2024 Liberty National Elite Classic Rules of Play and Guidelines

Sportsmanship/Conduct 

  • The Liberty National Elite Classic believes in GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, which means we have a one-strike policy for coaches and players. The Liberty National Elite Classic Staff, the Victory Event Series, and the Pattison Sports Group have the right to remove any coach, player, or fan from the tournament at their discretion. In the event of a warning, coaches and players will be notified and any further incidents will result in that coach or player’s removal from the Liberty National Elite Classic
  • Lacrosse Tournament.
  • o Referees will notify the Field Coordinator, who in turn will notify the Tournament Director immediately of any warning given to a Coach, Player, or Fan. Accordingly, the Tournament Directors will be made aware of all incidents throughout the Tournament.
  • o Poor sportsmanship, taunting, trash-talking, fighting, or other unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated from coaches, players, and fans.
  • o Coaches who are removed from the Tournament will be reevaluated at the end of the event, at which point their team’s acceptance into future Victory Event Series events will be addressed.
  • o Please speak to a Tournament Director at the head tent about any problems that may arise during the weekend. Please instruct your parents not to come to the head tent. Only coaches or club directors should be approached with questions or concerns.
  • o Respect your team, your opponents and the game always. Set a good example for your players. • Only Head Coaches are permitted to address the officials; and do so in a respectful manner. They are responsible for any of their club’s unruly players, assistant coaches, and fans.
  • Any player ejected from a game will also be disqualified from the next game regardless if it is a playoff game or not. If an ejected player plays in the following game, he will be ejected from the tournament and his team will be penalized three (3) minutes non-releasable.
  • In the event a parent or spectator charges the field or engages with players, coaches, or tournament staff in a belligerent manner, the game will be terminated, and it will be deemed a forfeit against the team of the inappropriate spectator. – NO EXCEPTIONS. 

Roster Notes 

  • All Players and Parents/Guardians must complete the online player waiver prior to participation. • All athletes must be listed on the team roster submitted to the tournament prior to the event with accurate jersey numbers. Athletes found not to be listed on the roster will be penalized a 3-minute non-releasable. Athletes are permitted to play up if they’re listed on the roster.
  • No athlete is permitted to participate at a grade level lower than their graduation year.

Boys Faceoffs 

Per NCAA rules, players will not be allowed to take faceoffs with a knee on the ground, with a motorcycle grip, and must move the ball in a continuous motion.

Game Format/Rules 

  • The Liberty National Elite Classic will play by NCAA Rules, with the following exceptions: – There will be no shot clock. A clearing team has 30 seconds to advance the ball into the

offensive box with possession of the ball. If a team is stalling on offense, the official has the discretion to issue a “get it in, keep it in” call, requiring the offensive team to get the ball inside the offensive box within ten seconds, and keep it in. – The NCAA diving rule will not be in use. • All games will start promptly at the assigned times.

  • Two, 22-minute running halves; teams change direction after the half.
  • Halftime will be two (2) minutes, running clock.
  • Each team is allowed one 30-second timeout per game. The game clock does not stop during timeouts. Therefore, timeouts cannot be called in the last two (2) minutes of the second half. If a timeout is called with less than 2:30 remaining in the second half, the timeout may (at the on field official’s discretion) be abbreviated to restart play at/around 2:00 remaining. Per NCAA rules, timeouts can only be called with possession of the ball below the restraining line in the offensive zone, or in dead-ball, out of bounds scenarios. 
  • Penalty time does stop during a timeout.
  • Stick Checks: Teams are granted one stick check per game. They cannot be requested with under 4 minutes left in the game. If you request a stick check and it’s deemed legal, you will lose your one timeout. If you do not have a timeout and the stick is legal, the requesting team will serve a 30-second penalty.
  • Games will start on the sound of the horn. We’ll play with a continuous clock (sans timeouts as outlined above) which will be kept by the on-field field coordinator. In case of an injury in the final two minutes of the second half, referees will stop the clock using their discretion.
  • Time Serving Penalties – Penalty time will be kept by the field coordinator. Penalty time served is time and a half. Penalty time stops on all timeouts.
  • Referees can stop the game for any reason that he/she feels fit. Examples include serious injury, weather, etc. • The official score will be kept by both the table staff and the game officials. The staff and referees will confer throughout the game and stoppages to ensure the correct score. Coaches must sign the score sheet, win or lose, following their game. • All substitutions are on the fly.
  • Limited body-checking, excessively big hits and physical play (even within five yards of a loose ball) constitute unnecessary roughness and will result in a 1-minute penalty. The Liberty National Elite Classic Directors and Staff consider the safety of each player our top priority and we expect coaches and players to understand and abide by this philosophy as well. The officials are expected to protect and promote the safety of all players.
  • If a sidelined player(s) leaves his/her team bench to engage in an on-field altercation, that player will be removed from the tournament and their team may have to forfeit.
  • Player(s) who engage in antagonistic behavior (verbal assault, fighting etc.) may be removed from games or suspended from the tournament.
  • Officials and Tournament Directors have final say on interpretations and rulings.
  • The appropriate equipment and mouth guards must be worn by athletes always.

Tie/Forfeited Games 

  • There is no overtime in Pool Play. Tie games will end in a draw and each team will receive 1 point towards their pool standing. • In Semi Finals and Championships, we will play 4-minute overtime periods until a goal is scored.
  • No time-outs in playoff overtime.
  • In case of a forfeited game the score in the standings will be reflected by a score of 4 to 0.

Seeding 

Teams will qualify for championship or consolation play as designated by the Tournament Director with the posting of the schedule. Seeding criteria is as follows:

  1. Overall record based on points; teams receive 3 points for win, 1 point for a tie, 0 for a loss. 2. Head-to-Head W-L Results.
  2. In three-way ties, Head-to-Head W-L Results may or may not be applied at the discretion of the tournament director depending on number of games played between the tied teams and number of playoff spots available.
  3. Goal Differential (total goals scored minus goals allowed). Max differential per game is +/- 7. 4. Least Number of Goals Allowed
  4. Number of Goals Scored
  5. Shutouts

Most importantly enjoy the Liberty National Elite Classic and have fun!