1. Coach, Player, and Spectator Sportsmanship is of paramount importance. Taunting is an IMMEDIATE EJECTION infraction. Formerly 1 to 3 minute non-releasable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Now is 3-minute non- releasable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty AND ejection. Very serious.
2. Must have a goalkeeper, properly equipped for every game. If teams are short of players we there WILL be a game, NO FORFEITS. Team coaches will agree with the officials to either share players or reduce players on the field. Sharing players is the BEST method as more kids will get playing time. Suggested layout of players if playing with less than 10 players on the field:
· If 9 v 9, Teams would have 1 goalie, 3 defense, 3 attack, and 2 midfielders)
· If 8 v 8, Teams would have 1 goalie, 2 defense, 2 attack, and 3 midfielders)
· If 7 v 7, Teams would have 1 goalie, 2 defense, 2 attack, and 2 midfielders)
· If 6 v 6, Teams would have 1 goalie, 1 defense, 1 attack, and 3 midfielders)
3. Mouthpieces must be highly visible color other than clear or white. Mouthpieces may cover the entire top teeth Or the entire bottom teeth. 1 Minute non-releasable foul for illegal equipment.
4. Restarts after stoppage of play with the ball in the attack goal area is TO THE SIDE OF THE ATTACK GOAL AREA (IN THE “ALLEY”).
5. For general out-of-bounds, whistle is blown when the ball (or a player in possession of the ball) touches ground either touching a boundary line or touching ground outside a boundary line. Ball goes to the team opposite team that last touched the ball before going out of bounds. Horns for regular substitutions on sideline out of bounds only.
6. Officials should keep “Play-On” situations to about 2 seconds. (Example: Official sees loose ball push, raises arm and says “Play-On!”. The official waits no more than 2 seconds. If the offended team gains possession, the official drops the arm and says “Play-On Off”. If the offended team does not gain possession in 2 seconds, the official blows the whistle, signals the loose ball foul, awards possession to the offended team and restarts play within 5 seconds.
7.If a loose ball technical foul has occurred, and the ball is still in-bounds, restarts will be within 5 seconds. Players and coaches should work to eliminate long re-starts on loose ball technical fouls. NO horns on loose ball technical fouls or inadvertent whistles.
8. If a shot goes out of bounds, whistle is blown when the ball passes over the plane of a boundary line (before it touches ground). Possession awarded to the team whose (in bounds) player is closest to where the ball crossed over the plane of the boundary line at the time when the ball crossed over the boundary line. The stick is NOT used as a determining factor, only the BODY of the player (hands and head count).
9. Coaches: Work with players to scoop ground balls first rather than first trying to whack sticks. Players swinging wildly in ground ball situations may be called for slashing regardless of whether the stick makes contact or not.
10. Ball stops are NOT required (formerly considered a broken stick). However, two ball stops is a 3-minute non-releasable foul for illegal equipment.
Coaches should check ALL sticks before each game. If there is an illegal stick.
11. Sunglasses are permitted as long as the helmet DOES NOT have a clear plastic shield. Tinted plastic helmet face shields are NOT permitted.
12. Once a team is given a stall warning, the warning continues in effect until either a goal is scored OR the defensive team gains possession. This means a stall warning can carry over through team timeouts, end of periods (1-3), penalty situations, and official’s timeouts.
13. Special substitutions are allowed in all live ball situations. Player leaving the field must completely exit (staying on-sides) through the substitution area before the new player may enter the field (staying on-sides) through the substitution area. Special substitutions are allowed on most dead ball situations except in a face-off situation where movement of the on –field players to the substitution area would violate face-off position rules.
14. Stop “back checks” this year. Coaches get the players to not do it. Player with the ball beats the defender, the defender throws the “desperation” or “malicious” or “uncontrolled” check from an out of position location behind the player with the ball and either hits the player’s head, shoulders, arms, back, legs, ankles, or feet with the stick..
15. Gloves MUST have intact palms and fingers. Gloves without palms are NOT legal in the WMYLC.
16.Officials: 2 equipment checks per team per game. Measure stick (length, width, head length), test pocket depth, test ball release from the pocket, helmet, mouth guard, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves.
Coaches: check all your players for proper equipment and check all the sticks before each game for length, width, pocket depth, and pinched sticks. Remember to check length on U9 players playing up to U11.
17. The horn does not need to be sounded for regular substitutions after goals or time serving technical or personal fouls.
18. Coaches, please make sure players have adequate padding and equipment. WMYLC does not recommend use of small “elbow” pads as arm pads for defenders, small shoulder pads without “epaulets”. Rib pads are recommended. Shoulder pads MAY NOT be altered. If the pads have Velcro sections for the connection of epaulets and extensions, the extensions must be present. If the pads show signs of epaulet attachment strips being cut off, the pads are illegal.
19. In simultaneous foul situations in which the penalty time is equal for both teams, possession will be determined by alternate possession.
20. Coaches should stress the following with their players in 2009:
· Eliminating “back checks”. Teach player to check ONLY when in the proper position, and under control.
· No horns for substitutions on end line out of bounds and loose ball fouls.
· Teach going for the scoop on ground balls, NOT whacking empty sticks. Officials watch for wild swings at empty sticks on ground balls. Call slashes on the wild swings.
· Poke checks making contact with the body (bayonet stabs) are slashes. Teach making contact with the stick or gloved hands on poke checks.
· NO comments to officials about calls by players or coaches.
· Pull Out-of-Control players before they do damage.
21. The definition of an illegal body check to include initiating contact directly to an opponent's head or initiating contact to an opponent's body that then follows through to the head.
22. Hard and unyielding items (guards, casts, braces, splints, etc.) on the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm or shoulder are prohibited unless padded with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than 1/2" thick. Knee and ankle braces that are unaltered from manufacturer's original design/production do not require any additional padding. (bubble wrap, and egg cartons are not acceptable)
23. Any player who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion such as a loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems shall be immediately removed from the game and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.
24. In case of head injury where there is a strong incentive not to remove the player's helmet, it is imperative that the player's eyes be visible so that medical personnel can make an informed judgment. Therefore, any situation that would hinder visibility to a player's eyes (e.g. tinted visors or sunglasses) is not allowed and is considered against the rules
