Rule Updates
This page will be maintained by the Lead Clinician and the Chief Referee to provide officials with the latest updates from the lacrosse rule-making bodies and the lacrosse leagues.
2024 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rulebook Changes (posted 11/13/2023).
Click here to watch the video by Tim Bohdan describing all of the changes made to the rulebook for the 2024 season:
Video of changes to the 2024 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rulebook (45:36) - <LINK>
Copy of Tim's marked up version of the 2024 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rulebook - <LINK> (Updated 2/28/2024)
2023-24 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rulebook Changes (posted 10/16/2022)
Click here to view the following videos and documents prepared by Tim Bohdan:
Video of changes to the 2023-24 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rulebook (1 hour, 18 minutes) - <LINK>
Copy of Tim's marked up version of the 2023-24 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rulebook - <LINK>
Proposed changes submitted to the NCAA Rules Committee by Tim Bohdan in Spring 2022 (294 pages of suggested changes) - <LINK>
Suggested Errata to the published electronic edition of the 2023-24 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Rulebook (submitted by Tim Bohdan on 9.29.2022) - <LINK>
2021 Rule change videos (posted 12/21/2020)
Click here to watch videos summarizing the 2021 lacrosse rules and points of emphasis for the men's and boys' games:
NCAA Rule Change Videos by Tim Bohdan (2:09:15 in total, see the two videos and the marked up copy of the NCAA rulebook below.)
NFHS Rule Changes Video (14:03) - <LINK>
USA Lacrosse Youth Rule Changes Video (13:28) - <LINK>
Changes to the youth rules (adopted by GHYLA and independent youth lacrosse clubs in Greater Houston for the 2020 season)
SECRET DECODER RING FOR PLAYING LEVELS – COMPARISON OF USA LACROSSE’S BOYS’ YOUTH RULEBOOK VERSUS TXLOA’S CHEAT SHEET
The Greater Houston Youth Lacrosse Association and other independent youth teams have all agreed to adopt the straight USA Lacrosse Boys' Youth Rules without waivers and abandon the use of NCAA rules w/waivers as were used during 2019 and prior years. However, boys' youth lacrosse teams in Houston use academic grade level as a proxy for the age-based divisions in the USA Lacrosse Boys' Youth rulebook. Thus what USA Lacrosse calls 14U, 12U, 10U, and 8U (for age-based playing levels) corresponds to what Houston youth teams call 8U, 6U, 4U, and 2U (for grade-based playing levels). No other waivers have been imposed on the USA Lacrosse Youth Rules being used in Greater Houston. A summary of the changes to the playing levels for 2020+ is as follows:
2U will play 4v4 with 1 goalkeeper and 3 field players on the small-sided field.
2U soft athletic ball (e.g., a tennis ball) is preferred, but can use a NOCSAE ball.
2U goalkeepers with full protective equipment are required; never use a “Hector the rejecter.”
2U must always have a full complement of four players on the field; cannot continue a game if don’t have at least four players.
2U after a goal is scored, ball is given to defense at goal line extended; play restarts immediately (no free clear; no faceoff).
2U no faceoffs used; pre-game coin flip determines which team gets possession to start the game; other team gets possession to start the second half.
2U/4U uses 4’ x 4’ box lacrosse cages, but it is permissible to use 6’ x 6’ lacrosse cages on fields where multiple levels are playing.
2U/4U must attempt a pass prior to shooting on goal on the initial possession to start a period or following a goal scored (Note: A pass attempt is not required for just a change of possession.)
2U/4U all players must be 5 yards away from ball carrier on a restart. 4U is not using the quick restart mechanic that would allow a restart with a defender w/in 5 yards; offensive teammates must always be >5 yards away to prevent the “hidden ball trick” or other ball deceptions.
2U/4U ball stuck in a scrum of 3 or more players for 4 seconds, officials stop play and use alternate possession rule to award one team possession.
2U/4U whole team substitutions every 1-3 minutes. Argh. Not sure how well this will materialize.
4U will play 7v7 on the small-sided field (60 x 35 yards, which is atop one full-field restraining area).
4U will require only ONE official.
