Regulations

OPERATING RULES AND REGULATIONS

Last Update April, 2026                                                                                                  

REGULATION 1 MEMBERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
REGULATION 2  BOUNDARIES
REGULATION 3 REGISTRATION
REGULATION 4 RULES OF COMPETITION
REGULATION 5 PLAYER MOVEMENT
REGULATION 6 AFFILIATION
REGULATION 7 RELEASES
REGULATION 8 PROTESTS AND APPEALS
REGULATION 9  CODE OF DISCIPLINE & RULE INFRACTIONS
REGULATION 10 SUSPENSIONS AND DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE
REGULATION 11 SCHEDULES AND FORFEITURES
REGULATION 12 AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS
REGULATION 13 TIE BREAK FORMULA

REGULATION 1 MEMBERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Each Club/Association (“Association”) shall provide the secretary of MMLL:

   1. 1. The name and contact information of the Association President and alternate delegates duly assigned voting privileges for the Club should the President be unable to attend MMLL meetings.

      2.  Changes to existing jersey colours for each Club should also be declared by the MMLL Team Formation meeting to be held annually.

REGULATION 2  BOUNDARIES

1. MMLL boundaries are determined by the participating minor Associations and Lacrosse Nova Scotia (LNS), as per LNS Regulations.

2. All players must register with the minor Association based upon the area where they reside as of April1 of the playing season.  Players may not play in any games under the jurisdiction of the MMLL before the player has registered with their member Association.

3. A player shall be deemed for the purposes of registration, to reside in the territory of the Association in which their parents or legal guardian has their legal residence.

4. Associations are required to collect  documentation via our registration system to validate a player’s residence.  Accepted documentation is:

   1. 1. Property tax bill where primary residency grant has been claimed

      2. Utility bill

      3. Bank Statement

      4. Government Issued ID that includes mailing address

      5. If none of the above documents can be provided because the parent/guardian rents and does not pay own utilities, then the following shall apply

         1. A letter from the Landlord verifying rental agreement

5. If there is no team in the player’s division in the Association in which the player resides, or if the player does not reside within any Associations boundaries, players must play in the Association which is nearest by ordinary travel, which has a team registered in their division. A player may not establish residency for the principal purpose of playing or practicing Lacrosse.

6. Member Associations shall be held responsible for ensuring that their players are the correct age and reside within the proper boundaries defined for their Member Association. Players not properly registered will be deemed to be ineligible players until such time as they are properly registered.

7. Registration will be completed by each Member Association in detail; and submitted to the MMLL no later than the registration deadline established by the MMLL for each season

8. For a player to play on a team outside of their resident Association a request must be submitted in writing as per regulation 7 below. Any player movement will be granted by the Member Association and MMLL Board of Directors based on team formation requirements. The decision of the Board will be final and binding.

9. Member Association Boundaries - please also see Boundary Map

   1. St. Margaret’s Bay Storm:  Eastern Boundary is Route 333 and adjoining communities. Northern Border is the Hammonds Plains road until the Bi-Centennial Highway. Western Border to Highway 14 and south-east to and including Hubbards

   2. Halifax Hurricanes:  Northern Border is Larry Uteck Blvd from Bicentennial Drive to Bedford Highway. Western Border is Bicentennial Drive and extends south along Route 306 and surrounding communities to Sambro Creek to Route 349 and 253 to the East - including Ketch Harbour, Duncan’s Cove and all of Peninsular Halifax.

   3. Wolves Lacrosse Association:  Southern border is Larry Uteck Drive and then to the West along Bicentennial Drive and north of Hammonds Plains Road to Lakelands in the North. Western Border is Antrim Road including East Milford, Lantz and Elmsdale. Eastern Border is Highway 118 and north of Highway 102

   4.  Dartmouth Bandits:  Eastern Border is Highway 118 Highway 7 south of Magazine Hill. Southern Border extends to all of Eastern Passage and to the East to East Lawrencetown at Crowell road. Border extends North to Highway 102 and ends at North Preston, Mineville Road

   5. Eastern Shore  Breakers:  Western Border is west of Crowell road, to Mineville road, East Preston, North Preston  to Highway 212 in the North.  Continues west to Upper Musquodoboit and Sheet Harbour and includes all communities to the south. 

10.  Any violation of this regulation will result in both the offending player and the Minor Association being immediately suspended until the situation is rectified.
    
