NFHS/USAL Rule 12: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 12 Misconduct

 Here is what Rule 12 lists as Misconduct:

• Excessive, rough, or unsportsmanlike play
• Persistent or flagrant violation of rules
• Deliberately endangering safety
• Baiting or taunting to embarrass, ridicule, or demean
• Non-playing team member leaving bench area
• Coach leaving coaching area
• Illegal re-entry
• Repeated or persistent major fouls
• Coaching outside the coaching area
• Non-playing team member leaving the bench area
• Improper use of electronic equipment
• Any behavior in the officials’ opinion that is misconduct

The guidance given by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association regarding expectations for the behavior of fans, spectators, and assistant coaches is an excellent standard.  This guidance follows the National Federation of High School's rules for Girls Lacrosse and other sports.  It is the standard that should be followed in Kentucky High Schools.

Every Girls Lacrosse Umpire who works preseason, regular season, and postseason High School games is required to view the KHSAA online presentation that includes information on sportsmanship. Umpires, coaches, and Directors of Athletics must read the rule regarding MISCONDUCT (Rule #12) in the NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Book.

The Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board must start the process toward demanding appropriate behavior from spectators, players, coaches, and bench personnel.  This process will start with Umpires insisting on and enforcing appropriate and respectful behavior in accordance with the NFHS rules from ASSISTANT COACHES.  Spectators will often mimic the behavior of head and assistant coaches.  Strict enforcement of the rules for assistant coaches will have a ripple effect on spectators.  Here are some constructive instructions for Umpires:

• Do not accept any questions or comments from assistant coaches.  If you cannot ignore the questions or comments, then card the head coach.
• If an assistant coach misbehaves, yellow card the head coach.  For the second infraction by an assistant coach, red card the head coach.  By NFHS rule the only way to remove the misbehaving assistant is to red card the head coach, then both are removed from the game.
• If spectators are misbehaving, stop the game, and have the game manager deal with the problem.  If the problem persists, have the spectator removed.  You may pause the game or stop the game completely if spectators become unruly.
• The NFHS rules for Girls Lacrosse hold the head coach responsible for her or his spectators' behavior.  If the problem still persists, card the head coach.
• AFTER THE GAME, the only card that carries any consequences is a red card.  If there is any misconduct from spectators, players, or coaches after the game, RED CARD THE PLAYER OR THE HEAD COACH.
• Accept no personal comments about your judgement, abilities, or appearance from any source before, during, and after the game.
• Umpires follow the KHSAA in having ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RACIAL, OBSCENE, OR DEMEANING LANGUAGE directed toward any game participant - official, player, or coach.  If you observe words and identify an individual on the field using inappropriate language, the person should at a minimum receive a yellow card.  Such language from the bench need only be heard and a card issued against the head coach.
• Officials should not use racial, obscene, or demeaning language.
• OFFICIALS SHOULD NOT TOUCH A PLAYER.
• Officials must show appropriate respect to players, spectators, coaches, and their partners on specific games or on games of any sport they are watching. Conversations between officials are not to be shared with ANYONE with the exception of investigations by the rule’s interpreter of complaints about specific games or conduct.

Mature adults know what respectful behavior is.  Spectators are expected to be a part of creating a healthy, safe, and respectful environment for everyone at the game.

Umpires are more likely to ignore poor behavior and words directed at them; and are more active in stopping behavior and words that are directed at players, coaches, and other game personnel.

Umpires realize that most of the complaints about a call come from a lack of knowledge of the rules.  Any obscene, racial, or derogatory comment or action or anything that encourages dangerous play is considered misconduct by a spectator.

There is an appropriate protocol in the rules for managing spectator misconduct.  Spectator misconduct can result in the removal of the spectator or the carding of the head coach.  Head coaches are held responsible for the behavior of their spectators.

The Umpires’ responsibilities and authority does not end with the whistle. Rather, it ends when the Umpire leaves the site. Abuse of the Umpire after the game can result in a red card on the head coach, which would remove the head coach and spectator from the following game.

The state of Kentucky and most other states provide legal protection for sports officials.  In Kentucky, assault on a sports official in the performance of his/her duties is a Class A Misdemeanor. If four or more persons are involved in the assault or it is a repeat offender, then it is considered a Class D Felony (KRS 518.090). A Class A Misdemeanor carries a maximum of twelve months imprisonment (KRS 532.090) and a maximum of $500.00 fine (KRS 534.040).

