.
17. Intentionally delay the game, failure to move four meters away, failure to wear a mouthpiece, or any behavior that the referee determines is a delay of game.
18. Deliberately cause the ball to go out of bounds.
19. Score a goal with a crosse that does not meet the field crosses’s specifications.
20. Take a shot on goal until three passes, including the goalkeeper’s clear, are completed or attempted.  Officials have the final say in determining 3-pass completion/attempts and will count passes out loud.
    Once the offense has fulfilled the three pass requirement, a new three pass count is not necessary -  as long as the ball has remained within the fifty-yard line (even if the defense plays the ball).
    
21. Hold the ball for more than 3 seconds when closely guarded (the defense must have two hands on the stick – if not, the 3 second rule does not apply), when the defense is in a position to legally check if full checking were allowed.
22. Players may not yell at their opponents.  Any form of verbal intimidation, i.e., “Ball, ball, ball” will result in a change of possession.
23. No zone defenses are allowed

Goal circle fouls: A field player must NOT:

1. Enter or have any part of her body or crosse in the goal circle at any time, unless deputizing for the goalkeeper.

A goalkeeper must NOT:

1. Allow the ball to remain in the goal circle for more than ten seconds.
2. Reach beyond the goal circle to play the ball in the air on on the ground with hand.
3. Draw the ball into her goal circle, when any part of her is grounded outside the circle.
4. Goal circle reentry: Once the goalie leaves the crease with the ball, she MUST pass to a teammate who has the option of rolling or throwing the ball into the crease.  No longer can the goalie directly relieve herself of pressure and regain a 10 second clearing count.  However, if the goalie is checked, she may then reenter the crease. Does not apply to 3/4 and 5/6 levels.
5. Step back into the goal circle when she has possession of the ball. 
6. When outside the circle, she may not throw any part of her equipment to her deputy.

PENALTIES FOR FOULS:

• The penalty for fouls is a free position with all players including the offender, moving 4M away from the player with the ball.
• Major fouls: 4M behind, minor 4M in the direction from which she approached.
• In the critical scoring area (inside the 8m arc) a major foul by the defense will result in a free position on the 8M arc (shot on goal).
• In the critical scoring area a minor foul will result in an indirect free position (no shot may be taken until the ball has been played by another player).

ISSUANCE OF CARDS:

Green card: delay of game,(failure to stand with whistle, failure to move 4 meters, absence of mouth piece or presence of jewelry.

Yellow card: rough, dangerous or unsportsmanlike conduct, abusive language, or to deliberately endanger the safety of an opposing player will result in a 2-minute suspension from the game, with substitution.

Red card: second offense after issuance of a yellow card or flagrant foul resulting in suspension of player from game. A substitute may take her place.

Any member of team coaching staff or team follower may be warned (yellow) or suspended (red).In the event that any team follower is to be warned or suspended, the head coach may be assessed the penalty.