2024 Border Wars: Everything you need to know

The fourth annual Border Wars takes place at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario and the Utica Nexus Center in Utica, New York from December 20-22, 2024.

The high-level box lacrosse tournament is put on in partnership with TRAC Athletics and the US Box Lacrosse Association (USBOXLA). The tournament will feature Boys U13, U15, U17 and High School Elite divisions, as well as Girls U15, U17 and High School Elite divisions. A total of 61 teams across eleven stacked divisions will compete in 151 games in order to determine this year’s gold, silver and bronze medal winners.

Whether you’re playing, coaching or cheering from the stands, here’s everything you’ll need to know for the 2024 edition of Border Wars.

Schedule, scores and standings

Go to tracathletics.com/2024-border-wars-schedules-scores-standings to see participating teams, schedules and standings. Game results and standings will be updated during the tournament. Follow TRAC Athletics on Instagram @TRACAthletics and USBOXLA on IG @USBOXLA for updates throughout the weekend. Please read the desktop and mobile instructions on the schedule page for optimal viewing options depending on your device.

Divisions

All eleven divisions and their venue can be found below. Divisions on Tourney Machine are organized by the US-based grad year classification.

Toronto Rock Athletic Centre ‘AA’ Boys & Girls HSE Divisions

U13 BOYS = 2031/2032 ON
U15 BOYS = 2029/2030 ON
U17 BOYS = 2027/2028 ON
HSE BOYS = 2025/2026 ON
HSE GIRLS = GIRLS 2025/2026 ON

Utica Nexus Center ‘A’ Boys & Girls Divisions

U13 BOYS = 2031/2032 NY
U15 BOYS = 2029/2030 NY
U17 BOYS = 2027/2028 NY
HSE BOYS = 2025/2026 NY
U15 GIRLS = GIRLS 2029/2030 NY
U17 GIRLS = GIRLS 2027/2028 NY

Tournament rules

This year, Border Wars will be officiated using the USBOXLA Rule and Situational Book. Some important rules to be aware of…

Goalie Equipment for 2031/2032 (U13) Teams

Goalies must play with CAT 2 (or lower) equipment. There are no ‘doctor’s notes’ allowed for larger players. If your goalie only has CAT 3s (or refuses to wear CAT 2s for safety issues) it’s a 5-goal penalty to start the game. The goalie can continue to use CAT 3s for the remainder of the game. No wood or wall goalie sticks at any division allowed.

Five-Minute Major Penalty

If a player receives a five-minute major penalty, the clock will continue to run (except last minute in third period/OT). If the first or second period expires, the penalty shot will proceed. The offending player will go to the penalty box and serve a two-minute penalty (will be recorded as a five-minute major in the game sheet). The opposing team will then choose any player to take a penalty shot. The two-minute penalty shall be served in its entirety (unreleasable). Any player who receives a total of four major penalties in the tournament will be ejected from the event.

Zero tolerance for punches thrown at USBOXLA Border Wars

Players must understand that if they throw a punch they will be ejected from the event. Director/coaches there is no appeal process.

The full list of tournament rules (game play details, pool & bracket play, abuse of officials, etc.) can be found here.

USBOXLA Membership

All players taking part in the 2024 Border Wars tournament must be USBOXLA members. If you are not an annual USBOXLA member, please reach out to your club director or coach for more information.

Individual Player Registration

Click here to complete the individual player/rostering registration form – scroll to the bottom of the page to sign in or create an account to begin the process. All players must complete it. If you are playing on two different teams then you must complete this form for each team that you are playing on. THIS ROSTER FORM CLOSES DECEMBER 19 AT 11:59PM ET.

Only players who are listed on the official game sheets will be allowed to participate in the USBOXLA Border Wars games.

Any teams in violation of the age grouping will be disqualified immediately from all medal games.

Any teams who ‘grab players’ from other teams for ‘big games’ will be disqualified immediately from all medal games.

Host arenas

For the first time in the tournament’s history, Border Wars will be hosted on both sides of the border at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario and the Utica Nexus Center in Utica, New York.

Both venues are turf facilities. No field cleats are allowed on any surface. Turf or basketball shoes can be worn.

Players should leave their balls at home. A fresh bucket of balls will be provided at each rink for warm-up. All balls outside of the rinks will be confiscated by arena staff

Toronto Rock Athletic Centre
1132 Invicta Dr
Oakville, ON
L6H 6G1

Utica University Nexus Center
300 Oriskany St W
Utica, NY
13502

Dressing room assignments

Dressing room assignments can be found on the TV boards as you enter both the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre and Utica Nexus Center.

– Only take the room that is assigned to your team on the TV boards.
– Rooms typically are open 10-15 minutes after the last game finishes up.
– You can enter the room after all the players from the previous game have exited.
– Teams will have about 40 minutes before their game in the locker room to prepare.
– Players can fill their water bottles up in the locker rooms.
– You may keep your equipment bags in the locker room during your game.
– After your game has ended you will go back to your locker room, quickly take your gear off, pick up any tape or garbage on the floor and exit the locker rooms – about 10 minutes.

Trainers for injured players

At the TRAC, staff from the Toronto Rock Sports Medicine & Wellness Centre will be on site for every game.

If you should sustain an injury during a game, a trainer will be alerted and address the injury on the floor. At the TRAC, trainers will be stationed in the hallway that connects the two pads if you require any further assistance for injuries.

Visit TorontoRockSportsMed.com for more info on the Toronto Rock Sports Medicine & Wellness Centre, which is located on the second floor of the TRAC towards the back of the building.

Player Highlight Reels

TRAC Athletics has partnered with Big Eye Videos to offer tournament players high-quality, professionally filmed video. This offer is only available at the TRAC.

Visit bigeyevideos.com/border-wars-2024 or email Scott Mayo scott@bigeyevideos.com for additional info.

All-Tournament Teams & MVPs

In the weeks after Border Wars, TRAC Athletics and USBOXLA will announce All-Tournament Teams, plus a Most Valuable Player selection for every division. See last year’s team medal winners, All-Tournament Teams and MVP picks below…

“One of the best events we have been to, in the best box lacrosse facility in the world!” – Roy Colsey

A results recap from this past weekend’s Border Wars…https://t.co/uHduT8q1e7

— TRAC Athletics (@TRACAthletics) December 19, 2023

Over 650 players from all over North America competed at last month’s record-setting edition of Border Wars.

TRAC Athletics is proud to announce the top-performing players that were selected for the 2023 Border Wars All-Tournament Teams + MVP winners: https://t.co/6KnUgqOwXY pic.twitter.com/AexiXKIko4

— TRAC Athletics (@TRACAthletics) January 8, 2024

Event Apparel

NEW!!! Custom 2024 Border Wars apparel will be available at both the TRAC and Nexus Center for purchase. Get your exclusive event merch early, as it is expected to sell out quickly.