Rules of the Game

Honor the game. Please remember that the referees are constantly making instantaneous judgement calls. It is a difficult job, and they are doing it to the best of their ability. Resist the temptation to question or comment on the calls. Use your voice instead to cheer for the players. If you feel confident in your ability to see the game and apply the rules, you would be welcomed as a new official due to the very dire shortage at this time. Please let Coach Biggs if you would like to learn and she will put you in contact with the umpire trainers.

Women's Lacrosse Rules - An Overview

Major Fouls

A major foul can result from a variety of calls the most common at the high school level being dangerous check. For major fouls committed by the defense that occur inside the 8-meter arc, a free position will be awarded on the arc, the player who committed the foul will be placed 4 meters behind, and all other players will clear the arc. For a major foul elsewhere on the field, the free position will be awarded on the spot with the player who committed the foul will be placed behind.

• Three Seconds: a defender may not remain in the 8-meter arc for more than three seconds unless she is within a sticks length away form the player she is marking.
• Obstruction of the Shooting Space: A defender who is not marking a player may not stand more than a sticks length away from the ball while obstructing the path to the goal. This call applies when the player with the ball is looking to shoot.
• Check to the head: Any time stick contacts another player's head Ð automatic yellow card.
• Dangerous Shot: A dangerous shot is judged on the combination of distance, force and placement.
• Slash: Reckless swinging of the stick with a large back-swing or follow through, whether or not contact is made, will be ruled a slash. A slash is an automatic yellow card.
• Blocking: A defender makes contact with an attacker by moving into them.
• Charging: A player moves into an opponent instead of going around the opponent.
• Offsides: Only 7 field players from each team may be over the restraining line inside either end of the field.
• Misconduct: Unsportsmanlike conduct that includes reckless, dangerous behavior and consistently breaking the rules Ð automatic yellow card, can be upgraded to a red if the official deems necessary. Any player receiving a red card for misconduct will be suspended for the next game. A second yellow card by the same player results in a red card. That player will not be suspended for any subsequent games, unless the second card is a misconduct card.

Minor Fouls

If defense commits a minor foul inside the 12-meter fan, the attack will be awarded the ball on the 12-meter fan and all other players remain where they are at least 4 meters away from the ball. The free position will be considered indirect which means that a second player must touch the ball before it can be shot. A minor foul anywhere else on the field is awarded on the spot with all other players 4 meters away.

• Crease Violation: The body or stick of any player other than the goalie may not cross over the crease line.
• Warding Off: A player may not take her hand off her stick and raise it to hold off an opponent.
• Empty Stick Check: A player may not hit an opponents stick unless the ball is in her opponents stick.
• Body Ball: The ball may not hit a playerÕs body and bounce to her distinct advantage. Because it is an advantage call, not all body balls will be whistled.

Other Calls

• Offsides: A team may not have more than seven players over the restraining line in the offensive end, and no more than eight players over the line in the defensive end. A player may reach over the line with her stick to play the ball, but no part of her foot may cross the line.
• Throw: A throw can occur in the case of off-setting fouls or when it is unclear which player was closest to the ball as it went out of bounds. When a throw is called, the two players will stand one meter apart with each player closest to the goal she is defending. The referee will stand 4-8 meters away and on the whistle, throw the ball into the air.
• Slow Whistle: A held whistle will be indicated by a referee holding a yellow flag over her head. It will be put into effect if the attack is inside the 12 meter fan and has the potential to score and is fouled by the attack, but retains possession. If the attack gets off an unhindered shot, the advantage indicated by the flag is over. If a shot is not taken, a free position will be awarded to the fouled player or the attack player nearest the spot of the foul when the scoring attempt is over.

The Field and the Positions

This is a diagram of the field. The attackers are called "homes" and the defense are "points", and I can't tell you why. Often we call them line attack, line defense and the rest midfielders. Any player can go anywhere on the field as long as the 7 field players inside restraining lines is maintained.

During the center draw at the start of each half and after goals, only five players from each team can be in the center between the restraining lines until the whistle starts play.

No field player may ever go into the goalie's crease, as long as the goalie is inside. When a shooter shoots, her stick may not cross over the crease, even on the follow-through.