RULES

General Information

Check-In: There is no check-in. Please arrive at your field on time to begin your games. 


Scheduling & Organization: The tournament will stay on schedule. Please have your teams ready to play. Field coordinators will be checking to make sure teams up next are ready to go in order to keep all games on schedule.

Rulings: The tournament directors have the final say on rules interpretations.

Score Disputes: If a coach has concerns about the final score or a game, the coach should immediately bring the concern to the attention of the field coordinator and game referees prior to that score being reported to the tournament directors. Goal differential can be a tie-breaker for playoffs, so this is very important. The field coordinator or coach may request that a tournament director come to the field to handle a score dispute. Once reported, scores may not be challenged later in the day or weekend. Please do not send parents to the registration tent if your team has concerns. Tournament Directors will only communicate with team head coaches and assistants.

Game Play

US Lacrosse Women’s Rules will be used for the High School Divisions. US Lacrosse U14 rules will be used for the Middle School divisions (2026); we will play with modified and no deputy.

Special note for the 2025 Division: This age group may do full- checking if both teams agree prior to playing; If both teams are playing with full-checking then all USL High School rules apply; If one team wants to play with modified checking, and one does not wish to play with full checking, then the modified checking rule will stand, and all USL U14 rules will stand.

8 meter shot: If the game horn sounds before an 8 meter can be taken, the shot will be taken but play will end upon a Goalie save or a missed 8 meter. There will be no opportunity for a change in possession or rebound by the same team.  

Games consist of two 22-minute running halves; teams will change direction after the half. Halftime will be two minutes.

There will be a continuous central clock, which will be managed by the tournament director and communicated to the field coordinators and referees.

Self-starts are permitted during the final two minutes due to the continuous central clock.

In the event that the combination of weather and humidity result in conditions that exceed standard heat-stroke safety guidelines, the tournament will switch games from two 22-minute halves to four 10-minute quarters with water and rest breaks between each quarter. If further modifications need to be made, they will be at the discretion of the tournament director and NXTsports Director of Participant Health and Safety. The tournament director will notify all fields if such conditions occur.

Timeouts: There will be no timeouts during any game.

Injury: Delays of the game due to injury may result in shortened game times. All games must end 4 min prior to the next scheduled game on that field. Field marshals may summon the trainer to your field in case of injury or emergency. 


Substitutions: Substitutions will be according to US Lacrosse rules.

Players equipment: It will be at the officials' discretion to determine the safety and suitability of player equipment including the wearing of an orthopedic cast or hard brace. A COLORED mouth guard and the appropriate eye protection are mandatory for all players.

Stick Checks: No stick checks will be done prior to the start of any games. Additionally, no coach or player is permitted to request a stick check during the game, at halftime or after a game has been completed.

Inclement weather: Weather is monitored at NXTsports through Schneider Electric’s WeatherSentry Online and the current venue’s weather system.  NXTsports’ Director of Participant Health and Safety has the authority to postpone or cancel games.

The schedule may be modified if necessary due to inclement weather or poor field conditions. NXTsports’ Director of Participant Health and Safety has the authority to postpone or cancel games.

Lightning Safety: Three long blasts of an Air horn indicate LIGHTNING and all fields must be cleared IMMEDIATELY. Players and fans must go to the tournaments designated safe shelter. Safe shelter is considered any fully enclosed building that involves plumbing and/or electrical wires that act to electrically ground the structure-places that people live or work.  If such a shelter cannot be found, take shelter in any vehicle with a hard metal roof and closed windows. No outdoor activities are to be resumed until 30 minutes after the last sign of lightning/thunder or the all-clear text alert has been received. For every sign observed, the 30-minute timer is reset.

Hot Weather Safety:  The Director of Participant Health and Safety and the Tournament Director will monitor the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature. When indicated by the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, tournament game times will be modified to comply with current recommendations.  These game modification times with be either two 22-minute halves, four 10-minute quarters or four 7-minute quarters with water breaks in between each quarter. When heat rules are enforced, participants are encouraged to take off helmets and other easily removable equipment.  If further modifications need to be made, they will be at the discretion of the tournament director and NXTsports Director of Participant Health and Safety. The tournament director will notify all fields if such conditions occur.

Cold Weather Safety: In circumstances involving precipitation, decisions about participation restriction will be made by the Director of Participant Health and Safety on an individual basis based on current best practices.

Roster Regulations & Guidelines: 

All players and parents/guardians must complete the online player waiver prior to participation.

Limited age exceptions can be made at the discretion of tournament directors for self-described developing youth programs.

No high school graduates are eligible to participate in the event.