2025 Lacrosse Rule Changes and Mission Overview

INTERMOUNTAIN LACROSSE SPRING 2025 COACHES MEETING

Intermountain Lacrosse & Our Mission Grow the player, grow the league, grow the game Dedicated to the promotion, development, and administration of both Boys and Girls youth lacrosse in Utah 501 c(3) Non-profit Volunteer run 4 Staff Members IMLAX Executive Board 9 members General Council All programs represented

2025 RULE Changes/Emphasis Rule 1-9-1a was clarified to state that the chin strap on the helmet is to be worn on the chin rather than under the chin. Rule 4-3-1 was returned to previous language to ensure clarity regarding facing off at the start of a period. The rule establishes that faceoffs be held at the center of the field to start a period or following a goal, with four infraction-related exceptions noted that can nullify the ensuing faceoff and award possession to the non-offending team. Rule 4-16 was rewritten for clarity regarding checking with the crosse, outlining the three instances where a player can use his crosse for a legal check to an opponent s crosse. Rule 4-24-7 was edited so that a whistle shall be blown on the loss of any mandatory equipment in the scrimmage area. The committee has also defined the scrimmage area as 5 yards in any direction of the ball or part of active play. Rule 5-4-5 now distinguishes intentional verses unintentional checks involving the head or neck. Rule 7-8-3 was adjusted so that a slow whistle technique will be implemented on a personal foul during a pass or shot. This change aligns the rulebook to reflect how these situations are already being officiated on the field. Rule 7-13-3 was clarified on how the restart will take place in the event of an inadvertent whistle before a faceoff has ended. This now conforms to other situations as to when a reface will take place.

2024 RULE REMINDERS One-handed stick checks now allowed at 5th/6th & 7th/8th! USAL Youth Rules passed an allowance of one-handed stick checks for 12U and 14U youth play. The committee felt that the penalties around slashes were in place to ensure safe play and that the allowance of one-handed checks at this 14U and 12U level was an important part of the safe progression of skills for the player. *REMINDER* - Youth ONLY Change (2023): Penalty administration is no longer releasable. All fouls must be served for their full penalty time. Rationale: Increases the impact of penalties called ensuring commitment to safe and legal play.

2025 RULES Quick Links USA Lacrosse Boys and Men s Rules Home (Click Here) 2025 Youth Rule Changes (Click Here) 2025 Youth Rules Exam (required for Bronze) Available through your account with USA Lacrosse Login -> E-Learning

Officials Pregame Interactions Head coaches ONLY are allowed to talk with officials Coaches are not allowed on the field of play without acknowledgement from the official. Please be respectful of the officials! Stop the passive aggressive comments Understand that you and the official are on different spots on the field and may see things differently. Coach Certifications Time for age-appropriate questions Note: Officials may need to know up to 6 different sets of rules. Get clear on the age-specific rules.

Officials Game Termination Reporting If you have a specific incident, we will have a form on our website for you to provide details regarding said event. This may be used to help improve the officiating. If you have video of a specific event you may provide that to us as well. Ejections result in an automatic suspension for the following game. This is for players, coaches and spectators. RULE 8: Game Termination Officials will have authority to terminate a boys youth game in response to flagrant acts of unsportsmanlike behavior including excessively rough play or the encouragement of excessively rough play by coaches, athletes, or spectators. A game termination will be the last resort in ensuring the players safety and preserving the integrity of the game. If possible, game officials will issue at least one strong warning that the game is in danger of being terminated. However, it is conceivable that games may be terminated on the first instance of a flagrant unsportsmanlike act. Every effort should be taken to avoid game termination, including the enforcement of existing rules for team-conduct penalties, unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties, and ejection fouls. All games terminated by an official will result in a 1-0 victory for the team that is innocent of the terminal offense(s). It is recommended that the game should count in league statistics as a full game, and all goals, assists, saves, and other team statistics should count toward team and league records.

