BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums LACROSSE LIBRARY RULES & REGULATIONS Revised 2012 Youth Rules

According to US Lacrosse, a major over-haul of youth rules are to be implemented in 2012

http://www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav2Right/Rules/YouthRules2012.aspx

August 2011
The US Lacrosse Sports Science and Safety Committee finalizes its position paper. Taking into account input from the lacrosse and medical communities, the men’s and women’s game rules subcommittees forward age-appropriate, national playing rules for youth boys’ lacrosse and youth girls’ lacrosse to the US Lacrosse Men’s and Women’s Game Committees, respectively. The Men’s Game Committee schedules an Aug. 18 vote on the boys’ rules. The Women’s Game Committee schedules an Aug. 25 vote on the girls’ rules. Game subcommittees begin working with staff to drive adoption of the youth rules through youth leagues and tournaments across the country. US Lacrosse schedules a photo and video shoot for the new youth rules and best practices guidebooks.

September 2011
Lacrosse Magazine updates the US Lacrosse membership on the project. The US Lacrosse Board of Directors meeting is set for Sept. 10-11 in Baltimore, and included on the agenda is a vote on the new youth rules as approved by the Men’s and Women’s Game Committees in August. Passage by the board would then move the project into the implementation phase for the spring 2012 season. Rules are scheduled to be published in various US Lacrosse media. Production on new youth rules and best practices guidebooks for boys and girls is scheduled to begin. Approved US Lacrosse youth rules also will be published in the NFHS boys’ lacrosse rule book and in the US Lacrosse Official Rules for Girls’ and Women’s Lacrosse book.

Fall 2011
Lacrosse Magazine and other US Lacrosse media continue their coverage of the new youth rules, including rule changes and video instruction posted to uslacrosse.org.

December 2011 - January 2012
US Lacrosse member youth coaches, officials, administrators and parents receive, as an additional benefit of membership, the youth rules and best practices guidebooks. The books will be available for free to the general public in PDF format on uslacrosse.org.

Spring/Summer 2012
All 2012 US Lacrosse youth events would be played under the new rules.

Does anyone know if these rules are posted for public viewing? I read the issue of age or grade was to be addressed.

Any further info available?

Thanks

Here is an update with highlights below.

http://www.laxmagazine.com/high_sch...mens_game_committee_approves_youth_rules

The boys' youth rules include language governing play on the field, such as a reduction in the distance in which legal checks, holds and pushes may occur from 5 yards to 3 yards, and equipment, such as a requirement that goalies wear cups and the elimination of long crosses at the U9 level. Among other highlights include a removal of take-out checks and blind side hits and considerable penalty time for any check involving the head or neck.

"Many of the rules adjustments will help foster player development, and that's something we'll gladly incorporate into the US Lacrosse Coaching Education Program going forward," said Chris Snyder, manager of coaches education and training at US Lacrosse.

Off the field, one noteworthy section of the rules deals with team organization. Youth leagues will organize teams by age, with Aug. 31 as a cutoff date.

"Under the old way of fielding teams by grade, in some cases you could have kids as many as four years apart competing together," Silcott said. "That type of circumstance is greatly reduced when organizing by age, and doing so also aligns us with the rules of the Federation of International Lacrosse."

Lacrosse Magazine will continue to follow the progress of the rules passage online and in future print editions. A vote on youth girls' lacrosse rules by the US Lacrosse Women's Game Committee is scheduled for Monday evening. For more information on US Lacrosse's youth rules and best practices initiative, visit the project's homepage at uslacrosse.org.

Dear 429lax and Readers,

Thank you very much for covering this information. Again to our readers, you can get an overview on the Youth Rules initiative at the following link:

http://www.uslacrosse.org/youthrules2012

Note that the following information helps guide where the groupings of changes will be focused :

Nearly nine months of work to improve the playing experience in youth boys' lacrosse paid off Friday when the US Lacrosse Men's Game Committee voted unanimously to adopt age-appropriate, national playing rules. The vote sends the initiative to the US Lacrosse Board of Directors' meeting Sept. 10-11, and adoption by the board at that time would implement the rules for the 2012 season.

The youth rules emphasize the proper development of individual stick skills, team play, player safety and sportsmanship, and they will govern play at the U15, U13, U11 and U9 age levels.

