NFHS/USAL Rule 4: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 4 TIME FACTORS, SUBSTITUTION, AND SCORING

Rule 4 is a catch-all for loosely connected issues – game duration and timing, substitutions, and scoring.

Game Duration and Timing

In 2024 High School Girls Lacrosse games went to a quarter system.  That means that varsity contests will consist of 4x12 minute quarters with 2-minute breaks between the first and second, and third and fourth quarters.  Halftime is ten minutes unless the coaches agree otherwise. Varsity games in Kentucky follow the NFHS rules.  Middle School, Freshman, and Junior Varsity games are of different duration depending on the level and area.

Game timing may be either “stop-clock” or “running-clock.” The clock never stops in a running-clock game. Usually running clock is used for tournaments or JV or Freshman games in high school.  An official may still stop the clock as needed for something like an injury if the game is on a set schedule. Off-season tournaments will often adjust game durations and rules for stopping the clock.

In a stop-clock game the clock stops for cards, a crosse inspection, offsides, inadvertent whistle, alternate possession, of a foul in the last minutes of each quarter (new for 2025).

In a high school game using the stop clock, when the difference in the score is ten or more goals the “mercy rule” comes into play. The clock should only be stopped for time-outs under the “Mercy Rule.”

A game is considered completed if it is called for bad weather or other considerations after 75% of the game is completed – the end of the third quarter.  Games may be suspended and continued from the point of suspension if less than three quarters are completed.

Time-Out

Each team gets two time-outs to use during the game. In over-time each team gets only one time-out.  A time-out is two minutes long and may be requested by any player on the field or the head coach.

Overtime

Overtime is sudden victory.  During overtime, the clock stops on time-outs and fouls within the Critical Scoring Area.  Each overtime period is 2x3 minutes with teams expeditiously changing ends with no coaching after the first 3 minutes.  Play is restarted with a draw.  The 2x3 minute period is repeated until there is a winner.

Substitutions

Each team has an unlimited number of substitutions, which may be made during play, after goals, or during a stoppage of play.

Scoring

There are all sorts of definitions as to what constitutes a legal shot on goal resulting in a score.  Simply stated, a goal is scored when the ball is shot or propelled legally from the stick and completely crosses the goal line.

One of the aspects for spectators watching a High School game is the “Shooting Space” call.  Shooting space is a safety consideration; therefore, in NFHS/USAL rules, officials are required to IMMEDIATELY blow the whistle to stop play and penalize shooting space.

This call cancels any goal that was scored. Spectators should remember that the shooter is required to shoot safely, which does not mean just barely missing the defender. In some instances, off-setting fouls (Shooting Space and Dangerous Propelling) may be called.  By rule Dangerous Propelling requires a card and is the penalty that is enforced.

The exception could be a flagrant shooting space call that results in a card on the defender as well.  In this case both cards are enforced, and an alternate possession is awarded.