Cascade Summer Shootout 2026 Rules and Format

All games will be governed by USA Lacrosse rules adapted for club play, with the following exceptions and clarifications. These rules will be strictly enforced.

Game Format

  • Game Length: Two 22-minute halves, running clock.

  • Halftime: 2 minutes.

  • Warm-Up: 2-minute on-field warm-up. Officials may reduce or remove warm-up to stay on schedule.

  • Game & Penalty Time: Kept at the scorer’s table.

  • Championship Games: There is stop time under 1 minute if the score differential is within 2.

  • 2036 (u8): 5v5 with no goalies.

Timeouts

  • 1 timeout per game (30 seconds).

  • Clock stops during timeouts (game and penalty clocks).

  • Timeouts do not carry into overtime.

  • No timeouts in overtime.

  • Teams must have the ball in the offensive box to call a timeout.

Overtime Rules

  • Sudden Victory Format.

  • No team huddles before overtime—proceed immediately to faceoff.

  • Pool Play Overtime: One 4-minute sudden-death period (10v10). If no goal is scored, the game ends in a tie.

  • Playoff Overtime: Unlimited sudden-death periods until a goal is scored.

Penalties

  • Time and a half for penalties due to running clock:

    • 30-second = 45-second penalty

    • 60-second = 90-second penalty

  • Penalty time begins on whistle restart and runs with the game clock.

  • Penalty clock stops only for end of halves or during timeouts.

  • Players do not release during stoppages—only when play restarts.

  • Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties = ejection.

  • Ejected players or coaches must sit out the following game unless officials believe offense is worthy of tournament ejection.

Clearing / Advancement

  • 20 seconds to cross the midline after gaining possession.

  • No over-and-back until 20 seconds have elapsed.

  • 2034 and older: Advancement rules enforced.

  • 2035, 2036 and younger: No advancement rules.

Stalling

  • Stalling will be called early, if it is occurring, to encourage a faster pace of play.

  • Refs will warn teams to initiate offense: “Let’s see some offense.”

  • If delaying continues, ref will call: “Clock is on” and initiate a 20-second shot clock.

  • Team must take a legitimate shot (hits the goal or goalie) before timer expires or possession is forfeited.

Checking Rules

  • 2034 & older: Legal one- and two-handed checks (must contact stick or gloves).

  • 2035 & younger : Only two-handed pokes, lifts, and slap checks (to gloves or stick).

  • No takeout checks.

  • Long poles allowed in all divisions.

Crease Play

  • No crease diving.

Substitutions

  • No horns allowed for substitutions.

Player Eligibility

  • Players may only play on one team per event.

  • Exceptions must be cleared with Tournament Directors before the event starts.

  • Teams using players on multiple rosters without approval will forfeit playoff seeding and be placed in the consolation bracket.

Score Discrepancies

  • Only head coaches may challenge posted scores—at the main tent.

  • No challenges accepted after Saturday play ends.

  • No calls or emails Saturday night—check scores by round.

Seeding & Tiebreakers

Championship Round Seeding Criteria (in order):

  1. Win/Loss Record

  2. Head-to-Head (if applicable)

  3. Fewest Total Goals Allowed

  4. Most Total Goals Scored

  5. Goal Differential (capped at 8 per game)

  6. Coin Flip

If 3+ Teams are Tied:

  1. Fewest Goals Allowed

  2. Most Goals Scored

  3. Goal Differential

  4. Coin Flip

Officials

  • Each game will be officiated by two OLOA or WLOA officials.

  • All calls are final.

  • Arguing with officials may result in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

Final Two Minutes Rule

  • If a team is leading within 2 goals in the final two minutes, they must keep the ball in the offensive box.

  • Championship Games: There is stop time under 1 minute if the game is within 2 goals.

    • If a team is trailing by 3 goalies with under a minute remaining the clock will stop on the goal.

U8 Specific Rules

Game Format

  • 5v5 with no goalies.

    Teams will play with 1 attack, 1 defender, and 3 midfielders.

  • Traditional faceoffs will take place at the start of each half and after every goal.

Goals & Crease

  • Games will use 3' x 3' goals with a 9-foot crease.

  • Defensive players are permitted to enter and exit the crease.

Checking

  • No body checking is permitted, only equal pressure.

  • Only controlled two-handed poke checks and lift checks directed at an opponent’s stick or gloves are allowed.

  • One-handed checks and takeout checks are prohibited.

Advancement

  • No advancement counts or over-and-back violations will be enforced.

Penalties

  • Penalties will be administered by awarding possession to the non-offending team and requiring a substitution in place of serving penalty time.

Mercy Rule

  • A mercy rule is in effect when a team leads by 6 or more goals.

  • After a goal is scored while the mercy rule is in effect, the trailing team will be awarded possession at midfield instead of a faceoff.