    

REGULATION 3 TEAM REGISTRATION

1. Team registrations must be submitted to the Board at the annual Team Formation meeting.

2. The competition structure for MMLL programs is: 

   1. 1. U11 Coed

      2. U11 Female

      3. U13 Coed - A

      4. U13 Coed - B

      5. U13 Female

      6. U15 Coed - A

      7. U15 Coed - B

      8. U15 Female

      9. U17 Coed - A

      10. U17 Coed - B

      11. U17 Female

      12. Any other division as directed by the Board.

3. All competition structures for MMLL programs will be determined by registration numbers and when the number of teams in an age category warrant.

7. An Association with only one team in an age category may choose to participate in any division/level within that age category (A or B), with final approval of the MMLL.

8. No Association can have two teams in a B level/division without having a team in the A level/division.

9. On a year to year basis, an association may make an application to the MMLL executive, requesting an exemption from clause 3.5 for that year. The MMLL may consider the application and may grant such an exemption at their sole discretion. In consideration of the application, MMLL may take into consideration statistics in past seasons, relative strength of players and teams in that division and the Association’s opportunity to place its higher caliber players at another Association for that year. Such an application would be made, with supporting documentation by the annual Team Formation meeting.

10. Teams from other leagues may at times request to join MMLL. If a team is accepted into the league, it would be for that season only and must be confirmed annually.

11. A female player may be rostered to a female and coed team in the same division.
    
    

REGULATION 4 RULES OF COMPETITION

1. Games will be governed and officiated by the World Lacrosse Box Lacrosse Rulebook and the Lacrosse Nova Scotia Age and Stage Modifications. 

2. Per Rule 3.2 - All teams may dress and play a maximum of 18 runners and  players 2 goaltenders.

3. A minimum of 6 players in uniform on each team shall be necessary to start a game as per Rule 3.1.

4. Game lengths will be following recommended game times from Lacrosse Nova Scotia Age & Stage Modifications. The MMLL Board reserves the right to further modify and publish any modifications on their website.

5. All equipment used must conform to LC and LNS standards.

6. Should a team have enough players to start a game but during the game, not have enough players to continue to play due to penalties, injuries, or illness, the game will be forfeited to the opposing team.

7. During regular season play, MMLL games may end with a tie.

8. MMLL may invoke their Hot Weather Policy when required that may further modify playing rules. Notice of this will be posted on the MMLL website.
   
   

REGULATION 5 PLAYER MOVEMENT

1. To be eligible to play in the MMLL, a player's birth date must be within the age categories defined by Lacrosse Nova Scotia.

2. This regulation applies to all age divisions. 

3. MMLL will enforce player movement regulations as stated in Lacrosse Canada (LC) and LNS Regulations on  PLAYER RELEASE AND TRANSFER

4. Player Release Process

   1. 1. Players must register in their Boundary per Regulation 2.

      2. For a player to play on a team outside of their resident Association a request must be submitted in writing to their resident Association using the MMLL Player Transfer request form
         

      3. Request for release will not be accepted until Association registration has opened for the playing season.

      4. The resident Association will review all applications. If received prior to Formation Meeting, application will be reviewed during formation. Approved applications will be sent to the Commissioner of the MMLL. Rejected applications will be communicated by the Resident Association to the applicant within 72 hours of decision made.

      5. The MMLL Commissioner will document all requests.

         1. The Commissioner will review the request with the resident Association and the pending receiving Association.

         2.  The MMLL Commissioner will communicate the final decision within 10 days of receiving the application.  

      6. Players released under this regulation are released for one playing season.

5. If a player is released to an Association for three seasons, then they will be automatically approved to register for that Association.

6. Team Formation Meeting

   1. Each year the MMLL Executive and Member Associations will meet and review player registration for all age levels.

   2. If an Association does not have enough players to form a team for an age category those players may be transferred for that season to another Association.

   3. Each Association is responsible to communicate to all players that are to be Transferred within 48 hours of the Team Formation meeting

   4. All players that are to be transferred to another Association will be recorded by the sending Association via the Player Transfer Request form. This form will be sent to the Commissioner within 1 week of the Team Formation meeting.

   5. If a player chooses not to play with the Receiving Association they must communicate their decision in writing to the Sending Association within 1 week of the Team Formation meeting

   6. Players who choose not to play for the Receiving Association are not eligible to play for that season,

7. If an age category is not provided, players may play in the age category above or be transferred to another Association, subject to the approval of their Association, MMLL Executive and LNS.  This regulation applies only when the Association does not have enough players registered within their Association boundaries in that age category to meet registrations requirements necessary to field a team in that category.

8. No player can play below their age category for a season or for affiliation purposes without the approval of MMLL Board. MMLL will consider exceptional requests and will follow LNS regulations as needed.

