Lacrosse Rules and Procedures

_(2011-2012)

GENERAL INFORMATION:

A. Lacrosse is a classified event with two state championships (AAAAA and the combined AAAA/AAA/AA/A).

B. All Lacrosse games will be played according to the rules published by the National Federation (boys) or US Lacrosse (girls) with such GHSA modifications as may be found in this section.

C. Notification of entry in Lacrosse must be filed in writing with the GHSA office no later than April 1, for the upcoming school year so that teams may be placed in Areas for competition.

D. The number of Lacrosse matches allowed will be 18 (head-to-head or tournament competition) not including Area and other post-season competition. Beginning and ending dates for practice and competition can be found at the front of this publication.

E. All GHSA Lacrosse matches shall be played with either one or two officially-dressed officials who are registered under the GHSA plan for registration of officials.

F. In accordance with GHSA By-Laws, only one night before a school day per week may be used with competitions beginning at 6:00 p.m. or later.

1. For evening games, a single game must begin no later than 7:30 p.m.

2. For evening games, a double-header must begin no later than 6:00 p.m.

G. Sub-varsity matches will be limited as follows:

1. Boys will play four 10-minute quarters.

2. Girls will play two 20-minute halves.

3. No overtimes will be played in sub-varsity competition.

H. When there is a competitive imbalance between two teams in a contest, the match will be shortened as follows:

1. If a team is ten (10) or more goals down at halftime, the second half will be played with a running clock that will stop only for timeouts.

2. If a team is ten (10) or more goals down at any point in the second half, the match will be played from that point with a running clock that will only stop for timeouts.

3. If the team that is behind in the second half draws within ten (10) goals, the match will return to normal clock operation.

I. Matches that are tied at the end of regulation will be handled according to the procedures outlined in the proper rule book as follows:

1. BOYS: Any match that ends in a tie will be resolved by playing a sudden death overtime period as outlined in Rule 3-4 of the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Book.

2. GIRLS: Regular season matches between teams of different Lacrosse classifications that are tied at the end of regulation play will end in a tie. For teams of the same Lacrosse classification, overtime will be played according to overtime rules published by US Lacrosse and endorsed by the NFHS.

(a) The teams will play two (2) overtime periods of three (3) minutes each.

(b) If the score is tied at the end of the second overtime period, a third overtime period will be played and the first team to score will be declared the winner.

(c) This format will also be used in all tournaments where advancement is necessary.

J. Teams arriving late for a scheduled contest by thirty (30) minutes or more shall forfeit the match, and shall be responsible for payment of the officials unless prior arrangements are made in a timely manner. Consideration will be given to emergency situations over which the traveling school has no control. The host school has the responsibility of notifying the officials of any changes in the schedule.

AREA COMPETITION:

A. Each Area shall have a written tie-breaker procedure in order to seed teams for the playoffs.

B. An Area may choose to use the GHSA tie-breaker procedure:

1. Winning percentage against all teams in the Area

2. Head-to-head competition among the teams that are tied

3. Goals allowed in head-to-head competition between teams that are tied

4. Goal differential in head-to-head competition between teams that are tied (maximum of 10 goals per game).

5. Goals allowed in all Area games

6. Goal differential in all Area games (maximum of 10 goals per game).

7. Winning percentage against all teams in the same Lacrosse classification.

8. At any point in the process where ties can be broken so that only two teams remain tied, consideration of head- to-head competition will be invoked. If the tie is completely broken for all teams involved at any step in the process, the tie-breaker process is completed

C. If the Area is subdivided, then the same tie-breaker procedure should be used for both subregions.

POST-SEASON COMPETITION:

A. If championship matches end with a tie score, the rulebook procedure for breaking that tie is followed (see Lacrosse Section I).

B. Admission must be charged for all playoff games and the admission fee is $7.00.

C. Finances:

1. The GHSA will receive 12% of the gross gate receipts.

2. Officials will be paid out of the gate receipts.

3. The visiting team's mileage will be paid at .80 per mile one way.

4. Any remaining receipts will be shared by the participating teams.

5. Host school(s) will be responsible for security, facility fees, maintenance costs, etc., and these expenses will not be taken out of gate receipts.

D. In order to host a state playoff match, the host school must be able to provide the following:

1. seating for 700 attendees (calculated at 24 inches per seat)

2. adequate restroom facilities for the size of the crowd

3. a dressing room or locker room for the visiting team

E. The GHSA Coordinator for Lacrosse is Jay Watts, Westminster School (404-609-6276 or e-mail at jaywatts@westminster.net).