Patriots Cup Playoffs – Rules and Regulations
The purpose is to create a tournament that all PYLL teams can participate in and finish the season in the excitement of a playoff atmosphere. The Patriot Cup is open only to current members of the Patriot Youth Lacrosse League.
Team Requirements:
· 100% participation in the 2010 Patriot League regular game schedule
· Payment of all tournament fees
· Team roster must be consistent with regular season roster. No exceptions.
· Programs entering less teams at any level that participated in regular season play will require PYLL Board of Directors approval
· Head Coach must meet all Patriot League Coaching Requirements.
· Violations of team requirements can lead to a team’s expulsion from the tournament and the forfeiting of any games played as determined by the PYLL BOD and Tournament Committee.
· Head coach must meet all Patriot League coach requirements
Tournament Seeding Rules:
1. Seeding will be dictated by the league standings for Sunday and Mid Week Bye Games scheduled by the PYLL only.
2. Midweek games scheduled by the individual teams will not count in the standings
3. In the event of a tie at the end of Divisional play the following tie breaker will be used to determine the higher seed.
a. Head to head games between the teams
b. A two hat system - One with the team name the other with the seed position. One is pulled from each hat at the same time to determine team seed. The PYLL Tournament Committee
c. The PYLL of Directors is the sole body to determine final tournament seed positions.
Tournament Format
1. All levels will be divided into East / West and North / South Divisions
2. The East Division will be the top seeds, West the second group, North then South
3. A round robin tournament will be held in each division to determine a Divisional semi-finalist that will then play in a championship game
4. The Round Robin tournament will have the following format
· The East Division will be the top teams in the standings i.e. 1-4 or 1-6. West follows then North and South
· Each Division will begin round robin play with a mid-week game in the first or second week of June
· The higher seed will have the right of first refusal to host this midweek game
· Higher seeds will generally play the lower seeds in their brackets.
· Each team is guaranteed a minimum of three games one midweek and two on tournament day
· Semi-finalists will play a third game to determine a champion
· Consolation games will be played with the North and South Divisions at the U15 and U13 level to ensure a minimum of three games.
5. Regulation Games will be played per PYLL Rules. In the event of tied score at the
end of regulation time sudden victory overtimes will determine the winner.
· U15 and U13 - 4 Minute Sudden Victory periods will be played. If a tie remains at the end of the first period there will be a 2 minute break. Teams swap sides and commence with second OT period of 4 minutes. This continues till a winner is declared.
· U11 and U9 – An 8 Minute running time OT period will be played. If a tie remains at the end of the first period there will be a 2 minute break. Teams swap sides and commence with second OT period of 8 minutes running time. This continues till a winner is declared
6. In the event of a ties at the end of Divisional play the following tie breaker will be used to determine the Divisional Winner
· Head to head games between the teams
· Goals Against with the team with lowest total advancing
· Coin toss by PYLL Tournament Officials at the location
7. The East Divisional Winner advances to the semi-finals and plays the West. The North Division advances to the semi-finals and plays the South in the championship games. Each level will have two Champions.
8. Forfeit scores will be recorded as 1-0
Zero Tolerance Rules:
· Fighting – Any players ejected for fighting by game officials must be escorted from the field by a guardian. The PYLL Tournament Official at the location must be notified. Said Player is also ejected for the remainder of the tournament.
· Conduct - It is expected and assumed that the right things will happen on the on the field, on the bench, and in the stands. In the event this does not happen the Officials and the PYLL Tournament Official on site has reserves the right to expel any individual from the event.
· The PYLL Tournament Representative at the location is the final decision maker in all cases of conduct issues.
Extreme Weather & Lightening / Thunder Conditions:
· In the event of thunder and lightning storms games will be stopped and can only resume after 20 Minutes of no thunder and lightning conditions. Players and spectators should be directed to safe areas or to return to their cars
· In the event of re-occurring thunder and lightning conditions that necessitates one additional wait period the following rules will apply for a game to be considered complete.
o The game postponements are beyond a reasonable time for the game to re-start at any point after the end of the 2nd Quarter, and any time during the 3rd and 4th Quarters. The team leading will be declared the winner.
o In the event of tie score the game will be decided by a coin toss. The on-site referee will flip the coin and the higher seeded team calls it in the air.
o ALL round robin games will be subject to these rules
o Championship games can be re-scheduled if the teams agree to this. The higher seeded team will have hosting rights. The game will resume at the exact time and with the same score as when it was stopped i.e. 3rd quarter 5 mins 30 seconds remaining, score 10-8. The PYLL BOD must be notified of this and approve any games resuming.
o PYLL Tournament Officials or in lieu of them for mid-week games, The on-site Game Referee are the sole decision makers on weather related cancellations
· In the event of extreme heat and humidity the PYLL Board of Directors reserves the right to convert U15 and U13 games to running time formats, and to shorten U11 and U9 running time quarters for safety reasons. This decision will be made the day before the tournament by the PYLL BOD, and communicated to all programs. Duration of quarters and time serving penalties will also be announced in the same communication to all programs.