9. Exceptional Player Requests - Players Playing Above their Age Division  

   1. Associations can make decisions regarding a players ability to play in a level above their current age classification. This decision should be in conformance with any LNS regulation that may be applicable, as well taking into account the long term athlete’s development. 

REGULATION 6 AFFILIATION

1. Affiliation is defined as the temporary use of a player(s) by a team classified above the player's own, for the purpose of replenishing the aforementioned team due to player shortage and for no other purpose.

   1. For the purpose of affiliation, players in the same age category but in different divisions (i.e. co-ed and female) may not affiliate. For example, a player in U13 female may not affiliate with U13 co-ed.

2. Player shortage is defined as having fewer than fourteen (14) runners and one (1) goaltender available to start a game.

3. For the purpose of affiliation the playing season is defined as the regular season round robin schedule AND any scheduled playoff games for any single team in any one program and for any one age category.

4. Players may play a maximum of five (5) games per playing season with the next highest classified team, with the permission of their coaches and their guardians, in conformance with LNSS Regulation 11.  In cases of conflict between the team in the higher classification and the player’s own team, that player shall be required to participate in the player's own team game.

   1. A goaltender may affiliate for an unlimited number of games.

   2. Notwithstanding 4.1 above, if a team has more than 1 designated goaltender and 1 designated goaltender is available then such team shall not be permitted to affiliate a goaltender for the purposes of replacing the designated goaltender that is not available

   3. In addition, goaltenders may play up to 10 games during the playing season with other teams within their age group and program within their Association first, then within their age group and program outside their Association, when absolutely necessary. Team officials are expected to use affiliates from teams within their Association first, then from other Associations as a last resort.  During playoffs, goaltender use through affiliation from teams outside their association can only be done through the Commissioner.

   4. Goaltenders can play for affiliate teams during the play-offs as long as it does not conflict with their regular team.

5. Verified affiliation violations shall result in suspension or forfeit of the game played, even if it has to be administered after the fact, of the player or players brought-up and the coach of the higher age category team. 

6. Affiliation structure for teams shall be as follows:

7. All affiliate(s) must be identified on the game sheet by writing the initials AP at the end of their name(s).

8. One team within one game may use up to three (3) affiliates without the expressed permission of the opposing team officials. A team can use up to a maximum of 5 affiliates if they have the expressed permission of the opposing team officials. Team officials must communicate their use of 5 affiliates to the opposing team as soon as possible upon arrival at the arena AND they must also identify them as affiliates on the game sheet.

9. Teams can affiliate with player(s) on teams within their Associations who are classified to be below theirs.

10. On a year by year basis MMLL's executives will designate an affiliated team for any club who does not have teams to affiliate with, wherever possible. When necessary, affiliate teams may be designated between clubs instead of within a club.

11. All female teams must affiliate with female player(s) on teams within the Female division where possible. Female players may play up to 5 games during the playing season with their affiliate team as in 4.1 and 4.4. If a female team does not have the minimum 14 players and a goaltender registered with their team, as stipulated in 2.0, they may play up to 5 additional games during the playing season using their affiliates (a maximum total of 10 games played by their affiliate players). 
    
    

REGULATION 7 RELEASES

1. All releases must conform to LNSS Rule 9. PLAYER RELEASE AND TRANSFER

2. All releases must be made via our player management system. 

REGULATION 8 PROTESTS AND APPEALS

1. All protests and appeals must conform to LC Regulations and LNSS Protest and Appeals Policy.

2. MMLL will establish a Protest and Appeal Committee, as necessary, each playing season to rule on any protest or appeal brought forward by the membership. The Committee will be composed of 3 members, 1 MMLL Board Member and 2 representatives from neutral Member Associations.

3. Protests and appeals must be made in writing, through the Member Association President, accompanied by a non-refundable $100 payment to MMLL’s treasurer, within 48 hours of the game or receipt of written decision.

4. The Protest and Appeal committee will only make decisions on protests or appeals related to the MMLL Articles, By-laws and Regulations, or of games played within the MMLL regular season and playoff schedules.

5. The Protest and Appeal committee will hear any appeal stemming from a decision made by the MMLL Discipline Committee.

6. If a member is not in agreement with the decision rendered by the MMLL Protest and Appeals Committee, they may appeal to LNSS.

7. Game protests may only be made in regard to interpretations of Rules, By-laws, Regulations and Rules of Play, not in regard to the decision of a Referee on a rule infraction (a judgment call).

