Border Wars

TRAC Athletics has partnered with the US Box Lacrosse Association (USBOXLA) to present Border Wars – an elite youth box lacrosse tournament featuring the Rock Stars Elite Lacrosse Program, plus top American & Haudenosaunee box lacrosse teams at the U13, U15, U17 and High School Elite level.

The third annual Border Wars will take place from December 15-17, 2023. See this year’s tournament announcement here.

Border Wars premiered during December of 2021 and featured multiple entries from the province of Ontario, while also hosting all-star squads made up of players from California & Colorado, plus Roots from Rochester, New York. The second edition featured Canadian, American and Haudenosaunee teams from all over North America. In 2023, the event will expand again, including all new girls divisions.

The highly skilled event will be played at the world-class Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) in Oakville, Ontario. The 80,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility features two turf rinks and has previously hosted prestigious events like the NLL Entry Draft and Jr. NLL Tournament, as well as serving as the home of six-time NLL Cup winners, the Toronto Rock. Due to record-breaking entry in 2023, the event will also be played at the historic Memorial Arena in Brampton, Ontario.

Schedule, scores and standings

Go to tracathletics.com/2023-border-wars-schedule to see participating teams, schedules and standings. Game results and standings will be updated during the tournament. Follow TRAC Athletics on Instagram @TRACAthletics for updates throughout the weekend.

Standings (and seeds) will be sorted by a points (2 points award for a win). There will be no ties (see Tournament Rules below for further details).

If teams are tied in the standings, the following will be used to break ties (in order): head-to-head result against tied team (if they played), goal differential in game(s) between tied teams (if they played), superior record in games against teams the tied teams played, superior goal differential in games against teams the tied teams played, superior overall goal differential in tournament standings, superior overall goals against in tournament standings, superior overall goals for in tournament standings, coin flip.

Tournament rules

Border Wars will be officiated using the National Lacrosse League Official Rules, with a few modifications. Rule reminders and modifications include:

• Absolutely no fighting is permitted. Players will be ejected from the game and suspended for the remainder of the tournament if they engage in what the on-floor official has deemed to be a fight.
• During round robin & HSE Girls Semifinals: 1st and 3rd period is 15 minutes, 2nd period is 12 minutes, running clock unless the score is within two with under two minutes to play in the final period.
• During Sunday’s gold & bronze medal games: Three 15-minute periods, running clock unless the score is within two with under two minutes to play in the final period.
• All divisions will be using 4×4 minor box nets.
• Ten seconds to clear half (not eight).
• Over-and-back rule will be enforced.
• Diving & dunking is permitted.
• No wooden sticks allowed for players or goalies.
• For all games (round robin, semifinals and medal), if the score is tied after regulation time, a three-player shootout will determine the winner (no ties), additional single rounds to determine a winner if still tied after three shooters. Shots by both teams will take place simultaneously.

Hotels

While the deadline to book accommodations through this event has expired, TRAC Athletics’ preferred hotel options may still have space to book. Visit tracathletics.com/events/border-wars/hotels for more information.

Everything you need to know

Whether you’re competing on he floor, coaching from the bench or cheering in the stands, click or tap below for everything (else) you need to know for the third annual Border Wars taking place at the TRAC from December 15-7 ,2023.