4U will use running clock, four 10-minute quarters.
4U never plays man-down. The replacement/substitute for a penalized player enters the game immediately.
4U has no “team timeouts.” Officials can still call their own “officials’ timeouts.”
4U players release on a faceoff once the ball squirts 5 yards from center X, or when a team gains possession, whichever occurs first. Exception.: GK must remain in his crease until a team gains possession.
6U has no body-checking.
8U/6U/4U/2U goalkeepers have at least five seconds to return to the crease prior to any restart (same rule as last year but applies to 2U now that we use goalkeepers at 2U).
8U/6U/4U/2U all illegal crosse penalties are 2-minutes nonreleasable. No more 1- or 3-minute illegal crosse penalties.
8U/6U/4U/2U all stick penalties are considered correctable; no quarantining of sticks at the table, give stick back to player, crosse can be returned to the game once it gets corrected (official does NOT do a re-inspection to verify; it is on the coaches/player to ensure the stick has been fixed, and the team is at risk of it being inspected again).
8U/6U/4U/2U throwing a crosse at open space or during a stick exchange = technical foul; throwing a crosse at the ball, a player, or game personnel = unsportsmanlike conduct nonreleasable (Note: the rulebook has been printed in error as releasable… it must be corrected manually by each official).
8U/6U/4U/2U a nominated defender will serve goalkeeper penalties if that team does not have a backup goalkeeper. This applies to both releasable and nonreleasable penalties against the goalkeeper who has no backup.
More detailed information is contained on the "Rulebooks" tab, which contains links to the TXLOA playing rules "cheat sheet" and the actual rulebooks used by the lacrosse teams.
<END>
Faceoffs and restarts for 4th grade and below youth games (email from Tim Bohdan to Houston youth leagues on 1/19/2020)
The GHYLA and independent youth league teams in Greater Houston have adopted the USA Lacrosse Boys' Youth Rules for the 2020 season, but they use grade level in lieu of age level for the playing levels. Thus, the 4th and 3rd graders are called "4U" in Houston although they play by the USA Lacrosse 10U age division, and the 2nd and 1st graders are called "2U" in Houston although they play by the USA Lacrosse 8U age division. The faceoffs and restarts are summarized as follows:
Restarts for a faceoff or for the initial possession to start a new period for the 4U playing level in Greater Houston for youth teams in 4th and 3rd grade (Note: the 4U games use the USA Lacrosse 10U age-based playing rules):
Restarts for the playing level in Greater Houston for youth teams in 2nd and 1st grade (Note: the 2U games use the USA Lacrosse 8U age-based playing rules):
Reduced size substitution area for high school games (adopted by THSLL on 9/28/2019)
The Texas High School Lacrosse League (THSLL) adopted the NCAA rule regarding the use of the reduced size substitution area. This was adopted by NCAA for the 2019 season, but it had been waived by THSLL for the 2019 season. Now THSLL has adopted it. However, the THSLL rejected the adoption of the goal crease jump/dive rule and rejected the automatic mandatory 80-second shot clock, both of which the NCAA had adopted for the 2019 season.
The KSONE has not been certified by NOCSAE (consumer alert released by USA Lacrosse on 6/07/2019)
The KSONE lacrosse ball is not NOCSAE certified and should not be used. <Click here for more information>
Officials' Procedure for Handling a Possible Concussion or Other Serious Injury (email from Tom Jank, TXLOA Chief Referee, on 2/21/2019)
An incident occurred recently during a high school game whereby a player was removed by the officials to be evaluated for a possible concussion, but the same player was returned to the game by that team’s head coach without the injured player being cleared by the trainer. The trainer was informed of the possible concussion. The coach then decided the player should go back without the trainer's approval, which upset the trainer.
To prevent this situation from happening again, the following guidance is issued to all TXLOA officials:
In your pregame you will talk to the trainer:
Inform the trainer to take the player's helmet and do not let them have it back until they have been cleared BY THE TRAINER to play, or it will be the end of the game.
Inform the trainer that they have final say on any injured player.
If there is any player that is not cleared by the trainer but goes back in the game, the officials are to be notified immediately.
