Girls Lacrosse Rules | East Bay Lacrosse
East Bay Bristol County Lacrosse Association is a developmental lacrosse program for boys and girls in the East Bay area of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We serve: Barrington, Bristol, Warren, Swansea, Somerset and Rehoboth.

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2023 GIRLS RIYLL LACROSSE RULES CHART Final 3/22/2023 

Category

1-2 

3-4 

5-6 

7-8

Field Lines 

Goal circle with 6’ or 8.5’ radius /  No restraining line

8.5’ goal circle + 8M arc /  

No restraining line

NFHS field lines 

NFHS field lines

Field Size 

Cross-field 

60-70yds x 35-45yds

Cross-field 

60-70yds x 35-45yds

Full field 

Full field

Goals 

3’x3’, 4’x4’ or 6' x 6' 

6’x6’ 

6’x6’ 

6’x6’

Balls 

Soft ball regulation size or larger / Standard lacrosse not allowed

NOCSAE lacrosse balls 

NOCSAE lacrosse balls 

NOCSAE lacrosse balls

Sticks 

Small size stick /No pocket 

requirements

Regulation stick /Modified pocket allowed

Regulation stick 

Regulation stick

Players 

7v7 / No goalkeeper 

8v8 with 7 field players + 

goalkeeper

12v12 11 field players + goalkeeper 

12v12: 11 field players + 

goalkeeper

Coaches 

Coach may be on field 

Maximum of 3 adults (coaches,  timers, scorers, etc) on sideline and  must remain in Coaching Area

Maximum of 3 adults (coaches,  timers, scorers, etc) on sideline and  must remain in Coaching Area

Maximum of 3 adults (coaches,  timers, scorers, etc) on sideline and  must remain in Coaching Area

Officials 

Not required / 1 Official may be used

1 Official 

Officials required / 2 recommended 

Officials required / 2 recommended

Timekeepers 

Official, if used, keeps time / Teams designate timekeeper if no official

Officials keep time or designate timekeeper

Timekeeper at table 

Timekeeper at table

Scorekeepers 

Score not kept 

Scorekeeper at table 

Scorekeeper at table 

Scorekeeper at table

Length of Game 

Four 5-minute quarters/Running clock/4-minute halftime 

Two 20-minute halves / Running  clock / 5-minute halftime 

Two 20-minute halves / 

Running clock / 

5-minute halftime

Two 25-minute halves / Running clock / 5-minute halftime / Teams may choose stop clock during last 2 minutes of each half.

Team Timeouts 

1 team timeout per game 

1 team timeout per game 

2 team timeouts per game 

2 team timeouts per game

Overtime 

No overtime 

No overtime 

Two 3-minute overtime periods / Sudden Victory

Two 3-minute overtime periods / Sudden Victory

Start of Game 

and Half

No draw / Winner of coin toss starts at center / Opposing team starts second half and has first alternate possession

1 player from each team at center  for draw/ 2 players from each team  are at midfield on a sideline. 2  

players from each team are inside  both 8-meter arcs. 

NFHS start procedures 

NFHS start procedures

Start After Goal 

Official gives ball to team scored  upon at midfield

Team scored upon takes ball at  midfield, indirect free  position. Whistle start. Same  field formation as start of game. 

NFHS draw procedures / Mercy rule optional, team that is 6 goals or more behind may elect to take 

indirect free position at center. No  mercy rule in playoff games.

NFHS draw procedures / Mercy rule optional, team that is 6 goals or more behind may elect to take 

indirect free position at center. No  mercy rule in playoff games.

Offsides 

Not applicable/No restraining line 

Not applicable/No restraining line 

NFHS offside procedures 

NFHS offside procedures

Substitutions 

Whole team substitutions 

recommended after goal or every 1- 3 minutes during stoppage of play

Substitutions allowed during play/ Recommended during stoppage of play, or after whistle or goal

NFHS substitution procedures 

NFHS substitution procedures

Covering Ball 

No covering ball at any time 

No covering ball at any time 

No covering ball when opponent within playing distance

No covering ball when opponent within playing distance

MinimumPass 

Rule

No minimum pass rule / Coaches may agree to maximumtime player may possess ball

No minimum passing rule / 

Coachesmay agree tomaximum time player may possess ball

Not applicable 

Not applicable

1 v 1 Defense 

Must play 1v1 defense in midfield / Multiple defenders on the ball 

allowed in an area comparable to the CSA

Must play 1v1 defense in midfield / Multiple defenders on the ball 

allowed in area comparable to a CSA

Not applicable 

Not applicable

3-Seconds 

Closely Guarded

3-Seconds closely guarded rule applies

3-Seconds closely guarded rule applies

3-Seconds closely guarded rule applies

Not applicable

3-Seconds in 8M Arc

Not applicable 

3-Seconds rule in 8M arc applies 

3-Seconds rule in 8M arc applies 

3-Seconds rule in 8M arc applies

GoalCircle 

Violations

No player may enter goal circle 

No player other than goalkeeper may enter goal circle

No player other than goalkeeper may enter goal circle

No player other than goalkeeper may enter goal circle

Category 

1-2 

3-4 

5-6 

7-8

Checking 

No checking allowed 

No checking allowed 

Modified Checking 

Transitional Checking

Cards 

No cards / Teams do not play short 

Teamsubstitutes for carded player and does not play short

Team plays short 

Teams play short


 

1. Home team provides NOCSAE balls on sideline and end lines. 

2. Home team must get score card signed for grades 5/6 and 7/8. 

3. Penalty time is running time kept on the sideline. 

4. Clock stops at timeouts. 

5. Only head coach allowed to speak with official. 

6. No more than 3 adults (coaches, timers, scorers, etc.) in the "coaching area" for 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8 level. 

7. Spectators on opposite side of the field from team area. Not on end lines. 

8. Player or coach ejection from game is reported by RIWLOA to RIYLL and player/coach sits next 

game. 

9. Modified pocket: No more than 50% of the ball can be seen below the sidewall. Regulation pocket: The top of the ball must be visible above top of crosse.