Well, we just unloaded our gear from our first demonstration at the Anaheim Abilities Expo and I couldn’t be happier!  We did exactly what we really wanted to do, which is spread the word about this great new wheelchair sports.  Friday was a little bit slow, but Saturday was everything that we wanted to have happen.  We found a bunch of guys that are really excited about playing lacrosse and we actually got a chance to do a little scrimmaging with the news guys.

Gearing up before the scrimmage

Look at lacrosse world, these guys want to start their own teams as soon as possible.  We’ll certainly keep you posted as we progress.  Check out some of the photos that we got from Saturday.  We even had an article written about us by an LA based journalist.

Ryan teaching our youngest player a few pointers with Matt at his side

Check the website regularly as we will be putting practice dates on the site for ease distribution.

We're starting them early!

We’re doing the first public demonstration of wheelchair lacrosse at the Anaheim Abilities Expo May 29-31.  We would love it if you could join us for this historic event.  We hope that this will just be the beginning of something great!

So here it is, Wheelchair Lacrosse! Thanks for taking time to visit this site and see what it is all about. Wheelchairlacrosse.com is the main source for any information you need regarding the sport of Wheelchair Lacrosse. Until now, we’ve only found very limited information about what we hope is going to be a great new sport. If you have any information or have heard of anyone that has tried this in the past, please contact us as we would love to collaborate, and make this sport grow.

We started this from the ground up, coming up with some minor rule modifications just as every other adaptive sport has done. We are definitely striving to maintain the integrity of the game. With the help of US Lacrosse we want to develop rules that are appropriate for playing the sport in a wheelchair. Thus far, we’ve found that the modifications have been minor.

Our intention is to hold the first ever Wheelchair Lacrosse Camp in San Diego. The dates for this event are to be determined, but information will be forthcoming here on the website. A final thought. We would encourage anyone who has a serious interest in playing this sport to log on to www.uslacrosse.org and become a member of US Lacrosse. There are many benefits to becoming a member which can be found on their website. Moreover, we want to make sure that US Lacrosse knows that there is a growing interest in Wheelchair Lacrosse!

WLAX Summary/Rules

· Players are known as defensemen, midi, attacks and goalies
· 7 Players on each side including goalies (2 defensemen, 2 midi, 2 attack, 1 goalie)
· Each team must have 3 players in their defensive half and 2 in their offensive half
· Standard sticks are to be used and range from 40-56 inches in total length.  Goalies may use standard goalie heads.  Defenseman only will be allowed to use sticks up to 56 inches in total length.
· Only two defensive sticks on the court at any time.
· Four 15 minute quarters.  Each team gets two 45 second time-outs and two 15 second situation substitution time-outs per half.
· 40 seconds for the defense to clear past the midfield line once they get possession
· 40 seconds for the offense to move into the attack zone once they cross the midfield line
· Substitutions are to be done on the fly when possible.  Substitute may not enter the field until the active player is in the substitution zone.  If not possible, player may be substituted when called in by the referee.
· Face-offs are to done by placing the crosses together at waist level with the ball in between.  Once the whistle blows the players will attempt to gain possession of the ball.   All other players are to stay in the attack area until possession is achieved.
· Dimensions for the court are the same and an indoor roller hockey rink.
· Defensive picker are not allowed.  All front wheelchair protection are to be a minimum of 2” off the ground
· Checking in the back half of the chair is not allowed.
· Handling of the ball by hand is not allowed.  If the ball lands on a player’s lap during play, the player must brush the ball off their lap onto the floor using the crosse to pick the ball up.
· The goal will be 4’ high by 6’ wide in size. (Typical indoor roller hockey size)
· Protective gear is to be worn at all times including helmets, gloves, mouth guard, shoulder pads, arm pads and shin guards and/or thigh pads.
· Players may not grab the other player’s chair and/or stick and hold or reposition that player.  Also known as Interference.
· Point system will be used to classify players.
· Players must have their crosse at all times
· Stationary picking is allowed, but moving picks are not allowed
Player Classification 
· Class I – Complete motor loss at T-7 or above or comparable disability where there is total loss of motor function originating at or above T 7.
· Class II – Complete motor loss originating at T-8 and descending through and including L-2 where there may be voluntary motor power of hips and thighs. Also included in this class are amputees with bilateral hip disarticulation.
· Class III – All other physical disabilities as related to lower extremity paralysis or paresis originating at or below L-3. All lower extremity amputees are included in this class except those with bilateral hip disarticulation (see Class II).
Team Balance
Each classification will be given a numerical value or factor as follows: Class 1: 1 value point; Class II: 2 value points; Class III: 4 value points. At no time in a game shall a team have more than twelve points (12) on the floor at the same time; this includes six (6) field players and one (1) goalie.

Men’s Lacrosse Positions
Attack: The attackman’s responsibility is to score goals. The attackman generally restricts his play to the offensive end of the field. A good attackman demonstrates excellent stick work with both hands and has quick feet to maneuver around the goal. Each team should have two attackmen on the field during play.

