The Rules of the Game for Boys

Positions:
The positions resemble those in soccer: one goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders, and three attackmen. The game play is more like hockey and basketball. There's non-stop end-to-end action, with whistles blown for out of bounds and penalties. Offensive plays include both fast breaks, and "half-court" setups,using basketball-like picks and cuts. Like hockey, the field is extended beyond the goals, so plays can begin from the back of the goal, as well as out front.

General Information:

Teams -- Ten players per team at full strength. No limit to substitution.

Goal Value -- Each goal counts one point.

Length of Game -- High school varsities play 12 minute quarters, MBYLL teams may play 10 or, on occasion, 12. Overtime is sudden death.

Time Outs -- Two per half for each team.

The Goal -- Six by six feet, made from pipe, strung with netting.

The Ball -- NOCSAE ONLY AT YOUTH LEVELS Solid rubber -- orange, yellow or white -- weighing roughly 5.5 oz.

The Crosse (stick) -- Length 40 - 72 inches, except goalie stick which has no minimum length. Head with 6.5 - 10 inches allowed in game.

What to Watch For:

Face Off -- One on one play, where the referee places the ball between the two player's sticks to begin play at start of a period, or after a goal.

Fast Break -- Similar to basketball, generally a four offensive player against three defenders situation that's difficult to defend.

Clearing -- Term used by the defensive team to move the ball from their half of the field to the attack half -- seven clearing players against six riding players.

Riding -- Term used by the attacking team to keep the defensive team from clearing the ball.

Man Up (extra man) -- When the attacking team has a man up advantage due to an opponent being in the penalty box. Teams typically use a special offensive group, like ice hockey.

Man Down Defense -- When the defensive team is a man short due to a penalty. Man down defenders will play either a shifting of zone defense.

Offensive Stalling -- Team in possession of ball must made an effort to move ball towards the goal.

Defensive Stalling -- Clearing team must make definite effort to clear the ball within five years of the riding team. Can't be called if a team is a man down.

Fouls and Penalties -- There are two categories of fouls, personal (which calls for a suspension of one to three minutes) and technical (30 seconds if the opposing team has the ball at the time, or possession of the ball if it's loose or the offending team has it). The penalties are released when time is up, or if a goal is scored by the team with the extra man.

Personal Fouls -- Illegal body checking slashing, cross checking, tripping, unsportsmanlike conduct or fighting.

Technical Fouls -- Interference, holding, pushing, playing without a stick, withholding the ball from play, illegal procedure (such as stepping in the crease, checking the goalie's stick when he is in the crease, touching the ball with your hand), and offsides (each team has to have at least four men on each half of the field at all times).

Crease -- No attacking player is allowed in the crease. No defensive player, nor the goalie with the ball (once he's left the crease) may enter it. The goalie can receive a pass in the crease.

Ball Out Of Play -- The ball is given to the team which did not cause it to go out of bounds, unless it went out after being shot at the goal. In that case, the team whose player is closest to the ball when it goes out is given possession.