Westfield Boys Lacrosse Spring Program

Soft Toss Program - Grades: Kindergarten through 1st

• 6 Sessions (starts in April - 1 hour session -weekly). An entry-level instructional lacrosse program. The children use only a lacrosse stick and sift Swax Lax balls to participate in basic skill practice such as catching, throwing, cradling, and scooping. We do cone drills and simple games to help their coordination and confidence. It is designed to be a lot of fun, good exercise and a great introduction to Lacrosse.  Kids will only need a regular lacrosse stick (i.e. no fiddlesticks).  Gloves are recommended but not required.

2nd & 3rd Grade Lacrosse

• In-town league with some scheduled games with nearby towns (starts in late March and runs through early June)
• Full Equipment Needed: Lacrosse Stick, helmet, gloves, shoulder pads, arm pads, cup, mouthpiece
• 2nd and 3rd graders will practice twice per week (clinic style) and generally play one game per week.
• Games are 7 vs 7 on a short field.
• For players who are interested and prepared, a few games may be organized with neighboring towns.
• Focus is on teaching fundamentals, everyone plays multiple positions
• All teams are created evenly.  WLC does not flight players at this age.
• Check out the Wall Ball drills in the Coaches Corner

4th Grade Lacrosse

• This is an In-town league with scheduled games with nearby towns (Starts in March and runs through early June).
• Everyone will practice twice per week and generally play one game per week.
• Games will be 10 vs 10 on a large field.
• Focus is on teaching fundamentals, everyone plays multiple positions
• All teams are created evenly.  WLC does not flight players at this age.
• Midway through the season, a few games will be organized with neighboring towns and possibly entering festival style tournaments. An additional time commitment and additional fee may be required.   Travel games are only recommended for players who are prepared.

5th - 8th Grade Travel Lacrosse (White and Blue Teams)*

• Players will be placed on teams based on ability and selected through independent evaluation and prior year coach feedback. We plan to have 2 travel teams at each grade level, a “White” team and a “Blue” team.
• In 5th grade, all teams are created evenly.  WLC does not flight players at this age.
• For 6th-8th grade, the teams will be flighted with our most developed players on the "A" team and our developing players on the "B" team.  This flighting is done to place the player on the team that WLC evaluators believe the will most benefit from.
• Approximately 8-10 games played on full fields
• Each team will have 18-22 players.
• The “Blue” and “White” teams will practice 3 days per week and play one travel game per week. The Blue and White teams will participate in two Tournaments. If numbers permit, WLC may create a third "Red" team.
• Commitment is expected to prioritize Westfield lacrosse as the primary in-season sport, playing time in games is earned by demonstrating AAA in practices (aptitude, attitude, attendance).

Boys Youth Lacrosse Rules

The Westfield Lacrosse Club is a member of both the NJJLL, which is the governing body for boys youth lacrosse, and the NJJGLL, which oversees girls youth lacrosse in New Jersey. Their websites are as follows:

• New Jersey Junior Lacrosse League (Boys) - see www.njlacrosse.com
• New Jersey Junior Girls Lacrosse League - see www.njgirlslacrosse.com

The boys youth rules may be downloaded at http://www.uslacrosse.org/the_sport/boys_rules.phtml
Some highlights on Boys Youth-level rules:

• No "take out" body checks- definition: checks in which the player lowers his head and shoulders with the force and intent to "take out" (put on the ground) the opposing player.
• Mercy Rule: At the 5th through 7th grade level, if a team is up by 3 or more goals, then the other team receives the ball uncontested at midfield without a faceoff. At the 8th grade level, it changes to 6 goals ahead.
• Overtime: At the 5th and 6th grade level - one four minute period with NO sudden victory. At 7th and 8th - (2) four minute periods or sudden victory whichever comes first; if still tie at end of second OT then the game is declared a tie.

Important!
3rd & 4th Grade Boys Lacrosse Rules Modifications

1. Field size: 60 X 30 yards (a shortened field); We'll try to play out of bounds by the book.
2. Positive: Coaches coach, kids play, parents cheer (period).
3. No slashing, no one handed checks, no body checks, tight officiating. If anyone checks one handed play stops and the team being checked keeps possession and gets to set up.
4. Try to limit sticks raised above head level (it’s not possible to eliminate entirely). If a player consistently ignores this, then same penalty as above.
5. On minor penalties that the kids might not know about (like a defensemen running into his own crease with the ball), we stop play to explain the rule, but don't change possession.
6. If that team does has the same infraction again in that game then we can change possession.
7. For bigger penalties like slash or body checks we stop play and give possession to the other team. If the same kid does the same penalty more than once, then he has to sit for at least minute, but his team gets a sub for him so that they don't have to play short handed.
8. If the goalie has at least one foot in the crease, then he and his stick are protected, even if sticking out of the crease (this is a bit more protection than NCAA rules provide, but is more clear for our kids).
9. Minimum 2 passes per possession before shooting.
10. Ball is awarded to the team that was scored on at mid-field.

Please view www.laxrules.com to better learn the rules as they apply to youth as well as higher levels of play.