More information is included here :

The boys' youth rules include language governing play on the field, such as a reduction in the distance in which legal checks, holds and pushes may occur from 5 yards to 3 yards, and equipment, such as a requirement that goalies wear cups and the elimination of long crosses at the U9 level. Among other highlights include a removal of take-out checks and blind side hits and considerable penalty time for any check involving the head or neck.

Again, we will continue to follow this story.

Sincerely, CageSage

Here is some more age requirement info for teams interested in attending the US Lacrosse Regional Championships

http://www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav2Right/Events/2012USLRegionalChampionships/AgeRequirement.aspx

A player may participate in more than one (1) Regional Championship as long as he/she meets the age requirements.

Age Requirement
All US Lacrosse youth events in 2012 will feature the age-appropriate, national playing rules for youth boys’ lacrosse and youth girls’ lacrosse to be adopted by the US Lacrosse Board of Directors at its Sept. 10-11, 2011, meeting. The board vote will conclude roughly a nine-month research, development and rules-writing process that included input nationally from youth lacrosse players, coaches, officials, administrators and parents and from the US Lacrosse Sports Science and Safety Committee. The new youth lacrosse rules will be published in various US Lacrosse media following the vote.

Proof of Age
All 2012 Regional Championship participants, in U11, U13, and U15 divisions, are required to submit to US Lacrosse a copy of a proof of age document in order to be eligible to participate in this event.

Acceptable proof of age documents:
• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• School ID (if date of birth is present on ID)

Proof of age documents should be faxed (410-889-0744) or e-mailed to Shannon Minter AFTER the parent/legal guardian completes a player medical waiver.

How are the U-age groups dated for the purposes of proof? In other words, what are the dates associated with these age groups. BOTC has been searching for those details and have come up empty.

It would be great for a US Lacrosse representative to confirm this, but as I understand it..........

Based on this link:
http://www.laxmagazine.com/high_sch...ens_game_committee_approves_youth_rules.

US Lacrosse will implement a new cut off date of August 31. This is a change from December 31.

This would mean that you must be under the age of the group as of August 31 prior to the next season. This is based on how they calculated previously as shown in this link:
http://www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav2Right/Rules/MensRules/BoysRules.aspx

For U-11 2012, the player must be 10 or under as of 8/31/2011.

For U-13 2012, the player must be 12 or under as of 8/31/2011

For U-15 2012, the player must be 14 or under as of 8/31/2011

There are many tournaments that do not follow these guidelines nor do they have to. However, to be sanctioned by US Lacrosse these guidelines must be used.

The Women's Game Committee has followed suit with the Men's Committee in applying recommended Youth Rule Changes.

http://www.laxmagazine.com/high_sch...board_to_vote_on_youth_girls_initiative.

"One of the biggest changes for some leagues for 2012 will be grouping teams by age instead of their grade in school. US Lacrosse member leagues and tournaments should field U15, U13, U11 and U9 teams based on the age of the player, with Aug. 31 the cutoff date. For example, all players on a U13 team must be 12 years old or younger on Aug. 31 of the preceding year."

LI Metro Lax Foundation advised it could not comment until proceedings from this weekends US Lacrosse meetings were finalized.

As anticipated, US Lacrosse voted in new Youth Rules for the 2012 season

http://www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav/NewsandMedia/PressReleases/USLAdoptsAgeAppropriateYouthRules.aspx

Here are some highlights:

Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse
Leagues and tournaments should field U15, U13, U11 and U9 teams based on the age of the player, with Aug. 31 the cutoff date. For example, all players on a U13 team must be 12 years old or younger on Aug. 31 of the preceding year.


BOYS
The distance from a player to a loose ball within which legal stick checks, holds, body checks and pushes may occur will be reduced from 5 yards to 3 yards at all age levels.

At the U13, U11 and U9 levels, any one-handed check will be considered a slash, regardless if the attempt makes contact with the opposing player.

A U15 or a U13 player that accumulates four personal fouls or five minutes in personal foul penalty time will be disqualified. At the U11 and U9 level, three personal fouls would warrant disqualification.

[b][/b]

US Lacrosse Adopts Age-Appropriate Youth Rules

Dated : September 16th, 2011

BALTIMORE - The US Lacrosse Board of Directors voted Saturday to approve age-appropriate, national playing rules for youth boys' lacrosse and youth girls' lacrosse, as recommended by the US Lacrosse Men's and Women's Game committees, respectively. The vote implements the rules for the 2012 season, including the annual US Lacrosse Regional and National Championships slated for June and July, respectively.

