Changes

Information from the Assignor for KHSAA Girls LAX Regions 7 and 8

The following documents are posted for information:


NFHS/USAL Rules Book Changes for 2025

NFHSHere are the NFHS/USAL 2025 Rules Changes for Girls Lacrosse. There are no major changes, rather minor tweaks.

  • 4-1-2: Establishes that the clock will stop on the official’s whistle after each goal and when there is a foul called in the critical scoring area during the last minute of each quarter. Rationale: Provides consistency in clock management at the end of each quarter and eliminates the potential for time to expire before a free position can be administered when there is a foul in the CSA at the end of each quarter.
  • 5-2 PENALTIES 1 & 2: Moves the free position from the center line to the spot of the ball when one player draws illegally and maintains that a re-draw will occur at the center line when both players draw illegally. Rationale: Improves the flow of the game by eliminating the need to bring the ball back to the center for a re-draw when a player draws illegally.
  • 9-1 PENALTIES for Violation of 9-1a, b and e-r: 4a, b; 13 Definition of Terms: Eliminates the indirect free position for a minor foul by a defense player occurring in the 12-meter fan and allows the player who is fouled to shoot from a free position on the 12-meter fan. Rationale: Simplifies the penalty application for minor fouls in the critical scoring area while maintaining a balance of offense and defense.
  • 10-1p, 13 Definition of Terms: Establishes player body and crosse positioning for a legal pick. Rationale: Clarifies the body and crosse positioning a player must have when setting a safe and legal pick.
  • 10-1r(1): Expands the definition of a major foul for Illegal Stick Contact to include contact with the opponent’s crosse when a player’s crosse is held in a horizontal position. Rationale: Clarifies that it is illegal for a player to make contact with an opponent’s crosse or body when the player’s crosse is in a horizontal position.
  • 10-1v(2): Expands the definition of a Rough/Dangerous Check to include checking an opponent’s hand. Rationale: Clarifies a player’s hand is part of their body and should be protected against rough and dangerous checking.

2025 Girls Lacrosse Editorial Changes

2-2-4; 2-5-2e; 2-7-5a; 2-7-7 NOTE; 2-9-4; 3-5-3g (NEW); 3-6-1; 4-3-3b, c; 4-7-1; 4-7-5a; 5-3; 5-4-4; 8-1-1 NOTE (NEW); 9-1m(6); 10-1 PENALTIES 6; 10-1 PENALTIES 13 (NEW); 12 NOTES 1 & 2 (NEW); 12-8 TEAM CARD PENALTIES

2025 Girls Lacrosse Points of Emphasis 

  1. Use of the Green Card / Delay of Game
  2. Managing Safe Play in the 8-Meter Arc
  3. Offensive Fouls Inside the Critical Scoring Area

USAL/NFHS Girls Rules Interpretation Clinics and Other News

D0332cf498ea39a09ec3b6f7d2488984USA Lacrosse Girls 2025 Rules Interpretation Clinic dates are listed below.  These free online clinics are open to USA Lacrosse members and will take place at 8pm Eastern. 

      1. Tuesday, November 12, 2024- High School

      2. Tuesday, December 10, 2024- High School

      3. Thursday, December 12, 2024- Youth

      4. Wednesday, January 15, 2025- High School

      5. Monday, February 3, 2025- High School

      6. Monday, February 24, 2025- Youth
 
The 2025 New Officials Training Materials are currently being updated and will soon be uploaded to the Certified Trainer & Observer Resource Library.
 
Due to the very small number of rule changes for the 2025 season, much of the current materials remain current.  The 2025 Women's Game Training Manual is also being updated and should be available late fall.

USA Lacrosse 2022 Youth Girls Lacrosse Rule Interpretation Video

USAL Youth
The following video and powerpoint is provided as a supplement for the in-person clinic presented by the Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board for umpires and coaches.  The 2022 Girls Lacrosse Youth Rules and Q&A from LAXCON 2022 is also provided here: Download 2022 Girls-Youth Rules-Interp


2022 NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Interpretation

NFHS
The following video and powerpoint is provided as a supplement for the in-person clinic presented by the Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board for umpires and coaches.  The 2022 Girls Lacrosse Rules and Q&A from LAXCON 2022 is also provided here:  Download 2022-Girls-NFHS-Rules-Interp


Commonwealth Lacrosse League and Kentucky Scholastic Lacrosse League Cancelled through 12 April 2020

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The Commonwealth Lacrosse League and the Kentucky Scholastic Lacrosse League have cancelled all games until 12 April 2020.  These leagues follow the policies of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and the school systems where teams are located.

Games are also cancelled for the Middle School leagues in Kentucky until 12 April 2020.

