Tournament Rules

All games will follow NFHS & USA Lacrosse Rules with the following

modifications and clarifications:

SOUTHERN EDGE
BOYS RULES

RULES FOLLOW NFHS & USA LACROSSE WITH FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: All participants must complete the online waiver and be legally equipped and uniformed according to USA Lacrosse and NFHS guidelines.

ROSTER & ELIGIBILITY: No player may compete below their grade level. No player may be double rostered for 2 teams in the same division.

GAME FORMAT: Two 20 minute running clock halves; 5 minute half time. Teams change field direction in the second half.

CLOCK: Central horn, kept by Tournament Director. Double horn will signify a one minute warning to take the field, and a single horn will start and end the halves.

TIMEOUTS: One 30 second time out per game, kept by the officials. Timeouts are not permitted in last 5 minutes of the game. Clock does NOT stop during timeouts. No timeouts permitted in overtime. Timeouts can be called by offense anywhere on the field with possession or during dead ball; defense may call timeout on dead ball or following a goal.

OVERTIME: Pool Play = NO overtime; Bracket Play = 3 minutes full field sudden victory period. If still tie after 3 minutes, go into a 3 v 3 Braveheart; Championship Games = NO Braveheart - just a continuous full field OT until a goal is scored.

OFFICIAL SCORE: Score and penalties are maintained by field coordinator at the table. Coaches from both teams are responsible for verifying and signing the score at the end of each game. Once scores are certified and reported, they cannot be challenged. If a dispute arises about the final score of a game, the coach should immediately bring the concern to the Field Coordinator and request the Tournament Director for resolution prior to the score being reported. Tournament Directors will only communicate with Club Directors and Head Coaches.

PENALTIES & OFFICIATING: Penalty time will be kept by score keeper at table. Penalty Clock stops during injuries, timeouts, end of period, and subsequent penalty assessments. Technical fouls are 30 seconds and personal fouls range from 1-3 minutes, depending on severity.

COUNTS: (20) Seconds to clear the midline after (20) Second count expires, team must be in offensive half where Over-and-Back rules will be enforced. No clearing counts for

MERCY RULE - POOL PLAY ONLY - A team trailing by (7) or more goals can elect to start with possession at midfield after a goal. All periods must start with a face-off during even strength play. 2033 and younger except for the (4) Second goalie count.

CONTACT RULES: U11 - No body checking permitted; U13 - limited body checking permitted; U15 & HS - per NFHS; Excessive contact at any level = 1 minute unnecessary roughness. Officials may penalize any big hit, regardless of ball proximity.

SPORTSMANSHIP & CONDUCT: Only Head Coaches can address the officials and must do so respectfully. Head Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their players, assistant coaches and parents. Ejections - Any player who is ejected from a game, must sit out the next game of the tournament. If a player leaves the bench during an altercation on the field, the player is ejected from the tournament. Any player exhibiting antagonistic behavior (fighting, verbal abuse, etc) is either ejected from the game and/or the tournament. Officials and Tournament Directors has the final authority on all rulings for players, coaches and spectators.

WEATHER DELAYS: Once a game is 50% played, the score stands and game is complete

DIVISION SPECIFIC RULES:

2026-3032 - 20 Second counts, and over and back in effect

2029/2030 (14U) - Full stick checks permitted (no one handed checks); Legal body checking (no take out checks)

2031/2032 (12U) - Full length poles permitted; Man-up/man-down scenarios played; Body checking is limited

2033/2034 (10U) and younger - 7 v 7 (Rules per USA Lacrosse w/ modifications):

1. Players - 6 field players and a goalie. 2 attack, 2 middies, and 2 defenders. 2

players must remain behind the midline at all times

2. *Faceoffs - done at start of each half and after each goal; all non-face off

players must line up behind the goal line extended

3. *Body Checking - NO body checking permitted at this level

4. *Sticks & Stick Checking - No long poles permitted at this age. No one-

handed stick checks (considered a slash). Stick checks must be made on the

opponent’s crosse or gloved hand on the crosse. The opponent must be in possession

of the ball or within (3) yards of a loose ball.

5. *Offsides - A team is offsides if more than 4 players are in their offensive half

or more than 5 players are in their defensive half. (Must keep 2 back)

6. *Penalties - No man-up/man-down penalties, penalized players serve time but

can be replaced; teams play even strength

7. *Mercy Rule - If a team leads by 7 or more goals, the trailing team’s coach can

elect to start with possession at the midfield. If the lead narrows to 6 or less goals,

standard face-off rules resume.