2025–26 GNLL Boys Rules Summary and Comparison by Level of Play

	A	B	C	D	E
1	Last revised 8-21-25	8U Rules	10U Rules	12U Rules	14U Rules

2	Number of players	5 v 5, no goalies	7 v 7 (1G, 2A, 2M, 2D)	10 v. 10	10 v. 10
3	Field size	60 yd x 35 yd	60 yd x 35 yd	110 yd x 53 1/3–60 yd	110 yd x 53 1/3–60 yd
4	Ball	Soft ball or standard NOCSAE	Standard NOCSAE	Standard NOCSAE	Standard NOCSAE
5	Goal size	4 ft x 4 ft (or flipped standard goal)	4 ft x 4 ft preferred (or 5'x5' or 6'x6')	6 ft x 6 ft	6 ft x 6 ft
6	Penalties	Player serves penalty but team plays full strength (fouling out/ejections possible)	Time-serving, man-down	Time-serving, man-down	Time-serving, man-down
7	Scorekeeping	No score will be kept	Yes	Yes	Yes
8	Jersey numbers on front and back	Recommended	Required (violation results in technical to start game; issue reported to league)	Required (violation results in technical to start game; issue reported to league)	Required (violation results in technical to start game; issue reported to league)
9	Max # of long crosses	None permitted	Two (not counting goalie)	Four (not counting goalie)	Four (not counting goalie)
10	Body checking	None (ejection is likely for a violent hit)	None; min. 1:00 NR penalty for takeout checks (could be 1:00-3:00 nonreleasable for completely upright non-takeout check)	None; min. 1:00 NR penalty for takeout checks (could be 1:00-3:00 releasable for completely upright non-takeout check)	No take-out checks; min. 1:00 NR penalty. contact must be non-violent and completely upright. Can't be more aggressive than needed to stop player.
11	Stick checking	No 1-handed checks. Only (1) downward check started below shoulders of both players (2) lift or poke below chest. Violation = slash.	No 1-handed checks. Only (1) downward check started below shoulders of both players (2) lift or poke below chest. Violation = slash.	One-handed checks and checks above shoulder height are legal as of 2024 but will be closely scrutinized by officials.	One-handed checks are legal as of 2024 but will be closely scrutinized by officials.
12	Faceoffs	None; coin toss for first possession, then team that is scored upon gets ball in the offensive end to restart. Start each quarter by alternate possession.	One wing player with foot on sideline near midfield (on either side) released on whistle. 2A+2D players behind GLE and GK in crease released when faceoff ends	Standard for 10 v. 10	Standard for 10 v. 10
13	Coin toss	Yes, with one player or coach from each team (not necessarily a "captain"). Winner gets first possession and other teams gets first AP	Yes, with captains if time permits (determines goals to defend and first AP). Otherwise home chooses goal and away gets AP.	Yes, with captains if time permits (determines goals to defend and first AP). Otherwise home chooses goal and away gets AP.	Yes, with captains if time permits (determines goals to defend and first AP). Otherwise home chooses goal and away gets AP.
14	Line-up	All players	All players	All players	Starters only
15	Officials	Not required. Coaches officiate or 1 official (2 could be used)	Two officials required except possibly in emergecny circumstances	At least 2 (3 could be used upon request in some situations)	At least 2 (3 could be used upon request in some situations)
16	Coaches	Roam field if there are no officials; can roam entire sideline except opposing coach box (off field of play) if an official is used	Roam field if there are no officials; can roam entire sideline (but can't go through table area or other coach/bench area) if officials are used	Must stay in coaches box (exceptions: injured player, goalie warm-up, halftime, get info from table, cross exchange in table area)	Must stay in coaches box (exceptions: injured player, goalie warm-up, halftime, get info from table, cross exchange in table area)
17	Time factors	Spring: 2 x 12-min running time; summer and fall: 4 x 10-min running time	Default is 4 x 12-minute running-time quarters; other times are possible	Default is 4 x 12-minute running-time quarters; other times are possible	Default is 4 x 12-minute running-time quarters; other times are possible
18	OT or tiebreaker	None (no score kept)	None (except possibly in tournament situations; must use at least 4 players)	None (except possibly in tournament situations; must use at least 4 players)	None (except possibly in tournament situations; must use at least 4 players)
19	Team timeouts	One 1-mimute timeout per game	One 1-mimute timeout per game	One 1-mimute timeout per game	One 1-mimute timeout per game
20	Dead-ball substitution and face-off after goal	Goal scorer must sub out of the game unless there are no subs. Other players may sub. Ball is awarded to scored-upon team on the GLE. No faceoffs.	Scorer must sub out unless there are no subs. Face-off unless there is a post-goal foul that awards possession to one team or mercy rule applies.	Standard substitution rules	Standard substitution rules
21	Note: this document is a summary; see the GNLL Rules Document for full details. If the rules document and this summary conflict in any way, the rule document prevails.
