Freedom Lax Fest 2026

Teams can register online through our official website. Registration is now open before the event and closes July 1, 2026 unless spots are filled before then.

Current U.S.A. Lacrosse and NFHS Rules for the different age groupswill be used on the field for all Crystal Coast Lacrosse Tournaments Events unless otherwise stated here. Other than specified here, 2025 NFHS Rules will apply.

- ALL Players MUST have an active USA Lacrosse Membership/Number.

- Players MUST be registered to their teams to compete by their HS Graduation Year. Only the opposing coach/director can call for a check ofthe opposing teams' roster. IF the player is not registered - that team is in jeopardy of a forfeit.

- Players can only play for multiple teams within the same club (ANDREGION). For clarity: players from the same club but cannot play for another team from the same club if they are from a different city.

- In addition, players can only play for one team per division. So a 2027player can play up on the 2026 team(not vice versa) for the same club/region, but cannot play for the A team and B team in the same division.

Scoring & Time

● 4-10 Min Qtrs

● 3-minute half time

● One and a half min break between qtrs

● Table personnel are only responsible for keeping penalty and official times

● All games must start on time. Time will start on whistle for faceoff.Halftime will be shortened in event of delays.

● Pool play games (games on Saturday) can end in a tie at the end ofregulation,

● Pool play games (games on Saturday) DO NOT have timeouts.

● Injuries:

● Any injury within 2 minutes and under that requires the game tobe stopped, the clock stops with the injury.

● Any injury with more than 2 minutes remaining when thegame is stopped, a maximum of 2 minutes can run off the clock to assess the injury before the clock is stopped.

Playoff Matches:

● Playoff games must have a winner. When regulation ends, a 3-minute overtime period will start immediately with a reset of the field with a faceoff/draw.

● If overtime ends with no score - braveheart (see braveheart rulesbelow).

● Championship games do not end in braveheart - play out OT (infull numbers).

● 1 - 30 sec timeout per team for all playoff games. The game clockstops.

● The timeout DOES NOT roll over to OT.No timeouts in OT. Consolation / Challenge Matches:

● If game ends in a tie, teams go to a Braveheart (see braveheart rules below) immediately to decide a winnerrather than end in a tie (if a winner is needed, otherwiseteams can agree to end in a tie)

Braveheart rules:

● Braveheart will be 3v3 plus a goalie for each team

● 1 player for each team (Goalie or non-Goalie) must stay on thedefensive end of the field, 3 can go forward

o Goalie can score (Boys only)

o No substitutions unless there is injury

Playoff Bracket Seeding order

- Head to Head (only two teams)

- Goal Against

- Goal Differential

- Goals Scored

- Coin Toss

EJECTIONS

● Game ejections are handled by the referees. Communicate to the table tocontact the tournament director for all ejections to prevent escalation.

● Tournament suspensions are handled by the Tournament Director.

● 2 unsportsmanlike conduct penalties warrant ejection or 1-game suspension

KEEPING / REPORTING SCORES

Each game will be tracked by the game scorecard which the field staff will haveat each game. Coaches must sign game cards so the field staff can report the score of your game. The scorekeeper will update scores and provide game scores to the official score tent. Everything will be updated on TourneyMachine.

SPORTSMANSHIP / CONDUCT

Poor sportsmanship, taunting, trash talking, fighting, or any other unbecoming behavior on the part of the players, coaches, parents, or fans will not be tolerated. All persons involved with a Buku Events Tournament and visiting the facility are expected to “Honor the Game”. Bad language will not be tolerated.Please treat the officials, opponents, spectators, and tournament staff with thesame respect you would like to be shown. The Tournament Directors expect the officials, coaches and players to conduct themselves in accordance with the rules.

Obscene language: Minimum of two minutes. The penalty time is non-releasable.

COACHES ARE REAPONSIBLE FOR THE PARENTS!! PARENTS UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TO APPROACH A REFEREE!! (If the referee decides to approach the parents to explain acall during game breaks that will be at the discretion of the referee!)

  Boys Rule Specifications - 2025 NFHS Rules Apply

● No stick checks unless refs think a stick is outrageously illegal

Counts:

● All Games: 20 seconds to clear half field. 10 seconds to enter the box.(REFS MUST USE BEEPER).

● “Keep it in” - The leading team must keep it in the box withunder 2 minutes left in the game if the lead is 4 goals or fewer.

● If a team leads by 4 or fewer goals with less than 2 minutesremaining in a PLAYOFF GAME ONLY, the last 2 minutes will be stop clock.

