The Jersey Girls Lacrosse Association (JGLA) was established as an organizing tool to assist Member Programs in the growth of girls’ lacrosse and to facilitate communication and competition between those programs. We are the largest girls only youth lacrosse organization in the country and the 6th largest overall chapter with US Lacrosse nationally. We are extremely proud of the fact that we lead the nation in the number of certified level 1 coaches in the women’s game.
The Association emphasizes that inter-town competition at the youth level be instructional and foster a positive experience for all involved. It is expected that each Member Program will support our mantra of “Honoring the Game” and stress a love for the game as well as skills and rules of play. Good sportsmanship on the part of all players, coaches and fans is always the standard.
The Association strives to comply with the US Lacrosse Youth rules and we refer you to the Women’s Rule Book Official Rules for Girls and Women’s Lacrosse. Those rules also govern youth girls’ lacrosse except where US Lacrosse has amended otherwise. Those amendments are based in part on exhaustive surveys of rules in leagues representing nearly 170,000 youth players and on research and published literature from the US Lacrosse Sports Science and Safety Committee, resulting in the development of age-appropriate playing rules and the annual publication of the “Youth Rules and Best Practices Guidebook for Girls.” US Lacrosse has made some modifications.
SPORTSMANSHIP STATEMENT:
There will be NO TOLERANCE for UNSPORTSMANLIKE behavior such as negative statements or actions between players, coaches, officials, and fans. This includes TAUNTING, BERATING, or ANY ACTIONS THAT RIDICULE OR CAUSE EMBARRASSMENT TO THEM. If such comments are heard, a penalty will be assessed immediately. WE ARE ALL A TEAM; the players, coaches, parents, and officials. The purpose of youth town lacrosse is to learn and grow in the spirit of the game and the JGLA wants to encourage GREAT behavior.
Pay 2025:
3/4 $55
5/6 or 7/8 $65 each 1 official $95
Points of Emphasis Page 8 of Youth Rule Book
SPORTSMANSHIP The rules committee wants to emphasize the critical role of sportsmanship in the safety and positive experience for the student athlete. Sportsmanship is based on a respect for the rules of the game and for one’s opponent. Coaches, players, officials, administrators, and spectators in the interscholastic environment have an expectation to demonstrate behavior that creates a positive and encouraging atmosphere. The committee encourages officials to provide effective communication and game management to help deter acts of unsportsmanlike conduct. When such methods are not enough to manage behavior, those in violation should be held accountable with the administration of cards. Event management can serve as an asset in creating an expectation of respect within the playing facility and creating a positive and competitive atmosphere.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE RULES Officials, coaches and players must know and understand the rules of the game. Parents and spectators also benefit by knowing the rules. The NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Book defines the rules and requirements for girls lacrosse while promoting fair play and striving to minimize risk of injury for student-athletes. Knowledge of the rules by officials helps ensure proper rule enforcement and fair play, minimizes conflicts, and reduces risk of injuries. Knowing the rules allows coaches to teach their players how to properly play lacrosse and model good behavior. Knowing the rules as an athlete provides athletes with the ability to maximize performance on the field and compete in a safe manner. Knowing the rules as a parent or spectator allows parents and spectators to better understand the game, support the athletes, and encourage good sportsmanship.
DANGEROUS USE OF THE STICK Dangerous use of the lacrosse stick, including but not limited to actions such as the follow-through, slash, check to the head, and other risky activities warrants our utmost attention. Using the stick in this type of disruptive manner jeopardizes the safety of players on the field. Officials must immediately stop play and issue a card when this occurs. Coaches should consistently teach and reinforce safe play and legal stick use. Players can avoid this type of activity by always playing in a controlled manner, making safe checks, having their body and stick in a legal position when checking or defending an opponent and playing with discipline and in accordance with the rules. Understanding, teaching and playing lacrosse with the stick in a safe and legal manner will decrease injuries, improve game management, maintain the pace of play and uphold the integrity of the game of girls’ lacrosse.
PROFESSIONALISM USA Lacrosse continues to encourage all coaches, players, officials, and administrators to conduct themselves in a professional manner before, during, and immediately following all contests. The rules committee reminds coaches and players to avoid the use of excessive dissent or abusive language and reminds coaches to stay in his or her coaching area. The committee encourages calm, patient, and productive dialogue between coaches, players, and officials.
2025 Girls Lacrosse Points of Emphasis
Use of the Green Card / Delay of Game
Managing Safe Play in the 8-Meter Arc
Offensive Fouls Inside the Critical Scoring Area
RULE CHANGES 2025:
4-1-2: Establishes that the clock will stop on the official’s whistle after each goal and when there is a foul called in the critical scoring area during the last minute of each quarter.Rationale: Provides consistency in clock management at the end of each quarter and eliminates the potential for time to expire before a free position can be administered when there is a foul in the CSA at the end of each quarter.
5-2 PENALTIES 1 & 2: Moves the free position from the center line to the spot of the ball when one player draws illegally and maintains that a re-draw will occur at the center line when both players draw illegally.Rationale: Improves the flow of the game by eliminating the need to bring the ball back to the center for a re-draw when a player draws illegally.