 

 

NFHS/USAL Rule 11: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 11 Flag

The Flag is a held whistle that is used for Major Fouls committed by the defense in the CSA when the attacking team is on a scoring play.  The flag allows for the attacking team to complete its scoring play.

A scoring play is a continuous effort to score.  The scoring play is considered ended when:

• A shot is taken
• The attacking team loses possession of the ball
• The attacking team takes the ball below the GLE
• The attacking team stops the continuous attempt to score
• The attacking team fouls

If a shot is taken, the Flag is lowered.  If the scoring play ends by the attacking team losing the ball, taking the ball below the GLE, or stopping the continuous attempt to score, then the whistle is blown and the penalty is administered.  If the attacking team fouls, that is considered an off-setting foul.  If the defending team fouls a second time, the most recent foul is administered. The rule-of-thumb is that once the flag is up, there is either a whistle or a shot.

NFHS/USAL Rule 10: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 10 Major Fouls

There are 25 Major Fouls listed in Rule 10.  Major fouls are those fouls that are intended to protect player safety. These fouls go through occasional adjustments in the rules book in order to keep the game safe.

For example, in 2025 a Rough or Dangerous Check now includes checking an opponent’s hand. The rule change clarifies a player’s hand is part of her body and should be protected.

Given the space available it is not possible to discuss every Major Foul. Comments will be made on several Major Fouls, however.

One of the tools of Umpires is the Held Whistle or “Advantage.” The Held Whistle is used in the field area to show recognition of a foul – minor or major – but to allow play to continue so as not to disadvantage the team that was fouled.

The Held Whistle is a good, but limited, tool. Often players do not see the signal for a Held Whistle, and do not recognize the need to modify their play.

Five Major Fouls require a card and may not be “advantaged” – Check to the Head, Dangerous Contact, Dangerous Follow Through, Dangerous Propelling, and Slash.  Shooting Space does not require a card but does require an immediate whistle.

Crosse in the Sphere may look extremely dangerous to spectators and coaches, but it may be “advantaged” so as not to give a disadvantage to the team with the ball.

Dangerous Contact is ANY ACTION that thrusts or shoves any defenseless player. This action could include constant jabs to the kidneys, spleen, or hanging ribs. Dangerous Contact need not be blind side contact or take the player to the ground.

Dangerous Shot is not necessarily any shot that hits the goalkeeper. In judging a Dangerous Shot the Umpires take into consideration several criteria – distance, speed, level of play, location of the contact, and if the Goalkeeper moves into the shot. The higher the skill and experience level, the less likely a Dangerous Shot will be called. Dangerous Shot is not a mandatory card.

Dangerous Propelling or Follow Through usually occur on a shot on goal but may be simply a wild pass in the field.  The issue here is control.  Dangerous Propelling is ball, and Dangerous Follow Through is stick.  The two calls are often confused, and they have the same signal.

Shooting Space is an immediate whistle.  Shooting Space is called when the defender is between the shooter and the goal in what is called the “ice cream cone” – a triangle-shaped area with the ball at the apex and the two “legs” of the triangle touching the Goal Circle at its widest points.  A defender is not in Shooting Space when she is within a stick’s length of any attacking player.  The shooter has the responsibility to shoot safely even when the defender is in shooting space.

A Slash is a mandatory card.  It is a reckless or dangerous swing of the crosse at an opponent’s body.  The criteria is simply one of control.  There is some misunderstanding that the criteria for a Slash is that the stick contacts the ground or that the swing is one-handed.  While these actions may inform the decision to call Slash, they are not a part of the criteria.

Three Seconds is called on defenders in the eight-meter arc who are not within a stick’s length of an attacking player.  A stick’s length is the length of a stick, not a stick and an arm, and not pointing a finger at an attacking player.  Three Seconds may be called once the ball crosses the Restraining Line.

The penalty administration for Three Seconds is based on the location of the ball at the time of the infraction.  If the ball is inside the eight-meter arc, the free position is given at the nearest hash mark.  If the ball is outside the eight-meter arc and above the GLE, the free position is awarded at the nearest point on the 12-meter fan.  If the ball is below the GLE, the free position is given at the nearest dot.

