5th/6th Grade Rules Package

The Board of Directors of the Indiana Youth Lacrosse Association – US Lacrosse Indiana Chapter has adopted the following rules package to promote an environment of play that will stress the importance of developing stick skills and maintaining correct body positioning.

Play will be governed by the National Federation of State High School Association and follow US Lacrosse Indiana Chapter – 2010 Boys Lacrosse Rules Book with the following modifications:

  • 12 minute running time quarters
  • No 10 or 20 second counts.  But winning team must “keep it in the restraining box” in the last two minutes of the game.
  • No body checking, equal pressure may be exerted while attempting to gain possession of a loose ball.
  • Stick checking is allowed, however players must be in control of their Crosse at all times.
  • US Lacrosse Youth Council Rule 5 a. “Any poke check not making contact with the gloved hand while holding the stick itself will be considered a slash”
  • Slap checks must be controlled, with a coaching recommendation that they not exceed a radius of 16 inches.
  • Controlled one handed checks are not permissible.
  • No time penalties will be served, allowing both teams to play at “full strength”.

Penalties are enforced with a “fast break” change of possession utilizing the following procedure:

  1. The ball will be awarded to the offended team at the restraining line of their goal area.
  2. All Middies must remain behind the midfield line.
  3. The Attack and Defenders are situated in the offended team’s goal area.
  4. When the whistle blows, all players are released to play.

If a player is penalized for Unsportsmanlike Conduct Rule 5 Section 9, a substitution will occur, and the player committing the foul will be removed
from the game. The coach will discuss the infraction with the player, and the player may not re-enter the game until the next dead ball.

  • On loose ball possession plays, the Referee will start a 10 second count. If no one scoops up the ball, the whistle will sound and the ball will be awarded per Alternate Possession Rule 4 Section 32.
  • Games may end in a tie.
  • Absolutely no criticism of Officials by parents, players or coaches.
  • Parents are asked to refrain from giving instruction and speaking to players and Officials from the sideline.