3v3 Lacrosse (“Chumash”) Rules

For Sammamish Shoot-Out(tm) 2011

July 2, 2011. Subject to change.

 

 

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. Goals may be scored only by the team on offense.

 

 

TIME  (Sammamish Shoot-Out 10 minute halves)

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.  There are no time outs.   

 

SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions can be made anytime 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, providing they do not interfere 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 Chumash Lacrosse field is 50 yards long by 25 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 Outer Crease that extends 10-12 yards in both directions from the goal line.  At the goal line, the Outer Crease is 6 yards wide.  The Outer Crease 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 end lines and sidelines. No spectators are allowed between fields where less than 15 yards separates the fields from one another.

 

           

GETTING STARTED

The designated away team will choose which side of the goal is theirs to start the game. [Boys] A face off will start each half, and will restart play anytime the ball is unreachable in the inner crease (see below). For the face off, the ball is placed approximately half way between the goal and the sideline. Face-off players’ sticks run parallel to the length of the field, the butt end of the stick pointing to that player’s TAKE BACK line. One wing player for each team must be behind the Take Back line on each end.  The official starts the face off as in a 10v10 game. The possessing team must take the ball back behind their TAKE BACK line. For the second half, the face off positions are reversed, but the same side of the field is used. There are no inner crease violations until the possessing team gets the ball back to their TAKE BACK line. [Girls] 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 (see “STALLING” below) and there are no offsides.  However, a goal can only be scored from a team’s designated side of the field.  A shot by a team on their opponent’s side of the goal will not score a goal and play will continue per these rules.

 

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 goal 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 line before shooting, the ball will be awarded to the other team immediately, and there will be no goal allowed. The TAKE BACK line does not establish a “safe” zone.

 

After a goal, the ball goes to the team that did not score, and must be carried back behind that team’s TAKE BACK line. Play resumes when the ball reaches the TAKE BACK line.

 

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 officials 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 (for boys, the team that lost that half’s face-off will be awarded first alternate possession. 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 (“Inner”) 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. An inner crease violation is a technical foul, and no goal can be scored while the offense is in the inner crease. There are three exceptions: (1) During face-offs, before the possessing team clears the ball to their own TAKE BACK line, no inner crease violations will occur; (2) A shooter is pushed into the inner crease during or after a shot; (3) The scored-upon team enters the inner crease to retrieve a ball after a goal. Players MAY NOT enter the inner crease to retrieve a ball that is down and stopped in the inner crease. If no players can reach the ball, the official will [Boys] initiate a face-off, or [Girls] award the ball based on alternate possession.

 

THE LARGER (“Outer”) CREASE

The second crease uses the same arc as the inner crease. 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. Players may not stop nor may they shoot from inside the outer crease. Players can "dive" while shooting and land in the outer crease, but they may not land in the inner crease – ever. Doing so will nullify any goal and possession is awarded to the other team.

A player may, for example, 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.

Players may not defend from inside the outer crease. Defending from inside the outer crease is prohibited, whether actively defending an offensive player or taking a defensive position inside the outer crease. Violations will be considered a technical foul, the ball will be awarded to the shooting team, and the defending team will serve a technical foul penalty.

GOALTENDING

A legal shot which is blocked by a defender illegally defending in either the inner or outer crease will be scored as a goal for the offensive team (Goaltending)

 

STALLING

At all times during the game, the team with the lead must promptly clear the ball to its own TAKE BACK line or the official may call stalling. A warning is not required. In the last 2 minutes of the game, the team with the lead and in possession is required, after taking the ball back behind the TAKE BACK line, to keep possession between their TAKE BACK line and the Goal line extended or stalling is called. There will be no warning of the stall however, the official will signal “keep it in” at the 2 minute warning. The team with the lead may chase a missed shot into the other half of the field, but must immediately return to their half of the field upon recovering the ball in the last 2 minutes. Stalling violations are loss-of-possession fouls.

OTHER GAME PROCEDURES

Teams will be in face-off [Boys]/starting [Girls] positions when the official signals it is time to play. If a team is not ready on the official’s signal (common horn), the team that is ready will take possession. If after 30 seconds, a team is still not ready, a technical (minor) foul will be assessed.  Other than this rule and the stalling rule, there are no rules governing time for ball advancement.

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, stalling, and offensive CREASE AREA violations.

 

TECHNICAL FOULS [Boys] / MINOR FOULS [Girls]

Technical/minor 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.

Play continues while the offending player is leaving the field.

 

PERSONAL FOULS [Boys] / MAJOR FOULS [Girls]

Personal/major fouls are illegal body checking, slashing, tripping, and cross-checking, based on age-division appropriate interpretations, and all girls major fouls (e.g., checks within the 7” head sphere). One-hand checks are personal fouls in all boys youth divisions. 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:

a)      The opposing team has taken two shots.

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

c)      The opposing team scores a goal.

Play continues while the offending player is leaving the field.

 

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. 

 

[Boys] NFHS Rule suspension: Note: The “covered pad” rule is suspended for the Sammamish Shoot-out.

 

Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and illegal equipment (sticks, gloves, pads) will result in the offending player serving two consecutive personal fouls. The offending equipment will be maintained under the control of the field official and will not allowed back on the field for the duration of the game, even if repairs are made to correct the offense.

 

PLAYER SUSPENSIONS, EJECTIONS

Any player receiving 3 personal/major fouls or 2 unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in one game will be suspended for the rest of that game and for the game immediately following. Players suspended from two games will be ejected from the tournament.

 

SAMMAMISH SHOOT-OUT TOURNAMENT RULES

 

POOL PLAY and PLAYOFF SEEDING