The Vermont Principals Association
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Lacrosse

Lacrosse Guide 2024

Lacrosse Guide 2024

The VPA recognizes lacrosse as a sanctioned sport for both Boys and Girls. The Boys follow the rules of the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS), while the Girls follow the U.S. (Girls and Women) Lacrosse Rules.  

**Spring practice starts on March 25, 2024**

2024 NFHS Rules Changes:

Boys: 2024 Boys Lacrosse Rule Changes NFHS

  • 4-24-11 (NEW)… ART. 11. . . If a player has the helmet come off during play, play shall be suspended immediately, and the player shall leave the field until after the next dead ball following the resumption of play. 

Girls: 2024 Girls Lacrosse Rule Changes NFHS

  • 4-1-1: Changes the duration of play for a game from two 50-minute halves to four 12-minute quarters. JV running time quarters. Middle School TBD.
  • 2-7-1: Reorganizes tooth and mouth protector rules, aligns them with other NFHS sport rules, and eliminates restrictions related to color and graphics.

Points of Emphasis:

Girls: Points of Emphasis NFHS

Boys: Points of Emphasis NFHS

General Rules  (Boys and Girls)

  1. Number of Games
    1. No school shall schedule more than sixteen games, exclusive of play-offs, with schools sanctioned by the VPA.  
  2. Divisional Alignment
    1. There will be an open tournament for lacrosse this year. Note – Boy’s Lacrosse will be divided into 3 divisions. Appendix A
  3. In order to be considered for the tournament play, it is necessary that a team complete a minimum of ten games with at least three different schools at the time of the pairings. The first three games with the same school shall count towards index purposes.  
  4. Field Condition
    1. Although a field may be satisfactory for seasonal game use, it may be judged unsuitable for tournament play. The Lacrosse Committee will determine unsuitable fields and will notify schools.  Appeals may be made to the VPA office. The VPA requires that a restraining rope/tape be used during tournament season play. This is also recommended during the regular season.
  5. Ejections
    1. Teams that receive three or more ejections of players or coaches will be required to meet with the Activity Standards Committee before entering, or continuing in the State Tournament.
  6. Legal Game
    1. An official game for boys shall be when three-quarters have been completed. By mutual agreement, by opposing schools, the 4th quarter may be continued at a future date.
    2. An official game for girls shall be when 80% of the game has been completed.
    3. A suspended game may be terminated and considered complete by mutual agreement of opposing coaches.
    4. Final decision to suspend the game lies with the head referee and site administrator.
  7. Coaches Education Requirement
  • All coaches and officials must complete a concussion education and the NFHS Implicit Bias course before the beginning of the 2022 season.  Certification must be completed every two years.
  1.  Concussion Protocol
  • Any athlete exhibiting symptoms of a concussion is to be removed from play and may not return to play unless they have been cleared by an appropriate licensed medical professional as identified by the home team.
  1.  Medical Personnel
  • All schools are required to have appropriate medical personnel at all home games this season (This is a Vermont State Law).
  1.  There is no overtime for any Junior Varsity game.
  2.  Coach Ejection:
  • A coach ejected from a game may not return to that game or any other game that day and must leave the site.
  1.  Note – a painted mid-line does not have to go through a school’s insignia. 
  • The Vermont exemption is that of a painted midline or end line through a school’s insignia.
  1.  For boys’ JV teams with minimal numbers, modified JV rules may be used. These rules are listed on the VPA Lacrosse page. 
  2. Disruption of Contest:
    1. Hate speech procedures: Appendix E

Girls Rules (U.S .Girls and Women Lacrosse)

  1. Overtime 
  • During the regular season and tournament season there is now sudden victory. (Rule 4-6)
  1. Game Times
  • Varsity: four 12-minute quarters. 
  • JV running time quarters. 
  • Middle School TBD.
  1. Use of 8th Graders: 
  • For the 2024 spring season Girls Lacrosse teams may use 8th graders on a varsity team if they have 14 or fewer players – 8th graders may not be used on JV teams. 

Boys Points of Emphasis for 2024 (see rulebook for further explanation) 

  1. Crosse Prohibitions
  2. Eyeshade
  3. Properly Worn Mandatory Equipment (helmet chin straps buckled at all times)

Boys Rules (NFHS)

1.  Overtime:

  • During the regular season and the tournament, will follow NFHS rules, four minute, sudden victory periods until a winner is determined.

2.  Length of Game:

a) Varsity-12 minute quarters

b) Junior Varsity- 10 minute quarters

c) Middle School- 8 minute quarters

 3. Goals 

  • Requirement for in-ground installation shall be waived.  Color of goal requirement shall also be waived.  No spectators shall be located behind the end lines. 