The trainer can ask the table staff for help with getting the officials' attention.
If you believe a player has a possible concussion:
Call an injury timeout.
Inform both the head coach AND the trainer (if present) of a possible concussion. If no trainer is available, then call for a licensed medical professional.
Remove the athlete from play.
The player shall be evaluated medically by the “primary athletics healthcare provider (i.e., athletic trainer or team physician).”
The player shall not return to play until cleared by an “appropriate health care professional.”
Remember, the officials are there for players' safety, not just to enforce the rules.
The String King "Composite Pro Faceoff" shaft is Legal (per NILOA Director's Call #1 on 2/07/2019)
The NCAA has ruled this handle is legal for play. This would include the faceoff player. The first pictures on the left shows the top portion of the shaft from two different angles. The second picture shows the cross-section of the shaft during different phases of the faceoff clamping process. Note that the cross-section of the handle is oblique, which is designed to give the player enhanced grip and torque for the faceoff player. The third picture shows the entire length of the shaft. The last two pictures show the front and side views and the three holes that are pre-drilled through the top of the shaft to secure the head from two different directions. The Composite Pro Faceoff shaft is fully authorized for use and LEGAL in all NCAA, NFHS, and youth play.
Clarification of the 2018-2019 THSLL Rulebook regarding Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalties, Section 11 Penalties, Ejections, and Fouling Out for Players and/or Coaches
The language has been clarified in the 2018-2019 THSLL Rulebook for the application of ejections and fouling out. These edits were approved via emails between Nancy Powers, Mike Ormsby, et al., on 2/07/2019. USC = Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Section 11 penalties are Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Targeting Head/Neck, and Unnecessary Roughness. BOTTOM LINE: The four cumulative USCs rule applies to both players and coaches, and so does the two USCs rule within a game. Also, fouling out is treated no differently than an ejection = automatic ejection from current game + penalty served by in-home + one-game suspension for the ejected player.
Excerpts from Appendix A of 2018-2019 THSLL Rulebook:
GAME BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
If the game is stopped by officials for improper behavior on the field or in the stands, the officials will ask the on-site administrator or head coach to control or eject the offending fan from the premises.
If the fan is not controlled, or does not leave the premises, the game will be stopped, and the offending team will lose the game.
If player (s) is ejected from a THSLL game, the player must leave the site of the THSLL game. The player may not remain on the sideline or in the stands. It is up to the Head Coach to comply with these rules or his team will forfeit the game. The team of the ejected player is responsible for supervising that player when needed.
If a player receives two of the same Section 11 penalties in a game or Fouls Out due to accumulation of five personal foul penalty minutes, the player will be automatically ejected from the current THSLL game, and suspended from the next THSLL game.
If a player or coach receives 2 unsportsmanlike penalties in a game, the player or coach is automatically ejected from the current game and suspended from the next League game.
If a personal foul as per Section 11 occurs at the end of the last game of the THSLL season, as defined in Appendix C ["Season Timetable"], so that the player incurring the foul does not serve penalty time, the penalty will carry over to the Team's next THSLL season game. If the player has graduated, the in-home shall serve the penalty.
A suspended individual cannot be in the team’s bench area, anywhere on the sideline or anywhere in the spectator area. An ejected individual cannot be in the team’s bench area, anywhere on the sideline, and must be supervised by the Member Team Program’s leadership.
LEAGUE ACTIONS
Section 11 penalties:
When a player receives one Section 11 penalty in one game: he will be reported to the THSLL Coordinator and be subject to a potential warning from THSLL after a report is made to the THSLL Board of Directors or its designee.
When a player receives two of the same Section 11 penalties in one game, his coach and THSLL Member School President/Athletic Director will be required to meet with the Coordinator. The THSLL Coordinator will discuss the circumstances with the game officials. The Coach may miss the next scheduled THSLL game as defined as a game on the THSLL schedule at the time the incident occurred and cannot be subsequently scheduled afterwards.