Conflict Resolution:
· The PYLL Tournament Representative, and PYLL Board of Directors as needed are the final decision maker in all cases of conflict resolution
I. TEAMS
1. Teams shall be a U-15 team, a U-13 team, a U-11 team or a U-9 team.
U-15 Team: A U-15 team shall be a team whose players are:
Under the age of 15 on the December 31st preceding the start of a season.
Students in the 8th or 7th grade or lower.
Not members of a team from another Patriot member program.
U-15 Competitive Team: A U-15 team shall be a team whose players are:
Under the age of 15 on the December 31st preceding the start of a season.
Students in the 8th or 7th grade or lower.
Meet all requirements of the Patriot League Competitive Team.
U-13 Team: A U-13 team shall be a team whose players are:
Under the age of 13 on the December 31st preceding the start of a season.
Students in the 5th or 6th grade or lower.
Not members of a team from another Patriot member program
U-11 Team: A U-11 team shall be a team whose players are:
Under the age of 11 on the December 31st preceding the start of a season.
Students in the 3rd or 4th grade or lower.
Not members of a team from another Patriot member program
U-9 Team: A U-9 team shall be a team whose players are:
Under the age of 9 on the December 31st preceding the start of a season.
Not members of a team from another Patriot member program
2. Each member organization will require formal registration of all players. Such registration shall require, at minimum, the player’s name, address, date-of-birth, grade, and signed parental or guardian permission to participate. All players and coaches are required to be members of US Lacrosse.
3. Each member program must submit a roster of all registered players for each age level to the Secretary before the official start of Patriot league play each year, and must submit any revisions of these rosters on a timely basis, also to the Secretary. These rosters must indicate the age level within which the child will play (e.g., if playing up), and must include, at minimum, each player’s name, address of residence, date-of-birth, grade, and US Lacrosse membership number and expiration date.
4. When a member program has two or more teams within the same division, the member program must ensure that all are equally balanced. Factors used to determine equally balanced include but not limited to; equal dispersing of players by grade, years played and talent. All member programs are required to participate in the Patriot League preseason parity tournament.
5. Each member program must submit a Bollinger Certificate of Insurance to the Secretary before the official start of Patriot league play each year.
6. Players may be of either sex.
7. Players who live in a community that sponsors a Patriot team must play for the team where the player lives. If a player’s community does not sponsor a team, the player is free to join the Patriot League team of his/her choice. In the case of these players, teams are prohibited from recruiting players from one Patriot League team to another Patriot League team. U-15 Competitive team player requirements apply to U-15 Competitive players.
Exception : If a player has been playing for another Patriot League team prior to the creation of a program in his/her own community, he/she has the option of staying on this team or joining the Patriot League program in his/her own community. If, at that time, the player chooses to play in his/her own community, he/she may neither return to the original PYLL team he/she left nor join any other PYLL team. In situations where this occurs, the coach of the non-resident player should strongly encourage the player to participate in his/her own community’s PYLL program.
8. A player eligible to play on a Junior Team may “play up” to a Senior Team. However, in no situation may a player “play down” below his or her appropriate age level.
9. A player may not simultaneously play for two teams of the same Patriot League member organization.
10. Ninth grade players are not allowed to participate on any Patriot League team.
11. Under extraordinary circumstance, and by special petition to the Patriot League Board of Directors, an old-in-grade 8th grader (a player currently in 8th grade who turned age 15 before the January 1 preceding the season) may play for a Patriot League U-15 Team and/or U-15 Competitive team. To do so:
a. The player must be currently enrolled in school as an 8th grader.
b. The player must have played on a Patriot League team for at least two previous seasons.
c. The player and his/her proposed team must submit a written petition to the Patriot League Board of Directors showing that s/he meets all criteria for U-15 / U-15 Competitive Team participation, other than age. The petition shall include, at minimum, the player’s date-of-birth, school, height, weight, lacrosse history (number of years, A/B/etc. level as 7th grader, All-Star or Select appearances), details of other sports played and athletic honors earned, and any other circumstances the petitioners feel are relevant. Such petition shall be delivered to the Patriot League Secretary.
d. The Board of Directors, sitting in a properly constituted meeting, must approve the petition by a seventy-five percent (75%) super-majority vote.
The use of old-in-grade 8th graders is further restricted as follows:
e. No team may have more than two old-in-grade 8th graders on its roster.
II. RULES OF PLAY
Patriot League play shall be governed by the current National Federation of State High School Associations Boys Lacrosse Rules except as amended and modified by the Patriot League Board of Directors. Each year, the Patriot League Board shall review the Patriot League Rules of Play to find opportunities to reduce injury, increase the safety of players, increase the educational and learning experience, maintain the balance of the contests, and promote a speed and finesse style of play over a style featuring unrestrained hitting and intimidation tactics.
Each year the amendments to the NFSHSA Rules adopted by the Board of Directors for Patriot League play shall be distributed to all members and officials.
