Official League Rules (2021)
Ratified May 2021
Core Game Rules
Officials – Officials are not required or provided by the league for regular season games. Teams are expected to hold to the honor system, call their own fouls, and hold each other accountable. There shall be at least two (2) neutral officials for the Championship Game. The League shall provide for and pay for officials for the Championship Game.
All STLMLL officials must be certified in MO, with a minimum level of experience with varsity high school games and preferably those officials who are regularly assigned elite level high school and/or NCAA games.
Game Time – STLMLL games shall consist of four quarters of 15 minutes running time. There shall be two minutes between quarters, and five minutes for halftime. There shall be a single overtime period consisting of ten (10) minutes of running time sudden victory. If there is no score in the overtime period, the game shall end as a tie. Time should also be stopped for any “on field” injury of a player that requires on field assistance.
NOTE: The Championship Game shall be played until sudden victory, and shall consist of as many overtime periods of 10 minute running time until one team scores the winning goal.
Time Outs – Teams are not afforded time outs during regular season play. Each team shall have two time outs per half with no carry-over in the Championship Game. Each team will have one time out per overtime period in the Championship Game. The time out period shall be two minutes in length. The game clock shall be stopped during a time out. During live play the team in possession of the ball can call a time out in both the defensive and offensive half of the field. The player in possession of the ball does not have to be in contact with the ground when the time out is called.
Face Offs – NCAA face off rules shall apply, though players are permitted to use motorcycle grip and put a knee down. The NCAA count of “Down,” then “Set,” then whistle or “Go” shall be utilized for face offs in all League games.
Substitutions – The horn shall not be used. Teams are able to substitute “on the fly” through the substitution box area, subject to adjudication by the official.
Long Stick Personnel – Each team is permitted a maximum of five (5) “long sticks” on the field.
Goal Crease Prohibitions – The NCAA “dive rule” is not used. A goal shall be allowed if a player enters the crease after the ball crosses the goal line, but they may not dive at the goalie. A goal shall be disallowed only when a player enters the crease or makes contact with the cage before the ball has crossed the goal line, and a crease violation is enforced.
Uniforms & Equipment
Uniforms: Teams are not required to have matching jerseys or shorts. The jerseys, however, must be of a like color so as not to cause confusion either for the officials or the opposing team.
The Crosse: The attack and midfielder stick shall be between 40 and 42 inches in length. Any stick between 42 and 72 inches maximum in length shall be considered to be a defensive or “long stick.” Each team is permitted a maximum of five (5) “long sticks” on the field. The NCAA crosse dimension regulations put in force for the 2010 NCAA season shall not apply to League play. There are not regulations on head dimensions or pocket.
The Helmet: A protective helmet, equipped with face mask, chin pad and a cupped four point chin strap fastened to all four hookups, must be worn by all men’s players. All helmets and facemasks must be NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) approved.
The Glove: All players are required to wear protective gloves. The cutting or altering of gloves is prohibited.
Protective Equipment: All players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, must wear a NOCSAE approved helmet and gloves. Shoulder pads, arm pads, rib pads and mouthpieces are strongly recommended. The goalkeeper is required to wear a throat protector and chest protector, in addition to a helmet and gloves. It is up to the manager/representative of each team to ensure that their players are appropriately equipped.
Fouls and Penalties
Penalty Timing: Penalties in will result in a loss of possession or a “sub off”. If the offending player’s team does not have possession of the ball, they will be required to substitute for another teammate.
Racial Epithets and Remarks: A player or anyone officially connected to a team who uses a racial epithet or makes a racial remark shall be expelled from the game. Depending on severity and circumstance, the league managers may vote to ban the player from the league. The STLMLL has zero tolerance for this type of behavior.
Fighting: Fighting is NOT tolerated in the STLMLL. Fighting is defined as a player, substitute, non-playing member of a squad, coach or anyone officially connected with a team, deliberately striking or attempting to strike anyone in a malicious manner, or leaving the bench or coaches area during an altercation. The first offense for fighting shall result in the player being expelled from the game and suspended for the next two regular season or championship games. A second offense for fighting shall result in permanent expulsion from the League, subject to appeal.
“Take Out” Checks: “Take out” checks are NOT tolerated in the STLMLL. A “take out” check shall be determined at the discretion of the official or fellow players, and is in their consideration an act of flagrant “unnecessary roughness” (any act on the part of a player that is deliberate and excessively violent) so as to intentionally cause serious harm or injury to another player (such as intentionally going for an opponent’s knees or head). The first offense for a “take out” check shall result in the player being expelled from the game and suspended for the next two regular season or post-season games. A second offense for a “take out” check shall result in permanent expulsion from the League, subject to appeal.
In the event that a player is permanently expelled from the League, the STLMLL Commissioner shall notify all team representatives so that the expelled player cannot join another team. A player can be permanently expelled from the League upon the occurrence of the first incident of racial epithets or remarks, the second incident of fighting or take out checks, or a combination of both, subject to appeal.
A player does have the right to appeal a permanent expulsion from the League. Upon appeal to the League Commissioner, a Board of Inquiry shall commence, comprised of the League Executive Board, and shall review and rule on the incident, with direct input from the officials involved in the incident and anyone else the Board deems appropriate. The Board of Inquiry shall make every effort to review the expulsion appeal as soon as possible. During the appeal process, the player in question shall not be permitted to play in any regular or post season games until a final ruling is reached by the Board of Inquiry.
