Elementary School Division (Grades 3-5)

FOR ES DIVISION SCHEDULE, SCORES & STANDINGS CLICK HERE

AGE ELIGIBILITY:

The ES division is open to girls in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades who are generally between the ages of 8 and 11 years old.

DIVISION OBJECTIVES:

To expand the players understanding of the game by expanding the field, by increasing the number of players per team and by increasing the game time. The addition of a goaltender and the application of specific positions and skills related to specific positions is designed to help the girls play a more complex and competitive game and to prepare them for the next division.

OFFICIATING

Games will have a single, paid US Lacrosse Certified Official

TIME

2 x 20 minute running-time halves
Games will have a single 5 minute half-time break
Each team is allowed a single one-minute time-out per game.
The clock does not stop for timeouts except in the case that a time out is taken in final two minutes of the second half OR if it is an injury time out called by the umpire.

OVERTIME:

Regular season games MAY end in a tie. PLAYOFF or CHAMPIONSHIP games may not.
In the event of a tie at the end of regulation play during a PLAYOFF or CHAMPIONSHIP game there will be as many subsequent 5 minute sudden-death OT periods as necessary until there is a winner.
There are NO timeouts in OT.

PERSONNEL

Games will be 7v7 -- (3M; 2A; 2D)
If a team does not have enough players to field a 7 person team, the game may be played in the form of a 6v6 game — (2M; 2A; 2D)
If a team does not have enough players to proceed as a 6v6, then the team with fewer than 6 players will be deemed to have forfeited, but the game will proceed with the number of players present.
If a team forfeits the game will be recorded as a 1-0 loss for the forfeiting team regardless of the outcome of the played game.

GOALTENDING

Goalies MAY be used but are not required.
Goalies will NOT count as one of the 7 players.
Identical PELA shot blockers may be used at all times regardless of whether either team or both play a goalie.
If either or both of the teams play a goalie the coach of that/those team may choose to have their shot blocker removed but doing so is NOT REQUIRED.

PASSING & SHOOTING

Before a shot may be taken, a team with possession must make 2 attempted passes (one within their own offensive attack zone); OR 1 completed pass (initiated within their own offensive attack zone) before attempting a shot.
The umpire will indicate that a ball is ‘HOT’ after the requisite number of passes have been attempted or completed and a shot may then be taken.
The ball remains ‘HOT’ and the ability to shoot is maintained by the team on offense even if the ball is dropped or an errant pass is made, so long as possession by the other team is not established as a result of that dropped ball or errant pass.
If a team attempts a shot and does not score but regains continuous possession by means of an out of bounds ball, or a rebound, they are NOT required to make any additional pass attempts before shooting again.
If a goalie is NOT USED, any shot that is ROLLED INTO THE GOAL underneath the SHOT BLOCKER will NOT be counted. It will be removed from the goal and treated like a GOALIE BALL.
A ROLLED BALL is one that is purposefully rolled using an UNDERHAND motion with no noticeable attempt to SHOOT or bounce the ball.

GOALIE BALL & CLEARING

If a team is NOT playing a goalie and a ball comes to rest within the goal circle/crease it is considered to be a ‘GOALIE BALL’ and possession is given to the defending team. The ball may then be played thus:
- a defensive player may retrieve the ball within the goal circle and make a pass from within the crease area (they may not run out of the crease with the ball).
- a defensive player may take possession behind the goal and then run up the field or pass to clear.

OFFSIDES

2 players per team in addition to any goalie(s) being played , must remain behind the defensive restraining line at all times.

NO CHECKING & GOOD DEFENSE RULE

NO CHECKING is remedied by the GOOD DEFENSE RULE.
GOOD DEFENSE RULE transfers possession from one team to the other, when a player who possesses the ball is challenged within a stick’s length by an opposing player and remains in a ‘STATIONARY’ and/or a ‘CHECKABLE POSITION’ for a count of 5 seconds
If a ball carrier is not stationary and is doing her best to advance the ball, but the stick is held in a CHECKABLE position and a defender is within a stick’s length, the GOOD DEFENSE RULE will also be called.
Official will warn for a GOOD DEFENSE call as he/she begins to count.
A player may correct the warning by moving more than a stick’s length away from the defender, passing the ball or moving the stick/ball away from the defender in a way that would make the stick otherwise uncheckable.

DRAW & MERCY RULE

Possession is determined at the start of each half and after each score by means of a DRAW, except when the MERCY RULE is in effect.
MERCY RULE: In the event that a team is behind by a score differential of 5 or more goals, the coach of that team MAY ELECT at their discretion, to accept possession in the center circle after any goals are scored, without the necessity of a draw.
If a team opts to accept possession as result of the MERCY RULE, the opposing midfielder who would otherwise be taking the draw, may take up position anywhere around the center circle.
The midfielder accepting the possession as a result of the MERCY RULE may exit the center circle after the whistle starts play, but must pass the ball BEFORE entering the offensive attack zone of the field.

FREE POSITION SHOOTING

If a foul that would result in a free position shot is committed within the final minute of either half, the free position shot will be allowed to take place regardless of whether or not time expires during the process of setting up the shot.
Further, if there are any fouls committed during the execution of said free position shot that would then require subsequent free position shots, that/those shots will be allowed to take place regardless of time until a shot is completed without penalty.
In the event that time does expire during the course of completing the free position, the game will be considered over the moment the ball leaves the crosse of the shooter and the result of that shot alone will determine the outcome of the game. Rebounds of any sort will NOT be playable.

FIELD

Games will be played on an 80% field and when possible lined according to the field diagram attached.

SCORE RECORDING

No official scores recorded will show a differential of more than ten (10) points regardless of the actual results of the game.