Originally Posted by Anonymous
Does anyone the exact middles school lax rules? I hear that most schools play 5 quarter games but my sons team only played 2 5 quarter games last year and 1 this year. The other games were normal 4 quarter games where the best players played most if not all of the game.
The responses regarding team size are largely on target. If you go to BOTC's Rules and Regulations Forum, you will find the NYSPHSAA Handbook for 2012-2014. Starting on Page 133 in the Handbook, you will find complete coverage of Modified Sports.

In part, you will find the following:

6. EXTENDED PLAYING TIME: Eligibility for play in an extended playing time should be determined on the basis of the following participation standards:
a) Players with no participation in the regular game/contest should be eligible for play in an extended playing time.
b) Players whose participation in the regular contest was limited, i.e., their total participation was no more than one-half of the regular playing periods/quarters shall also be eligible for play in an extended playing time.
c) Limited participation shall be further defined to mean that entry into a playing period rather than actual playing time shall constitute "participation" in the regulation contest.

Optional Plan for use at the league or Section level: If a team has fewer than the minimum number of players to play the 5 period concept the following game rules will apply.

A 4 quarter game will be played with the number of minutes being increased for each quarter (see chart); however no player may play more than 3 quarters (*see exception). This will apply provided the team has a sufficient numbers of players so as not to exceed the NYSPHSAA regulated playing time allocation for each sport (see following chart).

The table mentioned has the following information.

Boys Lacrosse
Time Limit - Regulation Game : 9 Minute Quarters
Time Limit - Five Period Play : 9 Minute Periods
Time Limit - Four Quarter, Extended Play : 11 Minute Quarters
Minimum Number Of Players Needed for Extended Four Quarter Play : 14

Girls Lacrosse
Time Limit - Regulation Game : 25 Minute Halves
Time Limit - Five Period Play : 12 Minute Periods
Time Limit - Four Quarter, Extended Play : 15 Minute Quarters
Minimum Number Of Players Needed for Extended Four Quarter Play : 16

In boys’ and girls’ lacrosse and in girls' field hockey, if a team has only one goal keeper that goal keeper may play in all periods of 4 Quarter Extended Play or in all periods of 5 Period Play. Except for the goal keeper, the "time" allocated for the game will not be extended. All players except for the goal keeper will follow the 4 quarter or 5 periods extended playing time format and are therefore only eligible to play 3 periods.