Aloha Lacrosse Rules of Play

**All Players must complete the online player waiver prior to participation. Mouth guards (of any color/design) must be worn at all times along with appropriate equipment.** 

All Aloha Tournament events are smoke free, pet free and alcohol-free events. No grills, generators, noisemakers, or air horns are allowed.  Thank you for respecting our fans and players! 

RULES:

NFHS/USA Lacrosse/Modified NCAA rules with the following modifications and/or points of emphasis.

SAFETY

In the event of any inclement weather, extreme temperature, visibility issue and/or dangerous field conditions our Directors may recommend modifications to game time for safety reasons.

All rules will be in accordance with Current NCAA standards unless otherwise noted. Tournament will consist of pool play games and playoffs.

GAME TIME:

Playing time will consist of 2 twenty-minute running time halves with a 3-minute halftime.  Games will begin promptly.

One (1) 45 second timeout will be permitted in every game. The clock will stop for the timeout and it may be called at any time during the game.

Pool Play Overtime – There is no overtime in pool play. Each team will receive 1 point.

Playoff Overtime – In the event of a tie in the playoffs, overtime will consist of a 4-minute sudden victory overtime period followed by a 1v1 Brave Heart. If a goalie crosses the midfield line his teammate must stay onside. If a foul is committed, the offending player will be placed 5 yards behind the player with the ball.

Championship Overtime – Championship game will consist of unlimited 4-minute periods until a goal is scored. Each team will be awarded one time out and the clock will stop.

Club Boys Rules:

Games are running time, unless the Tournament Director communicates otherwise.

• • There will be no overtime in regulation games.
  • Penalties are running time starting on the whistle (30 or 60 Sec). Penalty time stops during injuries, time-outs, between quarters and halves, and while another penalty is being assessed. Penalties will not be time and a half

• FACEOFF RULES: No Motogrip, no Knee Down. Faceoff sticks require tape of a different color than your shaft

• • Substitutions will be on the fly only, except on a time serving penalty.  In that case the teams will have a quick substitution to get EMO or EMD on the field.
  • There will be no stick checks or requests by the opposing coaches. Sticks must meet either NCAA or NFHS standards.
  • No noise makers will be allowed at any field (horns, whistles, sirens, cowbells, etc.)  Offenders will be asked to leave the field.
  • Any player, fan or coach ejected from a game will be prohibited from competing in/coaching/watching his/her team’s next game. If a player/coach/fan is ejected for a second time he/she will be disqualified from the tournament.
  • Fighting is an automatic ejection from the game, and will be determined by the officiating crew of that game.
  • In the event of a forfeit, the winning team will be awarded 7 goals in reference to the 7 goal max differential. If a team forfeits a game, they will be ineligible for championship bracket play.
  • Official Scores will be kept by the field coordinator. Post game the field coordinator will certify the official score with both coaches and officials. Once scores are certified & reported they may not be challenged. If a dispute arises please call a tournament director to the field.  If a coach has concerns about the final score of a game, the coach should immediately bring the concern to the attention of the field coordinator and game referees prior to that score being reported to the tournament directors. Once reported, scores may not be challenged. Tournament Directors will only communicate with club directors and head coaches.
  • Substitution Box will be 10 yards in accordance with the 2019 NCAA rules.
  • Over and Back rules in effect. After offensive team touches ball in offensive zone, ball cannot cross midline.
  • No shot clock will be in effect, Officials will issue a stalling warning if the winning team is stalling, a timer on call will be assessed and the team has 30 seconds to get a shot on goal.

• MERCY RULE (Youth Divisions Only): Applied when there is a (7) goal deficit in pool play. Teams down by (7) or more goals will get a free clear after each goal. Coaches can agree to waive this rule. 

Boys 2024-2029 Rules:

• FACEOFF RULES: No Motogrip, no Knee Down. Faceoff sticks require tape of a different color than your shaft

• • Timeouts must be called on your offensive end in accordance with NCAA rules

• Clearing Counts of 20 seconds to cross midline and 10 seconds to advance the ball into the box. The leading team must keep it in the box with under 2 minutes left in the game if the opponent is within 3 goals.