Midfield: The midfielder’s responsibility is to cover the entire field, playing both offense and defense. The midfielder is a key to the transition game, and is often called upon to clear the ball from defense to offense. A good midfielder demonstrates good stick work including throwing, catching and scooping. Speed and stamina are essential. Each team should have two midfielders on the field.

Defense: The defenseman’s responsibility is to defend the goal. The defenseman generally restricts his play to the defensive end of the field. A good defenseman should be able to react quickly in game situations. Agility and aggressiveness are necessary, but great stick work is not essential to be effective. Each team should have two defensemen on the field.

Goal: The goalie’s responsibility is to protect the goal and stop the opposing team from scoring. A good goalie also leads the defense by reading the situation and directing the defensemen to react. A good goalie should have excellent hand/eye coordination and a strong voice. Quickness, agility, confidence and the ability to concentrate are also essential. Each team has one goalie in the goal during play.

Men’s Lacrosse Equipment
The Crosse: The crosse (lacrosse stick) is made of wood, laminated wood or synthetic material, with a shaped net pocket at the end. The crosse must be an overall length of 40 – 42 inches for attackmen and midfielders, or 52 – 56 inches for defensemen. The head of the crosse must be 6.5 – 10 inches wide, except a goalie’s crosse which may be 10 – 12 inches wide. The pocket of a crosse shall be deemed illegal if the top surface of a lacrosse ball, when placed in the head of the crosse, is below the bottom edge of the side wall.

The Ball: The ball must be made of solid rubber and can be white, yellow or orange. The ball is 7.75 – 8 inches in circumference and 5 – 5.25 ounces.

The Helmet: A protective helmet, equipped with face mask, chin pad and a cupped four point chin strap fastened to all four hookups, must be worn by all men’s players. All helmets and face masks must be NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) approved.

The Mouthpiece: The mouthpiece must be a highly visible color and is mandatory.

The Glove: All players are required to wear protective gloves.
Protective Equipment: All players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, must wear shoulder pads. Arm pads and rib pads are also strongly recommended and often required, as are athletic supporters and protective cups for all players. The goalkeeper is required to wear a throat protector and chest protector, in addition to a helmet, mouthpiece and gloves.
WLAX Personal & Technical Fouls
There are personal fouls and technical fouls in lacrosse. The penalty for a personal foul results in a one to three minute suspension from play and possession to the team that was fouled. Players with five personal fouls are ejected from the game. The penalty for a technical foul is a thirty-second suspension.

Personal Fouls
Slashing: Occurs when a player’s stick viciously contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or gloved hand on the stick.  Stick checking with the butt of the crosse is considered slashing.
Tripping: Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent at or below the waist with the crosse including placing the stick into the spokes of the wheel or into the frame of the wheelchair.
Cross Checking: Occurs when a player uses the handle of his crosse between his hands to make contact with an opponent.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Occurs when any player or coach commits an act which is considered unsportsmanlike by an official, including taunting, arguing, or obscene language or gestures.
Unnecessary Roughness: Occurs when a player strikes an opponent with his stick or body using excessive or violent force.
Illegal Crosse: Occurs when a player uses a crosse that does not conform to required specifications. A crosse may be found illegal if the pocket is too deep or if any other part of the crosse was altered to gain an advantage.
Illegal Body Checking: Occurs when any of the following actions takes place:
· Body checking an opponent who is not in possession of the ball or within five yards of a loose ball.
· Avoidable body check of an opponent after he has passed or shot the ball.
· Body checking an opponent from the rear. 
· Body checking an opponent above the shoulders. A body check must be below the shoulders and above the waist and both hands of the player applying the body check must remain in contact with his crosse.
Illegal Gloves: Occurs when a player uses gloves that do not conform to required specifications. A glove will be found illegal if the fingers and palms are cut out of the gloves, or if the glove has been altered in a way that compromises its protective features. 

Technical Fouls
Holding: Occurs when a player impedes the movement of an opponent or an opponent’s crosse.
Interference: Occurs when a player interferes in any manner with the free movement of an opponent, except when that opponent has possession of the ball, the ball is in flight and within five yards of the player, or both players are within five yards of a loose ball.
Offsides: Occurs when a team does not have at least three players on its defensive side of the midfield line or at least two players on its offensive side of the midfield line.
Pushing: Occurs when a player thrusts or shoves a player from behind.
Screening: Occurs when an offensive player moves into and makes contact with a defensive player with the purpose of blocking him from the man he is defending.
Stalling: Occurs when a team intentionally holds the ball, without conducting normal offensive play, with the intent of running time off the clock.
Warding Off: Occurs when a player in possession of the ball uses his free hand or arm to hold, push or control the direction of an opponent’s stick check.
Illegal Procedure: Any action on the part of players or substitutes of a technical nature that is not in conformity with the rules and regulations governing the play of the game shall be termed illegal procedure.  The following are examples:
· Touching the ball – A player may not touch the ball with his hands while it is in play.  The exception is the goalkeeper while both he and the ball are inside the crease.
· Illegal actions with crosse – A player shall not:
     1. Throw his crosse.  Throwing the crosse at the ball or at another player shall be deemed unsportsmanlike conduct.
     2. Take part in the play of the game in any manner without his crosse, except for substitution.

Figure of a Roller Hockey Rink