9-1 PENALTIES for Violation of 9-1a, b and e-r: 4a, b; 13 Definition of Terms: Eliminates the indirect free position for a minor foul by a defense player occurring in the 12-meter fan and allows the player who is fouled to shoot from a free position on the 12-meter fan.Rationale: Simplifies the penalty application for minor fouls in the critical scoring area while maintaining a balance of offense and defense.
10-1p, 13 Definition of Terms: Establishes player body and crosse positioning for a legal pick.Rationale: Clarifies the body and crosse positioning a player must have when setting a safe and legal pick.
10-1r(1): Expands the definition of a major foul for Illegal Stick Contact to include contact with the opponent’s crosse when a player’s crosse is held in a horizontal position.Rationale: Clarifies that it is illegal for a player to make contact with an opponent’s crosse or body when the player’s crosse is in a horizontal position.
10-1v(2): Expands the definition of a Rough/Dangerous Check to include checking an opponent’s hand.Rationale: Clarifies a player’s hand is part of their body and should be protected against rough and dangerous checking.
2025 Girls Lacrosse Editorial Changes
2-2-4; 2-5-2e; 2-7-5a; 2-7-7 NOTE; 2-9-4; 3-5-3g (NEW); 3-6-1; 4-3-3b, c; 4-7-1; 4-7-5a; 5-3; 5-4-4; 8-1-1 NOTE (NEW); 9-1m(6); 10-1 PENALTIES 6; 10-1 PENALTIES 13 (NEW); 12 NOTES 1 & 2 (NEW); 12-8 TEAM CARD PENALTIES
JGLA COACHES USA LACROSSE card:
ALL coaches must be USA lacrosse Bronze.
Two coaches on sideline: One coach must have Silver USA lacrosse.
Three coaches on sideline: Two coaches must have Silver USA lacrosse.
Or the game is played down a level…Transitional check becomes modified. Modified becomes no check. No check is just played.
BOTH teams must designate the sideline manager for their team and have them present at the coin toss
It is the responsibility of the towns to ensure that all participants have acknowledged the ethic and sportsman code of the JGLA
Coaches Need Proof of Certification with Them AT ALL Times. Only 3 coaches on the sideline per team.
Transitional Checking – An attempt to dislodge the ball from an opponent’s crosse in which the checking movement is down and away from the body and outside a 12-inch sphere surrounding the head is allowable.
The checking motion may not reach across an opponent’s body. (across two shoulders)
Any check into the sphere constitutes an illegal check.
Check to the head and a slash are mandatory yellow cards.
The Home Team will Designate a Timer
7/8 AND 5/6:
Game Time: 12 Minute Quarters w/RUNNING Clock;
Game Time: 10 Minute Quarters w/Under 1 Min Stop Clock within CSA
Breaks: 2 Minute Break 1st & 3rd w/5 Min. Halftime
3/4 or 1/2:
Game Time: 10 Minute Quarters w/RUNNING Clock;
Game Time: 8 Minute Quarters w/Under 1 Min Stop Clock within CSA
Breaks: 2 Minute Break 1st & 3rd w/5 Min. Halftime
Goal Differential
MODIFIED checking, when a team is up by 4 or more goals, they have the option at any time to take a free position
USA LACROSSE YOUTH RULE BOOK
All Youth
Will play regular US Lacrosse Women’s Rules with the following modifications:
No Deputy
No follow through into goal circle on a shot
Regulation field stick (35.5”minimum and 43.25 “ maximum) and pocket EXCEPT for 3/4 and 1/2
NO Overtime in the JGLA
Grade 7/8 Select or 7/8 transitional checking specifics
TRANSITIONAL CHECK LISTED IN ARBITER SELECT ONLY: Any check to the head is a mandatory yellow card. Player sits and team plays short for 2 minutes of elapsed playing time.
Grade 5/6 & Travel 7/8 Specifics
Modified checking or no checking. A check to the head may be a yellow or red card. Player sits and team plays short for 2 minutes (yellow), 4 minutes (red) of elapsed playing time
Must count 3 seconds good defense.
3/4 Specifics (JGLA specifics are bolded)
7 v 7 field players goalie does not count(with goalies it makes it 8v8)
2 players must stay behind the midfield (restraining line)
5 field players are allowed below the restraining line. If both teams have goalies play with goalies (8v8), if one team does not have a goalie then no goalies (7v7).
Regular women’s crosse, modified pocket allowed, may be cut to fit comfortably along arm
NO SELF START
Free Movement
No checking
Must count 3 seconds good defense
Game starts with a draw and half starts with draw
After goal: After a goal the team scored upon will take the ball to the start and begin with a free possession with opposing team 4 m away on an angle WILL BE INDIRECT.
Carded player leaves field for 2 minutes Yellow or 4 minutes Red. A substitute must take her place.
Players are not permitted to cover under any circumstances
1 v 1 defense enforced midfield, but not within the critical scoring area
Substitution may occur at any time
If there is one goalie and both teams agree the goalie will play in the same goal for the entire game and the opposite goal will be flipped.