WELCOME

Welcome to SliderLAX! SliderLAX is an unofficial website for High School Girls' Lacrosse in Kentucky. The focus is on the High School Girls' Lacrosse teams in KHSAA LAX regions 7 & 8.  These schools are located in Fayette, Scott, and Woodford counties.

If you are interested in becoming a High School Girls Lacrosse Umpire in Regions 7 & 8, please contact the assignor for the two regions - John W. Slider.

In SliderLAX you will find resources for umpires, spectators, coaches, and players.  You are invited to take some time to browse the column on the right where you will find books, videos, and links that will be of help to everyone involved in Girls Lacrosse in Kentucky.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN BECOMING USA LACROSSE CERTIFIED UMPIRES OR KHSAA LICENSED HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS LACROSSE UMPIRES IN KENTUCKY PLEASE SEE THE BROCHURE AT THE TOP OF THE RIGHT COLUMN.

Quick Shots

Dick's Sporting Goods posted on YouTube some helpful instructional videos for Girls Lacrosse.  The videos are intended to help coaches teach the game and to help players learn the game. 

The videos also will help Girls Lacrosse umpires to see certain aspects of the game at the field level - where umpires see the game.

There are some tweaks that could improve the videos for umpires, so take them only as a quick basis for seeing the game as an umpire. Not all videos are up-to-date.

Two Person Crew

Below is a video made from the 2025 USAL training powerpoint on Positioning with a Two Person Crew.

Rule 10 - Major Fouls

Below is a video made from a USAL training powerpoint on Rule 10 - Major Fouls.

 

Rule 9 - Minor Fouls

Below is a video created from the 2025 USAL Girls Lacrosse Minor Fouls training powerpoint.

 

Rule 8 - Offsides

Below is a video made from a 2025 USAL training powerpoint on Offsides Fouls.

 

 

Rule 7 - Goal Circle Violations

Below is a video made from a 2025 USAL training powerpoint on Goal Circle Violations

 

A Glossary for Umpires

For your consideration: Here is a glossary of word pairings that will assist an umpire in understanding her or his role in a game.

ubiquitous -  \ yü-ˈbi-kwə-təs \ -  existing or being everywhere at the same time

obsequious - \ əb-ˈsē-kwē-əs \ - exhibiting an affectionate or cringing attentiveness

The ubiquitous umpire seemed to be in the right position to make every call.  The obsequious umpire adjusted his call to please the loud coach.

reflective - \ ri-ˈflek-tiv \ - marked by reflection, thought, deliberation, or introspection

reflexive - \ ri-ˈflek-siv \ - directed or turned back on self; characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior

The reflective umpire talked with her partner after the game about a call she made in order to see if she was correct.  The reflexive umpire over-reacted to the fan’s criticism of him.

proactive -  \ (ˌ)prō-ˈak-tiv \ - acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes

reactive - \ rē-ˈak-tiv \ - of, relating to, or marked by reaction; responsive to a stimulus occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset

The proactive umpire warned the coach before the games that a player was wearing jewelry.  The reactive umpire responded emotionally to the stress of a critical call.

impassable -  \ (ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl \ - incapable of being passed

impassible -  \ (ˌ)im-ˈpa-sə-bəl \ - incapable of suffering or of experiencing pain; inaccessible to injury; incapable of feeling

The impassable umpire stood in one place and got in the way.  The impassible umpire appeared to be fair because he made every call without emotion.

complement -  \ ˌkäm-plə-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē \ - serving to fill out or complete; mutually supplying each other's lack

compliment - \ ˌkäm-plə-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē \ - expressing praise or admiration

If two umpires have different weaknesses and strengths they complement each other.  The umpire appreciated the fan’s compliment after the game.

continual - \ kən-ˈtin-yü-əl , -yəl \ - recurring in steady usually rapid succession (many whistles sounds)

continuous -  \ kən-ˈtin-yü-əs \ - marked by uninterrupted extension in space, time, or sequence (one long whistle sound)

The umpire’s continual whistling stopped the game too often.  The continuous sound came from the horn being stuck.

affect - \ ˈa-ˌfekt \ - the conscious subjective aspect of an emotion

effect - \ i-ˈfekt , e- , ē- , ə- \ - something that inevitably follows an antecedent; an outward appearance; result

The player’s reaction was an emotional affect.  Her poor sporting conduct had an effect on her team.

responsive -  \ ri-ˈspän(t)-siv \ - quick to respond or react appropriately or sympathetically

responsible - \ ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl \ - liable to legal review; able to answer for one's conduct and obligations; trustworthy; able to choose for oneself between right and wrong

The responsive umpire was open to answering questions.  The responsible umpire admitted that he had missed a call. 

irrespective (of) –  \ ˌir-i-ˈspek-tiv- \ - regardless of

disrespectful (of)  - \ ˌdis-ri-ˈspekt \ - lacking a special regard or respect

Irrespective of the coach’s disrespectful yelling, the umpire kept calm. 

precipitous - \ pri-ˈsi-pə-təs \ - brought about especially abruptly or hurried

precipitate - \ pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt \ - to rain

The hasty decision of the umpire resulted in a precipitous red card.  It began to precipitate, making everything wet.

intimidate – \ in-ˈti-mə-ˌdāt \ - to compel or deter by or as if by threats

intimate – \ ˈin-tə-ˌmāt \ - to make known especially publicly or formally; to communicate delicately and indirectly

The big coach tried to intimidate the umpire.  The umpire tried to intimate why she gave the yellow card, so she would not embarrass the coach in front of her players.