BECOME AN OFFICIAL! ->>> CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AS AN OFFICIAL <<<- 2025 Training Schedule Date Time Location IMLAX Office: 10:00-11:00 AM Brand New Officials 11:00 - 12pm New & Returning Officials 2025 Spring Training Schedule!! Saturday February 15, 2025 676 W. Confluence Ave. Training #2 Boys Officials Rules/Mechanics Training Murray, UT 84123 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM 9:00 - 10:00 AM: Registration/sign- up/check-in 10:00-11:00 AM Brand New Officials 11:00 - 12pm New & Returning Officials 65 N Gateway Drive Providence, Utah Parking Lot & Entrance on North West side of building Saturday February 22nd, 2025 LOGAN Training Boys Officials Rules/Mechanics Training IMLAX Office: ***Minimum age to officiate is 16 years old*** Saturday March 1st, 2025 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 676 W. Confluence Ave. MAKEUP TRAINING/Uniform Distribution Murray, UT 84123

Coach Requirements 1. Register - Please get coaches to register ASAP. They will not have access to their rosters and/or receive communications from the league of they don't register on the website. Click the REGISTER button on the home page & register as Team Staff/Volunteer NOT Participant. Remember - we cover costs for USA Lacrosse Membership, background check and provide you a code to waive IMLAX fees for their child (head coaches). 1. ALL COACHES Must complete USA Lacrosse Bronze Level Certification CLICK HERE FOR Bronze Certification Info & Instructions 2. ALL COACHES Must complete Background Check with Spectrum Security Group! www.specgroup.org 2025 IMLAX Spring Boys Coach Matrix NOTE: Coaches without badge will be asked to leave the sideline

Coach Requirements BADGE PROTOCOL: All coaches must visibly display their current IMLAX badge while on the team sideline during any IMLAX contest. If any coach is unable to display their current (nonexpired) IMLAX badge, the following protocol will be enforced: If a coach can provide proof of a current successful background check: a. Acceptable forms of proof include a picture of their current IMLAX badge or verification as cleared on the coaches matrix with ID. b. The coach may remain on the team sideline, and the opposing team will be awarded the ball in place of the opening draw/faceoff. c. If the coach without a current physical badge leaves the team sideline voluntarily, the penalty does not apply. d. If both teams have coaches who cannot display their badges and remain on the team sideline, alternate possession will be awarded in place of the opening draw/faceoff. 1. 2. If a coach cannot provide proof of a current successful background check: a. The coach must leave the team sideline. b. If a coach refuses to leave the sideline, they will receive a 2-minute misconduct penalty (girls yellow card). The head coach must designate a player to serve the penalty, and the team will play down a player for the duration. The opposing team will be awarded the ball in place of the opening draw/faceoff. c. If both teams have coaches without badges and no proof of background checks, both teams will be issued the penalty, and alternate possession will be awarded in place of the opening draw/faceoff. d. The official must report any coaches who remain on the sideline and cannot provide proof of a current successful background check to IMLAX. ***MUST SUBMIT BACKGROUND CHECK NO LATER THAN FEB 24TH IF YOU WANT IT MAILED TO YOU!!**

USA Lacrosse Bronze Certification:

How to Access Bronze Certification Courses: How to access the Bronze Certification courses: 1. Log into your USA Lacrosse account (be sure it shows your involvement type as coach) 2. Click the red TRANSCRIPT button located to the right of your membership card 3. Click the Bronze Certification header to expand the section and see the individual courses 4. Click on a course title to launch it in our E- Learning system

Schedules/Rules Schedules Rules Schedules will be released on or before March 7, 2025 Cannot complete schedules without team splits (Feb 14th) SUPER IMPORTANT TO GET ON THIS!!! Get your players REGISTERED EARLY It is your responsibility to teach the players the rules Bring rules matrix to all games for reference Please be respectful of the officials! K-4th Grade Coaches please review the Small-Sided guidelines and field diagrams. K/1 Rules & Guidelines 2nd/3rd/4th Rules & Guidelines Spring Break Each program has designated up to 2 Saturdays off for Spring Break. Please communicate your no play date to your program players/parents immediately. - Teams may forfeit games without enough players. Everything Available on YOUTH RESOURCES PAGE!