Updated 2025 Season Training for Girls LAX Regions 7 and 8 (as of 31 December 2024)

The updated training schedule for the 2025 season of High School Girls Lacrosse in Region 7 and 8 appears below.  The update is current as of 31 December 2024:

• ?? January 2025 - NEW OFFICIALS ORIENTATION "Make Up Session."  Currently there are two persons who will need to attend but it is open to anyone.
• 11 or 18 January 2025 - Shooting Space "Ropes Clinic" and Penalty Administration Clinic for New Officials but open to anyone. The projected site will be Transylvania University.
• 25 January 2025 - Louisville area KLUB meeting and Rules Interpretation Clinic.  This date is an option for Lexington area officials.
• 31 January 2025 - Join KHSAA as a Girls LAX Official.  This date is not a deadline, but a guideline.
• 15 February 2025 - Complete uniforms and equipment for the 2025 season.  This date is not a deadline, but a guideline.
• 8 February 2025 - Lexington area KLUB meeting and Rules Interpretation Clinic.  Umpires should plan on a 9am to 12nn agenda which will be finalized later. The location will be Frederick Douglass High School.  This is the preferred date and site for Lexington area umpires, but the Louisville area date and site is an option.
  
• 22 February 2025 - Possible scrimmages at Henry Clay High School.  New Umpires should attend and will be given the priority of field time to shadow experienced officials and have a field experience before the season.
• 3 March 2025 - Start of Regular season and deadline for New Umpire Field Observations as well as purchase of equipment and uniforms.  NO ONE WILL BE ASSIGNED GAMES WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS.

NFHS/USAL Rule 9: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 9 Minor Fouls

There are eighteen minor fouls listed in Rule 9.  All of these fouls cannot be covered in this section.  You should think of a minor foul as a procedural and/or a ball handling foul.

Two Minor Fouls are most often called – Covering and Empty Stick Check.  ILLEGAL Covering occurs when a ground ball is covered in order to prevent an opponent within playing distance from playing the ball.  The ball may be legally covered when there is not an opponent with playing distance.  Goalkeepers may be called for illegally covering the ball by reaching outside the Goal Circle.

An Empty Stick Check occurs when a player checks or hits a stick that is not in contact with the ball in order to prevent or impede the opponent from gaining possession of the ball. Minor Fouls are penalized at the spot of the foul with the offending player going four meters away.

Penalties for Minor Fouls committed by the defending team within the CSA above the GLE are administered on the 12m fan. In this instance a lane, which is the width of the goal circle, is cleared and players must go 4m away – including the player who committed the foul. Play is restarted with a whistle.

New for 2025 is the elimination of the Indirect Free Position for Minor Fouls on the defense inside the CSA.  This change means that the person who is awarded the free position may shoot.

Delay of Game fouls have a specific carding progression – Green, Green/Yellow, Yellow.  The Green Card by itself is administered as a Minor Foul. The second delay is a Green/Yellow card and is administered as a Major Foul and card with the exception that the card does not add to the player or team card count.  The third delay and following is a Yellow Card as is administered as such.

Delay of Game is a Point of Emphasis for 2025. Players who do not attempt to give the required distance for a penalty (4m away or behind) or players who do not give the required distance (2m) in a boundary violation are to receive a Delay of Game card.

NFHS/USAL Rule 8: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 8 Offsides fouls

The Offsides Fouls in Rule 8 are designed to create a seven-on-seven game (not counting the Goalkeeper) around the goal and enhance player safety.  A team may be limited to less than seven players below the Restraining Line due to penalties resulting in cards.

The Trail Umpire is responsible for counting players and calling Offsides.  It should be noted that in rapid transitional play or play where possession changes quickly, the Trail Umpire does not have Offsides as a priority. The immediate safety of players is of first importance.  Offsides may be called after another foul is called.

In a stop-clock game the Umpire should call time-out before administering the Offside Foul penalty.

When the attacking team is offsides, the defender closest to the ball will be awarded the free position no closer than eight meters from the Goal. If the ball is below the Goal Line Extended and in the CSA the penalty is administered at the closest dot.  The attack player with the ball goes four meters behind the player taking the free position.  The attacking player closest to the Restraining Line will be sent back across the Restraining Line (remember, one goes behind and another goes back).  Play is restarted with a whistle.

When the defending team is offsides, the Umpire may hold the Offsides call with an open hand held above the head to allow the attack to complete a scoring play. If the ball is outside the CSA when the call is made, the attack is awarded a free position at the spot of the ball, the defender closest goes behind, and another defender goes back.

If the ball is in the CSA and above the GLE when the call is made, the attacking team is awarded a free position at the center of the 12-meter fan, the defender closest to the ball goes behind, and another defender goes back.  If the ball is the CSA and below the GLE when the call is made, the attacking team is awarded a free position at the closest dot, the defender closest to the ball goes behind, and another defender goes back.