PATRIOT LEAGUE MODIFICATIONS for the U-9, U-11, U-13 & U-15 Divisions
(Modifications do not apply to the U-15 Competitive Division)
Modifications effect the NFHS, US Lacrosse Youth Council; Rules for Youth Lacrosse
1. Age definition: The Patriot League age definition is modified as stated in I Teams #1.
2. Number of players: Modification of the number of players is as follows:
a. 7 players per side on the field for the U-9 division. The U-9 team will consist of attack 2-midfield, 2-defense & a goalie.
b. 7 players per side on the field for the U-11 division. The U-11 team will consist of attack 2-midfield, 2-defense & a goalie.
3. Field: The Patriot League field size is modified as follows:
a. The lacrosse playing field for the U-9 division shall be rectangular, between 53 1/3 and 60 yards long and 55 yards wide. ( Half field. Side lines used as end lines, end line and midfield line used as side lines. Creases centered X yards from new end line with a 9’ radius and painted or marked with flat cones. NEED SPECIFIC FIELD DIMENSIONS AND DIAGRAM FROM U-9 DIRECTOR.
b.The lacrosse playing field for the U-11 division shall be rectangular, between 53 1/3 and 60 yards long and 55 yards wide. ( Half field. Side lines used as end lines, end line and midfield line used as side lines. Creases centered X yards from new end line with a 9’ radius and painted or marked with flat cones. NEED SPECIFIC FIELD DIMENSIONS AND DIAGRAM FROM U-11 DIRECTOR.
4. Equipment: US Lacrosse Youth Council “Equipment” Rule 1 Sections 6 & 9 is modified as indicated in bold print:
The length of the short crosse may 37 to 40 inches for offensive players in the U-11 and U-9 Divisions and defensive players in such divisions may use a stick with a length of 37 to 72 inches.
5. Length of Game: US Lacrosse Youth Council “Length of Game” Rule 3 Sections 1 is modified as indicated in bold print:
U-13 and U-15 Division – Four 10 minute stop-time quarters. In the event of a tie, two 4-minute sudden-victory overtime periods will be played. If after two overtime periods the score is still tied, additional sudden-victory overtime periods may be played until a winner is determined (provided time permits and coaches and officials are in agreement).
U-11 and U-9 Divisions- Four 12-minute running-time quarters. In the event of a tie, one 15-minute running-time overtime period will be played with the team in the lead at the end of the overtime declared the winner. This is not a sudden victory period. If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, the game will end as a tie.
6. Facing Off: The Patriot League will NOT apply the US Lacrosse Youth Council “Facing Off, Rule 4 Section 3” rule. (The four goal lead no face off rule) All Patriot League coaches are strongly encouraged to make efforts to keep the score close.
7. Body Checking: US Lacrosse Youth Council “Body Checking” Rule 5 Section 3 is modified as indicated in bold print:
Body checking is permitted in U-15 and U-13 Divisions; however, no take-out checks are permitted by any player. A take out check is defined as any check in which the player lowers his head or shoulder with the force and intend to put the other player on the ground. The take out check definition should also include consideration as to whether the offending player chose contact over the opportunity to gain possession of the ball or the opportunity to contribute in another positive way.
Players in the U-13 and U-15 divisions may make contact in an upright position within five yards of the ball. No body checking of any kind (including man/ball “clear the body” type pushing) is permitted in the U-9 and U-11 Division. If a loose ball is not moving, the referee may re-start play following the alternate possession rule.
8. Slashing: US Lacrosse Youth Council “Slashing” Rule 5 Section 9 is modified as indicated in bold:
Personal Foul/Slashing – For U-11 and U-9 Divisions: Any poke check making contact with an opponent (other than the gloved hand while holding the stick) will be considered a slash. Also, any one-handed check will be considered a slash for the U-11 and U-9 Divisions.
9. Offensive Stalling: US Lacrosse Youth Council “Offensive Stalling” Rule 3 Section 10 is modified as indicated in bold:
Offensive stalling shall be enforced for the U-13 and U-15 Divisions; however this rule will be waived for U-11 and U-9 Divisions.
U-15 and U-13 Divisions: the team with the lead must keep the ball in the goal area during the last two minutes of the game, and/or at the Referee’s discretion a team is stalling they will be required to keep in the box if there is not a shot or definitive move to the goal in 60 Seconds. U-9 and U-11 Divisions are excused from this rule.
20 Seconds to resume play rule after a stoppage caused by the ball going out of bounds, a horn on the sidelines, or a face off will be enforced. If the Referee feels a team is stalling possession of the ball will be awarded to the other team.
10. Time Serving Penalties: US Lacrosse Youth Council “Time Serving Penalties” Rule 7 Section 1, 2 & 3 is modified as indicated in bold:
Time serving penalties are enforce and man up situations are permitted in all division except the U-9 Division, where there are no time-serving penalties; instead the player must be substituted for and the ball awarded to the other team at the point of the infraction.
