High School Rules

Introduction

This section applies to High Sierra Lacrosse High School Member Programs ONLY ("HSLL-HS"). All High School play is governed by the current NFHS High School Lacrosse rules for girls and boys.

Lacrosse Season

The season for games begins and ends on the published NIAA Spring season dates. See https://niaa.com/calendar/index

Team Establishment

For consistency, the HSLL applies the requirements of Washoe County School District's Board Policy 5325 universally to HSLL-HS teams, whether or not they operate within the Washoe County School District.

Each high school member program is required to be affiliated as a club or athletic team by an accredited host school approved by the league.

Team members must be composed of the school's student body with explicit school administration approval. The team may also include dual-enrolled students, students of another district school when similar opportunity is not available, and home-schooled students residing within the hosting school's zone of attendance. In the absence of other league guidance, the league will use WCSD and NIAA rules in making determinations regarding this clause.

Teams must provide equal access to all students, with no tryouts or limits on participation.

Teams may not deny participation due to inability to pay team fees or dues.

Admission into League

Admission of new member programs must be approved by the Board.

Member programs and teams will be evaluated annually.

Prospective programs and teams must petition for membership in the league before December 1st of the year prior to admission.

Teams must meet all requirements outlined within the HSLL rules and must demonstrate sufficient organizational support to convince the HSLL Board of Directors that the new team will be viable.

Player Assignment to New Teams

When a new team forms, all players attending schools deemed within that new team's designated boundaries must play for the new team.

Team Governance

Each program must demonstrate and maintain governance with a high school.

The league requires, and will observe, the following order of authority when interacting with a high school team or program.

Any departure from the structure outlined requires a written variance per season.

Accountability {#accountability}

The Head Coach of the most senior girls Team in a given program is responsible for all girls teams within their particular program (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman/Sophomore).

The Head Coach of the most senior boys Team in a given program is responsible for all boys teams within their particular program (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman/Sophomore).

Players

Age and Grade Requirements

No player shall participate in high school lacrosse activities who has reached nineteen years of age prior to the first day of September of the school year in which such participation is intended.

No player shall compete in any HSLL-HS High School League activity who (a.) is a graduate of a regular four-year high school or who (b.) is a graduate of a secondary school which has the same requirements for graduation as a regular four-year high school.

A student who finishes the required number of credits for graduation in fewer semesters than are normally required shall not be barred from competition provided they (a.) are still considered a student at the high school they are playing for and (b.) they meet all other player eligibility requirements.

Students who (a.) do not attend school and (b.) are not "homeschooled" in a manner using the school district zoned for their home address's definition of home schooling shall forfeit their eligibility for that period and shall not be provided any additional period of eligibility.

Students meeting their home residence's definition of "homeschooled" are eligible to play in the same manner as students attending the school in their zone.

Seniors on JV

Seniors may not play in JV lacrosse games or scrimmages. This restriction includes goalies.

4 Year Rule

From the time a player first enters the 9th grade, or an equivalent level of education in any other school system, that student shall have four consecutive years of eligibility. A student held back for any reason during his or her high school career will not be provided an additional period of eligibility and is prohibited from participating as a player in the high school league upon the expiration of the fourth school year after the student enters the ninth grade.

8th Graders and Below

8th Grade Boys and Girls No player in 8th grade or below may participate in high school lacrosse games or scrimmages.

US Lacrosse Membership

A player must be a member of US Lacrosse prior to participating in any league activity, team practice or game with the following exception:

• A team may perform introductory sessions with prospective players that do not include any physical contact.
• Boys or girls participating in introductory sessions shall wear eye protection and a mouth guard or standard lacrosse helmet with a full face mask if they are participating in throwing and catching activities with a standard weight lacrosse ball.

Academic Eligibility

A player must have obtained a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or its equivalent in the preceding grading semester. A student who has failed to meet the 2.0 minimum shall be ineligible for participation throughout the next semester.

A grade check must be made at least once every week starting with the first day of the NIAA Spring season. Players must maintain a 2.0 average in all subjects. Players below a 2.0 in a subject must be informed, in writing, that they are on probation and have one week to bring their grade up. They may continue to participate in practices and games during this week. If they have not met the 2.0 standard in all subjects after a week of probation, they are suspended from all activities, on a weekly basis, until they have attained a 2.0 in all subjects at the next weekly grade check.