If the defense commits a major foul within the CSA while offsides, the penalty for the major foul is administered.

NFHS/USAL Rule 7: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 7 Goal Circle

Only one player may be inside the Goal Circle at a time – the Goalkeeper or the defensive player who is a Deputy.  The Goal Circle includes the line delineating the circle.

For high school (NFHS/USAL) play, the only time a second player may violate the cylinder of the Goal Circle is when an attacking player follows through on a legal shot; or when a defender directly defending a shot reaches into the circle to block a shot.

The goalkeeper must clear the ball from the Goal Circle within 10 seconds of the ball entering the Goal Circle.  The Lead Umpire will start her or his count ONCE THE BALL HAS ENTERED THE CIRCLE, not when the goalkeeper gains possession of the ball.  In high school play it is not necessary for the Umpire to give an audible count.

The goalkeeper or deputy may carry the ball out of the Goal Circle but may not INTENTIONALLY return the ball until the ball has been played BY ANOTHER PLAYER.  “Played” is defined in NFHS Rule 13 as “...an action whereby the ball leaves the player’s crosse and is touched by another player, or crosse [sic] 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.”

Beginning in 2024 free positions for Goal Circle violations by the attacking team are awarded to the goalkeeper in the Goal Circle AND THE GOALKEEPER MAY SELF-START.

A field player may enter the Goal Circle as a Deputy only after the Goalkeeper has left the Goal Circle.  A Deputy may remain in the Goal Circle only while her team has possession of the ball.  If the Deputy remains in the Goal Circle after the ball is possessed by the opponent, at a minimum a Goal Circle Violation is called.  If the Deputy remains in the Goal Circle for an extended period after possession changes, a Yellow Card should be issued.  If the Deputy remains in the Goal Circle intentionally during a scoring play, the Umpire should consider a Red Card.

 

Game and Travel Fees To-Date for 2025 Girls Lacrosse in Kentucky

	Region 1	Regions 2/3/4/6	Region 5	Regions 7/8	KHSAA
Varsity 2P/3P	TBD	$105/$90	$100	$105/$90	$90
JV/ Frosh	TBD	$60	$80	$60	N/A
MS	TBD	$50	TBD	$60	N/A
Travel 0-50	TBD	$0	TBD	$0	$0
Travel 51-75	TBD	$0	TBD	$40	$0
Travel 76-100	TBD	$0	TBD	TBD	$0
Travel 101+	TBD	$30	$30	TBD	$30

KHSAA sets minimum fees for varsity games and post-season. Regions may set fees higher if desired.  Games fees reflect two-person crews.

(Information as of 6 February 2025)

NFHS/USAL Rule 6: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 6 Boundaries

A ball is out of bounds when a player in possession of the ball steps on or over the boundary line and touches the ground; or a loose ball touches the boundary line or ground outside the boundary line.

What determines who gets possession of the ball after a boundary violation is based on several factors.  For a loose ball on any boundary line the team that does NOT touch the ball last before it is called out of bounds is awarded the ball. It is the team, not a specific player, who is awarded the ball.

If an opponent legally checks the player with the ball and the ball is called out of bounds, the team of the player who legally checks the ball is awarded the ball.

If a ball goes out of bounds as the result of a shot or deflected shot, the team of the player in bounds whose body or stick is closest to the point where the ball went out of bounds, receives the ball.

Goalkeepers may be the closest player in bounds to where the ball goes out of bounds.  Goalkeepers are not required to inbound the ball.  The team is awarded the ball.

Boundary violations are self-started by running the ball onto the field.  There need not be any stopping or hesitation.  THE BALL MAY NOT BE SELF-STARTED WITH A PASS FROM OUT OF BOUNDS.

There may be an instance where the ball is called out-of-bounds, and rebounds inbounds or is dropped by an opponent inbounds.  The self-start may commence in bounds and a pass may be used.  The self-start should commence a reasonable distance from the boundary line (four meters is a good rule of thumb).

USA Lacrosse 2025 Women's Officials Training Manual

The USA Lacrosse 2025 Women's Officials Training Manual has now been released and available for download in a pdf format.

"The Manual" follows the 2025 NFHS Girls' Lacrosse Rules Book. It is an extensive and in depth analysis of each rule.  "The Manual" is the interpretive resource for Girls Lacrosse Umpires.

"The Manual" is required reading for all Girls' Lacrosse Umpires and highly recommended reading for all Girl's Lacrosse coaches.

Download the USA Lacrosse 2025 WOTM: Download USAL OTM 2025