"Ensuring a positive youth lacrosse experience remains at the core of US Lacrosse's operations, and passage of the youth rules represents an important first step in moving the youth game from good to great," said Lee Stevens, chair of the US Lacrosse Board of Directors.

The youth rules and accompanying best practices emphasize the proper development of individual stick skills, team play, player safety and sportsmanship, and they will govern play at the U15, U13, U11 and U9 age levels. The research and development effort included those most closely involved in the youth game among US Lacrosse staff and volunteers, multiple rounds of surveys that reflected current rules and opinions of over 170,000 constituents in youth lacrosse, and input from the US Lacrosse Sports Science and Safety Committee.

"This has been an exhaustive team effort by many stakeholders in youth lacrosse," said Ann Carpenetti, managing director of game administration at US Lacrosse. "We wanted to level the playing field of youth lacrosse across the nation and bring the focus to player development and safety."

US Lacrosse has held or scheduled meetings with youth leagues around the country regarding the best practices and newly approved rules. Among the leagues already on board are the Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League and the Mass Bay Girls Lacrosse League, which total more than 1,000 teams and 21,000 players.

"We're very supportive as a league," said Tom Spangenberg, president of the Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League. "Having US Lacrosse unify a set of rules that are geared towards safety, sportsmanship, fair play and fun is a good thing. US Lacrosse is the right place for it to come from."

The youth rules and best practices will be published in various US Lacrosse media, including a new guidebook that will be distributed as a member benefit to coaches, officials, administrators and parents. Below are selected highlights from the rules passed by the US Lacrosse Board of Directors:

Boys' and Girls' Lacrosse

Leagues and tournaments should field U15, U13, U11 and U9 teams based on the age of the player, with Aug. 31 the cutoff date. For example, all players on a U13 team must be 12 years old or younger on Aug. 31 of the preceding year.

Boys' Lacrosse

US Lacrosse made a number of amendments to the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations (NFHS) boys' lacrosse rules. Play not specifically addressed by an amendment will still be governed by NFHS rules.

The minimum stick length at the U11 and U9 levels will decrease from 40 to 37 inches (maximum of 42 inches). Long poles will be prohibited at the U9 level, and they will not be recommended for U11. Strings or leathers will be limited to a hanging length of 2 inches. All goalies will be required to wear arm pads and a protective cup.

At the U9 level, given mutual agreement of the teams, one coach per team may step onto the field during play to provide instruction.

Depending on the age level, the length of game quarters may vary from 10 minutes of stop time (U15, U13) to eight minutes of stop time (U11) to 12 minutes of running time (U9). In the last two minutes of regulation at the U11 and U9 age levels only, rules dictating that the offensive team must keep the ball in the attack zone will be waived. However, game officials may warn against and penalize stalling tactics. Also in the U11 and U9 divisions, should the score differential become four or more goals, the trailing team will be given the ball at midfield following a goal (unless the trailing team opts for a standard faceoff).

The defensive 20-second count and the offensive 10-second count will not be used in U11 and U9 play.

The distance from a player to a loose ball within which legal stick checks, holds, body checks and pushes may occur will be reduced from 5 yards to 3 yards at all age levels.

Violent, purposeful collisions, particularly those targeted at unsuspecting players and that feature one player intentionally putting another player on the ground or inflicting injury, will be prohibited at all age levels. This would include an illegal body check on a player in a defenseless position - one whose blind side is exposed to the hit, who has his head turned for a pass or who has his head down playing a loose ball. Body checking will be prohibited at the U11 and U9 age levels.

At the U13, U11 and U9 levels, any one-handed check will be considered a slash, regardless if the attempt makes contact with the opposing player.

Honoring the game remains an important part of the youth lacrosse experience, and US Lacrosse added examples of unsportsmanlike conduct - including verbal language and body language - that may be penalized by game officials.

A U15 or a U13 player that accumulates four personal fouls or five minutes in personal foul penalty time will be disqualified. At the U11 and U9 level, three personal fouls would warrant disqualification.

In games where running time is used, penalties also will be running time and will begin with the resumption of play whistle. Penalty time will stop for all timeouts and end of periods. At the U9 level only, the offending player must leave the field for his designated penalty time, but a substitute should enter at the time of the penalty. There will be no extra-man situations at the U9 level.

