Boys Indoor Lacrosse Rules

NH Tomahawks Indoor League is designed for high school and town teams.  Elite Club Teams are not accepted.  Free agents will be assigned to a team.

Team Size and Coaches:  7 per side including goalie.  Two attackman, two midfields, two defensemen and a goalie. (see OFF SIDES towards the end of the rules sheet). Only substitute players and coaches are allowed in the bench area during games.

Equipment:  Same as required field equipment. Mouth guards are required equipment.

Game Start Times and Length:  Teams can take the field when prior game ends. Games will start on the hour. Length of games will be two 25 minute halves with a 5 minute half-time.

Time Outs:  No time-outs except if referee deems necessary due to conduct

Overtime:  A 2  minute sudden-death overtime will be played if the score is tied after regulation.  If there are no goals scored after 2 minute sudden-death, the game ends in a tie.

Face-Offs:  Face-offs will occur at the beginning of each half or overtime period.  After a goal is scored, play will start with the goalie clearing the ball.

Substitutions:  All subbing is to be done on the fly or at a stoppage of play that is acknowledged by the referee.

Clears:  When a team gains possession in the defensive end of the field, they have 10 seconds to clear the ball or there is a loss of possession.  Once a team with the ball crosses the midfield line they must maintain possession in their offensive end.  If the ball is carried back into the defensive end, it is a loss of possession.

Out of Bounds:  (Indoor Fields)  If a boundary line is present, the ball is considered out of bounds when it crosses the boundary line.  If no boundary is present, the ball is considered out of bounds when the ball touches the netting that surrounds the field.

Off Sides:  Three players (usually the goalie and two defensemen) must stay in the defensive end of the field at all times.  Two players (usually the two attackman) must stay in the offensive end of the field at all times.

Fouls:  Same as boys field rules except for body checking.  Contact “cannot” be made if more than one step is taken.  A player can “ box another player out” for a loose ball or “hold and push” another player when playing one-on-one defense.  The contact rule will be strictly enforced.

Penalties:  All penalties will be one-minute in length.  A player who commits five penalties in one game will be ejected from that game.

Conduct:  Coaches, players and/or parents that demonstrate unsportsmanlike conduct and/or conduct considered inappropriate will be subject to immediate suspension from game and/or league play.

Forfeits:  If a team fails to show for a game, or if a team does not have enough players, the game is considered a forfeit.  A team can play one-person shorthanded only if the opposing team agrees to the situation.

If a team plays with an unregistered player(s), the game is considered a forfeit.

To “play-out” a game, a shorthanded team can use registered players from another NH Tomahawks Team from the same division if the opposing team agrees. However, the game will be considered a forfeit.

All forfeits will be recorded as 1-0 loss for the forfeiting team.

Weather Cancellations:  NH Sportsplex provides no provision to make up games due to weather.  If NH Sportsplex is open, the games are on.  Please check the Tomahawks website www.nhtomahawks.com to see if there is a cancellation.