Rules

The FLL uses NCAA rules, except for the following rules.

•  No Time Limits to advance the ball.
  • Stop time in the last 2 (or was it 3) min if the score differential is 4 goals or less.
  • When under 2 min with a stopped clock being enforced, the offense has 30 seconds to get it in and keep it in after taking possession anywhere on the field.
•  Can dive into crease, as long as the ball crosses the goal line before making contact with the ground, goal or goalie.
• Open Division can use 5 long sticks.
• Masters Division can use a 30+ goalie if the alert the league first.
• Slow whistle is over when the ball hits the ground. Not when team loses possession.

Game Length

• Adopted slow flag rule
• Unlimited Long Poles
• No mandatory stick checks
• 3 time outs per half
• Diving into the crease is allowed
• No time counts, except 4 seconds count for goalie
• 20 minute running time quarters
• Last two minutes of the game – stop time
• Substitution box expanded to 20 yardsChange to RULE 1-SECTION 10: “The substitution area shall be 20 yards wide. Two lines shall be drawn on either side of the center line 10 yards from the center line and extending past the scorer’s table.”
• Third pre-whistle faceoff violation of each half results in 30-second technical penaltyChange to RULE 4-SECTION 3: “After two pre-whistle violations in one half by a team, the third and subsequent violations result in a 30-second technical penalty. This applies to both pre- and post-whistle violations that directly relate to the faceoff (See A.R. 15, 23 and 25). On the third and subsequent violations, the in-home is the player that must serve the penalty. Additionally, the requirement of the faceoff player to leave the field has been eliminated. Violations by the wing players before the faceoff will count toward the three per half. Only the faceoff players may be penalized for a postwhistle faceoff violation.”
• Faceoffs during penalty situations must have four players in the defensive area and three players in the offensive area4-3: “During the faceoff in all penalty situations, there must be four players must be in the defensive area and three players in the offensive area. Exception: When a team has three or more players in the penalty area, a player may come out of its defensive area to take the faceoff.
• Procedures for restarting play adjusted to increase pace of playChange to RULE 4-SECTION 23: “Once the referee has signaled that the ball is ready for play, the official shall resume play as quickly as possible. If an opposing player is within five yards of the player that has been awarded the ball, the official shall blow the whistle to start play. The opposing player is not allowed to defend the ball until he reaches a distance of five yards from the opponent. A violation will be a flag down (slow whistle) for delay of game.

  “Officials are also instructed to get the ball in play quickly and not be as deliberate with the exact location of the violation. An unfair distance advantage gained by the team with the ball must occur to delay the restart. If officials confer on a play (e.g., goal/no goal), communication to the teams should take place before the restart.

   

  “On restarts where the ball goes out of bounds, the player who is awarded the ball cannot get a running start while out-of-bounds; he must establish himself in bounds prior to the official blowing the whistle.

• Restarting play when offensive team is awarded ball in attack area adjusted for quick restart4-23: “Any stoppage of play that occurs while the ball is in the attack area will result in a quick restart. (Exception: When the offensive team is awarded possession in the attack area, play will be restarted anywhere outside of the attack area. The offensive team is responsible for moving the ball outside the attack area for the restart. Only one pass is permitted.)”
• All players must turn 35 before the end of the season.
• Four long poles allowed on field
• No take out checks
• Can only check the man with the ball
• Only three steps allowed for body checking