Girls' Lacrosse

Full checking will be allowed at the U15 level as long as there are two officials assigned to the game, one of which must at least have a Local rating. Modified checking (below the shoulder) is allowed at the U13 level. No checking is allowed at the U9 or U11 level.

At the U9 and U11 levels, the field shall be rectangular, 60-70 yards in length and 30-40 yards in width. Fields should be marked with 8-meter arc, goal circle and center circle. Standard size fields will be used at U13 and U15 levels.

An initiated or non-incidental check to the head is a mandatory red card at the U15 level. At the U13, U11 and U9 levels, checks to the head will result in yellow cards.

Mesh stringing is allowed only for goalie sticks and the maximum stick length for goalies is now 52 inches.

The deputy (allowing a field player to enter the goal circle in place of the goalie) has been eliminated at all youth levels.

At the U9 level, one coach from each team is allowed on the field to instruct players. At the U11 and U13 levels, coaching are permitted along the length of the field, going behind their opponent's bench. At the U15 level, coaches are allowed from the substitution area to the end line on their own half of the field.

U9 and U11 games will play 20 minutes halves (maximum). U13 and U15 games will play 25 minutes halves (maximum).

If a team is ahead by four goals, the team with fewer goals gets possession at the center of the field and this player may run or pass, but may not shoot unless another player has played the ball. The team with fewer goals may choose to start with a draw.

For more information about US Lacrosse's youth game initiative, visit www.uslacrosse.org/youthrules2012.

Does anyone have an opinion on how this will change the structure of current travel teams?? ie. will the 2015 Yellow Jackets Blue team be changed to the Yellow Jackets U15 Blue, then what happens to the 2016 Blue team as they also qualify as a U15 team, do they become the Yellow Jackets U15 "Light Blue" team.
I would rather see teams in each age range as is done locally in soccer ie. U12, U13, U14 etc..

I think the new age rules will have a modest impact for now but maybe more so in the future. Not all tournaments are US Lacrosse sponsored so their own rules apply. As more US Lacrosse events become more popular (U15 Nationals) a tendency to follow it's guidelines will become prevalent.

Since lacrosse is so popular on LI, I believe travel teams will stay with the graduation year format. The main reason is for college recruiting. After 15 it is all High School rules. In my opinion they should have U14 and under for Youth and keep it completely away from High School age.

"If a team is ahead by four goals, the team with fewer goals gets possession at the center of the field and this player may run or pass, but may not shoot unless another player has played the ball. The team with fewer goals may choose to start with a draw."
I like and hate this rule at the same time. It's a popular town team leauge thing to do and most good tournaments don't allow it (I can't believe US Lacrosse is supporting this). But I do see the value in giving a less competitive team a break. However it should have no place in any tournament as I have seen many games where teams have come back from 4, 5, 6 goals down and win without taking posession without a face off. I think that if the team that is losing by 4 or more goals elects to take posession without a faceoff, they should forfiet the right to "win" the game and potentially go to a playoff game. Or god forbid if it happens in a playoff game, it's just an advantage given to one team and not the other, and in the spirit of fair rules should never happen in a real tournament.

USL Rule Changes for HS-G, Non-Varsity College

BALTIMORE, Sept. 30, 2011 - US Lacrosse has announced rule changes for high school girls' and non-varsity college women's lacrosse. The changes take effect for the 2012 season following their approval by the US Lacrosse Board of Directors at its September meeting.

Age-appropriate, national rules for youth girls' lacrosse were previously announced here. The US Lacrosse Women's Game Rules Subcommittee researches, develops and authors rules for all levels of women's lacrosse played in the United States with the exception of NCAA and international competition.

A summary of the major changes and points of emphasis for high school girls' and non-varsity college women's lacrosse rules:

Checking
• A player may not check towards the body. (In 2011, checks towards the body were allowed as long as the check was deemed controlled and did not cause the crosse or ball to go into the sphere, which is defined as the roughly 7-inch perimeter around a player's head).

Sphere
• Defensive players may not reach into the sphere to make a check.

• Offensive players will not be permitted to hold their crosses in the sphere so that a check cannot be made. (This is not a rule change, but a change in emphasis).