Seeding

  1. Teams will be selected on the point index shown in the tournament section.  The points will be totaled and the total divided by the number of games played to find the    point index.  If, during the season, teams decide to play both games at one field, it will remain a home and away series alternately.  IF THE GAME IS PLAYED ON A NEUTRAL FIELD, THE HOST TEAM WILL BE CONSIDERED THE HOME TEAM.  Out of state schools will be classified by the student enrollment.

PROCEDURE FOR BREAKING TIES

  1. The team with the best record against the other team(s), i.e.. head to head competition.
  2. The team with the best record against common opponents.
  3. Strength of schedule as determined by the judgment of the committee.
  4. The team with the best won-lost record.
  5. Coin flip.                                

2. Important Dates:

Boys/Girls Lacrosse
1st date to practiceMarch 25, 224
1st date to playApril 8, 2024
Last date to playJune 1, 2024
Applications DueJune 2, 2024
Pairings PostedJune 3, 2024
PlaydownsJune 4/5, 2024
QuarterfinalsJune 7/8, 2024
Semi-FinalsJune 10/11, 2024
State FinalsJune 14/15, 2024

All tournament games must be fully completed. Any game stopped before its completion shall be resumed where it was stopped at a later date. Play downs, quarterfinals, and semi-finals will be played on the field of the higher seeded team if the field is suitable.  If the higher seeded team’s field is unsuitable; the game will be played at the site of the lower seeded team if that field is suitable.  If both the fields are unsuitable, the VPA will assign the field.  On a neutral field schools will share expenses. A TEAM MAINTAINS ITS ORIGINAL SEED THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT. 

Post Season Game Requirements:

  1. The VPA office will assign the officials for all state level games. The home team will pay the officials (fee, plus mileage), unless a neutral site is used. If a neutral site is used, the two teams share expenses (officials’ fees and mileage).
  2. In any games through the semi-finals assigned by the VPA, it will be absolutely essential that an experienced, reliable, non-student adult statistician will act as scorer and be at the table at the mid stripe, and an experienced, reliable non-student adult timer will be at the table at mid field. The home team will provide the timer, clock, stop watch and game balls. The visiting team will provide the official scorer.  
  3. At games at the state level from the playoffs on, there must be a restraining rope down both sidelines (six yards), and spectators stay behind the rope, and players and coaches are to stay in the designated bench area (10 yards).  It will be the responsibility of the school administrators to see that this is used.  There are to be no spectators or photographers in the end line area while the game is going on.  The officials will have the right, and must stop the game, until school authorities clear the end line area.
  4. The maximum size of the squad in tournament play will include 30 eligible players, plus manager, plus coach and an assistant coach for a total of 35.
  5. The host schools must provide medical technician coverage, and a table with two chairs at mid- field.
  6. Weather/Field Conditions-Prior to the officials arriving at a game, the home administrator is responsible for decisions regarding the weather and field conditions. Upon arriving, officials (in consultation with the home administrator) will be responsible for making weather and field condition decisions. Their decisions are final.
  7. Ball kids must wear helmets during boys games. 

Appendix A: Divisional Alignment

Appendix B: Ejection Rule

Unsportsmanlike Behavior

  • Taunting/Harassment

Taunting is considered any action(s) or comment(s) by coaches, players, or spectators which are intended to bait, anger, embarrass, ridicule, or demean others, whether or not the deeds or words are vulgar or racist. Included is a contact that berates, needles, intimidates, or threatens based on race, gender, ethnicity or origin, or background, and conduct that attacks religious beliefs, size, economic status, speech, family, special needs, or personal matters.