Eligibility under this rule is determined when grades are posted. Grade checks should be made available through the school liaison.

In the event grade checks are not made available by the school liaison or school, teams shall require players to submit their grades to the head coach weekly, or a trusted program representative, to determine eligibility. The team or program must get the alternative process approved in writing by the league.

Teams or Programs may institute more stringent academic eligibility standards at their discretion.

Registration

All players playing on HSLL teams must be fully registered in the HSLL online system.

Uniforms

High school uniforms must meet current NFHS rules and requirements..

Eligibility of Non-HSLL Teams

The High Sierra Lacrosse League will only recognize contests played with non-member HSLL opponents that meet the following criteria.

Definitions

The following definitions will be used when interpreting referenced NIAA clauses:

• Association: The "Association" in this context should be read as the HSLL.
• Executive Director: The "Executive Director" should be read as the "HSLL commissioner" of the league in question (i.e. "Boys High School Commissioner" or "Girls High School Commissioner").

Player Requirements

Players must meet the general HSLL Player Requirements.

All players must attend the participating school as pupils.

If a player does not attend the participating school as a pupil, they may be considered for an exemption waiver by the League Commissioner, Director of Lacrosse, or HSLL board prior to competition.

To be considered, they must:

• meet all other listed eligibility requirements;
• only be enrolled at a single high school or qualify as "homeschooled" by the NIAA definition;
• attend a school without a lacrosse team, or in the case of a homeschooled student, be zoned for a school without a lacrosse team;
• have been assigned to the team on which they are playing by their teams league or governing body;
• be approved and accepted to participate on the team by the school principal or athletic director;
• be designated in all scorebooks with a "WA" indicating a "Waiver";
• have been assigned to the same destination team as all other lacrosse players from their school.

Amateur Standing Rule

• NAC 385B.374 Participation of pupil as amateur in sanctioned sport.

Outside Teams Rule

• NAC 385B.308 Competition with certain out-of-state schools prohibited.
• NAC 385B.310 Competition with certain schools prohibited without approval of Executive Director.

All-Star Competition

• NAC 385B.006 "All-star team" defined.
• NAC 385B.350 Participation by team that participates in sanctioned sport prohibited; approval of Board regarding preseason and postseason competition; penalty.
• NAC 385B.352 Approval by Association of competition; imposition of certain restrictions and requirements; submission of injury report and written summary of competition.
• NAC 385B.354 Conditions under which pupil may participate in competition.

Eligibility

All players in the event must meet the eligibility standards of their respective state and its official governing body (e.g. NIAA for NV, CIF for CA), USLacrosse, NFHS, and the school's governing league for high school lacrosse.

No participants may participate that were ejected from play in their most recent officiated high school lacrosse game.

Attestation

The HSLL will not play playoff games against an opponent, nor will it recognize games against opponents that do not meet this standard. Teams that wish to participate in playoff activities or have games with recognized outcomes, must attest to this standard by printing this document and signing below.

The signers below attest that the participating team and players meet all of the standards listed above.

Please send signed attestation to registrar@hsll.org.

Awards

High Sierra Lacrosse congratulates our high school players who have been recognized for their achievements both on the field and in the classroom.

US Lacrosse Awards

US Lacrosse administers All-American and Bob Scott and Jackie Pitts awards for our region.

League Awards

The league awards high school honors following the Spring season in the following categories annually:

Boys {#boys}

• First & Second Team Players
  • Attack (6 Players)
  • Midfield (6 Players)
  • Defense (6 Players)
  • Long Stick Midfield (2 Players)
  • Face-Off (2 Players)
  • Goalie (2 Players)
  • Short Stick Defense (2 Players)
• Honorable Mention Players (each position as necessary)
• Coach of the Year
• Academic Team (GPA of 3.7 or higher)

Girls {#girls}

• First & Second Team Players
  • Attack (6 Players)
  • Midfield (6 Players)
  • Defense (6 Players)
  • Goalie (2 Players)
• Honorable Mention Players (each position as necessary)
• Coach of the Year
• Academic Team (GPA of 3.7 or higher)

Award History {#award-history}

US Lacrosse High School All-Americans {#us-lacrosse-high-school-all-americans}

HSLL League and Additional US Lacrosse Honors {#hsll-league-and-additional-us-lacrosse-honors}

Please see the HSLL awards registry and US Lacrosse awards registry for complete award history.