When a player has an accumulation of four of the same Section 11 penalties in THSLL games, or a coach has an accumulation of four Unsportsmanlike Conduct in THSLL games, he will serve an automatic one game suspension for the next scheduled THSLL game as defined as a game on the THSLL schedule at the time of the suspension, and that game cannot be subsequently scheduled afterwards. The THSLL Coordinator may suspend a coach who has been ejected from a THSLL game pending an expedient review.
2019 THSLL Shot Clock Waiver (Email from Mike Ormsby, THSLL South, Division-2/3 Coordinator, 10/10/2018)
The THSLL considered which aspects of the shot-clock are being waived and which aspects are being retained. Mike Ormsby wrote to Tom Jank and suggested that THSLL will keep the 30-second clear and the optional 20-second stalling shot-clock that gets imposed by the officials when they detect stalling by one team. However, the full THSLL Rules Committee decided against using any of the 80-second shot clock rules.
FINAL DECISION: THSLL decided to waive all aspects of the 2019 NCAA Rules, and is instead playing by the 2018 NCAA Rules. Thus, THSLL games will not use the 80-second automatic shot-clock and will instead use the old arbitrarily-applied 30-second shot clock that gets initiated by the consent of the officials.
2019 NCAA Shot Clock Rules and Mechanics (Memo from Tom Sutton, NILOA Director of Development, released on 10/3/2018)
This email essentially contains the notes of a Q&A session, where several open questions about the shot clock have been clarified and addressed. The full memo/email is available at this link <CLICK HERE FOR MEMO #4>.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM NILOA:
Team in possession and in the offensive half of the field takes a valid shot which either rebounds off of the goalie or hits a pipe. Does the shot clock reset? Yes, we give the reset signal immediately.
What happens when the ball is contested after a valid shot and remains loose for 15 seconds and then the offense gains possession? We give the reset signal again to reset [the shot] clock to 80 seconds when either team gains possession.
Assume instead that the ball is not possessed by either team after 15 seconds (like in the example above), but rather it goes over the midfield line and then is possessed by the offensive team in their defensive half of the field. Is the shot clock reset? No matter the location of where the ball is possessed after a valid shot, we give the reset signal again to reset [the shot] clock to 80 seconds.
If the shot clock is reset due to penalty or satisfactory shot, does it reset to 60 or 80 seconds? There is one shot clock time, and that is 80 seconds.
On a reset after [anything that resets the shot clock to 80 seconds], can the offensive team cross back over the midline during the first twenty seconds of the [shot] clock? Yes, a team may cross the midline multiple times during the first 20 seconds of the 80-second clock. The offensive team ball must be in offensive half of field when the clock reads 60 seconds or less.
What is the signal for shot clock reset as per the mechanics? Reset signal is the same as years past. Signal is shown in the appendix of the NCAA rulebook.
NCAA CHANGE!!!!!!!
The shot clock will no longer be reset for a foul that creates a flag-down, slow-whistle situation.
If a flag-down situation exists and there is a valid shot and the offensive team regains possession, then the shot clock will be reset.
It [the shot clock] does reset for a [NON-TIME-SERVING] loose ball technical foul, still.
Faceoff violations and restarting play (mechanics change; released on 3/16/2018)
To assist us with a situation after a face-off violation, we will change who is going to blow the play back in. Teams are now using a faceoff violation to attempt to gain an advantage by either switching players or substituting players from behind the defensive area lines (restraining lines).
The Single Side Official (i.e., the official who conducted the faceoff) will conduct the restart (whistle) of the ball in play after all faceoff violations.
The other official(s) will ensure that there are no players exiting from behind the defensive area lines (restraining lines) prior to the restart whistle.