● If the score changes back to a 4 goal or less lead at any pointduring the final 2-minutes of the game, the clock goes back to stop clock.

● “Mercy Rule” - If a team goes down by 10 or more goals, aslong as the losing team agrees, the losing team will start with the ball at the midfield line after each goal.

Checking:

● Regular NFHS body checking 2026-2029 (one handed checksallowed)

● Limited body checking in 2030-2033. A big hit that is clean does not always constitute unnecessary roughness (90 secpenalty). The younger the teams, the more limited the checks should be.

● One handed stick checks are allowed in youth MS divisions (2030-2033)

● No knee down or moto grip allowed.

PENALTIES FOR ALL:

● 45 second technical foul; 90 second personal foul; 3 minute penaltiesremain 3 minutes.

● Penalty time starts on the restart of the whistle (Penalty kept by tableworker).

● In home can serve a goalie penalty if no second goalie is available

● Penalty time stops during injuries, end of quarters and while anotherpenalty is being assessed.

"The One Pass Rule" (This rule does not apply to Sundayplayoff/championship games):

● After a faceoff OR a change of possession there must be atleast one attempted pass on the offensive half of the field before a team can score UNLESS the ball carrier has a clear advantage to score.

● For example, in a fast break or "numbers" situation where the offense has a scoring advantage and no attempted pass has yet been made, the defense is expected to slide and playthe ball carrier. If there is no slide, the ball carrier canscore without attempting a pass.

● Referees-please discuss this rule briefly with each team's head coach before the start of each game to get on the same page with them

● Coaches - Understand these calls are up to thediscretion of the referee. If there are issues with how it is being called, a tournament director can come by the field at halftime or end of game to have a discussion with referees and coaches.

  —Due to costs of  pre-planning tournament deposits are non-refundable. The only way to guarantee your team/program a spot in the tournament is a  paid deposit. Cancellation of a team entered into the tournament will cause a forfeiture in the deposit and paid registration fees. 

— To be fair to all teams/programs we will have the schedule posted as soon as possible.  Teams/programs that have not paid in full by the final due date WILL NOT BE SCHEDULED AND WILL FORFEIT ALL FEES PAID!

 —Each event has costs associated with the tournament such as, facility rental, set-up costs, staffing costs, etc. that occur whether or not the event is cancelled. Each venue has final say on whether or not the event will be held and if the tournament is cancelled prior to the start of the event, 100% of the registration cost, less the deposit, will be credited toward a future event. 

—Registrations  are non-refundable at the point of purchase. In the event of an injury, a showcase registration credit may be awarded if a doctor’s note is provided before the event start date. This credit can be applied to the next year’s tournament and will cancel after that tournament’s  start date. 

Weather:

—-Before and after the event has started, CCLT and our host facilities reserve the right to make schedule adjustments and changes as it pertains to the following:

• Changes in game duration / start times in accordance with lighting policy / heavy rain leading to unplayable fields.

• Pause games / end games as needed due to inclement weather. Depending on severity of the weather, games will either be resumed, or deemed final depending on how long play is halted.

• For severe weather related changes, no teams will be issued a refund for shortened / cancelled games once they have played two games. For teams who were unable to complete two games, a refund of the registration fee less deposit amount will be credited towards the following year’s tournament. 

Lightning Delay Policy:

In the event of inclement weather (Thunder is heard, or there has been a lightning strike reported within 10 miles of the facility), all staff will be informed, and the message relayed to all participating families, players and clubs. In the event there is such a delay, all tournament participants (vendors, staff, players, coaches, and families) must move indoors either to a surrounding building at the event, or to their vehicles. For safety reasons, no event participant is allowed to remain under any of the tents on-site. Play will resume 30 minutes after the last lightning strike and any schedule changes and modifications will be relayed to you and your coaches through email and posted on the event site as well.

HEAT:

—We will do our best to make sure all teams have sufficient amount of time between games to allow for a cool down period.  We understand that we are in the middle of summer and it gets hot and humid in our area!

— water will be on the sideline for kids who run out of water to be able to fill up their bottles. With that being said we are not providing cups for players they are responsible for being their own water bottles filled and can refill only during games will being substituted or during a break between quarters and at halftime. 

—We will have medical personnel on the ground at all times during play for medical assistance if needed. 

Yes, we will have a Heavenly Grounds Coffee, Two Crazy Donuts, Kona Ice, and Food Tents that are provided by our local Lacrosse organizations. Lacrosse Unlimited from Cary, NC will be here to sale equipment and other supplies.