omit – \ ō-ˈmit , ə- \ - to leave out or leave unmentioned

emit – \ ē-ˈmit \ - to send out or to issue with authority

In a lapse of judgement the umpires thought they could omit the captains and coaches meeting.  The umpire was known to emit a strong whistle.

observe - \ əb-ˈzərv \ - to watch carefully especially with attention to details or behavior for the purpose of arriving at a judgment

look (for) - \ ˈlu̇k \ - expect or anticipate

“Observe everything; but look for nothing.” – John Slider

As umpires we must observe the whole game – let it come to us, in a sense – and not look for specific calls to make.

quick - \ ˈkwik \ - marked by speed, readiness, or promptness of physical movement or mental process

hurry - \ ˈhər-ē , ˈhə-rē \ - to carry or cause to go with haste; to impel to rash or precipitate action

“Be quick, but don’t hurry.” – John Wooden

A good umpire moves into the correct position quickly.  An umpire should not hurry to make a call when an “advantage” is allowed.

Signals 2025

Signals are an important part of a Girls Lacrosse Umpires communication with his or her partner, players, coaches, and spectators.

There are many signals that are available.  For new officials I suggest starting with three basic signals - Direction, Start/Restart Play, Time-out. Once you have these three basics, add three more.  Keep adding.

There are some short-cuts.  Most signals look like what the foul was and/or are consistent with well-known signals from other sports. You will notice that the "Illegal Procedure" signal is the same as in football and is used for about half of the Minor Fouls.

Another important part of Signals is the whistle  New Umpires should get used to blowing the whistle and talking with their whistles.

Finally, be "proud and humble" with your signals. By "Proud" I mean, stand up straight, look up, and make your signals visible. By "Humble" I mean, do not gloat over a signal; but be unemotional.

Here are a series of videos that were originally posted in 2018.

MINOR FOULS

MAJOR FOULS

VIOLATIONS

GAME MANAGEMENT

CREW COMMUNICATION

SELF-TEST: NAME THAT SIGNAL

LAX UMP FUNK

Insurance for KHSAA Officials through NFOA

As a part of registration as a Girls Lacrosse Official with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, each official is provided with membership in the NFOA (a part of NFHS) that also provides insurance. Please download the summary of the insurance as needed: Download NFOA Insurance

 

NFHS/USAL Rule 13: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 13 Definition of Terms

Rule 13 is actually not a rule.  It is a helpful glossary of terms to assist in understanding the rules. Here is a selection of terms:

• 8 METER ARC – An area formed at both goals that begins at the Goal Circle and extends 8 meters beyond and in front of the Goal Circle.
• 12 METER FAN – A semi-circle formed at both goals, touching the GLE and extending 12 meters from the Goal Circle. The 12 Meter Fan forms the Critical Score Area above the Goal Line Extended.
• BLOCKING – Moving into the path of a player with the ball without giving that player a chance to stop or change direction causing contact.
• CHARGING – A player with the ball pushes into, shoulders, or backs into and makes bodily contact with an opponent who has already established position (though not necessarily stationary).
• CHECKING – An attempt to dislodge the ball from an opponent’s crosse by using controlled crosse-to-crosse contact.
• CRITICAL SCORING AREA (CSA) – An area formed by the 12 Meter Fan above the Goal Line Extended (GLE) and continuing below the GLE to the endline.
• CROSS[E]-CHECK – Using the shaft of the crosse to hit, push, or displace an opponent.
• DANGEROUS PLAY – Any action that is rough, threatening, and/or are without regard to player safety.
• DEPUTY – A player on the defensive goalkeeper’s team who may only enter or remain in the goal circle when the deputy’s team is in possession of the ball and the goalkeeper is out of the goal circle.
• FLAG – Recognition and advantage of a Major Foul committed by the defense in the CSA while the attack is on a scoring play.
• GOAL LINE EXTENDED (GLE) – The imaginary extension of the Goal Line that is located between both posts of a Goal. The GLE divides the CSA into areas “Above the GLE” (in front of the Goal) and “Below the GLE” (behind the Goal).
• HASH MARKS – Marks for penalty administration on the 8 Meter Arc. The “Hanging Hash Mark” is the mark located outside the Arc and along the edge of the “Pie.”
• HELD WHISTLE - Refraining from enforcing a rule when a player is fouled but maintains quality possession; and calling a foul would disadvantage the non-offending team.
• LOWER SIDE OF CROSSE – The wooden part on the head of a wooden crosse or the right side on a plastic crosse as one looks at the crosse with the pocket open to the viewer.
• PENALTY ZONE – The area formed by the 8 Meter Arc, the marks 8 meters away from the goal circle on the GLE, and the area formed by the dots below the GLE. 
• PICK – A technique in which a player without the ball, whose positioning, forces the opponent to take another route. To be legal it must be set within the visual field of the opponent allowing enough time and space to stop or change direction. A legal pick may be moving or stationery. 
• “PIE” – An unofficial reference to the pie-shaped area formed by the arms of the 8 Meter Arc, the “Hanging Hash Mark,” and the GLE.
• PLAYED – An action whereby the ball leaves the player’s crosse and is touched by another player, or crosse is checked crosse-to-crosse by an opposing player, or play is stopped due to a foul by an opponent. The ball does not have to be successfully dislodged from the crosse.
• PLAYING DISTANCE – The length of a stick and a half. 
• SCORING PLAY – A continuous effort by the attacking team to move the ball toward the goal and to complete a shot on goal. 
• SLASH – A reckless, dangerous, or uncontrolled swing of the crosse at an opponent’s crosse or body whether or not the opponent’s crosse or body is struck.
• SLOW WHISTLE – See FLAG.
• SPHERE – An imaginary area of 7 inches (average crosse width) surrounding a player’s head and excluding hair whether or not a helmet is worn.