3v3 Lacrosse (“Chumash”) Rules

For Sammamish Shoot-Out(tm) 2008

 

 

GAME OVERVIEW

Two teams of three players each play the game.  Each team may have up to 2 additional players (5 total) as substitutes - you will want substitutes.  Players are not allowed to use long or goalie sticks.  Short sticks must be legal length for division (40-42”, 37” minimum for players 6 grade and under). Heads must be NFHS legal.

                                                                                                      

A single goal will be set up in the middle of the field.  The objective is for each team to score on its respective side of the goal.  Goals are unprotected, with no goalie, keeping the speed and intensity of the game very high.

 

THE GOAL

The single, two-sided goal in the middle of the field is 6 feet high by 1 foot wide.  A goal is scored when the ball hits the net or when the ball hits two posts before bouncing away from the goal.

 

 

TIME  (Sammamish Shoot-Out 10 minute halves, 30 second TOs)

A 3v3 LAX game consists of two 10-minute running time halves.  After a 3 minute halftime break, the two teams change sides for the 2nd half.  Each team is allowed one 30 second time-out per game (the game clock will remain running during the timeout).  Timeouts are not permitted with 3 minutes or less remaining in each half.   

 

SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions can be made during the course of the game.  The outgoing and incoming players must touch sticks while at least one of the two players is off the field; outgoing player must immediately exit playing area. Substitutions can happen anywhere around the perimeter of the field, provided it is not interfering with games at adjacent fields.  Substitution violations will result in a Technical foul.

 

EQUIPMENT

Boys Required:  Water, Stick (short), Mouthguard, Helmet, and full legal Pads

Girls Required:  Water, Stick, Mouthguard, and Eyewear

All Recommended: Sunscreen, cleats, snacks

 

THE FIELD

The 3v3 LAX field is 50 yards long by 30 yards wide, with the single goal anchored in the middle of the field.  There are TAKE BACK lines that are 20 yards from the goal line in each direction and extend the width of the field. 

 

There is an elliptical RESTRICTED AREA that extends 10 yards in both directions from the goal line.  At the goal line, the RESTRICTED AREA is 10 feet wide.  The RESTRICTED AREA reduces gradually in width as it moves further from the goal.

 

There is a 5 yard LIMIT LINE surrounding all sides of the Chumash field. No spectators are allowed within these five yards of the endlines and sidelines. No spectators are allowed between fields where less than 15 yards separates the fields from one another.

 

 

           

GETTING STARTED

A coin toss will determine which team gets possession of the ball to start the game.  The team that wins possession will put the ball in play from behind their TAKE BACK line.  The other team gets first alternate possession, normally possession after half.

 

PLAYING THE GAME

Each team can use the entire field and there are no offsides.  However, a goal can only be scored from a team’s designated side of the field.  A shot that is made into the goal by a team from the opponent’s side of the field is not a score and will result in a change of possession.

 

When there is a clear change of possession, the team with the ball must pass or carry the ball behind the TAKE BACK line on their side of the field before they can begin attacking the goal.  If a team fails to pass or carry the ball beyond the TAKE BACK before they begin attacking the goal, the ball will be awarded to the other team. The TAKE BACK line does not establish a “safe” zone.

 

After a goal, the ball is put in play from beyond the TAKE BACK line of the opposing team.

 

If the ball goes out of bounds, from either a shot or pass, the ball is awarded to the opposing team of the player who last touched the ball (like basketball).

 

Lines are “hot”. Side lines are out of bounds. Crease lines are a part of the crease.

 

Chumash is designed to be as self-regulating as possible to enhance the joy of playing, and to make it easy to play a real game of lacrosse anytime, anywhere. Sammamish Shoot-out will provide field monitors to call fouls, but as we all seek to Honor the Game, players are also expected to call “own fouls.”  If a call is disputed, alternate possession will be used. The game was created to be fun and to teach skills and sportsmanship. It is the kind of game we can use to invite the world to play lacrosse with us. Anybody can play. We run Sammamish Shoot-out in this same spirit.

 

THE SMALLER CREASE

There are two creases, the first is a regular lacrosse goal crease with a nine-foot radius. The goal is centered inside this circle. There is no goalie and it is illegal to "guard" the goal in Chumash. No one is allowed in the smaller/inner crease. The sole exception to this rule is that if a ball is down and stopped in the inner crease, any player may enter the inner crease to retrieve it, but with control, the player must immediately exit the inner crease by the most direct route. Failure to do so will result in a technical foul and loss of possession.

 

THE LARGER CREASE

The second crease uses the same arc. The top of the arc is 10-12 yards from the goal line. Players may move through this larger crease with or without the ball. They may not stop nor may they shoot from inside the larger or smaller crease. Players can "dive", but they may not land in the smaller crease ever. If they do it is no goal and possession is awarded to the other team.

A player may catch a pass inside the larger crease, step completely out of the crease, turn and shoot.

Crease lines “hot” and are therefore a part of the crease.

