Tools · Rules at-a-glance
Five-minute rules.
Most parents can't fully explain their kid's sport's rules and never admit it. These primers fix that. Field setup, scoring, the calls you'll see in a typical game, and the three things parents most often get wrong.
Each piece links to the official governing-body rulebook for the version of record.
Baseball
Baseball: rules at-a-glance
Diamond, nine innings, three strikes you're out. The rules of youth baseball in five minutes.
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Basketball
Basketball: rules at-a-glance
Two teams of five, a hoop, a ball, four quarters. The rules of youth basketball in five minutes.
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Lacrosse — Boys
Boys lacrosse: rules at-a-glance
Stick and ball, contact, four quarters. The rules of boys lacrosse in five minutes.
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Cheerleading
Competitive cheer: rules at-a-glance
Tumbling, stunts, jumps, dance. Two and a half minutes on the mat. The rules of all-star cheer in five minutes.
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Crew
Crew (rowing): rules at-a-glance
Boats, oars, water, six lanes. The rules of youth rowing in five minutes.
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Cross country
Cross country: rules at-a-glance
Run a course in the woods, lowest team score wins. The rules of youth cross country in five minutes.
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Football — Flag
Flag football: rules at-a-glance
Pull the flag instead of tackling. Same goal, different physics. The rules of youth flag in five minutes.
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Football — 7v7
Football 7v7: rules at-a-glance
Skill positions only. No linemen, no contact (mostly), the recruiting circuit. The rules of 7v7 in five minutes.
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Lacrosse — Girls
Girls lacrosse: rules at-a-glance
Stick and ball, mostly no contact, four quarters. The rules of girls lacrosse in five minutes.
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Golf
Golf: rules at-a-glance
Hit the ball into the hole in fewer strokes than the other person. The rules of youth golf in five minutes.
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Gymnastics
Gymnastics: rules at-a-glance
Four events for women, six for men. Difficulty + execution = score. The rules of competitive youth gymnastics in five minutes.
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Hockey
Ice hockey: rules at-a-glance
Ice rink, three periods, six players per side. The rules of youth hockey in five minutes.
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Martial arts
Martial arts: rules at-a-glance
Many disciplines, one structure: belts, forms, sparring. The shared rules of youth martial arts in five minutes.
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Soccer
Soccer: rules at-a-glance
Two halves, no hands, offside is real. The rules of youth soccer in five minutes.
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Softball
Softball: rules at-a-glance
Diamond, seven innings, windmill pitching. The rules of youth fastpitch in five minutes.
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Swimming
Swimming: rules at-a-glance
Pool, lanes, four strokes, time matters. The rules of competitive youth swimming in five minutes.
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Football — Tackle
Tackle football: rules at-a-glance
Four downs to gain ten yards, four quarters, contact at every position. The rules of tackle football in five minutes.
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Tennis
Tennis: rules at-a-glance
Court, net, racket, ball. Win games, win sets, win matches. The rules of youth tennis in five minutes.
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Track and field
Track and field: rules at-a-glance
Run, jump, throw. Times and distances. The rules of youth track and field in five minutes.
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Volleyball
Volleyball: rules at-a-glance
Six players per side, three touches max, get the ball over the net. The rules of indoor volleyball in five minutes.
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