CONNYLACROSSE
CONNECTICUT NEW YORK YOUTH LACROSSE ASSOCIATION
2007 BOYS RULES of PLAY
The National Federation of State High School Associations 2007 Boys Lacrosse Rules Book shall govern play, except as herein amended.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HOME TEAM

a. In the event that the uniform jerseys of two teams are too close in color, the home team should supply and wear contrasting color jerseys. These may be unnumbered mesh practice jerseys.
b. The home team will supply all equipment for the officials (i.e., horn, clock/stopwatches, etc.).
c. The home team has the responsibility to provide at least one certified CT or NY high school official or college official at each CONNY league game. In the event that certified high school or college officials are not available, the head coaches of the teams scheduled to play may agree on non-certified officials such as high school coaches in the states of Connecticut or New York or other qualified persons. Each team shall select one official. In the event both teams elect to play without certified officials, the game will be a binding league game. NOTE: If both teams do not agree to play without certified officials, failure to provide a certified official is not grounds for a forfeit; member programs should make every effort to reschedule the game.
d. High school students may serve as officials so long as they (1) work with an otherwise qualified adult official and (2) are in a grade at least three ahead of the players in the game (e.g., at least an 11th grader for a Senior game). Under no circumstances will high school students be the only officials working a Junior or Senior game. CONNY recommends that high school student officials complete a USLacrosse apprentice officials clinic before working CONNY games.
e. Unless both head coaches agree otherwise before the game, no game official may be a parent or member of the immediate family of a player in the contest, even if that parent or family member is in other respects qualified (i.e., is a certified official).

RULE 1-2-11 Spectator and Media Restrictions

Paragraphs “a-c” are unchanged. Add Paragraph “d.”
d. Spectators must be on the side of the field opposite the bench area or in permanent stands separated from the bench area by a barrier and a buffer distance such as a track.

RULE 1-6 Crosse-Dimensions
RULE 2-1 Number Designation of Players
RULE 5-4 Illegal Crosse

In Junior play only, a long crosse shall be 43 to 60 inches and a team may have a maximum of only three players using long crosses, not counting the goalkeeper’s crosse, in the game at any time. Also in Junior play only, a player who uses a crosse shorter than 40 inches shall, if the crosse is challenged, be required to remove it from play with no further penalty assessed.

RULE 1-9 Player Equipment

ARTICLE 1, Paragraphs a & b, Helmet and Face Mask. CONNY supports and encourages, but does not require, the use of NOCSAE approved helmets and face masks for the 2007 season. (CONNY urges each member organization to institute a program to achieve 100% NOCSAE compliance as soon as practicable.) Hockey helmets and face guards are allowed so long as they are HECC approved.

Change Paragraph i to require arm pads for all players (including goalies).

Color requirements under this rule for helmets, mouthpieces, gloves, under-jerseys, compression shorts, etc., will not be enforced.

RULE 1-13 Officials Certification (CONNY Rule)

Before the start of the game, the referee shall certify to both head coaches that he understands and will enforce the changes to the NFHS 2007 Boys Lacrosse Rules Book included in these CONNY Rules of Play.

RULE 3-1 Length of Game

The regulation playing time (stopping time) of a Senior League game (8th Grade & Under) shall be four periods of 10 minutes.

The regulation playing time (stopping time) of a Junior League game (6th Grade & Under) shall be four periods of 8 minutes.

Article 2 of this rule (the 12-goal running time mercy rule) shall not apply to CONNY play.

Variations in Playing Time

If approved by the head coaches of both competing teams, teams may play different length periods, but in no case will they exceed 10 minutes or be shorter than 8 minutes playing time per quarter. Whenever possible, this arrangement should be made in writing before the day of the game. (This does not prevent teams from playing “extra” periods after the final score has been recorded to increase playing time opportunities.)

RULE 3-4 Sudden Victory Overtime

For CONNY regular season league play, add the following to this rule:
If the score is still tied after two sudden victory overtimes, the game shall be considered a draw.

(This change from NFHS RULE 3-4 will not apply to CONNY Tournament games.)

RULE 4-3 Facing Off

For CONNY regular season league play, add the following to this rule:

Any time the goal differential reaches six (6) or more goals, in lieu of a face-off after a score (but not at the start of a quarter), the trailing team will be awarded possession of the ball at the center of the field.

(This change from NFHS RULE 4-3 will not apply to CONNY Tournament games.)