OTHER GAME PROCEDURES

There are no rules governing time for ball advancement, etc.

The 5 yard (1 meter for girls) rule strictly enforced on inbounds play, interference, etc.

The integrity with which you play brings honor to the game.

LOSS-OF-POSSESSION FOULS

A change of possession will occur on illegal screens, warding off, withholding the ball, and offensive CREASE AREA violations. 

 

TECHNICAL FOULS

Technical fouls are interference, holding, pushing, and defensive CREASE AREA violations.  A technical foul will result in a “man down” situation and the offending player will go to the sidelines and remain there until one of the following events have occurred:

a)      The opposing team has taken one shot.

b)      The offending player’s team gains possession of the ball.

c)      The opposing team scores a goal.

 

PERSONAL FOULS

Personal fouls are illegal body checking, slashing, tripping, and cross-checking, based on age-division appropriate interpretations.  Any touch or “Brush” of an opponent’s head or face with a stick or arm is also an automatic Personal foul.  A personal foul will result in a “man down” situation and the offending player will go to the sidelines and remain there until one of the following events have occurred:

d)      The opposing team has taken two shots.

e)      The offending player’s team gains possession of the ball.

f)        The opposing team scores a goal.

 

EQUIPMENT PENALTIES

Mouthguards are required. A player entering or playing on the field without a proper mouthguard in his/her mouth will be assessed a Technical Foul. 

 

[The “covered pad” rule is suspended for Sammamish Shoot-out 2008. It has not been enforced in other post-season tournaments in 2008, and players will not be bound by it in Sammamish Shoot-out 2008.
Per NFHS rules, shoulder pads must be covered. Uncovered shoulder pads will result in a technical foul. Players may cover the pads and return to the game after the penalty is released.]

 

Illegal equipment (sticks, gloves, pads) will result in a 2 minute non-releasable penalty, and the offending equipment will be maintained under the control of the field monitor and not allowed back on the field for the duration of the game, even if repairs are made to correct the offense.

 

SAMMAMISH SHOOT-OUT TOURNAMENT RULES

·        Lightning, Juniors & Seniors: One-handed checks are slashes by definition, and a personal foul will be called.

·        All pool games on all fields will start and end at the same time, starting promptly at the top and bottom of every hour.

·        Tie games are allowed in pool play

·        Playoff games must have a winner

o       Successive 3 minute sudden-death periods until there is a winner

o       30 second break between OT periods. No TOs

o       Alternating possession; first OT possession determined by AP continued from regular game.

·        Coaches

o       Chumash is designed to be player-run, and as such, there will be no coaches allowed on the players sideline during the play of the game.

o       Adult coaches may meet with teams at halftime and between games, but must be completely clear of the field and sideline at the start of the period. Coaches may NOT join the team during time outs.

o       A single coaching violation will result in a technical foul and a warning to the coach. A second coaching violation will result in a forfeit of the game with a 1-0 score recorded against the offending team.

o       Exception: A single adult coach is allowed on the players sideline for Lightning (3/4), with the duties restricted to managing substitutions. No in-game coaching.

o       In case of an injury where the player cannot return to the sideline on his/her own power, the field monitor will ask for no more than two coaches/parents to come assist the injured player.

o       Other than what is specifically spelled out here, coaches are spectators and will adhere to the LIMIT LINE rules outlined above.

·        Captains

o       At the beginning of each game, the team captain will report to the field monitor

o       The captain is the only player who may call a time out

o       The captain of the away team (will be designated each game) calls the coin flip.

·        Team composition

o       Grade levels are from the 2007-2008 school year (spring 2008 season). For example, an eighth grader in 2007-2008 plays in the Sammamish Shoot-out Senior (7/8) division.

o       Players may choose to play up. Playing up is discouraged at all levels.

o       Players may not play down. Honor the Game. Violations will result in 1-0 forfeits of all games for the offending team.

o       Teams must have at least 3 players and may have no more than 5 players. No exceptions. There will be no changing of personnel on any team once the team has checked in for registration. No exceptions – even injuries, emergencies, etc. 

 

POOL PLAY and PLAYOFF SEEDING

·        All divisions will be organized into one large or an even number of pools of 3-6 teams each.

·        Each team will play up to three games in pool, and will not play the same team twice in pool play.  Some cross-pool play may be required to provide enough games.

·        Playoff seeding follows this formula, taken in order

o       Overall best win/loss percentage in pool play

o       Head-to-head

o       Fewest average goals allowed per game vs. already seeded teams (in the case of a tie for #1 seed, use average goals allowed per game overall).

o       Fewest average goals allowed per game overall.

o       Still tied? Coin flip seeds playoff position. If tie is 2-way for last play off spot, there will be a play-in mini-game. 5 minute game with sudden victory 3-minute overtime periods.  If tie is 3- or 4-way for last slot, expand the playoff brackets.

·        Playoffs are single-elimination

o       Overtime periods are 3-minute sudden victory. Alternate possession carries forward from the regular game.