Practices Coaches/Programs are responsible to coordinate their team practices and location 1st official practice day = Wednesday February 19th All players and coaches (Coaches Matrix) at practice must be registered with ACTIVE US Lacrosse Memberships. Please check your rosters online with your attendance from practice. (Players think they are registered when they really are not, or might have selected the incorrect team, or league. ) If a player does not appear on your team roster online something is wrong 5-8th grade teams: May have up to 3 Practices per week, up to 2 hours per session K-4th grade teams: May have up to 2 Practices per week, up to 1.5 hours per session *K/1* 60 minutes is probably plenty

Games 7 regular season games per team + Lax Fest(5/10) for 5th-8th 8 regular season games for K-4th Most games played on Saturdays in Spring (3/15 - 5/10) *double headers likely* A few weekday games may occur in late April early May Approximate game times between 9am-5pm ALL K-4th GAMES SCHEDULED ON 1HR TIME SLOTS ALL 5th-8th GAMES SCHEDULE 1 HR 15 MINUTES **New Spring 2025** *GAME DAY MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBILITY OF HOST* Setup/takedown, cleanup, etc. Coaches will record scores in the system All coaches on sideline must have league issued ID/coaches badge - https://www.specgroup.org/backgroundchecks .

REPORTING GAME SCORES: Coaches are responsible for reporting scores! The Head Coach of the Home Team should be 1st priority for reporting Anyone listed as team staff for either team will have access Instructions on how to enter game scores can be found on the Youth Resources Page on the IMLAX Site HERE How Enter Game Scores Mobile App How to Enter Game Scores Online/Desktop

Fall vs. Spring SPRING Season 7 Games Playoffs May 10th Lax Fest & Playoffs- 2 games May 14th Championships Time & Locations TBD Overtime is played Ties only apply if teams are tied after two 4-min OT periods (only @ 5th - 8th) 1 Timeout per half per team 3 Divisions for 7th/8th grade 3 Divisions for 5th/6th 5th-8th Each have A, B, & 7 s FALL Season 5 Games NO Postseason No Overtime Games end in tie at end of regulation 1 Timeout per game per team 2 divisions ONLY B (10v10) & 7 s

Rosters and Team Splits Team Splits Due Friday February 14th, 2023 Number of teams and skill level at each age-group Please have program director use Spring Team data sheet. Enter teams and levels. Coaches can move players between rosters Rosters locked March 14th All teams must have completed rosters (Numbers and Positions) entered on www.IMLAXutah.org

Divisions 7/8th grade A division Top 7thand 8th graders 7/8 grade B division Middle level 7th and 8th graders 7/8 grade 7 s division Beginning level 7th and 8th graders *7v7 80x40 field* 5/6th grade A division Top 5th and 6th graders 5/6th grade B division Middle and Beginning 5th and 6th 5/6th grade 7 s division Beginning level 5th and 6th graders *7v7 80x40 field* 3/4th grade - one division- 3rd and 4th graders (programs should make these competitively equal) 2/3rd grade - one division- 2nd and 3rd graders (programs should make these competitively equal) K-1 grade - one division - K through 1st graders (programs should make these competitively equal) Conditions: - Programs with only 1 team per Level Must play in the B Division or above - Programs with 2 teams per Level Must play one team in the A Division - Programs with 3 teams per Level Must play one team in the A Division - Programs with more than 3 teams are encouraged to play more than one team in A Division - If you feel your program cannot meet these criteria you must present an argument to the league as to why. The league will aggregate player experience data to see if you qualify for a variance. ***NEW SPRING 2023 program receiving variance to not field teams in A division are not eligible for playoffs in B divisions*** Notes: - B and C divisions are for new and developing players. - We are encouraging all programs to push players up to a higher level when appropriate. We have seen player development increase at a faster rate when we challenge a player to play a higher level. - If a program has multiple B or C teams those teams must be divided in an equal manner. Meaning they should be split such that they are equally competitive. - In order to accommodate the creation of teams with appropriate number of players or to provide appropriate development level, the league may allow variances for 6thgraders to play in 7/8 B Division and 4thgraders to play in 5/6 B Division. You submit a formal VARIANCE REQUEST.

