The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team with the most goals wins.

Each team has ten players on the field: a goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen.

• Each team must keep four players in the defensive half of the field and three in the offensive half.
• Games are played in four ten minute quarters with the teams changing sides of the field after each quarter.  A halftime will be between the second and third quarters.
• In the case of a tie at the end of the regulation time, upon agreement of both coaches and the official, a single, sudden-death period of four minutes will be played. The first team to score wins.
• The game begins with a face-off. After the official blows the whistle, the players facing off and their wing players attempt to gain control of the ball. Other players may not cross over the restraining line until the official indicates possession or the ball crosses the goal line.
• Additional face-offs will take place after each goal and to begin each quarter and the overtime period.
• In the event that a team has a five goal or greater lead, the trailing team will be awarded the ball at center field in lieu of a face-off. This will continue until the lead margin is four goals.
• If a team has a ten goal lead in the second half of the game, the coaches and referee will meet to determine adjustments to the play in order to meet the spirit of MBYLL play.
• All players must have approved equipment. The U15 level may use long sticks. U13 and U11 may not.
• Player substitutions are allowed on all out of bounds for the U13 and U11 levels. For U15 substitutions may be made only when the ball goes over the sideline.
• Take out checks, with or without possession, are not allowed at any level in youth lacrosse. Poke checks with the intent of hitting the stick or gloves and legal body checks are allowed.

Personal Fouls

Personal fouls result in a players being removed from the game for some period of time leaving
his team 'man-down'. Repeated infractions may cause the player to be ejected.

Examples of personal fouls:

• SLASHING: a player's stick has hit an opponent in any part of his body other than his gloved hand on his stick.
• TRIPPING: a player has obstructed or taken down an opponent with contact below the waist.
• CROSS CHECKING: a player has hit or contacted another player with his stick.
• UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS: the player has used excessive and unnecessary force against another player.
• ILLEGAL BODY CHECK: there are several kinds of illegal body checks:
  • checking an opponent who does not have possession of the ball
  • making a check that could have been avoided after an opponent has passed or shot the ball
  • making bodily contact from behind or below the waist
  • making bodily contact above the shoulders (head and neck)
  • making a body check without both hands on the stick
• UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT: conduct that, at the discretion of the official, is unsportsmanlike including taunting, arguing, offensive or obscene language or gestures, fighting, etc.

Team Fouls

Team fouls result in a turnover of possession to the other team and do not cause a player to be penalized individually.

Examples of team fouls:

• OFFSIDE: the team has fewer than four players on the defensive side of the field or fewer then three on the offensive side.
• CREASE VIOLATION: the offensive player has stepped into the circle around the goal. He may reach in with his stick to retrieve a loose ball but may not enter the crease.
• WARDING: the player has used his arm or hand to push the defender's stick away.
• ILLEGAL PICK: a player may not run parallel to his teammate who has possession in order to block defenders.
• FOUR SECOND VIOLATION: the goalie has taken longer then the allowed four seconds to move the ball out of the crease.
• IN AND OUT: once the goalie has taken the ball out of the crease, he cannot take it back in.
• INTERFERENCE: an offensive player has made contact with the goalie while the goalie has possession of the ball in the crease.