• Quick Start: If an opposing player is within five yards of the player that has been awarded the ball, and the official blows the whistle to restart play, the opposing player is not allowed to defend the ball until he reaches a distance of five yards from the opponent. A violation will be a flag down (slow whistle) for delay of game.
• Over and Back rules in effect. After offensive team touches ball in offensive zone, ball cannot cross midline.
• No Crease Dives

Boys 2030 & Younger Rules:

• FACEOFF RULES: No Motogrip, no Knee Down. Faceoff sticks require tape of a different color than your shaft

• • No Counts. Exception is a 4 sec goalie count when clearing
  • No “take out” body checks. Body contact is allowed.
  • Sticks must be between 36″-72″
  • No Crease Dives
  • There will be no advancement rules

• FACEOFF RULES: No Motogrip, no Knee Down. Faceoff sticks require tape of a different color than your shaft

Club Girls Rules

All rules will be in accordance with NFHS 2020 Women’s Lacrosse rules (including self-start at all levels) with the following modifications:

• Playing time will consist of 2 twenty-minute running time halves, with a 3 minute halftime.

• Officials will keep score and control the time for these games.  Games will start promptly. Teams should be ready to play.

• Each team will receive one (1) 30-second time out with possession or after a goal, at which time the clock will stop. If a team does not return to the field in a prompt manner after the timeout they will either lose possession of the ball or be assessed a delay of game penalty.

• There will be no overtime.  At the end of the game, if the whistle has already blown to stop play for a major foul in the arc, a free position will be set up on the 8 meter arc and one shot, no pass, no rebound play will be permitted.  In this case only, if play is stopped by another major foul, the play will reset.

•  There will be no captains meeting or stick checks prior to the game.  First alternate possession will go to the light colored uniform team.

• No noise makers will be allowed at any field (horns, whistles, sirens, cowbells, etc.)  Offenders will be asked to leave the field.

• Fighting is an automatic ejection from the game, and will be determine by the officiating crew of that game

• Forfeits will be considered a 4-1 victory for the team that is prepared to play.

• Decisions on the field will be the final ruling.  No disputes will be heard after the game.

• Opposing teams are prohibited from post-game handshakes or crossing paths on the field after a game.

        11U, 13U, 2030, 2031

• There will be modified checking below the shoulder.

• The 3 second closely guarded rule will be in effect.*

• No pass requirement.

• No four goal differential possession at center.

• Follow-through into goal circle on shot not permitted.

        2027, 2028, 2029

• There will be full checking permitted.

• No pass requirement.

• No four goal differential possession at center.        

* The 3 second closely guarded rule:  If a defensive player is within a legal checking position (two hands on the stick in a way that could produce a legal check) of the player with the ball for 3 seconds, the whistle will be blown and the defensive player awarded the ball  (minor foul).

 All Levels

No deputy goalie allowed – no unprotected player is allowed in the goal circle at any time.

Roster Rules

• No player may compete, or be rostered, on more than one team during the tournament.

• No High School players are allowed on any team at any time.  This includes Fresh/Soph, JV and Varsity players.  Any team competing with High School players will forfeit all games in the tournament and will not be allowed to advance to the playoff rounds.

• 9U players must be born after August 31, 2013.

• 11U players must be born after August 31, 2011.

• 13U players must be born after August 31, 2009.

• 15U players must be born after August 31, 2007.

• Placement on a grade based team  (2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031/32) is dictated by the highest grade of any player on the team.

• Any violation of the tournament roster rules will result in forfeiture of any games in which the ineligible player participated and may result in disqualification from the tournament.

Scoring

Points will be awarded after each game in the following manner:

3 points for a win

1 points for a tie

0 points for a loss

Playoff Seeds

1) Head to Head

2) Goal differential (max 7 per game +/-)

3) Goals against

4) Coin flip.

In the event of a 3+ team tie, the tiebreaker process starts at step 2. Once a team is selected as winning the 3+ team tiebreaker. The process starts at step 1 once 2 teams are remaining.

LIGHTNING SAFETY:  Three (3) blasts of an air horn indicate LIGHTNING and all fields must be cleared IMMEDIATELY. Players and fans must go to the tournament’s designated safe shelter. Safe shelter is considered any fully enclosed building that involves plumbing and/or electrical wires that act to electrically ground the structure-places that people live or work.  If such a shelter cannot be found, take shelter in any vehicle with a hard metal roof and closed windows. No outdoor activities are to be resumed until 30 minutes after the last sign of lightning/thunder or the all-clear email has been received. For every strike observed, the 30-minute timer is reset. Five (5) blasts means the field is now open and play can resume.