Cross Checking
• A point of emphasis in 2012 will be that the use of a player's shaft to hit, push or displace an opponent will not be permitted. (Previously, this foul was included under the Illegal Use of the Crosse section, but will now be stressed in its own category.)

Carding Changes
• Any player or coach receiving two yellow cards will be suspended from the rest of the game. They may both participate in the next game. (Under the 2011 rules, anyone receiving two yellow cards would have been ineligible to participate in the team's next game).

• A suspended player must remain in her team's bench area for the entire game, including on-field, pregame, game or postgame activities. If a player is suspended from her team's next game because of a red card, that player may not be dressed in her game uniform for the next game. (Previously, a two-game suspension was served for a red card.)

• When a card has been issued, a player must leave the field for two minutes. Her team must play short in both the offensive and defensive ends of the field. This penalty is non-releasable.

• Upon receiving a fourth yellow card, a team must play short in both their offensive and defensive ends of the field for the remainder of the game. (Previously, a team played short upon receiving a third yellow card.)

Team Foul for Offsides
• When the offensive team commits an offsides violation, the defender closest to the ball will be awarded a free position at that spot (no closer than 8 meters to the goal circle). The attack player that had the ball will go 4 meters behind, and the attacker closest to the restraining line will move back onside. Previously, the defensive team was awarded the ball 4 meters outside of the restraining line.

Does anybody know if the 2012 youth rules will apply to the elite travel teams or is it intended for club programs like PAL?

proof of age is a long time coming. teams running short of players should be required to provide rosters with photo I.D. with date of birth on a card for each kid playong sub or reg. roster. this playing up and down is totally unethical dangerous and unfair. playing up is ok if everyond concerned is aware that kids are younger and less experienced, take it easy. and only in fun games. not tournaments. to play down is like putting a ringer in a tourney to winn. a goalie that is a year or yr. and half older then the others, thats now a win its a rip off. we need simply a dard with players pix, date of birth and team affiliation. lacrosse gets enough bad press. some owners have a and b teams and have a team play more of the b teams games the b players. ripping off parents and players now integrity.

Same logic apply s to the two pass rule , a team may not score a few goals because they have to make two passes. I think these rules are fine for PAL games and PAL tournaments, I would not apply them to elite teams in outside competition for the reason you stated above

Can someone please clarify - are "5th graders" participating in U11 tournaments next summer or U13? It seems there will be many kids in 5th grade that will turn 11 years old before the tournament season begins - which appears will make them ineligible under the new rules.

all depends on their DOB.

11 before 8.31.12 is u13 (or 5th grade if it is a grade tournament not U tournament).

11 after 8.31.12 is U11 or what ever grade they are in

real question is what are they in any fall 12 tournaments

As per US Lacrosse-
Spring 2013 Age Grouping Quick Reference Table
Birthdate Age Bracket
Born on or after 9/1/1997 U15
Born on or after 9/1/1999 U13
Born on or after 9/1/2001 U11
Born on or after 9/1/2003 U9

Sorry, hoping someone can further clarify? My son is born 8/31/01, this means he has to play u13? If so is their a governing body as my son is not trying out for u13, he is trying out with his friends in u11.

Per the rules if he is born on 8/31/01 - he is not born on or after 9/1/01. So he qualifies for U11. Good question - is there a governing body like soccer, baseball reviewing age requirements for teams entering tournaments?

Huh, if he is born on 8/31/12 then u13, makes him youngest. Like it our not.

Governing body doubt anyone's looking,

I don't think I have ever filled in a form with dob/age, so I doubt it. You just need to live with any possible consequences if you ever get called on it. That being said, no one should call you on it, unless you really crossed someone.

A Question in regards to the Nassau County NY PAL Lacrosse League:

We have a player who participates in this league - His birthdate is in June of O4 (8yo) - For reasons we don't know - he is currently back in the 2nd grade (Should be 3rd grade) - In regards to the PAL rules, which were very vague -- Should he register for the 2nd grade division (once again) or the 3rd grade division? - We would like to be official, as well as ethical in this matter…… to be fair to the boy himself and to the boys he will be playing against - Might we add, the boy is a top tier player who would far exceed most players currently registering for the 1st/2nd grade division (Spring 2013) -- As far as 'Official PAL' rules - does 'age' supersede 'grade'?? -- Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated - thank you

Nassau County PAL Lacrosse See rules/regs

I think you need to speak to the parents first.

