NEW RULES FOR 2006

--20 seconds to clear over the midline (HS).
--All players of a team shall wear helmets of the same (dominant) color or colors. (HS)
--Mouthpieces must not be white or clear & must be non-altered (HS & JHS)
--Pennies are legal for JHS and illegal for HS.
--Two guard (ball) stops are illegal; a guard (ball) stop from a different manufacturer is illegal.
--During a "stick check", if the ball does not roll freely from the pocket, with the ball either remaining in the pocket when the head is rotated toward the ground or the ball sticking momentarily before rolling out, the stick is illegal (HS & JHS).
--Goalies have 5 seconds to get back to the crease before all restarts anywhere on the field (HS & JHS)
--Scorebook must be filled out prior to the start of the game. Listed, top to bottom, as Attack, Midfield, Defense, Goalkeeper.(HS & JHS)
--Rules for the second half if the goal differential is 12 goals; running clock and all penalties are running time (penalty time starts with the next whistle resuming play). (HS & JHS)
--Team that wins the toss has their choice of Alternate Possession OR which goal they wish to defend (HS & JHS).
--Only head coach will communicate with officials (HS & JHS)
--Ball stuck in front or back of stick; immediate whistle and award to opposing team (HS & JHS)
--For all offsides in offensive end, free clears & face-off violations; award ball at center x one step over (HS & JHS)
--Play must be suspended immediately if the goalies cross or equipment is broken (HS & JHS)
--Ejection: added: any action deemed by the official to be flagrant misconduct is a 3-min non-releasable and ejection for the remainder of the game. (HS & JHS)
--Only a head coach can request a "TO" to discuss a possible misapplication of a rule. (HS & JHS)
--A goal shall be disallowed if an official recognizes a request for a TO from the team in possession or a foul by that team before the ball breaks the plane of the goal, regardless of whether the official has had time to blow the whistle (HS & JHS).
--Pass in flight as the period ends is NOT possession. (HS & JHS)
--Logos can not exceed 2 ¼ x 2 ¼ (HS & JHS)
--Rule 4-14, which previously allowed 10 seconds to clear the ball from the defensive area, now allows 20 seconds for a team to advance the ball beyond the midfield line after gaining possession inside the defensive half of the field. The rule change will make it easier for officials to administer contests on a consistent basis. Failure to advance the ball in 20 seconds will result in a turnover, with the ball awarded to the opposing team at the spot of the violation, or 20 yards laterally from the goal.
--Rule 4-1-1 now gives the option to the team that wins the coin toss to choose either control of the first alternate possession, or the goal it will defend first. Previously, the controlling team was automatically given the first alternate possession with no option of which goal it would defend first.
--Among other changes, Rule 5-11-1 stipulates that the official has the authority to eject a player for flagrant misconduct, without having to wait for a second misconduct penalty. The ejected player should be removed from the bench and field premises if there is an authorized school representative present to supervise the ejected player. If no authorized school representative is present, the student must be confined to the bench.
--Also, any time the score differential reaches 12 goals or more after the first half, a running clock situation will be implemented. Should the scoring deficit be reduced to fewer than 12 goals, then normal play would resume. Rule 3-1-2 originally had the margin set at 10 goals.
--Another change adopted by the committee requires play to be stopped if any required goalie's equipment becomes broken during play. Although this change was put in place at midseason last year, it will be placed in the rules book as Rule 4-27-1 with official adoption by the committee. Previously, play continued with an open goal while the goalie replaced his equipment off the field.
--Following is a listing of the seven other rules changes approved by the committee:

--1) Rule 1-9-1c: Revised the color of tooth and mouth protectors and stipulates that they must be of a readily visible color (not white or clear).
--2) Rule 2-1: Revises the procedure for listing players in the official scorebook and states that the lineup listed must be complete and accurate at the start of the game.
--3) Rule 4-27-3: Stipulates that an injured player must leave the game until the next allowable point of substitution.
--4) Rule 4-5-7: Revises the rule that stipulates possession when the ball is in flight at the end of a period.
--5) Rule 4-7: States in the rules that if the ball becomes stuck in a player's crosse, the ball must be awarded to the opposing team.
--6) Rule 4-9-7: A goal will not be counted if the head comes off the stick on a successful shot.
--7) Rule 7-5-2: Players serving multiple simultaneous penalties must serve the full time of all non-releasable penalties first. After the non-releasable time has been served, if a goal is scored during the releasable penalty time, the player could return to the game, but not if a goal is scored during the non-releasable penalty time.