Teams
Six on the field: five field players and one fully equipped goalie. Rosters have 8–12 players. A goalie stays on the field and in the defensive half.
The Sixes League · 2026–27
Youth rule sheets
Clear, age-aware rules for the Boys and Girls leagues. Coaches and officials use these sheets for local play.
2026–27 · Classes 2033–2036
Boys division rule sheet
These are The Sixes League’s youth modifications to USA Lacrosse Sixes and youth rules. They apply to every Boys division.
Game clock
Four 8-minute running quarters. Two minutes between quarters and four minutes at halftime. Regular-season games may end in a tie; playoff ties use 4-minute sudden-victory periods.
Field
Coleman’s marked, reduced-size field (approximately 200 × 105 feet), with a center line, goal circles, boundary lines, and a designated substitution area. Officials identify the boundaries before play.
Starts
A center draw starts each quarter. After a goal, the goalie retrieves the ball and restarts on the official’s whistle; the goalie has 10 seconds to clear. All other restarts also require a whistle.
Pace
A team has 30 seconds to shoot after gaining possession. The table or official keeps time and announces the last 10 seconds if no display is available. There is no separate midfield advance count.
Out of bounds
The other team gets the ball when a team sends it out, including on a shot. The official awards possession and restarts play about two meters inside the boundary.
Substitutions
Players may change on the fly through the marked substitution area. The entering player waits until the exiting player is off the field. Goalie changes happen in the defensive half.
Safety and penalties
No body checking, cross-checking, head or neck contact, dangerous stick swings, or contact with a goalie in the crease. Minor fouls: loss of possession or a 30-second penalty. Major fouls: 1-minute penalty. Dangerous or abusive conduct can remove a player for the game; the team serves 2 minutes. Penalty time does not end after a goal.
Sticks and checking
Short field-player sticks only; no long poles. Classes 2036–2035: no stick checking. Classes 2034–2033: controlled checks to an opponent’s stick or gloved hands only, with no wind-up or contact to the body.
Required gear
NOCSAE lacrosse helmet with face mask and chinstrap, gloves, arm pads, mouthguard, and NOCSAE ND200 chest protection. Goalies also wear a throat guard and protective cup. Check all gear before taking the field.
2026–27 · Classes 2033–2036
Girls division rule sheet
These are The Sixes League’s youth modifications to USA Lacrosse Sixes and youth rules. They apply to every Girls division.
Teams
Six on the field: five field players and one fully equipped goalie. Rosters have 8–12 players. A goalie stays on the field and in the defensive half.
Game clock
Four 8-minute running quarters. Two minutes between quarters and four minutes at halftime. Regular-season games may end in a tie; playoff ties use 4-minute sudden-victory periods.
Field
Coleman’s marked, reduced-size field (approximately 200 × 105 feet), with a center line, goal circles, boundary lines, and a designated substitution area. Officials identify the boundaries before play.
Starts
A center draw starts each quarter. After a goal, the goalie retrieves the ball and restarts on the official’s whistle; the goalie has 10 seconds to clear. All other restarts also require a whistle.
Pace
A team has 30 seconds to shoot after gaining possession. The table or official keeps time and announces the last 10 seconds if no display is available. There is no separate midfield advance count.
Out of bounds
The other team gets the ball when a team sends it out, including on a shot. The official awards possession and restarts play about two meters inside the boundary.
Substitutions
Players may change on the fly through the marked substitution area. The entering player waits until the exiting player is off the field. Goalie changes happen in the defensive half.
Safety and penalties
No body checking, cross-checking, head or neck contact, dangerous stick swings, or contact with a goalie in the crease. Minor fouls: loss of possession or a 30-second penalty. Major fouls: 1-minute penalty. Dangerous or abusive conduct can remove a player for the game; the team serves 2 minutes. Penalty time does not end after a goal.
Sticks and checking
Girls’ field sticks and legal pockets. Classes 2036–2035: no stick checking. Classes 2034–2033: modified checks only, down and away from the body and below the ball carrier’s shoulder. No horizontal stick against an opponent.
Required gear
Mouthguard and ASTM-compliant protective eyewear. Goalies wear a helmet with face mask and throat guard, mouthguard, NOCSAE ND200 chest protection, thigh protection, shin guards, and protective cup.
Shooting safety
Players must not shoot through another player or set a stationary wall in front of goal when they are not marking an opponent. Officials stop dangerous shots and unsafe defensive positioning.
Source rules
These local sheets adapt USA Lacrosse’s published Sixes standards and 2026 youth rules. Where a procedure is not changed above, officials use the age-appropriate USA Lacrosse youth rule.