Development

USA Lacrosse Hosting Live Rules Interpretation Webinars

USALUSA Lacrosse will host a series of live rules interpretation webinars over the next few months to help coaches and officials prepare for the 2024-25 season.

NFHSThe rules interpretation webinars are broken into four categories, covering boys’ and girls’ youth and high school rules. Each session for the specific topic will use the same base information, but will also include a USA Lacrosse staff member and a rules interpreter on the webinar live to help answer any questions.

Each session is free of charge for USA Lacrosse members, but requires advance registration with your USA Lacrosse member number.

Use this link to see the schedule of online clinics and to register: REGISTER HERE


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

2023 Training and Rating Dates Set by KLUB

Here is the schedule.  Returning umpires need only attend the rules interpretation and a breakout session for recertification.  A returning umpire need only to attend a field evaluation (rating event) if his or her rating will lapse before or during the season. Returning officials do not need to attend New Umpire Orientation, though newer officials may find if helpful.
 
New Umpires must attend a New Umpire Orientation as well as the Rules Interretation Clinic and a Breakout Session.  New Umpires who have already attended a NUO need not attend another.
 
ELIZABETHTOWN POD
Saturday, 21 January at Elizabethtown HS
9:00AM New Umpire Orientation
10:00AM Rules Interpretation Clinic (with coaches)
11:30AM Break Out Session for Level 1 and 2 Umpires
 
LOUISVILLE POD
Sunday, 29 January at Sacred Heart Academy
12:00NN New Umpire Orientation
1:00PM Rules Interpretation Clinic (with coaches)
2:30PM Break Out Session for Level 1 and 2 Umpires
2:30PM Break Out Session for Level 2 and 3 Umpires
Level 2 Umpires may choose either session based on experience
 
LEXINGTON POD
Saturday, 4 February at Sayre School Main Campus
9:00AM New Umpire Orientation
10:00AM Rules Interpretation Clinic (with coaches)
11:30AM Break Out Session for Level 1 and 2 Umpires
 
There will be two field evaluation (rating event) opportunities:
 
VERSAILLES POD
Saturday, 25 February at Falling Springs Rec Center in Versailles, KY
For Levels 1 and 2 ratings and any Juniors in the Lexington area
This is a part of the 24-26 February preseason Woodford Jamboree.  I can get raters and ratees paid for games.
 
LOUISVILLE POD
Sunday, 26 February at Sacred Heart Academy
For Level 3 ratings and any Juniors in the Louisville area (No Level 1 or 2)
Level 3 ratings require a three person crew on games.  I will not make Louisville Juniors go out of town.

ATTENTION COACHES - UMPIRES ARE NEEDED

HomerCOACHES! As you know, there are usually barely enough officials to cover the number of games in our leagues in Kentucky.  Additionally, locally and nationally there has been a HUGE decline in the number of available officials and fewer officials seeking to join the "team."  In order to fulfill the basic number of games and to be able to address the needs of tournaments, make-up games and add ons, WE NEED MORE OFFICIALS! Download KY LAX OFFICIALS FLYER
  
The Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board (KLUB) is working to provide more training opportunities and broaden our reach to seek out new officials. We are contacting various organizations and others to try to grow our list of officials.  
 
This issue will DIRECTLY AFFECT YOU - SO WE NEED YOUR HELP....
 
First, we want to challenge each team to submit 2 names to go through NEW OFFICIALS ORIENTATION/TRAINING.  THERE WILL BE A PRIZE FOR THE TEAM PROVIDING THE MOST PROSPECTS.
 
Here is the New Officials Checklist that you are welcome to share with people and to help get new officials started.  Download NEW OFFICIALS CHECKLIST 2023. While current players may be helpful at the MS game, we are really looking to grow the potential HS Officials. 
 
So, who is a good candidate to officiate HS GIRLS LACROSSE? 
  • Graduated Former HS Girls Lacrosse players - college or post college students who no longer play for a local team
  • Parents of graduates or current players 
  • Teachers at your affiliated schools
  • AD Contacts - Do your ADs know officials in other sports or other sports parents who may be interested?
  • Other sports league officials - church league officials, non-school affiliated players/parents/officials for other sports, collegiate intramural players/coaches?
Please send your list of prospects (name, phone and email) and any info you can provide about each person to John Slider.  We will evaluate the number of names/people who attended training for each school. A prize will be given at the Rules Interpretation meeting in January or February to the team who has the most prospective HS officials who completed the NEW OFFICIALS ORIENTATION.    We welcome current HS players to go through the training, but recognize that they have game and school constraints that may limit their availability during the spring season.
 
THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY YOU CAN HELP:
Please evaluate your coaching style, behavior, language and tone during games and communications with officials before and after games.  NFHS and NASO (National Association of Sports Officials) have released several studies and articles regarding the rapid decrease in the number of officials. (Download Officials Retention Survey) One of the biggest reasons officials leave the sport or don't continue to higher levels is because of the team bench and spectator behavior. This is a BIG reminder for all coaches to evaluate their own behavior as well as the behavior of their bench personnel and parents.  Officials understand that occasionally people get emotional, but personal attacks, repeated situations of questioning of calls and hostile tone, criticism, or harassment will make officials NOT come back to your field or games.  Officials have a right to DECLINE any games they are assigned and THEY ARE DECLINING games due to the behavior of Kentucky coaches and spectators. Please hold each other and yourself accountable.  Our officials put in a lot of time training and preparing for your season.  But, just like you and your players, people are not always perfect and each game is a learning process for everyone involved.  Be respectful of the officials' time and effort.  Please feel free to reach out to John Slider if you would like some assistance on appropriate communications with officials.
 
SO START TALKING LACROSSE TO EVERYONE AND SEND US YOUR NEW POTENTIAL HS OFFICIALS!  LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE FIELD!

2022 KLUB Rules Interpretation Clinic Video

Rules Inerp Clinic
This video is the recording of the Rules Interpretation Clinic for 2022 conducted via ZOOM on 5 February 2022 by the Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board (KLUB). Because of weather considerations the in-person clinic was moved to ZOOM.

The quality of the ZOOM video is not good.  It is suggested that the 12 minute NFHS rules interpretation video found on the right sidebar be viewed after viewing the ZOOM video.


Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs
Here are the link for FAQs for certain areas of Girls Lacrosse. Please use these resources in conjunction with the rules book and manual since changes have occurred since the FAQs were produced.

Here are links for some additional resources to help explain the game of Girls Lacrosse:


USA Lacrosse 2022 Women's Game Officials Training Manual

USAL Manual 2022
The USA Lacrosse 2022 Women's Game Officials Training Manual is required reading for officials and highly recommended reading for coaches.  The manual is now available using this link: Download 2022 USAL Womens Game Officials Training Manual


USA Lacrosse 2020 Women's Game Officials Training Manual

USAL MANUAL 2020
The USA Lacrosse Women's Game Officials Training Manual is required reading for officials and highly recommended reading for coaches.  While awaiting the release of the 2022 Manual the 2020 Manual may be used.  The document is provided here: Download 2020 USL Officials Training Manual

It is recommended that this large document not be printed, but downloaded to a file on a computer.