LACROSSE

GENERAL INFORMATION:

1. Lacrosse is a classified event with three (3) state championship divisions: Class 6A, Class 5A, and Classes 1A-4A. NOTE: Geographic location may determine division placement regardless of classification.
2. All Lacrosse games will be played according to the rules published by the National Federation with such GHSA modifications as may be found in this section.
3. Notification of entry in Lacrosse must be filed in writing with the GHSA office no later than March 1, for the upcoming school year so that teams may be placed in Areas for competition.
4. The number of Lacrosse games allowed (not including state tournaments) shall be eighteen (18). If a region/area chooses to hold a region/area tournament, those games must be included as part of the 18-game total allowed. Beginning and ending dates for practice and competition can be found at the front of this publication.
5. All GHSA Lacrosse games shall be played with a minimum of two officially-dressed officials who are registered under the GHSA plan for registration of officials.
6. For evening games, a single game must begin no later than 7:30 p.m., and a doubleheader must begin no later than 6:00 p.m. If the host school does nor offer a warm-up location for the visiting team, there must be a minimum 30-minute warm-up period between games for both teams. If a warm-up location is provided, then a minimum 20-minute interval between games in required.
7. Sub-varsity games will be limited as follows:
   1. Boys and girls will play four 10-minute quarters.
   2. No overtimes will be played in sub-varsity competition.
8. When there is a competitive imbalance between two teams in a contest, the game will be shortened as follows: If a team is more than ten (10) goals down at any time, the remainder of the game will be played with a running clock that will stop only for timeouts and injuries in both boys and girls competitions.
9. Games that are tied at the end of regulation will be handled according to the procedures outlined in the appropriate rule book as follows:
   
   1. BOYS: Any game that ends in a tie will be resolved by playing a sudden victory overtime period as outlined in Rule 3-4 of the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Book.
   2. GIRLS: For all regular season games in girls lacrosse that end in a tie, overtime will be played according to sudden victory overtime rules (Rule 4-7) published by US Lacrosse and endorsed by the NFHS. This format will also be used in all tournaments where advancement is necessary.
10. The use of WBGT for ALL contests is mandated as follows:
    
    1. BOYS: WBGT must be measured 15 minutes prior to start of contest, coaches and officials must be notified.
       
       1. If WBGT is equal or above 86.0 F, an ice immersion tub must be present and ready for use.
       2. If WBGT is equal or above 88.0 F, Referee’s will take a 3-minute hydration break at or near the midway point of each 12-minute period (ball out of bounds/foul assessed or goal scored). Teams to the bench area during hydration break, no coaches permitted on field.
    2. GIRLS: WBGT must be measured 15 minutes prior to start of contest, coaches and officials must be notified.
       
       1. If WBGT is equal or above 86.0 F, an ice immersion tub must be present and ready for use.
       2. If WBGT is equal or above 88.0 F, Referees will take a 3-minute hydration break at or near the midway point of each half (ball out of bounds/foul assessed or goal scored). Teams to the bench area during hydration break, no coaches permitted on field.
11. Teams arriving late for a scheduled contest by thirty (30) minutes or more shall forfeit the game, and shall be responsible for payment of the officials unless prior arrangements are made in a timely manner. Consideration will be given to emergency situations over which the traveling school has no control. The host school has the responsibility of notifying the officials of any changes in the schedule.
12. Schools must enter team schedules, rosters and weekly game/meet results during the season on MaxPreps and be responsible for updates as needed. This information will support statewide media, event programs, broadcasts partners and GHSA Region Standings. Teams are encouraged to maintain team/individual statistics on MaxPreps.

AREA COMPETITION:

1. Each Area shall have a written tie-breaker procedure in order to seed teams for the playoffs.
2. An Area may choose to use the GHSA tie-breaker procedure:
   
   1. Winning percentage against all teams in the Area.
   2. Head-to-head competition among the teams that are tied.
   3. Goals allowed in head-to-head competition between teams that are tied.
   4. Goal differential in head-to-head competition between teams that are tied (maximum of 10 goals per game).
   5. Goals allowed in all Area games.
   6. Goal differential in all Area games (maximum of 10 goals per game).
   7. At any point in the process where ties can be broken so that only two teams remain tied, consideration of head-to-head competition will be invoked. If the tie is completely broken for all teams involved at any step in the process, the tie-breaker process is completed.
3. If the Area is subdivided, then the same tie-breaker procedure should be used for both subdivisions.

POST-SEASON COMPETITION:

1. If championship games end in a tie, the rulebook procedure for breaking a tie is followed (see Lacrosse Section I).
2. In rounds 1-4 the higher seed shall host. In the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds if equal seeds are matched, a universal coin toss will determine the host team. In the championship finals the "home" team shall be predetermined regardless of seeding.
3. Admission fee for rounds 1-4 is $8.00 for a single playoff game and $12.00 for a doubleheader. Admission for championship finals is $15.00 and shall be played at a neutral site TBD.
4. Finances:
   
   1. The GHSA will receive 12% of the gross gate receipts.
   2. Officials will be paid by the host schools out of the gate receipts.
   3. The visiting team’s mileage will be paid at .80 per mile one way.
   4. Any remaining receipts will be shared by the participating teams.
   5. Host school(s) will be responsible for security, facility fees, maintenance costs, etc., and these expenses will not be taken out of gate receipts.
   6. At neutral-site games, each participating team is allowed free admission for a maximum of 25 players and team essential personnel. Coaches will be admitted with a GHSA coaching pass.
5. In order to host a state playoff game, the host school must be able to provide the following:
   
   1. seating for 700 attendees (calculated at 24 inches per seat) Note: GHSA may waive this stipulation with approval of the visiting school.
   2. adequate restroom facilities for the size of the crowd;
   3. a dressing room or locker room for the visiting team.