Any educator will tell you, you need to take the child's development into consideration (and I dont mean athletically).

How has the transition of being held back a year been for the child. Has the child played in any other sport? and how was that handled by the child (since soccer or football is generally age based).

For the child's benefit it maybe best to keep him in the year he is currently in. The school and the parents will have the answer NOT PAL. I hope PAL agrees.

ARTICLE II
AGE REQUIREMENTS
For both Girls and Boys under the Age Requirements
1. a. Freshman Division (A no CONTACT division) See Page 13
The Freshman Division will consist of 1st and 2nd graders only, age 6-7 years old. In no case will
a Kindergarten and below or a 3rd grader and above participate in this division. This is a NON
COMPETITIVE and TRAINING DIVISION ONLY!
b. Junior Division:
Resolved that the Junior Division will consist of players from the third and fourth grade ONLY, ages
8 and 9 with some 10 year olds. In no cases will an 11 year old player be allowed to play in the
Junior Division. In no case will a second grader, regardless of age, be allowed to play in the Junior
Division.

What I am asking - if a PAL official could chime in - does age supersede grade?? I know this is a fact for all US Lacrosse sanctioned leagues/tourneys - but,as you can see from the above post - not too sure of the PAL rules - the child's development is fine and is a really good kid.....in my opinion has his head on his shoulders more than most kids on the team - I have heard the 2nd grade coach is pushing to have him on the 2nd grade team, but the boy will easily 'run around' 99 percent of that division - size and skill - I know if this boy was playing against 'my' team......and running over 'my' boys - I would not be too happy - nor would my parents

As a parent of 3 young lacrosse players I applauded the renewed emphasis on hits to the head and helmet. Unfortunately I have seen no changes in the way games are officiated. i am appalled at the lack of enforcement, especially at the travel level. It seem that if a hit or stick to the helmet doesnt alter play, more often than not it is overlooked and players are told to play on. enforcement needs to be strict and zero tolerance at all levels. Too many young players are getting injured and our game of speed and finesse may be altered forever. I implore coaches and directors at all levels to adopt a zero tolerance policy and practice what we preach. The game will be the better for it.

Zero Tolerance? I am wondering if you ever played yourself? I am all about protecting kids but show me any article anywhere about a "brush" to the helmet hurting a child. Cut the refs some slack. It is usually obvious which checks have potential to hurt someone.

Maybe lacrosse isn't the sport for you and your kids. Everyone knows how the game is played when you sign your kid up. If you don't it doesn't take very long to figure out that it's a rough sport with lots to contact. No one likes to see a kid get hurt and violaters should be delt with . But lets not confuse incodental contact with dirty play . I have been hit with balls , sticks , shoulders, you name it. I have also suffered 2 concussions, 1 in football, and 1 in lax, and I will tell you it is harder than you think to receive a cuncussion. Please don't distroy lacrosse with this zero tolerance, soccer mom B.S.

Actually I played 3 years of D1 ball and went to two final fours. What's your lacrosse resume, 1 year of a non competitive HS with no talent and now your the guy screaming on the sidelines like you have a clue. But I digress.
The brushes and hits to the head at the younger levels turn into vicious intentional fouls at the older levels. Youth players need to learn to keep the sticks low, play positional defense with the feet and keep the game clean. We need to change the culture not encourage it. I was at a tournament watching 2021 and 2022 kids parents screaming and applauding violent checks that drew penalties. Seriously, if you want to play football go ahead.

Thuggery is the only way that less skillful players can play with skilled players. As we have seen in hockey the game without the thuggery is a better game when played with skill players. The same goes for lacrosse. Strictly enforce the stick fouls and you will see the unskilled "enforcer" be replaced by the skilled player.

If thats your feeling than why not advocatocate for the removal of helmets. If there is going to be a a zero tolerance policy for any contact to the head then you don't need them. Implment the girls rules.as.the standard for all lacrosse. And as a side note I also played D1 lacrosse for 4 years, though I never made the tournament. So whats your point. Does that mean you don't sound like a sissy . Hits to the head are going to happen especially at the younger ages when they don't have the self control as older players, and they should be delt with on a case by case basis. Most hits to the head are grazing and harmless. Flagerant hits should be delt with harshly at all levels of play. Get the wad out of your pantys and teach kids how to play the game the correct way and stop crying for more rules.