Women’s Lacrosse Rules One-Sheeter
Minor Fouls (Penalty is to move 4m away to side or direction from which player came)
- Body Ball to Player’s or Team Mate’s Advantage (other body balls are no foul)
- Mis-Draw
- Empty Stick Check (ball must be in the stick to check it)
- Wearing Jewelry
- Deliberately Running or Throwing the Ball Out of Bounds
- Illegal Stick/Equipment
- Crease violation by any field player
- Covering or guarding the ball with stick, or body
- Warding off with arm or elbow to protect stick/body
Major Fouls (Penalty is to move 4m directly behind player taking free position)
- Dangerous Check (check towards the body, reaching across body from behind, hanging the stick across the neck, checking into the sphere)
- Check to the Head or Body
- Slash
- Push
- Block
- Held Cross
- Dangerous Shot
- Blind Pick
- Dangerous Follow Through
- Dangerous Propelling
- Shooting Space/Free Space to Goal
- Three Seconds in Arc without being stick’s length from girl you are marking
- Charge/Barge
- Cradling within the sphere
- Misconduct (rough, dangerous, flagrant disregard for rules)
- Unsportsmanlike Conduct (taunting, screaming, language)
- Illegal Deputy Goal Keeper
- Taking a Shot on an Indirect Free Position without passing or being checked by opposing team
Delay of Game (Penalty is a loss of possesion set up like a minor foul. 1st penalty is a green card presented to the captain, 2nd penalty is green and yellow card presented to the player who fouled, 3rd penalty is a green and red card presented to the player who fouled; that player must leave the field for 3 minutes of playing time (a sub can take her place).
- Failure to move 4m away after a foul
- False Start
- Taking too much time after a Time Out
- Failure to stand on the whistle
- Not wearing a mouthguard/not wearing a mouthguard properly
Automatic Yellow Card Fouls
- Slash
- Check to the Head
- Dangerous Propelling
- Dangerous Follow Through
An umpire can give yellow or red cards for any major foul she deems flagrant, unsportsmanlike, dangerous, or for misconduct. Cards can be issued to players and/or coaches. Penalty for yellow card: the player must leave the field for two minutes of elapsed playing time (a sub may take her place). Penalty for red cards: player must leave the field for the remainder of the game (a sub may take her place).
GoalKeeper/Goal Circle Fouls
GK must:
- Clear ball out of crease within 10 seconds
- Clear the ball with her stick
- Wear a mouthguard, helmet, throat protector, and chest protector (under her team jersey)
- Stay on the goal circle line or within the goal circle line to remain in the crease
- Not cover ball outside crease and rake back in if other players are trying to play the ball
- Any body part outside the crease = field player status (body balls, etc)
- Not deliberately clear the ball out of bounds
- Once a GK is grounded outside the crease, she becomes a 'field player' and must follow field player rules of play
- Only a 'field stick' can score a goal (Exception: GK stops shot, ball rolls out of her stick and into cage behind her, it’s a goal)
- Once grounded, she cannot carry the ball back into the crease, she must throw or roll ball into crease
- A deputy GK may take her place in the crease AS LONG AS HER TEAM HAS POSSESION OF THE BALL
- If GK commits a major foul against the attack, she may have to go 8M behind
- GK can usually clear back into the cage on free positions on 8M. Exception: she committed a foul, or she is grossly out of position
Substitution
Players may sub on the fly. They pass a baton or card to one another in the Team Substitution Area. There is unlimited substitution. Subbing may also occur after goals and injury or team time outs. Subs may not occur on any other dead ball.
Restraining Line
A restraining line is drawn 30 yds from the goal line extended. Only 7 attacking players may be over the line in the attacking area at one time. Seven defending field players plus the GK may be in the defending area at one time. Violation of this rule is a loss of possession. If the defense fouls, the attack get a 12m direct free position in front of thecage. If the attack fouls the defense gets it going out 4 m above the restraining line.
Flag Situation
The umpire will throw a yellow flag to signal a foul against the attack when the attack is on a scoring play. This is a held whistle situation so as not to stop the attack’s momentum as they go to go. If the attack shoots and misses, or stops the scoring play for any reason, the attack will be set up in a free postion.
8-Meter free Position
The attack is granted an 8-meter free position on a hashmark on the arc, with the arc cleared of all players, when she is fouled in the arc. When fouled within the critical scoring area (approx. 15m from the cage) she will be set up at the spot of the foul and a 4m lane cleared to the cage.
Optional Safety Equipment
Eye guards/goggles are permitted, as are close fitting gloves, soft headgear; no hard helmets except the goalie. Equipment is available at Sports Her Way (888-8-HER-WAY). Please note that eyegoggles have been found to limit a player’s vision and this may put her at a disadvantage over other players. The umpires and coaches of girls/women’s lacrosse work very hard to ensure that the game is played safely.
Recruiting Umpires!!
We need your help! Several parents are active umpires of girl’s lacrosse in Atlanta. The game is growing very quickly and we need umpires in the region in order for the sport to grow. If you are interested, please contact:
Rena Whitehouse
Local Umpiring Board Chair, Women’s Lacrosse, GA, AL, SC
2691 N. Thompson Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
770-986-9646 H
404-572-1851 W
rena@cimedia.com