The AYLC Boys Program is expanding! We want to offer more opportunities for player to play, at all levels, and across the entire year. Over the next several months, we will continue to build out our upcoming programming, and in many cases, in partnership with other organizations to provide even more opportunities for Arlington Lacrosse Players to play together with friends in various programs.

***NEW*** 6U - Modified Field Size. Full Pads/Equipment. Teams are small-sided (12-14 players) and play against other Arlington teams in a 6 v 6 format on Saturdays along with 2 weeknight practices (between 5:30pm - 8pm).  Practices starting in March and games beginning in early April, running though the first week of June. Teams are balanced to ensure equal competition. Everyone makes a team.  Requires at least 1 year of lacrosse experience.

8U - Modified Field Size. Full Pads/Equipment. Teams are small-sided (12-14 players) and play against other Arlington teams in a 6 v 6 format on Saturdays along with 2 weeknight practices (between 5:30pm - 8pm).  Assessments begin in March (if necessary) with practices starting in March and games beginning in early April, running though the first week of June.  Teams are balanced to ensure equal competition. Everyone makes a team.  In some years, we may invite other nearby jurisdictions to play with AYLC.  

10U - Modified Field Size. Full Pads/Equipment. Teams are small-sided (13-15 players) and play against other Arlington teams in a 7 v 7 format (including a goalie) played on Saturdays along with 2 weeknight practices (between 5:30pm - 8pm). Practices begin in early March, with the first game in late March.  Games end the first or second weekend of June. Teams are balanced to ensure equal competition. Everyone makes a team.  In some years, we may invite other nearby jurisdictions to play with AYLC.  

• AYLC is planning for an opportunity for more experienced 10U players. For Spring 2026, we will offer either a 7v7 or a full field program, playing against the best rec teams from across Northern Virginia. This team will require more travel than our house program. At this time, we do not know which program we will offer, but we will offer one or the other. It will depend solely on the number of players registered, and, after conducting an assessment, a determination of how many players would qualify for this level. There is no guarantee a player will be assigned to the more experienced team.
   

12U and 14U - Full Field Size. Full Pads/Equipment. All boys play on teams entered in the NVYLL.  Teams are formed after assessments (otherwise known as tryouts, except everyone makes a team) in February.  The levels are A, B and C.  The A team is usually comprised of boys who play year-round and/or are the older side of the age bracket.  B teams are those with some experience and C teams are usually a mix of some experience and beginners. We may have multiple B and C teams, depending on registration numbers. Practices (twice a week) begin early March, with the first game scheduled for March 21, 2026.  The final games will be played the weekend of May 16th, with a one-weekend playoff May 20th and 21st (every team guaranteed a playoff spot).

More information can be found in the NVYLL League Operational Rules & Regulations.

Are there tryouts for Spring AYLC rosters?

This depends on the division and league play.

U6 and U8 divisions - does not hold tryouts as most players are new to lacrosse and all players participate in an Arlington-only House league (see details on roster placement below)    

U10, U12 and U14 divisions – pre-season assessments are required for players interested in playing on an NVYLL roster, but not required for a House roster. AYLC fields teams in both an Arlington-only House league (all skill levels) AND in the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League (more advanced skill levels). NVYLL...

In the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League (NVYLL), of which AYLC is a Member, Boys Lacrosse programs are divided by age groups structured by USA Lacrosse. For the Spring 2026 season, the following birthdates encompass each age group:

6U:    9/1/2019 - 8/31/2021

8U:    9/1/2017 - 8/31/2019

10U:  9/1/2015 - 8/31/2017

12U:  9/1/2013 - 8/31/2015

14U:  9/1/2011 - 8/31/2013 

Equipment

All players at 8U - 14U must have the following equipment to participate

• Lacrosse stick (no fiddle sticks)
• Helmet
• Shoulder pads
• Elbow/arm pads
• Gloves
• Mouthguard
• Protective cup

AYLC has partnered with Dick's Sporting Goods to offer a 20% discount on equipment on a given weekend in the early Spring. An e-mail will be sent to all AYLC Parents when the Spring 2026 dates are announced. ​

Field Dimensions
AYLC offers varying field dimensions to enhance the player experience across its age groups. Our 6U through 10U programs play on modified fields, per USA Lacrosse Guidelines, whereas 12U and 14U teams  play on a full lacrosse field.

The modified field is a minimum of 60 yards long and 35 yards wide. For 10U players interested in playing on a full field, AYLC is considering a Full Field option for Spring 2026. This option will depend on the number of players registered, as well as the result of an assessment to determine if a sufficient number of players would qualify for a more advanced option (more details below).

Basics

• Boys lacrosse is a game played between two teams of ten players. Each team tries to outscore the other team by shooting the ball into the goal of the opposing team. Whichever team scores the most goals wins.
• There are 10 players on each team. Four of the players must stay on the defensive half of the field, three must stay on the offensive half, and three can go anywhere on the field.
• The game is divided up into two halves and 4 quarters with each quarter being 12 minutes long. College lacrosse games are longer and kids’ games are shorter.
• The game begins with a face-off between two players at mid-field. The ball sits on the ground between the two players and the referee blows the whistle.  This signals the opposing players to go after the ball. A face-off will also occur after each goal and at the start of each quarter.
• During gameplay, players can either pass or run with the ball in the pocket of their lacrosse stick. Only the goalie can touch the ball with their hands. All other players must use the lacrosse stick to carry, pass, shoot, or catch the ball.
• When an opponent has the ball or is within five yards of the ball, a player can body check them. A body check is contact from the front between the waist and the shoulders. You can also stick check the player on the stick or gloves to try and knock the ball away or to keep a player from getting the ball.
• When a player with the ball or the ball goes out of the field of play, the opposing team gets the ball unless the ball goes out of bounds after a shot. In that case, the team with the player closest to the ball when it went out of bounds gets the ball

New: Rule changes for 2020 include officials “will no longer wait for defensive players to position themselves more than 5 yards from the player in possession of the ball when restarting play.” Also, illegal crosses will not be tiered penalties, all will result in a two-minute, non-releasable penalty. 

The Field

• The field is divided into 2 halves by a midfield line and each team defends a goal.
• The standard lacrosse field for high school and college field is 110 yards long and can be from 53 1/3 to 60 yards wide. The goals are 80 yards apart with a playing area of 15 yards behind each goal. The length of the field is divided in half by a center/mid-field line. The field is shorter for youth lacrosse.
• There is an area around each goal is called a crease. An opponent is not allowed to enter the crease, but they can reach in with their stick to pick up the ball.
   

Positions

• Each team plays 10 players at a time consisting of 3 attack, 3 midfielders, 3 defense, and 1 goalie.  Typically, the attack stays on the offensive half and attacks the opposing team’s goal, while the defense stays on the defensive half and defends their goal.  Midfielders can go anywhere on the field.
• Players are allowed to exchange across the mid-field line, so long as four players remain on the defensive half of the field and three stay on the offensive half at all times.

Fouls

• Some plays that are not allowed in lacrosse are called fouls. If a player commits a foul, they will get go to the penalty box for a time period ranging from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. Like hockey, the team with a player in the penalty box will have to play man-down during the penalty.   
• Lacrosse personal fouls include tripping, unnecessary roughness, cross checking (making contact with another player with the stick between your hands), slashing (a stick check not on the opponents gloves or stick), or illegal body checking. 
• Some lacrosse technical fouls include holding, off-sides (not the right number of players on each half of the field), setting moving picks, stalling, and pushing.