League administrators will determine at a later date when or if the season will resume.

Umpires should maintain their blocks on Arbiter.  In order to be proactive umpire assignments will be made for the remaining scheduled games.  Rescheduling of games is yet to be determined; but if the season remains, priority will be given to district games.

Umpires should do what they can to maintain their skills and conditioning.


A Summary of Rules Changes for High School Girls Lacrosse in 2020

KSLL Final
US Lacrosse LogoSignificant changes in the rules for Girls Lacrosse in High School are coming in 2020.  The rules changes were recommended by the joint National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and US Lacrosse (USL) Girls’ Lacrosse Rules Committee, and subsequently approved by both the NFHS and USL boards of directors.

USL and NFHS both released advance summaries of all changes on 23 July 2019.

FREE MOVEMENT ON A WHISTLE OR STOPPAGE OF PLAY

The allowance for free movement by players on a whistle or stoppage of play is the most significant rule change for high school girls’ lacrosse in 2020, and one of 12 rules changes approved for high school girls’ lacrosse, effective January 1, 2020.

Free movement allows players to move freely around the playing field, instead of being required to hold their positions on stoppages. The primary intent of the rule change is to improve the pace of play, and allows for a less restrictive experience for the athletes.

The change to free movement impacts several areas of the NFHS/USL Rules Book. The change has an impact on rules 4.2.3, 4.3.3, 5.1.2, 5.1.3, 5.3.1, 6.3.1, and 10.1.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Rule 4-3-3 will change to allow players to be substituted for during a possession time-out, except for the player being awarded the ball and the offender.

ADMINISTRATION OF MAJOR FOULS AND OTHER STOPPAGES OF PLAY IN THE CRITICAL SCORING AREA

To limit potentially dangerous play in the critical scoring area and allow for consistent administration of the free position, a major foul between the 12 and the 8 will now be administered as a free position taken on the 12-meter fan closest to the spot of the foul. This is a change to rule 10.1.

However, when a stoppage in play causes the ball to become dead that was in the critical scoring area, rules 4.3.3, 5.1.3, 5.3.1 and 7.3 PENALTY now indicate play will resume on the closet dot.

[EDITOR"S NOTE:  Initially, these two changes seem to be in conflict. However, rule 4.3.3 addresses time out; 5.1.3 addresses indirect free positions; 5.3.1 addresses major and minor foul penalty administration; 7.3 PENALTY addresses penalty administration for Goal Circle violations.  Please watch for further clarifications.]

FALSE START

Self-starting when self-start is not an option is now considered a major foul in rule 10.1 under false starts.

CHECK TO THE NECK AND HEAD

Under major fouls in rule 10.1, a check to the neck is now included under check to the head with a mandatory card assessed.

COVERING

In a change to Rule 9.1, the description of the minor foul, covering, is now described as covering a ground ball, instead of guarding. Additionally, preventing an opponent from playing the ball by covering the ball with the body now constitutes a minor foul. Previously, using a foot or crosse to guard a ground ball was a minor field foul.

BOUNDARY BALLS

Rule 5.4.4 has been amended to allow self-starts on boundary restarts. On boundary restarts, opponents must give the player in possession of the ball at least two meters — an additional meter from the previous requirement (Rule 6.3.1b).

A change to Rule 6.3.2 clarifies that a player’s body or crosse that is inbounds and nearest to the ball when it goes out of bounds on a shot on goal determines possession of the ball when play resumes.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE FIELD AT THE DRAW

Rule 5.2.2 was amended to allow any number, up to 12 players from each team, on the field prior to the start of each draw. Prior to the change, each team was required to have 12 players on the field unless a team could not do so legally.

STICK CHECKS

There are changes to Rules 2.2.5 and 2.4.3 to amend crosse and stick requirements. A crosse now meets specifications if the ball moves freely in the front of the pocket, removing the requirement for the back of the pocket. During stick checks, game officials will ensure that the ball rolls out of the back of the pocket when placed in the upper third of the head at its widest point and the stick and head are tilted 90 degrees. This rule helps limit the on field check requirements for the back of the pocket to those issues only related to performance. 

EYE PROTECTION

For eyewear, the SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) mark for certification must be on the equipment by January 1, 2025. Eyewear must still be SEI certified for the 2020 season (rule 2.7.2), but the requirement for a physical mark on the eyewear does not take effect until 2025. All approved eyewear is listed on the SEI website at www.seinet.org

MODIFICATION OF EQUIPMENT

In a change to Rule 2.7.4, equipment cannot be modified from its original manufactured state and it must be worn in the manner the manufacturer intended.

VIDEO REPLAY

Rule 2.8.4 now prohibits the use of video replay to review an official’s decision, consistent with other NFHS rules.