THESE RULES MAY BE UPDATED FOR 2022

Tournament Policies

Safety        Sportsmanship      Game Administration 

Rules:   Girls Bantam    Girls Youth     Girls Middle School

             Boys Bantam    Boys Youth     Boys Middle School

The Medina Baggataway Lacrosse Invitational is setup in a play-day form with a guarantee of no less than 3 games per registered team.  Teams can register in either a competitive (A) or developmental (B) division.
 
 
Safety
Player, coach, spectator, and Baggataway committee and volunteers’ safety is our top priority.
 
 - PLEASE AVOID ALL AREAS BEHIND GOALS
 
 - All playing fields will have a medical box with supplies, list of tournament contacts and field location.
 
 - In the event of a medical emergency, dial 911. Your field location will be listed in your supply box and local emergency services have been made aware of field locations.

 - For non-emergency sports injuries, Athletic Trainers will respond to your field.  
 
 - The Baggataway committee will decide if games will have to be cancelled due to weather/lightning. Standard NFHS procedures will apply before play is resumed. When thunder is heard or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play for thirty minutes and take shelter immediately. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.
 
Sportsmanship
Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to compete with honor and respect for the rules, officials, opponents, and themselves. Acts such as take-out checks, fighting, taunting, intimidating or verbally harassing a tournament referee, organizer, player, coach or spectator are not tolerated and will lead to removal of that player, coach, team and/or spectator from the tournament and can result in a ban from future events. Referees and event organizers will have final determination of an ejection from the tournament on a case by case basis. Decisions made by referees and event organizers are final.
 
Game Administration
Each participating team shall provide an individual (adult) at the field table for scoring and time keeping duties. Referees are responsible for keeping time on player penalties. Officials can stop the clock for any reason they deem necessary (i.e. injury, game control).

Rules
 
Girls Bantam (3/4, 10U+9U):
 
The appropriate equipment and colored mouth guards must be worn at all times. Modified pocket is allowed USL Girls 2.2
US Lacrosse Girls 10U Rules. Exceptions noted below.

• 8v8 format (7 + goalie), 60’ x 35’ field, 4’ x 4’ goals, 8 meter arc
• Two 20 minute halves, running clock
• One five (5) minute half-time break
• No time outs
• Draw to start the half with 3 players from each team positioned on the 8m. Players must hold in the 8m or behind the GLE until possession on the draw
• Goalie “free” clear restarts on whistle after goal scored, opponent moves above 8m
• MERCY RULE applies when there is a four (4) goal difference. Teams down by four (4) or more goals can elect to take an indirect free position on the restart.
• NO OVERTIME PLAY

- Modified Stick Checking is prohibited
- 1v1 defense & three seconds closely guarded rule applies
 
Boys Bantam (3/4, 10U+9U):

The appropriate equipment and colored mouth guards must be worn at all times. US Lacrosse Boys 12U Rules. Exceptions noted (*) below

• 7v7 format (6 + goalie), 60’ x 35’ field, 4’ x 4’ goals
• Four 10 minute running time quarters   USL 3.1
• Two minute break between quarters
• No time outs *
• Face-off restarts with one wing player foot on sideline, other players behind GLE.   All players are released from their positions on the sound of the whistle. However, all players must play the ball until possession is gained and may not contact their opponent (no man-ball on face-off)    USL 4.4
• Substitutions through the box (on the fly)  *
• No time serving penalties, must sub offending player for duration of penalty.
• Ball advance rules at ref’s discretion (game situation, get it in, keep it in) USL 4.11
• AP Scrum Rule in effect  USL 4.31
• MERCY RULE applies when there is a six (6) goal lead deficit. Teams down by six (6) or more goals can elect to receive a free clear on the restart.
• NO OVERTIME PLAY *