Team and Player Eligibility
Team Rosters: Team rosters shall be fixed following the third regular season STLMLL games, regardless of any bye weeks. All team player names must be submitted to the STLMLL Commissioner to be posted on the STLMLL web site following the third game and prior to the fourth game. No additions to team rosters shall be allowed following the fourth regular season STLMLL game. Teams may appeal to bring an additional player onto their team after the third week, given approval by a majority of the team managers of the league (for example, a player who moves back to the area halfway through the summer). Failure to submit a complete roster will result in game forfeits until the roster is submitted and accepted by the League.
Teams are strongly encouraged to finalize and submit their rosters in advance of the deadline so as to lessen the burden on the webmaster.
Playoff Eligibility: A player must be on the roster and attend at least three (3) regular season games in order to qualify to play in the Championship Game. Each team is responsible for maintaining a team roster that includes game attendance for each player on the roster. A player need only attend a game to qualify; they are not required to have played in a game. Thus an injured player could attend three regular season division games and not play (be on bench/sidelines), and still qualify to play in the Championship Game. Clearly the tracking of attendance at the team level is a matter of mutual trust and honesty.
Minimum Age Requirement: Eligibility to participate in the League is open to players who are or will be 18 years of age in the calendar year of the current season, and have graduated high school. Player age is determined on a calendar year basis (i.e., what age a player turns during the applicable calendar year).
Proof of Age: Upon request, all players must be able to provide proof of age if challenged by the opposing team. If a player cannot provide proof of age, they shall be disqualified and expelled from that game. Any goals scored by a player who is unable to provide proof of age shall be disallowed.
Illegal Players: A player shall be considered illegal if they are underage and/or non-roster (not listed on the team roster following the fourth regular season game).
Illegal Player Exceptions: Teams are required to field a minimum of 9 rostered players in order for the game to count towards championship eligibility. If a team has non-rostered players on their sideline, it is the responsibility of the team manager to clear this with the opposing team before game play begins. Failure to clear non-rostered players with the opposing team will result in forfeit of the game.
Penalties/sanctions for the first offense in the use of an illegal player, including failure to disclose a non-rostered player to the opposing team, will be the forfeit of the immediate game in question. A second offense in the same season will result in suspension from the League of the team for the remainder of the current season as well as the following STLMLL season.
Team Movement: Teams may appeal to be moved up or down a division in between seasons. Any manager/representative of any team may make the appeal to STLMLL Team Managers, and after hearing cases for/against, Team Managers will vote on whether the team will be moved. A simple majority rules.
Schedule Changes, Forfeits and Cancelled Games
If a team requests a change in the published STLMLL schedule, the burden shall fall upon that team to find a mutually convenient and acceptable date, time and/or location in which to play the game. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, both teams shall make every effort to find an alternative date, time and/or location. If the teams are unable to find a mutually acceptable date, time and/or location to make up the cancelled game before the end of the regular season, then a 10-0 loss will be awarded to the team that requested the schedule change.
The regular season shall be considered to end on the last day that a regular season game is scheduled per the most recent published STLMLL schedule.
Forfeits: In the case of a forfeit, the team that forfeits the game shall be awarded a 10-0 loss. A forfeit shall occur if a team does not have at least 9 players dressed and ready to play at the start of a game, including goalie. A forfeit shall also occur if a team requests a change in game date, time or location less than a week (7 days) in advance of the scheduled game, and the game is not able to be played or adequately rescheduled prior to the end of the regular season.
In the event of a forfeited game, the entire roster of the team that has the game forfeited against receives credit for the game as being played, whereas the entire roster of the team that forfeits the game gets no credit for the game played. In this manner, the team that is forfeited against shall not lose a potential game for playoff eligibility purposes.
Game Cancellation Due to Weather/Lightning: If a game is cancelled due to weather and/or lightning, it must be made up at the earliest mutual convenience of both teams. It is understood that weather conditions may preclude a team from utilizing its regular home field out of concern for damage to the field. If the teams are unable to find a mutually acceptable date, time and/or location to make up a game cancelled due to weather before the end of the regular season, then the unplayed game shall be treated as a “bye” with no points awarded to either team (essentially omitted from schedule and standings).
In the event that a game already underway is cancelled by reason of weather and/or lightning, then either:
- If the game is cancelled prior to the start of the second half of play, then the game will be rescheduled according to the Schedule Change procedures outlined above.
- If the game in cancelled in the second half of play, then the score at the time of the game cancellation shall be the considered the final outcome. For example, in the case where Team A is leading Team B by a score of 6-5 in the second half of play when the game is cancelled due to lightning, then Team A shall be awarded the 6-5 win. If the score is tied 6-6, then each team shall be awarded a 6-6 tie.
Post-Season Qualification and Ranking Criteria
The top two (2) teams shall qualify for the Championship Game, based upon the following criteria:
- Overall STLMLL regular season record = total points
- Head-to-head match-ups, as determined by goals against differential of the regular season games played between the teams tied
- Best record versus common opponents. In situations where a team plays a common opponent more than once and they split a two game series, the average points per game shall be used.
- Goals against average (total goals against divided by the total number of games played in the STLMLL regular season)
Two (2) points shall be awarded for a win, one (1) point shall be awarded to each team for a tie, and zero (0) points are awarded for a loss. In order to ensure an accurate account of record and score differential, it is the responsibility of managers from both teams in each game to report the score after the game has concluded.
PLEASE NOTE: The STLMLL Team Managers shall serve as the final and binding arbiter in the event of conflicts or disagreements between teams involving rules interpretations, schedule changes, and forfeited or cancelled games. Simple majority vote from Team Managers will decide outcome.