About - Player Eligibility

International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) was founded in 2016 by Member Nations Canada (Canadian Lacrosse League) and United States (US Indoor Lacrosse). As an independent international organization, meaning that IIJL Championships are not affiliated or associated with World Lacrosse, the IIJL established and administers the only international box (indoor) lacrosse championships for players twenty one (21) years of age and younger. Currently, the IIJL holds four (4) invitational championships annually; IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship, IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship, IIJL World U16 Lacrosse Championship, and IIJL Women's World Junior Lacrosse Championship.

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AGE 

All players must be born on or between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009 to participate at the 2026 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship. Players must be born in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009. 

All players must be born on or between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009 to participate at the 2026 IIJL Women's World Junior Lacrosse Championship. Players must be born in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009. 

All players must be born on or between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009 to participate at the 2026 IIJL World U18 Lacrosse Championship. Players must be born in 2008, 2009, or 2010. 

All players must be born on or between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009 to participate at the 2026 IIJL World U16 Lacrosse Championship. Players must be born in 2011 or 2012. 

DUAL/MULTIPLE PASSPORT HOLDERS 

Any player, who holds valid passports for two (2) or more (+) Nations, may represent either Nation, as the player may elect. However, after having represented a Nation in an IIJL event, the player may not represent another Nation unless the player meets the eligibility conditions and time limitation set out below:

CHANGE OF COUNTRY 
Any player who has represented a Nation in an IIJL event and who elects to represent a different Nation, must wait a minimum of one (1) year from the end of the event where the player last represented the former Nation. Transfer will be permitted if and when the:

• The one (1) year period has elapsed between playing for one nation and then playing for another
• IIJL agreement has been sought/given
• Eligibility criteria have been met and documentation to confirm provided
• “One (1) year” refers to an event cycle year not a calendar year. 

DOCUMENTATION CHECKS

The IIJL and Local Organizing Committee (LOC) shall have the power to call upon all Member, Participating, and Developing Nations to provide documentary evidence as needed to support the eligibility status of all players within a Nation's roster. Failure to provide satisfactory documentation may result in the Player being debarred from participating in the tournament in question and if discovered after a tournament has begun, may affect the results and standings of the Nation team. 

MEMBER Organization

A Member Organization is defined as an IIJL Member Organization that is in good standing and represents their country/nation within the IIJL. The criteria for player eligibility of Member Organization is to be a passport holder of the country/nation being represented, with a valid passport being obtained by birth, right, or naturalization. 

EXCEPTIONS
There are no circumstances where Member Organizations are provided exceptions for support from players who do not meet the age or primary criterion for player eligibility. 

PARTICIPATING Organization 

A Participating Organization is defined as a non-IIJL Member Organization that is participating at an IIJL event with an active domestic box lacrosse league dedicated to the development of junior aged players. The primary criterion for player eligibility of Participating Organization at IIJL events is to be a passport holder of the country/nation being represented, with a valid passport being obtained by birth, right, or naturalization.

EXCEPTIONS
In circumstances where Participating Organizations need support from players who do not meet the age or primary criterion for player eligibility the following exception will apply.

1. NON-PASSPORT HOLDERS
   Any player wishing to qualify for a Participating Nation as a non-passport holder for one (1) of the four (4) available exception positions, must meet at least one (1) of the eligibility requirements below:
   • HISTORY - A recent history of competing with the Participating Organization in regular season, playoff, or other tournament play within the last two (2) years
   • PARENTS - A birth parent, adoptive parent/guardian, or step-parent born in the country/nation being represented  
   • GRANDPARENTS - A birth or adoptive grandparent(s) born in the country/nation being represented; step-grandparent(s) are not acceptable 

DEVELOPING Organization 

A Developing Organization is defined as a non-IIJL Member Organization that is participating at an IIJL event and does not have an active domestic box lacrosse league dedicated to the development of junior aged players. The primary criterion for player eligibility of Developing Organization at IIJL events is to be a passport holder of the country/nation being represented, with the passport being obtained by birth, right, or naturalization.

EXCEPTIONS
In circumstances where Developing Organizations need support from players who do not meet the age or primary criterion for player eligibility the following exception will apply. 

1. NON-PASSPORT HOLDERS
   Any player wishing to qualify for a Developing Organization as a non-passport holder position must meet at least one (1) of the eligibility requirements below: 
   • HISTORY - A recent history of competing with the Developing Organization in other tournament play within the last five (5) years
   • PARENTS - A birth parent, adoptive parent/guardian, or step-parent born in the country/nation being represented 
   • GRANDPARENTS - A birth or adoptive grandparent(s) born in the country/nation being represented; step-grandparent(s) are not acceptable 
   • GREAT GRANDPARENTS - A birth or adoptive great grandparent(s) born in the country/nation being represented; great step-grandparent(s) are not acceptable 
   • RESIDENCE - Minimum of a two-year residency period in the country/nation being represented within the last five (5) years. This does not necessarily have to be a continuous period but a cumulative total period of one (1) year over the previous five (5) years. For clarity the five (5) year time period is that immediately preceding the championship for which eligibility is being sought. 
   • EDUCATION - Minimum of a full curriculum/course period in country/nation being represented within the last five (5) years. This does not necessarily have to be a full calendar year but a cumulative total period of a full curriculum/course load over the previous five (5) years. For clarity the five (5) year time period is that immediately preceding the championship for which eligibility is being sought. 
2. OVERAGE PLAYERS
   Any player wishing to compete in the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship and qualify for a Developing Organization as an Overage Player, they must meet both (2) of the eligibility requirements below:
   • YEAR OF BIRTH - Player must be born after July 4, 2004, meaning that the player must still be twenty one (21) while competing in the tournament
   • PASSPORT HOLDER - Player must be a passport holder of the country/nation being represented
3. DISPENSATION 
   In circumstances where a player does not meet the non-passport holders or overage players criterion for player exceptions Developing Organization must apply to the IIJL for a player dispensation on a case-by-case basis. At no time can a Developing Organization roster consist of more than four (4) players using dispensations to compete for the Developing Organization at any given IIJL championship. Dispensation players must meet primary age criteria.