 - NO BODY CHECKING but some contact is allowed.  Allowable body contact USL 4.15: legal holds, pushes, boxing out, redirects (pressure applied AFTER legal contact from front or side with possession or within 3 yards of loose ball, two hands on stick). In all loose ball situations, “play the ball.”  “Targeting” (head/neck (defensive) or spearing (offensive)) body checks will result in a 3-minute non-releasable penalty and ejection from the game USL 5.5
 - Allowable stick contact USL 4.16: legal crosse hold and checks (with possession or within 3 yards of loose ball, two hands on crosse, check to gloved hand or stick head initiated below shoulders and contact below chest area).  Holding with the portion of the crosse which is between your hands is now legal *. Player may use the portion of the handle that is between his hands, which are no more than shoulder-width apart, to hold an opponent on the torso with no more than equal pressure and no thrusting motion. USL 6.3
 - Prohibited body contact is a personal foul at the discretion of the officials. Take-out checks and violent or uncontrolled blows are not permitted under any circumstances at any age. Player will be ejected from the tournament.
 - Prohibited stick contact is considered a slash (personal foul), called at the discretion of officials. Stick checks to the body (other than described above) is considered a slash. One-handed check attempts are considered a slash regardless of contact.   USL only allows two-handed stick checks.

Girls Youth (5/6 12U+11U):
The appropriate equipment and colored mouth guards must be worn at all times.  US Lacrosse Girls 12U Rules. Exceptions noted below.

• 12v12 format (11 + goalie), full field
• Two 20 minute halves, running clock
• One five (5) minute half-time break
• No time outs
• Draw restarts with traditional lineup
• All substitutions are on the fly    USL Girls 5.8
• MERCY RULE applies when there is a four (4) goal difference. Teams down by four (4) or more goals can elect to take an indirect free position on the restart.
• NO OVERTIME PLAY

 
 - Modified Stick Checking is permitted: Modified checking below the shoulder is allowed. Any check above the shoulder or into the sphere or forcing the opponents stick into the sphere constitutes an illegal check. Check to the Head and a Slash are mandatory cards.
 - Three seconds closely guarded rule applies
 - Team serving a card now plays short

Boys Youth & Middle School (5/6 12U+11U, 7/8 14U+13U):

The appropriate equipment and colored mouth guards must be worn at all times.  NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules. Exceptions noted (*) below.

• 10v10 format (9 + goalie), full field
• Four 12 minute running time quarters    NFHS 3-1
• Two minute break between quarters *      
• No time outs *
• Ball advance rules at ref discretion NFHS 4-13, 4-31, 3-3
• MERCY RULE * applies when there is a six (6) goal lead deficit. Teams down by six (6) or more goals can elect to receive a free clear on the restart.
• NO OVERTIME PLAY *

  - Allowable body contact (NFHS 5-3): legal holds, pushes, boxing out, redirects (pressure applied after contact from front or side with possession or within 5 yards of loose ball, two hands on stick). In all loose ball situations, “play the ball.” Intentional targeting (initiating contact to opponents head/neck or spearing), defenseless or blindside checks or checking a player not on his feet is a two or three-minute non-releasable penalty with possible ejection NFHS 5-4.
 - Allowable stick contact: legal crosse hold and checks (with possession or within 5 yards of loose ball, two hands on crosse, check to gloved hand or stick head initiated below shoulders and contact below chest area), use of the crosse between the hands no more than shoulder width equal pressure no thrusting motion  NFHS 6-3-3e
 - Prohibited body contact is a personal foul at the discretion of the officials. Take-out checks and violent or uncontrolled blows are not permitted under any circumstances at any age. Player will be ejected from the tournament.
 - Prohibited stick contact is considered a slash (personal foul), called at the discretion of officials. Stick checks to the body (other than described above) is considered a slash.

 
Girls Middle School (7/8, 14U):
 
The appropriate equipment and colored mouth guards must be worn at all times.  US Lacrosse Girls 14U Rules. Exceptions noted below.

• 12v12 (11 + goalie), full field
• Two 25 minute halves, running clock
• One five minute half-time break
• No time outs
• Draw restarts with traditional lineup
• All substitutions are on the fly    USL Girls 5.8
• MERCY RULE applies when there is a four (4) goal difference. Teams down by four (4) or more goals can elect to take an indirect free position on the restart.
• NO OVERTIME PLAY

 
Transitional Checking is permitted: Transitional checking is down and away from the body and outside of a 12 inch sphere surrounding the head.  The checking motion may not reach across the opponents body.