Under Armour Command X Lacrosse Shaft is NOT legal (NCAA Rulebook Committee announcement on 3/02/2018)
It has come to the attention of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Rules Committee that the Under Armour Command X Handle [i.e., the shaft] does not meet current NCAA rules specifications. Specifically, the handle violates Rule 1-17: “The circumference of the crosse handle shall not be more than 3 ½ inches and the handle must be relatively straight.” The circumference of the handle exceeds the allowable measurement and is therefore not allowed for use in NCAA competition, effective immediately. It should be noted, however, that the Under Armour Command X head does meet NCAA specifications and this ruling does not impact the legality of the head. Thank you and good luck the rest of the season. -Willie Scroggs, Secretary-Rules Editor, NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Rules Committee
Clarification of the rules on "warding" (NCAA, US Lacrosse, and THSLL announcements, circa 3/01/2018)
2/22/2018 - Slide presentation from the NILOA & NDOS Directors' Call regarding the new (looser) interpretation for Warding, which makes the bull dodge legal if both hands remain on the crosse and the bull dodge contact is not a violation of any other infraction:
Note: The following video clip of a successful (and now considered completely legal) bull dodge is shown in this video clip, which lasts only 14 seconds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAxJfLl1BOQ. You might have to watch the video clip several times to completely understand the new "bull dodge is legal" interpretation, which is no longer considered a violation of warding unless the bull dodge also meets the threshold for other more severe penalties (e.g., spearing by initiating contact with one's own head, unnecessary roughness, illegal body check for targeting the head of the opponent, or unsportsmanlike conduct).
3/01/2018 - The NFHS posted the following memo to its website: https://www.nfhs.org/warding-memo
A ward is not to be called on a player with two hands on his crosse.
A bull dodge, lowering the shoulder, could be considered unnecessary roughness if the official judges the contact was excessive or unnecessary.
A spear should be penalized with a minimum time of 2-minutes nonreleasable (NR).
Lowering the helmet into the other player's helmet or body is a spear.
Potential for ejection as with any check involving the head/neck if excessive or severe.
If the body contact is judged as legal, the offensive player shall not be called for a ward.
The contact is either legal, or it is a personal foul, such as unnecessary roughness.
USA Lacrosse supports this new interpretation on warding, which makes a bull dodge potentially legal. USA Lacrosse writes: "Please inform your officials about this clarification. The last clip in this instructional video explains spearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geN0vhivv_k [at 4:30 in the clip, an explanation of defensive spearing, at 5:12 in the clip, an explanation of offensive spearing]. I am developing a video on warding with the Task Force. When it is ready I will let you know." Regards, Gordon Corsetti, Manager, Men’s Officials Development Program, USA Lacrosse
3/02/2018 - The THSLL Board of Directors voted to support the NCAA guidance on warding. THSLL writes: "We will be putting out a notice to the THSLL coaches stating that so there is no confusion around calls. Please let the LOA know the decision." Regards, Ray Martin, THSLL Commissioner
3/05/2018 - Videos of bull dodges - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhVcPOJnaz0&feature=youtu.be. Note that for some of these bull dodges in the video clips, the attacker has both hands on the crosse (legal), but sometimes the attacker has only one hand on the crosse (illegal). You can tell which is which.
Clarification of over-and-back (email from Jim Carboneau on 12/15/2017)
Question: When does over-and-back occur on a failed back-pass? It is: (1) when the ball breaks the plane of the center line, or (2) when the ball is grounded on or across the center line?
Answer: When the ball is grounded on or across the center line. A loose ball that breaks the plane of the center line is not over-and-back because the ball has not touched the ground (or anything else) on the defensive half of the field.
Explanation: All interior lines, except goal line, are hot. If you touch them you are over. If ball is in flight, technically it must be grounded, i.e., touched by someone or something on or inside line. Since over-and-back is relatively new, there have been few situations that have been reviewed and interpreted. I would presume that an attackman could reach over midline and catch an errant pass before it became grounded much as he could wave the ball he possesses over the midline without penalty. -Jim
Two-person mechanics (changes for 2018; US Lacrosse video released on 10/9/2017)
2018 NFHS Rule Changes - Click for the 2018 NFHS Mechanics and Rule Changes video. This video lasts less than six minutes and discusses the changes to the for two officials in a game during the 2018 season.
Run-left for any game using two-person mechanics (i.e., two officials). Do this the entire game - not just for the opening faceoff.
Change to signal for waiving off a technical foul after a goal was scored.
Ball exiting the attack box no longer kills the free play during a Flag-down, Slow-whistle situation.
Stall (get-it-in/keep-it-in) is terminated by a valid shot. New audible is "Stall is off."