REGULATION 9  CODE OF DISCIPLINE 

This regulation applies to all pre-season, league, playoff and tournament games.  MMLL players and coaches are bound by the Memorandum of Association, Bylaws, Regulations and Operating Policies Lacrosse Canada, Lacrosse Nova Scotia, and Metro Minor Lacrosse League including any related codes of conduct and discipline. 

The MMLL has adopted a Code of Discipline to ensure that its members are aware of the serious nature of certain rule violations, and to protect every player’s right to compete in minor lacrosse without fear of violence or abuse.  It is meant to ensure a common minimum standard of discipline within the League, for offenses that are similar in nature as well as to make teams and Association officials more aware of their responsibilities in controlling the conduct of their teams and in applying discipline where warranted.

The coach or designate is solely responsible for ensuring that WITHOUT further notice from anyone, players and/or team officials shall serve the minimum suspension as outlined in this guide. If the player fails to serve the correct suspension, the game(s) will be retroactively defaulted and the coach will be suspended for a game.  The player will still have to serve the suspension.  

If a player is expelled from the game for any reason, EXCEPT for the accumulation of five penalties in the same game (Rule 6.8.51), it is the duty of the referee to write up the infraction on an incident report and phone, fax or email the report to the Suspension Coordinator before 11:00 PM the same day. 

If a player incurs any of the following: a match penalty, a gross misconduct penalty or accumulates 3 game misconducts during the season, then that player is SUSPENDED pending review by the Disciplinary Committee. Suspension remains in effect until the Suspension Coordinator gives notice.  The Suspension Coordinator will keep an up to date list of all infractions for the season and shall supply a monthly report to the MMLL.

The MMLL imposes the following suspension guidelines:

REGULATION 10 SUSPENSIONS AND DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE

1. MMLL will appoint a Suspension Coordinator each playing season.  The Suspension Coordinator will record all suspensions during the playing season and support the coaches in tracking repeat suspensions.  The Suspension Coordinator will confirm all suspensions that occur in MMLL scheduled regular season and playoff games.

2. MMLL will appoint a Discipline Committee each playing season, which will include 3 members.  These 3 members will be 1 MMLL Board Member, preferably the Chair, the Suspension Coordinator and 1 neutral person not affiliated with the MMLL Executive or any of the Member Associations.

3. The Discipline Committee will rule on any suspension referred to them as stated in the MMLL Code of Discipline. Their authority extends only to MMLL scheduled regular season and playoff games.
   
   

REGULATION 11 SCHEDULES AND FORFEITURES

1. Games once scheduled must be met.

2. A game may be rescheduled in the event of an officiating shortage or a facility problem.  That type of reschedule will be done through the League Scheduler.

3. A reschedule will not be approved due to player shortage resulting from suspension, illness, etc.

4. Foreseen events such as proms and school trips may be accommodated in the initial schedule only if the Club/team involved provides the information to the scheduler in advance of the schedule being finalized and posted on the website.

5. Teams can only submit an unforeseen reschedule request to the League through their Association President. Seven days' notice is preferred. League presidents should validate the request to determine if they’re in compliance with this regulation. If the Club President approves, it will be forwarded to the League. The Commissioner or their designate  can approve a reschedule requested as a result of unforeseen events.

6. Any team who fails to play a game that has been scheduled will have forfeited said game.

7. The consequences of one forfeiture are as follows: 

   1. 1. Should a team forfeit a game, the Club in question will be required to pay the League a $50 fine plus the cost of floor time and officials may be levied and billed to the offending Association. The non-offending team will be awarded an automatic 5-0 victory and awarded 2 points in the standings

      2. The consequences of a team forfeiting more than one game are as follows:

         1. Should the same team forfeit a second game, the non-offending team will be awarded an automatic 5-0 victory and awarded 2 points in the standings.  In addition, a $150 fine plus the costs of floor time and officials may be levied and billed to the offending Association.

   2. Should there be a double forfeit (ie. Both teams do not have enough players to meet League minimum requirements) both teams are to be considered offending teams (see 6 and 7).  No reschedules will be considered and neither team will be awarded points.
      
      

  
REGULATION 12 AMENDMENTS TO REGULATIONS

These regulations may be amended by majority vote at any meeting of the MMLL Board, providing 7 days notice of the intended amendment being circulated to all members.

REGULATION 13 TIE BREAK REGULATION

1. The tie-break regulation to determine regular season standing will be as follows:

   1. 1. Total number of points

      2. Total number of games played

      3. Total wins

      4. Total goals for

      5. Total goals against