Boys Lacrosse

Before registering teams, please review YLM's Team Formation and Placement Guidelines.

6U: Free! 

• YLM will facilitate six "play days" plus year-end jamboree (if sufficient interest).
• All games to be played under shortened time in a round-robin format.
• Play-day contests to be coach-officiated to encourage on-field coaching.
• Small-sided field.
• Flexible game play, but generally 3v3.
• YLM strongly recommends capping rosters at 10 players.
• Player sharing permitted if needed.
• No goalies required. (But coaches may agree to play any given contest with goalkeepers provided that both teams have properly equipped goalkeepers.)
• Subject to availability and coaches' agreement, goals may be 3x3, 4x4, 6x6 turned upside down, or, if playing with goalkeepers, standard 6x6.
• No long poles permitted.
• Primary focus should be development (i.e., learning the game and fundamental skills), not competition (i.e., wins and losses). Celebrate small victories, e.g., successful passes, good looks, first-time ground balls, feet-first defense, etc.
• Multiple divisions:
• co-ed unpadded (USAL Flex6 format with YLM modifications);
• padded boys' lacrosse (co-ed play under 8U boys' lacrosse rules and with full boys' lacrosse equipment);
• unpadded girls' lacrosse (girls only).
• If registering multiple teams, then teams must be balanced.

8U: $650 per team.

• Six games plus year-end jamboree.
• One to two UMLOA officials provided per game.
• Full boys' lacrosse equipment required.
• No long poles permitted.
• 4v4 or 5v5 on a small-sided field, depending on conditions and team numbers.
• No goalies required. (But coaches may agree to play any given contest with goalkeepers provided that both teams have properly equipped goalkeepers.) 
• Goals may be 3x3, 4x4, 6x6 turned upside down, or 6x6 if playing with goalkeepers.
• If registering multiple teams, then teams must be balanced.

10U: $850 per team.

• Eight games plus year-end jamboree.
• One to two UMLOA officials provided per game.
• 7v7, small-sided field.
• Long poles discouraged; if used, long poles must be between 47" and 54".
• Goalies required. (But teams may agree to play any given game without goalkeepers in the event that one or both teams does not have a properly equipped goalkeeper, in which case 6x6 goals should be turned upside down or shot-blockers used.)
• If registering multiple teams, then teams must be balanced.
• Note: There will not be an 10U-A division in 2026. Instead, 10U teams will be broken into "tiers" for the end-of-season jamboree in YLM's discretion based principally on regular-season schedule but taking into account other relevant factors as may be appropriate. The YLM hopes this will create a fun and more developmentally enriching end-of-season experience for our 10U teams.

12U: $1000 per team.

• Ten games plus state tournament (3 game minimum). 
• One to two UMLOA officials per game.
• Three divisions: 12U-A, 12U-B1, 12U-B2.
• Multiple teams in the lowest division in which an association will be registering must be balanced teams. E.g., if registering an A-team and two B1 teams, the B1 teams must be balanced.
• If registering only one team, it must be registered in either the A or B1 division.
• Note: If your association needs to register one or more teams at the B2 level and does not plan to have a B1 or A team, you must contact the YLM Board to obtain a team waiver before registering that team. For communications about team waivers, contact YLM Executive Director Justin Gagnon.
• For more information on player placement and team placement, please review the YLM Team Formation and Placement Guidelines.

14U team fees:  $1000 per team

• Ten games plus state tournament (3 game minimum). 
• Two to three UMLOA officials per game.
• Three divisions: 14U-A, 14U-B1, 14U-B2.
• Multiple teams in the lowest division in which an association will be registering must be balanced teams. E.g., if registering an A-team and two B1 teams, the B1 teams must be balanced.
• If registering only one team, it must be registered in either the A or B1 division.
• Note: If your association needs to register one or more teams at the B2 level and does not plan to have a B1 or A team, you must contact the YLM Board to obtain a team waiver before registering that team. For communications about team waivers, contact YLM Executive Director Justin Gagnon.
• For more information on player placement and team placement, please review the YLM Team Formation and Placement Guidelines.

NOTE:

• Team registration fees that have not been paid in full by July 15, 2026, may result in a team's disqualification from YLM jamborees or the YLM state tournament.
• If team registration fees pose a financial challenge for your association, please reach out to YLM Treasurer Kris Wilson with details.

Crossbar charges transaction fees for electronic payments. (For YLM member associations, they charge 1.99% + $0.99 for ACH payments and 3.99% + $0.99 for card payments.) 

While it's generally more convenient for YLM and for you to pay electronically, it may not be possible for every association -- or you may simply wish to avoid these additional operating costs. In that case, you may pay registration fees via check to avoid transaction fees. To do so, select the PAY OFFLINE - FREE option at the end of a registration, then mail a check payable to Youth Lacrosse of Minnesota to the address indication on your registration receipt.

Q: Does YLM have a team placement policy?