Shot-in-flight as the period ends is still a live ball. Goal scored is a good goal.
Heads of the two faceoff crosses must be positioned "top-to-stop" (same as NCAA).
Unified field size for boys' and girls' lacrosse (optional field size adopted by NFHS for 2018; NFHS announcement on 9/26/2017)
The NFHS approved the use of an optional, new unified field size (120 x 60 yds) that is 10 yards longer than the traditional boys’ lacrosse field size (110 x 60 yds). Since most of our teams play on soccer/football fields, many of which have been permanently marked with a 110 x 60 yd outer boundary, it is likely those field markings will not be changed by the host organizations. However, there is a possibility that you will officiate on a unified field that is 10 yards longer, especially if that field is used for girls’ lacrosse. The unified field will have an extra 5 yards of space between each goal line and the top of each restraining box. Thus, each restraining box will be increased by five yards with the extra room residing in the attack area in front of each goal. <Press announcement>
Changes to the NCAA rules for "Faceoff Stick Positions" in 2017 (and adopted by NFHS for 2018)
The NCAA faceoff has changed. The position of the faceoff sticks is now aligned as "TOP TO STOP" instead of being lined up evenly. The length between the top of the crosse and the throat of a crosse is 10 inches (minimum). The faceoff sticks must be lined up with Player A's top lined up with Player B's throat (i.e., the "ball stop" or just called the "stop" for short), and vice versa. This looks very different from past years. Talk to your faceoff players pre-game to review the new faceoff stick positioning. Rule 4-3 ("Facing Off - Procedures") contains a diagram on page 30 of the NCAA rulebook.
Video examples of three common penalties with detailed explanations (by Gordon Corsetti of USA Lacrosse)
Each video lasts several minutes. The videos utilize start/stop/rewind and slow motion to show the foul and give you advice on what to look for as an official. Knowing how to anticipate when a foul is likely to occur will help you see the fouls as they occur.
Slashing (9:29) - three examples of illegal stick checks and what to look for
Cross-check (7:31) - two examples of cross-checking with explanations.
Illegal Body Check (10:02) - three examples of different types of body checks that are illegal.
"Anticipating Timeouts" (5/02/2017 TXLOA document adapted from NILOA memo called "Officiating the Timeout")
One of the strategic tools of a coach is the ability of the coach to call a timeout at just the right moment. However, if officials are not paying attention, then the timeout will go unheeded and coaches will be frustrated and upset (rightly so). The document gives advice to officials on when to anticipate situations where a timeout is likely and to use mechanics to enhance the officials' ability to see/hear the request for a timeout.
Click here to download the one-page document in Adobe Reader (*.pdf) format --> Anticipating Timeouts.
-Adapted from Tom Sutton, President of NILOA.
Duties of the Chief Bench Official (4/25/2017 rulebook supplement from the TXLOA Chief Referee)
The Chief Bench Official (CBO) is an officiating role used during high school playoffs in Texas. The CBO is a fourth official who remains in the Scorer's Table Area to supervise the timers, scorekeepers, and other table staff. The CBO also watches for certain infractions and communicates with the three on-field officials. Since the CBO is not mentioned anywhere in the NCAA rulebook, the TXLOA has prepared its own set of rules and responsibilities for the CBO.
Click here to download the two-page CBO summary document in Adobe Reader (*.pdf) format --> Duties of the Chief Bench Official (CBO). -Tom Jank, Chief Referee.
Bench Decorum and Trail Mechanics in a Three-Person Rotation (3/24/2017 memo from NILOA)
This memorandum provides guidance on how to better officiate and manage the Team Area, Coaches Box, and the Substitution Area.
Click here to view the memo --> Bench Decorum
Troubleshooting the Faceoff (3/09/2017 memo from NILOA)
This short video provides guidance on conducting fair faceoffs using the top-to-stop method and provides examples of faceoff-related infractions.
Click here to watch the four-minute video --> Troubleshooting the Faceoff
Quick Restarts (2/23/2017 memo from NILOA)
This short video provides guidance on how to conduct quick restarts that are controlled and fair, but not "pants on fire." Although this video was published by NILOA, the collegiate officials' organization, the advice is applicable to all levels of lacrosse.
