All BOCES Middle School (7th and 8th grade) girls lacrosse games will play under U.S. Lacrosse Level A rules.  There are no modifications by BOCES.  Those rules are found on pages 81 through 86 in your rule book. 

    The Level A modifications that you need to be familiar with are as follows:

        1. You must use the three second closely guarded count.  This count must be audible and visual. If the ball carrier is protecting her stick by keeping it on the side of her body away from the defender then you should not start a three second count. Once the stick is in a position that a legal check could legally be made, if full checking were permitted, then the count should start.  Please remember that the defender must have both hands on the stick by rule in order to get a three second count.   

        2.  Modified Checking is the only checking allowed.   The checks must be made down and away from the ball carriers body. If a players stick is touching a ball on the ground then that stick is eligible to be checked.  If the ball carrier has any part of the head of her stick above her shoulder then her stick cannot be checked. 

        3.  Four goal rule is in effect. If a team is loosing by four goals or more, then after every goal that team gets the ball at the center circle center line.  The opposing center stands four meters away from her and off to one side on a 45 decree angle.  By rule the ball must be PLAYED before a shot can be taken.  This means that the ball must be either passed or the ball carriers stick must be touched by an opponent (This is on page 83 of the rule book under Start of the Game)

       If both teams have 22 or more players then those teams can agree to play five quarters of 12 1/2 minutes each.  If one, or both teams, have between 15 and 21 players then they can agree to play four extended quarters of 15 minutes each.  If only one team has 22 or more players and the other has between 15 and 21 then they should play extended quarters. If one team has fewer than 15 players then they must play four quarters of 12 1/2 minutes.  Coaches can agree to play just the regular 4 quarters of 12 1/2 minutes no matter what how many players they have. Dr. Asti advises to let the coach’s work out if they will play regular quarters, extended quarters, five quarters, or halves.  If one coach is limited to the amount of time her/his team can play, and both teams have 22 or more, than use the extended quarters if the coaches cannot agree to use either the five quarters or extended quarters.  If either team has less than 15 players than they must play four regular quarters. 

    The coaches can agree to play halves of 25 minutes no matter how many players they have. Halves cannot be extended.  If they use halves then they get two time outs per game, which can be used at any time.  If they play quarters, five, extended, or regular, then they get one time out per quarter. 

    If a team only has one goalie then they cannot play five quarters.  All players must sit out at least one quarter in a five quarter game.  Teams are allowed to play four extended quarters with just one goalie.

    We play running time in middle school.  The clock does not stop on goals. It does stop for re-draws and time outs called by the coaches.  The clock stops in the last minute of each quarter on every whistle. If halves are played then it stops in the last two minutes of each half on every whistle.  In either case the clock should not be stopped at one minute, or two minutes, remaining if there is a whistle just before the one or two minute mark.  The clock is kept running past one or two minutes and will stop only when there is another whistle after two minutes mark.

    Hopefully this clarifies the rules and the time to be used.

    All five quarter games and extended quarter games are paid at the same rate of $88.75 each.  A regular four quarter game is $71.