A: The league offers team placement and formation guidance, which you can find here: https://www.youthlaxmn.com/about/team-formation-and-placement-guidelines/162996

Q: Can I register multiple teams in the same division at a given age group?

A: Yes. You may register multiple teams in the same or in multiple divisions at a given age group. For example, you may register a 12U-A team and a 12U-B2 team; a 12U-B1 team and a 12U-B2 team; or two 12U-B1 teams. In general, teams registered in the same division in a given age group must be balanced--except for multiple 14A teams in the same age group, which may be unbalanced.

If, however, your association needs to register one or more teams in the B2 division within a given age group and will not have an A team or B1 team playing above that B2 team or teams in that age group, then you must contact the YLM Board to obtain a team waiver before registering that team.

To inquire about a team waiver, contact YLM Executive Director Justin Gagnon. 

For additional guidance, visit the YLM Team Formation and Placement Guidelines page.

Q: How do I know which division will be appropriate for a given team?

A: It's not easy. We get it. Hopefully, these thoughts will help:

• First, YLM strongly encourages associations to focus on player development and program development and not on a team's anticipated win-loss record for the upcoming season.
• Second, in our collective experience as boys' youth coaches, directors, and leaders, it seems that teams in a given age level tend to ebb and flow every other year as a result of the 24-month age-segmentation policy. So, for instance, a 12U-A team that struggled last season may be significantly stronger (or weaker) this season depending on which players (and how many) have matured to the second year in the age group and which (and how many) have moved up to the next age group. That means you should think critically about which players have matured and which players have moved up and not simply go off team results from the prior season.
• Third, YLM recommends involving your experienced youth coaches in the team-placement decision and, if feasible, obtaining feedback on relative team strength from a third-party during your player evaluations so that your decision rests on objective criteria and not relative criteria. (Meaning it can be hard to guess what another association's 14A team might look like in any given year, so don't try! Instead, use an evaluation rubric with hard and fast criteria regarding what a "14U team" should look like.)
• Fourth, be aware that one or two strong players can have an outsized effect in B2 play. A single 14U-A or 12U-A player can "take over" B2 game play (often on the basis of physical development). This creates a developmentally and competitively inappropriate disadvantage for that team's B2 opponents and should be avoided.
• Finally, again, please note that YLM has created a set of Team Formation and Placement Guidelines to assist association leaders in making team-formation and team-placement decisions. In addition, the YLM Board stands ready to assist you and your association with player evaluations and placement decisions if needed. If you have questions about this, contact YLM President Colin Winkler.

Q: Do I have to register a team at every division if we will be registering three or more teams in a given age group?

A: No. You may register multiple teams at the same division within an age group. But if registering multiple teams for a given age group, you must register at least one team at either the A- or B1-division for that age group and teams registered in the same division must be balanced. (Exception: Multiple A-teams in the same age group need not be balanced.)

By way of example: An association might register two 14U-A teams (balanced or unbalanced) and a 14U-B2 team; two 14U-B1 teams (balanced) and a 14U-B2 team; or a 14U-A team and two 14U-B2 teams (balanced).

Note that "balanced" means "roughly equal in projected skill and ability based on evaluations." If two teams that were intended to be balanced turn out to be unbalanced, e.g., because of player injury or unanticipated player "breakout," be aware that you have the flexibility to re-roster players through the end of June to re-balance the two teams.

Finally, be reminded that if your association needs to register one or more teams in the B2 division at a given age group and will not have an A team or B1 team playing above that B2 team (or teams) in that age group, then you must contact the YLM Board to obtain a team waiver before registering that team.

To inquire about a team waiver, contact YLM Executive Director Justin Gagnon. 

Q: If we do not feel we have enough kids to fill out a true A-team at a given age level, in which division should we register a team?

A: If, after your player-evaluation process, your association leaders feel that your association does not have enough players to form an A-team in a given age group, then you may register your top team in the B-1 division in that age group. Again, see the YLM Team Formation and Placement Guidelines page for additional guidance.

Note, however, that YLM always encourages associations to push their players to compete at a higher level (within reason). Youth players that "stretch" to get experience in an A-division will improve more quickly than youth players that "dominate" in a B-1 or B-2 division.

Finally, bear in mind that teams that struggle significantly in a given division may, in the YLM Board's discretion, be permitted to play in a lower division (or compelled to play in a higher division) during the YLM State Tournament.

Q: If, after our player evaluations, we feel we need to register multiple teams in the B-2 division at a given age level--i.e., that we do not have the players to roster an A- or B1 team--may we register multiple B2 teams at the age level?

A: Potentially. If your association needs to register one or more teams in the B2 division at a given age group and will not have an A team or B1 team playing above that B2 team (or teams) in that age group, then you must contact the YLM Board to obtain a team waiver before registering that team.

To inquire about a team waiver, contact YLM Executive Director Justin Gagnon.