Click here to watch the four-minute video --> Quick Restarts video-clip.
Click here to open a one-page summary in Adobe Reader (*.pdf) format --> One-Page Summary of Quick Restarts.
Contact of the Crosse to an Opponent's Head/Helmet (2/13/2017 memo from TXLOA Chief Referee)
Contact to the head/helmet by a defending player's crosse does not make the contact an automatic nonreleasable penalty. The contact may just be a common slash, or it may be nothing more than a brush. This depends on a number of factors. First the level of play. 3rd and 4th grade?... Yes, any contact with the head should be a penalty. High school/College?... Contact with the head must be judged by the severity of the contact. Was the player just trying to check his stick, and he just barely touched the head? (this is a brush). Did he swing wildly and almost take the player's head off? (this is 2-3 minutes nonreleasable). Was it a tap on the face mask as the player crossed his stick in front of him but did not even change the player's momentum? (this is a common releasable slash).
If we take penalty interpretations to the highest level every time, then what do we have to go up to if some thing more severe happens? NOT EVERY contact to the head/helmet is a nonreleasable penalty. -Tom Jank, Email to all TXLOA members dated 2/13/2017.
Changes to the NCAA rules and officiating mechanics
Recall that high schools in Texas play by the NCAA rulebook (with minor modifications by the THSLL). The NCAA rule change videos are training tools that contain an overview of changes to the NCAA rules as it relates to how the officials are expected to officiate a game of lacrosse when using the NCAA rulebook.
2020 NCAA Rules - Placeholder. Video is still to be added.
0:00 - Introduction
2019 NCAA Rules - Click here for the 2019 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules and Officiating Video. This video is professionally prepared and lasts 22 minutes.
0:00 - Introduction
0:55 - Points of Emphasis
1:15 - Head Coach Pregame Meeting
1:25 - Team Conduct/Decorum Pregame and Postgame
2:30 - Substitution Box Procedures
3:00 - Faceoffs
3:30 - Major Rules Changes for 2019
3:37 - Listing of rules, descriptions, and rulebook page numbers for the major rule changes
3:46 - 80-second All Possession Shot Clock
6:18 - Advancing the Ball into the Offensive Half of the Field
8:06 - Plays Around the Crease
12:47 - Personal Fouls
14:38 - Lacrosse is still a contact sport
15:45 - Offensive Screening/Picks
17:38 - Fouls by the Defense
18:17 - Warding
19:58 - Faceoffs
22:00 - Thank-you
22:14 - END
2018 NCAA Rules - Click here for the 2018 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules and Officiating video. This video is professionally prepared and lasts 25 minutes.
0:00 - Introduction
0:58 - Current Status
2:15 - Points of Emphasis
2:30 - Player safety
5:27 - Faceoffs
9:25 - Picks
12:27 - Shot clock
15:13 - Over and back
16:40 - Crease play
21:58 - Bench decorum
23:20 - Future considerations
25:17 - END
2017 NCAA Rules - Click here for the 2017 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules video. This video is professionally prepared and lasts 36 minutes.
0:00 - Awards and miscellaneous speeches (skip this part)
35:30 - The 2017 NCAA Rules Interpretation video (this is the part you want to watch)
72:00 - The end of the video.
Rules Interpretations
ALL LACROSSE RULE BOOKS
FACEOFFS - The positioning of the faceoff crosse heads must be aligned "top-to-stop" per the diagram above.
SHOOTING STRINGS - All shooting strings must be within 4" of the top of the crosse. The goalkeeper is exempt from this rule just as the goalkeeper's crosse is for all other crosse-related dimensional issues.
MESH POCKETS - Mesh pockets that have been colored with team logos or emblems from the manufacturer are OK unless there is a deliberate attempt to deceive the opponent by painting a ball in the pocket.
OFFSIDE and DELAYED ENTRY - Offside is always about counting forward (too many players on the action half of the field) and never about counting backwards (too few players on the non-action half of the field). The entry of a player late onto the field is either a technical foul or a personal foul, depending on the situation.