5th/6th & 7th/8th C Format 7 vs. 7 w/ goalies (2A, 2M, 2D, G) 10-14 players/ team Field: 80X40 yards or (inner box) Standard Goals and crease Games 12 min. (running) quarters Face-offs are standard Off-side 2 on offensive half & 3 on defensive half Full team substitutions during dead balls Strongly encouraged Not strictly enforced All other rules are standard age-appropriate 7th/8th or 5th/6th league rules as outlined in current USA Lacrosse rule book *Strongly recommend ALL COACHES download NEW USL Mobile Coach APP* Full practice plans & drill diagrams specific for each age group 8U 14U

K-4 Format K-1st: 2nd/3rd/4th: 4 vs. 4 (no goalies) 6-10 players/ team Field: 60X35 yards or (cross field offensive box) Goals are 3X3 w/ 6 ft. crease Games 10-minute (running) quarters Face-offs only occur to start game and all quarters Restart Team with ball starts at GLE. Defensive team starts on their side of the field. NEW NO off-side Full team substitutions during dead balls Strongly encouraged Not strictly enforced 7 vs. 7 w/ goalies (2A, 2M, 2D, G) 10-14 players/ team Field: 80X40 yards or (inner box) Standard Goals and crease Goalies for 3rd/4th Goal Blockers for 2nd/3rd Games 10 min. (running) quarters Face-offs are standard Off-side 2 on offensive half & 3 on defensive half Full team substitutions during dead balls Strongly encouraged Not strictly enforced *Strongly recommend ALL COACHES download NEW USL Mobile Coach APP* Full practice plans & drill diagrams specific for each age group 8U

LAX FEST: *Playoffs - In the place of traditional playoff formats, IMLAX will sponsor an end-of-season festival called Lax Fest. Lax Fest will provide an opportunity for ALL teams to participate if they choose to do so. The festival will provide two games for each team grades 5th-8th that enters excluding the top 8 teams in the A & B divisions who will participate in a more traditional playoff (new spring 2023) The teams will be grouped in two conferences, NORTH and SOUTH, according to their ranking prior to Lax Fest. Each grouping of 4 teams will play a round robin with winners and losers of the first set of games then playing each other. 9v12 and 10v11 Winners play Losers play 13v16 and 14v15 Winners play Losers play and so on Note: With this change we will reduce the regular season game total to 7 games. Each team will then have a total of 9 games guaranteed. Grades K-4 will still have an 8-game season. Lax Fest format will be shorter games of two 18-minute halves.

PLAYOFFS: Boys 5th/6th & 7th/8th A & B Division Playoff Structure: *7 s divisions do not have championships & only have standard Lax Fest* The top 8 teams in the final regular season standings from each respective division will make the playoffs Standings Calculated as follows 1. Win percentage (if a tie occurs it is counted as .5 win and .5 loss) 2. Head-to-head (if team A beat team B) 3. Goals Against Final tie breaker coin flip The playoffs will NOT be broken north/south and will be standard 8 team bracket play (i.e., first round matchups = 1vs8, 2vs7, 3vs6, 4vs5) ALL games are standard full length 12-minute running quarter games (1TO per team per half) First and Second Rounds will take place on May 10th and will be similar to Lax Fest 1vs8 and 4vs5 will be at same location. Winners will play each other same day in (semifinal) Championships will all be on Wednesday May 14th times and location TBD