HOT WEATHER SAFETY:  Tournament Director will monitor the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature. When indicated by the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, tournament game times will be modified to comply with current recommendations.

ISSUES OR CONCERNS

Tournament Directors will only communicate with Club Directors and/or head coaches serving as deputy club directors on site. 

WEATHER POLICY

In the event of adverse weather conditions, the tournament director reserves the right to:

• Reduce the game times in order to catch up with the schedule or cancel games as needed
• Finish games before inclement weather arrives or to preserve field conditions.
• Reschedule games, if possible.
• Convert tournament to a “Festival” format without playoffs or championships to provide the majority of the teams the opportunity to play as many games as possible.
• Every attempt will be made to update cancellations on the Aloha Tournaments website. However, weather conditions can change rapidly, and all teams should be prepared to play as soon as weather clears and fields are playable.

If thunder or lightning is observed at any location, play will be suspended immediately, and players and fans will be required to leave the field. Play will be allowed to resume 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or sight of lightning is observed.  If a game is in progress:

• The period will end immediately.
• If a game is in the second half of running time period the game will be considered final and the score at that point will be recorded.
• If a game is in the first half of running time when play resumes it will be the start of the second half of the running time period.
• Every attempt will be made to begin subsequent games on time. If the start of the second half of the suspended game delays the onset of the subsequent game the following actions will occur:
• The suspended game will play a 20 minute running time second half.

Subsequent games will begin immediately after the preceding games (teams will warm up on the sideline prior to the game). These games will consist of one 25 minute running time period until games are back on schedule.  Teams will have one 30 second timeout per game not to be used in the last two minutes of the  game (the clock will not stop during these timeouts).

• Once games are back on schedule, they will revert back to  25 minute running time periods.
• We will make every attempt to play every minute of every game, but we will not jeopardize the safety of any player.
• All games canceled due to weather will be considered a 4 – 2 win for both teams.

TOURNAMENT POLICIES 

All Aloha Tournament events are smoke free, pet free and alcohol free events. No grills, generators, drones, noisemakers or air horns are allowed.  Thank you for respecting our fans and players! 

CREDIT & REFUND POLICY** 

INVOLUNTARY CANCELLATION POLICY – WEATHER, FACILITY CLOSURE, COVID-19, ETC. 

Deposits are non-refundable for all Aloha Tournaments Lacrosse team events. Teams attending an Aloha Tournaments Lacrosse team event must pay an initial deposit with the full balance due in full 60 days prior to the event. If an event is involuntarily cancelled, teams paid in full will be offered a 90% credit or a 50% refund of their paid in full balance. Those teams not paid in full (deposit only or partial balance) will receive a 50% credit of the balance paid. Credits or refunds will be processed a minimum of 60 days after the event. Aloha Tournaments Lacrosse will not be responsible for any ancillary or related expenses incurred by any individual, team, club or organization if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part. 

VOLUNTARY CANCELLATION POLICY – TEAM CHOOSES TO WITHDRAW 

Deposits are non-refundable for all Aloha Tournaments Lacrosse team events. Teams attending an Aloha Tournaments Lacrosse team event must pay an initial deposit with the final balance due in full 60 days prior to the event. If a team that has paid in full wishes to withdraw and submits a request at least 60 days prior to the scheduled event date, Aloha Tournaments Lacrosse will issue a full credit less the initial deposit amount or a full refund less the initial deposit amount. No credit or refund requests of any kind will be granted if a cancelation is made less than 60 days prior to the scheduled event date. Credits or refunds will be processed a minimum of 60 days after the date of the request to withdraw. Aloha Tournaments Lacrosse will not be responsible for any ancillary or related expenses incurred by any individual, team, club or organization if the team wishes to withdraw in whole or in part. 

REFUND POLICY 

• No refunds will be issues for any team that is disqualified due to a violation of roster or tournament rules. 
• No refunds will be issued for games cancelled for forfeits, no shows, etc. 

• No refunds will be issued for games shortened or cancelled due to weather. 
• No refunds will be issued for playoff or championship games canceled due to weather.