 
RULE 4-23-2 Regular Substitution Prohibitions
CONNY will not enforce this rule in regular season play. Change to permit regular substitutions when play has been suspended because the ball has gone out of bounds along either end line. (This change from NFHS RULE 4-23 will not apply to CONNY Tournament games.)

RULE 4-28 Team Timeouts
Change this rule to permit three (3) team nonconsecutive timeouts each half instead of four per game.
(For CONNY Tournament games only, one of the three timeouts each half must be a 20-second timeout.)

RULE 5-3 Illegal Body Check
Articles 1-6 are unchanged, except that CONNY interprets all spearing as “vicious,” and thus requires that it must be assessed a three-minute non-releasable penalty in all cases (Article 6). Add Articles “7” and “8.”
Illegal body checking includes the following actions:

Article 7. Take-out checks. Definition—Take-out check: Checks in which the player lowers his head or shoulder with the force and intent to take out (put on the ground) the other player. Players may make contact in an upright position within five yards of the ball. (See USLacrosse Youth Council Boys Rules at the back of the NFHS 2007 Boys Lacrosse Rules Book.)

Article 8. For Junior play only, the body checking of an opponent in which a player takes four (4) or more steps before hitting the opponent.

RULE 5-6 Slashing
Articles 1-3 are unchanged. Add Article “4” and Note 1 to Article 3.
Slashing includes the following actions:
Article 4. Swinging the crosse at an opponent's crosse or body while holding the crosse with only one hand. For all checks, both hands must be on the crosse. Any check delivered while holding the crosse with only one hand shall be considered slashing.
Note 1: Article 3 states, “In all situations, the player's gloved hand on his own crosse shall be considered part of his crosse except when in contact with a line marking.” In the context of RULE 5-6 for CONNY play, this means that the ONLY permissible check with the crosse is on the opponent's crosse or his gloved hand on his own crosse. STRIKING AN OPPONENT WITH THE CROSSE ANYWHERE EXCEPT ON HIS CROSSE OR HIS GLOVED HAND ON HIS OWN CROSSE IS SLASHING!

RULE 6-10 Offensive Stalling
Article 1. Change to read:
 A team in possession of the ball anywhere in its offensive half of the field may be warned to “get it in and keep it in.” This warning shall be made when it is obvious that a team is keeping the ball from play. When a team outside its attack area is warned to “get it in and keep it in,” the official nearest the player in possession of the ball will give that player an audible and visual ten-second count. If at the end of the count the team has not brought the ball into its attack area, stalling shall be called and possession of the ball awarded to the defending team at the spot where the ball was when the whistle blew. After being warned and, if necessary, bringing the ball into its attack area, stalling shall be called if the team runs or passes the ball out of its attack area.

RULE 3-3 Final Two Minutes of Regulation Play, RULE 4-15 Advancing the Ball into the Attack-Goal Area, and RULE 6-10-2c

Offensive Stalling will not be enforced in CONNY play except during the final two minutes of Senior regulation play only.

RULE 4-14  

Advancing the Ball Beyond the Midfield Line will not be enforced in CONNY play.
Instead, CONNY RULE 6-13 shall apply as follows:
RULE 6-13 Defensive Stalling (CONNY Rule)
It shall be the initial responsibility of the clearing team to clear the ball. In stalling situations in the defensive half of the field, the official nearest the player in possession of the ball will give that player an audible and a visual five-second count. If at the end of the count the team still has not attempted to clear the ball or moved the ball within five yards of the opposing team, that team shall be warned to “clear the ball.” If the team does not immediately attempt to clear the ball or move the ball within five yards of the opposing team, stalling shall be called and possession of the ball awarded to the opposing team.

RULE 5-9 Unsportsmanlike Conduct
CONNY instructs game officials to enforce strictly NFHS Rule 5-9, UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT, especially Article 1, paragraphs a, b, and c which cover arguing with officials, use of inappropriate language, and baiting and taunting. The policy is ZERO TOLERANCE! Head coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, coaching staffs and other sideline personnel, and supporting spectators.

CONNY Interpretation: Violations of NFHS Rule 5-9, Article 1, paragraphs a, b, and c, are three-minute non-releasable penalties in all cases.

RULE 7-2 Penalty Time
Game officials are urged to designate particularly severe or violent personal fouls, or those they perceive to be intended to injure or intimidate an opponent, as non-releasable and to add additional non-releasable penalty time as they deem appropriate.