Links:
US Lacrosse Boys Rules Page
US Lacrosse Girls Rules Page
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions by Parents:
- In what season is lacrosse played? Spring - primarily March through June. LHYL begins indoor practices in mid-March.
- What equipment is needed? Check the 'Equipment Guide' tab on the left.
- How are the teams divided? By grade with an age cut-off. See here for age levels
- How much does the program cost? Registration fees vary and we offer $25 sibling discounts. Players must also register with us Lacrosse, a $35 fee.
- What does my registration fee go towards? We determine the registration fees by looking at the league's costs and the number of participants. The fee covers referees and officials, uniforms, personal and team equipment (goalie equipment, goals, nets, cones, balls etc.), medical kits, insurance, organization membership to U.S. Lacrosse and CONNY, and jamboree and tournament fees.
- What is the uniform? LHYL provides jerseys for the season only and are returned at the end of the season. Players/parents are given the opportunity to purchase game shorts and skirts during registration.
- How do we register? During our registration period, you can register on our website on the Register Online page. Registration is open from December through February.
- When are practices?
Boys and Girls youth - Practices are 2x a week; Mon and Wed or Tue and Thur.
Girls High School - Practices are 2x a week; Mon and Wed or Tue and Thur.
Boys High School - Practices are 3x a week; Mon, Wed, Fri.
- Where are practices?
Boys Youth and High School - Bantam Civic Association field, Bantam and Wamogo High School lower field, Litchfield.
Girls Youth, and High School - Morris Town Beach field, Morris.
- When are games?
Boys and Girls youth - Games are most Saturdays and Sundays, and some mid-week.
Boys and Girls High School - Most games are mid-week. Some weekends.
- Where are home games held?
Boys Youth: Bantam Civic Association field, Bantam and Wamogo High School lower field, Litchfield.
Boys High School: Bantam Civic Association field, Bantam.
Girls Youth and High School: Morris Town Beach field, Morris.
- Where are away games for travel? All different locations. Primarily, the games are in our local area, but some may travel as far south as Branford or as far west as Ridgefield.
- How do parents keep informed of what's going on? Check our Home Page www.litchfieldlacrosse.com. Also, when you register, make sure you provide your e-mail address to receive notices from the League, your child's coach and/or manager. You may also optionally enter your cell phone number and provider to receive text messages about games and practices.
Some Basic LHYL Lacrosse Terminology
for parents and players new to the game
Printable version
LHYL: Litchfield Hills Youth Lacrosse
CONNY: Connecticut/New York Youth Lacrosse Association, our parent League.
The majority of our games and the end-of-season tournaments are versus teams also in the CONNY league.
All of our coaches must comply with CONNY requirements.
US LACROSSE: The national governing body of men's, women's and youth lacrosse.
All of our players must register with US Lacrosse for insurance purposes.
BOYS
Positions: Each team has 10 players on the field, 1 goalie and 9 field players.
Each team must keep 3 players on their offensive side at all times, normally the Attack.
Each team must keep 4 players on their defensive side at all times, normally the Defense and the Goalie.
Attack: An offense position focused on scoring against the other team. 3 per team.
Normally stay on their half of the field.
Midfielder (Middie): A position that transitions between offense and defense. 3 per team.
Normally run the full field.
Defense: A defense position focused on gaining possession of the ball and preventing the other team from scoring. 3 per team.
Normally stay on their half of the field.
Goalie: The player that stays in the crease in front of the goal and tries to prevent the ball from passing into the goal by using their crosse or their body, but cannot use their hands. Goalies are allowed to have a larger net on their crosse.
Crosse: The lacrosse stick.
Long-stick: A long crosse, used for defensive purposes, typically used by Defense. Each team is allowed 4 long sticks on the field at once.
Some teams play a long-stick middie, in addition to the Defense.
Crease: An 18 ft diameter circle around the goal. The offense may not step into the crease.
Restraining Box/Lines: Lines, usually 35 yards from the end line.
Offense and Defense players must remain behind the restraining line during face-offs until possession is gained by either team.
X: The player, or area, behind the goal. Typically an Attack.
Off-sides: When a team does not have the required number of players on their offensive or defensive side of the field. Even in a man-down situation.
Middie back: A phrase that's used to describe a situation where a player other than a middie, typically a defense, will take the ball across the mid-line and a midfielder will stay behind the mid-line to maintain the required number of players behind the line.
Man-down:A phrase that's used to describe a situation where a team has a player (or more) in the penalty box and must play with one (or more) less players on the field.
Man-up: A phrase that's used to describe a situation where the other team is man-down so the man-up team has an offensive and defensive advantage.
Slash: A stick check to anywhere besides the stick or gloved hand on the stick.
Warding: When a player in possession of the ball uses his free hand to control the stick of a defender, pushing it away or grabbing it.
Answers to some common questions about lacrosse rules:
Checking may only occur in the vicinity of the ball. There is no off-the-ball checking or blocking.
Picks are allowed. The player setting the pick, or screen, must be stationary, like in basketball.
When a team gets the ball after it goes out of bounds, the play must start in the field of play, not from out of bounds like soccer or basketball.
On a shot, if the ball misses the goal and carries over the end line out-of-bounds, the team that has a player nearest the end line when it goes out gains possession. This is why you will see players/goalies, “chase the shot” towards the line.