Supplies Available during office hours 11AM-6PM Monday - Friday 50 balls per team at 5-8th grade 40 balls per team at K-4th grade Team Gear will now be DONATED to each program to manage. IML will replace gear as needed Goalie Gear (Chest pad, throat guard, stick) Hectors for 2nd/3rd K/1 goals Player Scholarships Head Coach (need to contact your program administrator/coordinator to get a coupon code before you register) Please email info@imlaxutah.org if you need to be refunded Team Scholarship 1 per TEAM Need based. Coaches or Program can contact the office for coupon code to be scholarship their player

Important Policy Reminders ALL COACHES MUST BE REGISTERED AND PASS BACKGROUND CHECK IN ORDER TO COACH. BADGE MUST BE WORN AT PRACTICE AND GAMES. Players must play for the team within their high school boundaries where they currently live. Players CANNOT play up into the league above their age group without successful completion of Age/Division Variance Form and approval by IML. Players CANNOT play on multiple teams if your program fields two or more teams. Absolutely NO scheduling requests. (can t accommodate them all) Coaches should not coach multiple teams. NO cancelling games without league consent and notice to opponent If you have a change, you need to make arrangements with the other team, then contact Collin at Collin@IMLAXutah.org

Policy Reminders Continued Concussion Weather/Lightning Intermountain Lacrosse Utah Concussion Policy Player Concussion/Med Reporting form Coach/Program responsible to report. League will follow-up with family Player cannot return until cleared by medical professional and the league Inappropriate conduct and player treatment (review Coaches Contract) Discipline at the sole discretion of IMLAX. May include warning, suspension or dismissal. Intermountain Lacrosse Utah Youth Policy - VIII If you observe a lightning flash that is followed by a thunder bang in less than 30 seconds, suspend the game and instruct teams to seek shelter off the field. Warn spectators as well. Wait a minimum of 30 minutes for the storm to pass then consult with the coaches. Game is complete when any time has elapsed in the 2nd half Game reschedules - the coach must contact the opposing team s coach, IMLAX office, by phone and then by email. All parties must agree to the rescheduled date and/or time, or the game must be played as originally scheduled.

General Policy Reminders *Field Monitors - We are moving the responsibility of providing table personnel to the game host program. These field monitors will need to register with league on our website. You can also see the description of their responsibilities on our website. Certified Athletic Trainers 1 trainer per location (can t guarantee 100% coverage) *IMLAX Weekly Sportsmanship Award Each week during the Spring Season nominations may be taken for an individual, group, official, coach, player, parent, etc. that was seen exhibiting great sportsmanship. Our local lacrosse vendors will help sponsor these awards. CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE!

Sportsmanship Be professional with the officials. Keep fields clean! Park in designated areas only on Game Day Be respectful of the table, parents, players, trainers, and officials!! Remember that your players parents are watching you! No foul language period! It is the coaches responsibility to remind fans to be respectful if the crowd becomes rowdy- Please Have a Parent Meeting before the season starts to discuss sportsmanship!

Dicks/IMLAX Shopping Weekend! Friday, February 21st, through February 24th, 2025 All Utah Locations Reminder - this coupon is valid in-store only for the dates listed above and the barcode must be presented at the register via your mobile device during checkout Coupon URL: https://cmm.dickssportinggoods.com/crmcdn/getoffer.aspx?offer_entity_code= O241DWPX&token=BRs23QjanCsrJWt8pF3CjDBEIx2stwxDnztneqBQ4DRV1 M04855XmKkCrZ-f3wgAiQENi5oByVsinpVnKc9iA2

Thank You! We really appreciate the time and dedication you all devote to these children each season. You all make a tremendous impact on these kids lives, and this sport. Again, from IMLAX Thank You!

Join Us! We are You! If you would like to make a difference, come join us! We are Always looking for other members to join the Youth League Board. If you are interested, please fill out an application online. www.imlaxutah.org Youth Council Executive Committee Chair: Dan Dugan 801-791-1971