Tournament Policies

Baggataway reserves the right to modify the event for safety, time, or other reasons as required.  Baggataway reserves the right to reject or alter a registration that is inaccurate or incomplete including fees.

Scheduling requires all teams be committed to attending.  Teams are required to submit entry fees no later than April 11th, 2022.   Teams with unpaid entry fees will be removed from the tournament on April 12th, 2022.  No exceptions.

Please review the refund policy.  Baggataway has a two-week cancellation policy.  The last day to cancel registration and receive a partial refund is April 11th, 2022.

Teams can register in either a competitive (A) or developmental (B) division. Baggataway encourages clubs to play up.  Sandbagging may result in not being invited back.  Baggataway reserves the right to adjust divisions based on number of teams.  In the event of a mismatch, coaches are expected to communicate with each other on the best way to structure the match for all involved to learn, have fun, and demonstrate the grace of this sport.

LIABILITY RELEASE

We hereby release and discharge The Medina Youth Lacrosse Association, The Medina City Schools, The Medina Athletic Boosters Club, The City of Medina, and the US Lacrosse Association organization its officers, coaches, sponsors, and representatives from any and all obligations and/or liability resulting from accidents, injuries, or otherwise occurring as a result of participation in or attendance at the Medina Baggataway Invitational.

INSURANCE

All teams/players must either be:
 - members in good standing with US Lacrosse
OR
 - it is the exclusive responsibility of the coach to obtain and provide a certificate of insurance.  Each team/coach must have a completed insurance form on hand during the invitational.

REFUND

No team will be given a full refund unless determined otherwise by the Medina Lacrosse Association Board (i.e. full refunds if cancelled or rescheduled due to coronovirus).  Partial refunds will be given in the event of invitational cancellation in whole.  Partial refunds will be given to a team that cancels within two weeks prior to the date of the invitational.  No refunds will be issued if the event is shortened in part for any reason, including inclement weather or any other “Acts of God”.  No refund will be given for any team that is removed or expelled from the event.

WEATHER

In the event of adverse weather or unplayable field conditions, the Medina Youth Lacrosse Association, it’s Director’s, Medina City and/or School Officials reserves the right to:

• Cancel games and/or remaining schedule in their entirety.
• Reduce game times in order to catch up with schedule
• Finish games before inclement weather arrives, or to preserve field conditions.
• Reschedule games, if possible.

Every attempt will be made to update cancellations as soon as possible. However, weather conditions can change rapidly and all teams should be prepared to play as soon as weather and fields are playable.

If thunder or lightning is observed, play will be suspended immediately and players and fans will be asked to leave the fields to return to cars. Play will be allowed to resume 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or sighting of lightning is observed, which will be determined by the Festival staff. Every attempt will be made to begin subsequent games on time.

RULES OF PLAY:
The Medina Baggataway Lacrosse Invitational is setup in a play-day form with a guarantee of no less than 3 games per registered team.  Teams can register in either a competitive (A) or developmental (B) division.

Division specific rules are located on the Baggataway website and are subject to change.

CODE OF CONDUCT:
Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to compete with honor and respect for the rules, officials, opponents, and themselves.  Acts such as take-out checks, fighting, taunting, intimidating or verbally attacking an official, organizer, player, coach or spectator are not tolerated and will lead to removal of that player, coach, team and/or spectator from the tournament.

Officials and event organizers will have final determination of an ejection from the tournament on a case by case basis. No refund will be given for any team that is expelled and/or removed from the event. The Invitational Directors reserve the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the operation of the event and its judgment is final.

SAFETY:
Player, official, coach, spectator, and olunteers’ safety is our top priority.
-PLEASE AVOID ALL AREAS BEHIND GOALS
-All playing fields will have a medical box with supplies, list of tournament contacts and field location.
-In the event of a medical emergency, dial 911. Your field location will be listed in your supply box and local emergency services have been made aware of field locations.
- For non-emergency sports injuries, Athletic Trainers from Cleveland Clinic will respond to your field.  Call the number on the provided business card.
-The Baggataway committee will decide if games will have to be cancelled due to weather/lightning. Standard NFHS procedures will apply before play is resumed.
(When thunder is heard or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play for thirty minutes and take shelter immediately. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.)