ARM PADS FOR GOALKEEPERS - Arm pads are no longer required for Goalkeepers at any level of lacrosse. USA Lacrosse made them optional, but not mandatory, starting with the January-May, 2017, lacrosse season. This aligns with the NCAA rule, which governs all THSLL games in Texas.
PENALTIES AGAINST THE GOALKEEPER - All time-serving penalties against a goalkeeper must be served by that goalkeeper. Teams cannot use the in-home as a substitute to serve the penalty for the goalkeeper. In many cases, you will need to give teams the time to transfer the the goalkeeper's equipment to another player. Be generous on the time it takes to do this. You don't want to punish teams for a delay of game due to the substitution of a goalkeeper. Also remember that the coach is entitled to one minute of warming up a goalkeeper once he starts taking practice shots to warm up the goalkeeper. For NCAA/THSLL games only, the team must use a team timeout if it desires to warm up its substituted goalkeeper (e.g., GK was injured or has to serve a penalty). Note that the coach does not need the permission of the officials to enter the field to warm up a goalkeeper being substituted. The (1) warm-up of the goalkeeper, is one of the three occasions during which the coach does not need the permission of the officials to enter the field of play during a dead ball situation. The other two occasions are: (2) halftime and (3) to tend to an injured player.
NCAA/THSLL only
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT PENALTY REPORTING (POST-GAME) - report all Unsportsmanlike Conduct (USC) penalties in the game reports in Arbiter (used for high school games only) and ZebraWeb (used for college games only). Please provide background details leading up to the penalty (physical play was escalating and one player retaliated with a cheap shot, or the opposing team's players were complaining of taunting and finally the player was caught by an official, etc.) For any USC penalty against a head, assistant coach, or player, include their USC penalties in the game report and also send an email to the assigner (recruiter@txloa.net), who must keep track of USC penalties against coaches and players. Per THSLL rules, once any individual (regardless if he is a coach or a player) has received a cumulative total of four USC penalties during a season, he must serve a one-game suspension before his count resets back to zero.
DELAY OF GAME - delay of game infractions due to reporting late for the faceoff by the faceoff player or any other field position are NOT counted as a faceoff violation. If a faceoff player comes out without the required 6" of contrasting color tape on his shaft, realizes it before you have them come down, and leaves the field of his own volition causing a delay, then there is still no faceoff violation. However, once you ask a faceoff player to show you the tape on his faceoff stick and he doesn't have it, then you must must assess a faceoff violation. The faceoff violator does not have to leave the field of play for the restart. The faceoff violator can immediately drop back to defend on the restart and continue to play until he decides to be substituted. Thus, the officials must never "send off" a faceoff player for a lack of tape.
FACEOFF TAPE - players taking the faceoff must have six inches of contrasting-color on the top of the shaft. The rule allows tape, paint, or other suitable materials. However, the rule prohibits materials that enhance the ability of the player to grip the shaft, such as sticky substances or "lizard grip" tape. The Referee should address the faceoff players pre-game to ensure the faceoff tape requirements are understood and enforced.
RUNNING CLOCK in THSLL games - The running clock is started after the next faceoff whistle following a 15-goal difference in the score of a Div-2 or -3 non-playoff game. This applies to games that meet all three of the following criteria: (1) There is no Division I team on the field, (2) The game is not a post-season game, (3) Can be any time or period in the game (i.e., not limited to just the second half). Contrary to popular belief, the rule is not waivable by either coach or the officials. The exact wording in the THSLL Appendix A Rule Waivers is "Under no circumstances shall this rule be waived by coaches or officials." Do not allow the trailing team's coach to waive the 15-goal running clock rule. Nothing good will happen toward the conclusion of a lopsided game if one team continues to run up the score.
SATISFYING THE CLEAR - Whenever a live-ball timeout is taken legally (with possession; across the team's offensive restraining line), the clearing count is ended the the clear is considered to have been met. Thus, the attacking team no longer needs to get a touch into the attack area after the restart of play following a live-ball timeout. This is important because on the restart immediately following the timeout, the over-and-back rule applies even if the team never touched the ball into its attack area.