Basics
The 2023 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship will consist of eight (8) teams, competing in two (2) groups, with each group playing a six (6) game Round Robin. After the Round Robin series, the top team (1) from each group advances to the Semi-Final, while the two (2) teams that finish 2nd and 3rd from each group advance to the Playoff Round in a Crossover Game against the 3rd and 2nd place teams from the other group, respectively. The two (2) teams that finished 4th from each group play each other to advance to the Playoff Round to play for a possible 5th place finish overall.
Winner of each Semi-Final Game will meet for a one (1) game Gold Medal Championship Game, while the losers of each Semi-Final Game will meet for a one (1) game Bronze Medal Game.
Round Robin games provide an opportunity for Teams to earn 3 Points. A regulation win gives 3 Points, an overtime win gives 2 Points, and an overtime loss gives 1 Point.
Games at the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship do not end in ties. At the end of Regulation Time if the teams are tied, there will be a two (2) minute intermission/break, and an additional 15 minute period will be added to play. The next goal that is scored will determine the winner of the game. If at the end of fifteen (15) minute overtime a winner has not be determined, a 10 minute break will take place and 15 minutes will be added again. This will continue until a goal is scored and a winner is determined.
Three Point System
For all games points shall be awarded as follows:
3 Points for the winning team at the conclusion of regulation time
1 Point for both teams at the conclusion of regulation time if the game is tied
1 Point additional earned for the team winning the game in an overtime period
Overtime Operations
If any preliminary-round, playoff, or championship game is tied at the end of regulation time, a fifteen (15) minute overtime period shall be played after a two (2) minute intermission. The teams will change ends for the overtime period, starting the overtime in their original ends. The game will end when a goal is scored; the scoring team will be declared the winner. If no goal is scored in the overtime period then a ten (10) minute intermission will be taken, followed by an additional fifteen (15) minute overtime period to be played until a goal is scored, teams will change ends for this overtime period and all overtime periods proceeding. All overtime periods of any IIJL preliminary-round, playoff, or championship game shall be played with each team at the numerical strength of five (5) runners and one (1) goalkeeper.
Tie Breaking Formula
The tie-breaking system for two teams with the same number of points in a standing will be the game between the two teams, the winner of the game taking precedence.
Due to the fact that the three-point system does not allow a game to end in a tie, then the following tie breaking procedure is applicable when three or more teams are tied in points in a Championship standing.
Should three (3) or more (+) teams be tied on points, then a tie breaking formula will be applied as follows, creating a sub-group amongst the tied teams. This process will continue until only two or none of the teams remain tied. In the case of two tied teams remaining, the game between the two would then be the determining tie-breaker as the game could not end as a tie. In the case of none of the teams being tied, the criteria specified in the respective step applies.
STEP 1 Taking into consideration the games between each of the tied teams, a sub-group is created applying the points awarded in the direct games amongst the tied teams from which the teams are then ranked accordingly.
STEP 2 Should three (3+) or more teams still remain tied in points then the better goal difference in the direct games amongst the tied teams will be decisive.
STEP 3 Should three (3+) or more teams still remain tied in points and goal difference then the highest number of goals scored by these teams in their direct games will be decisive.
STEP 4 Should three (3+) or more teams still remain tied in points, goal difference and goals scored then the results between each of the three teams and the closest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied. In this case the tied team with the best result (1. points, 2. goal difference, 3. more goals scored) against the closest best ranked-team will take precedence.
STEP 5 Should the teams still remain tied, then the results between each of the three (3) teams and the next highest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied.
STEP 6 Should the teams still remain tied after these five steps have been exercised then Sport considerations will be applied and the teams will be ranked by their positions coming into the Championship (seeding).