  • Taunting in all sports is a flagrant unsportsmanlike foul that will result in a game ejection as outlined in the student/coach ejection policy
  • Each school is encouraged to have procedures regarding taunting by spectators.
  • Student/Coach Ejection Rule: Any student/coach ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct or a flagrant foul shall be suspended from the next two contests, (except for football, skiing, and gymnastics, for which the suspension shall be one contest) in the sport from which the student/coach was ejected. If the ejection occurs in the last contest of the season, the student shall be ineligible for the same time in the next sport in which the student participates. If the ejection occurs in the last contest of the coach’s or student’s last sports season, the school shall take appropriate disciplinary action to impose a sanction proportionate to the penalties imposed by these rules and shall report that discipline to the VPA. The suspended student may not be in uniform. A student who is ejected a second time shall be suspended for the remainder of the season in that sport. A coach ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct shall receive the same suspension given to student-athletes. If suspended, a coach may NOT attend the contest. A student or coach who has been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct for the second time in a season shall be suspended for the remainder of the season in that sport.
  • Assault Upon Officials by Coaches: A coach who intentionally strikes, shoves, kicks, or makes another aggressive physical contact with an official before, during, or after an interscholastic contest, shall be disqualified immediately and his/her coach’s eligibility may be suspended for up to one full calendar year. A coach who is disqualified under this provision shall not coach in any contest, pending a hearing before the Activities Standards Committee. The Activities Standards Committee shall determine the length of the suspension, giving due consideration to all relevant factors, including the seriousness of the offense. At the end of any suspension, the coach may request the reinstatement of his/her eligibility. At this time, the Activities Standards Committee will place the request on their next meeting agenda, at which meeting the coach, athletic director, and principal are required to attend. The Activities Standards Committee will determine whether or not to reinstate the coach’s eligibility.
  • Assault Upon Officials by Students: Any member of the team who intentionally strikes, shoves, kicks, or makes other aggressive physical contacts with an official before, during, or after an interscholastic contest, shall be disqualified immediately and may be ineligible to participate in all sports for up to one full calendar year. A student who is disqualified under this provision shall not play in any contest, pending a hearing before the Activities Standards Committee. The Activities Standards Committee shall determine the length of the suspension, giving due consideration to all relevant factors, including the seriousness of the offense. NOTE: “Member of the team” is defined to include players, managers, scorekeepers, timers, and statisticians.
  • Assault Upon Coaches by Coaches: A coach who intentionally strikes, shoves or kicks, or makes other aggressive physical contact with another coach before, during, or after an interscholastic contest shall be disqualified immediately and their coach’s eligibility may be suspended for up to one calendar year. A coach who is disqualified under this provision shall not coach in any contest, pending a hearing before the Activities Standards Committee. The Activities Standards Committee shall determine the length of the suspension, giving due consideration to all relevant factors, including the seriousness of the offense. At the end of the suspension, the coach may request the reinstatement of their eligibility. At this time, the Activities Standards Committee will place the request on their next meeting agenda, at which meeting the coach and Principal are required to attend. The Activities Standards Committee will determine whether or not to reinstate the coach’s eligibility.
  • Enforcement: It is the responsibility of the local school to ensure this regulation is enforced. When a suspended student or coach is allowed to participate, forfeiture of the contest is mandatory. This regulation shall apply to all regular season and tournament contests.
  • The appeal of ejection orders: Judgment calls by officials ordering ejection shall be final. The only grounds for appeal from a suspension under this section shall be that the ejection was caused by gross misconduct by the official, or that the official has filed a written report stating that the ejection was erroneous. Unless a stay of the suspension is granted, by the Assistant Executive Director in his/her sole discretion, the suspension shall be immediately effective.

Appendix C: Concussion Resources:

Folder of Concussion Resources

Appendix D JV Rules:

Appendix E: Hate Speech Procedures

Hate Speech reported to site administrator or by an official, student, or coach:

  • Alert the officials to stop the game, alert site administrator(s), send teams to their benches (and/or designated team location), and bring both coaches, officials, and site administrator(s) together to discuss what was reported. Explain to all parties what was reported. 
  • Return coaches to their athletes to explain what was reported and the consequences that will be applied if the behaviors continue. 
  • Officials and site administrators should be in communication throughout the remainder of the game regarding alleged behaviors. 
  • The site administrator needs to contact the school administration and follow through with the school(s) involved for further investigation as needed and document the incident with the VPA. 
  • Officials should report the incident to their assigner at the conclusion of the contest. 

Hate Speech behavior reported to an official by a student or coach: 

  • Stop the game, send teams their benches, alert site management, and bring both coaches together to discuss what was reported. 
  • At the discretion of the site administrator, they can include a warning that if it continues, the contest will be terminated. 
  • Return coaches to their athletes to explain what was reported and the consequences that will be applied if the behaviors continue. 
  • In conclusion of the contest, the site administrator will report the incident to the opposing schools. Contact their administrators to notify them of what has happened if no administrator was present. Document the incident to the VPA.
  • Officials should report the incident to their assigner at the conclusion of the contest. 
  • If nothing is reported until after the contest, the coach informs their Athletic Director who relays information to the opposing school. The Athletic Director will document the incident to the VPA. 

Hate Speech behavior heard or seen by an official:

  • Apply NFHS rules as they should be enforced resulting in the appropriate penalty, which may include ejection from the game, meet, or competition. 
  • Speak with both coaches immediately regarding the incident that occurred.
  • Officials immediately alert event management of what has occurred so event management can follow through with the school(s) involved. 

Girls Lacrosse Scores

Boys Lacrosse Scores