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23	Last revised 8-21-25	8U Rules	10U Rules	12U Rules	14U Rules
24	Dead-ball substitution (not after goal)	Whole- or partial-team subs are allowed after a penalty is reported, after a team timeout, to start a quarter, or on request	Whole- or partial-team subs are allowed after a penalty is reported, after a team timeout, or to start a quarter	Standard substitution rules	Standard substitution rules
25	Live or dead ball subs through table area	Standard substitution rules	Standard substitution rules	Standard substitution rules	Standard substitution rules
26	Stopping play for subs	Offensive team can request sub timeout during a live ball when not at risk of losing possession.	Offensive team can request sub timeout during a live ball when not at risk of losing possession.	None	None
27	Offside	None	No more than 4 players in offensive end or 5 players in defensive end, including players serving penalties. Based on cone if no midfield line; only called if player is clearly past cone.	Standard rules (violation if a team has too many players on either end of the field)	Standard rules (violation if a team has too many players on either end of the field)
28	Scrum ball rule	Award ball by AP if 3 or more players near ball can't pick it up within 4 seconds	Award ball by AP if 3 or more players near ball can't pick it up within 4 seconds	None	None
29	Mercy Rule	None (no score kept)	Once goal differential is 8, trailing team can take possession instead of faceoff. Stays in effect unless differential shrinks to 5.	Once goal differential is 8, trailing team can take possession instead of faceoff. Stays in effect unless differential shrinks to 5.	Once goal differential is 8, trailing team can take possession instead of faceoff. Stays in effect unless differential shrinks to 5.
30	Routine officials equipment inspections	Check protective gear and end cap. Visually inspect stick (pocket depth and rollout checked only if stick is obviously illegal, in which case it is confiscated). No penalties.	Check protective gear (penalize if missing). Check stick for everything but measurements; if illegal, no penalty but stick can't return unless adjusted	Check protective gear and all aspects of stick except measurements. Normal penalties apply.	Check protective gear and all aspects of stick except measurements. Normal penalties apply.
31	Coach-requested equipment inspections	No coach-requested checks	Check protective gear/stick as above, but illegal sticks and deep pockets are penalized. (Exception: When a L2 official is working and the coach requests the stick be measured, then measurements will be checked).	Check all aspects of gear and crosse except for measurements and penalize per rule. (Exception: When a L2 official is working and the coach requests the stick be measured, then measurements will be checked).	Check all aspects of gear and crosse except for measurements and penalize per rule. (Exception: When a L2 official is working and the coach requests the stick be measured, then measurements will be checked).
32	Stalling rule	None	None	Standard NFHS "get-it-in/keep-it-in" stalling rules; can be applied in the defensive end	Standard NFHS "get-it-in/keep-it-in" stalling rules; can be applied in the defensive end
33	Restarts	No player is allowed with 5 yards of player awarded possession on restart; officials move player back if too close	No player is allowed with 5 yards of player awarded possession on restart; officials move player back if too close	No offensive player within 5 yds; play restarts if defensive player is with 5 yds (possible foul if def. player doesn't yield)	No offensive player within 5 yds; play restarts if defensive player is with 5 yds (possible foul if def. player doesn't yield)
34	Offensive 10-count/over-and-back	Small field, so rule doesn't apply	Small field, so rule doesn't apply	Yes	Yes
35	One-pass rule	After the start of each possession, one pass must be attempted, originating in the offensive end, before the team can shoot	When a faceoff would normally occur, the team that gets possession must attempt one pass before they can shoot	None	None
36	Short stick lengths	37"–42"	37"–42"	40"–42"	40"–42"
37	Long stick lengths	None permitted	47"–54"	52"–72"	52"–72"
38	Goalie stick lengths	None permitted	37"–54"	40"–72"	40"–72"
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