Rule 5

NFHS/USAL Rule 5: Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 5 Starting and Restarting Play

Starting and restarting play by a draw or a free position is covered in Rule 5. The whistle is used to stop and start play with the exception of a self-start.  With a whistle or self-start the player with the ball may run, shoot, or pass.  The exception is a restart of a boundary violation.

DrawThe draw starts play at the beginning of each quarter and over-time period as well as after each goal.  The crosses are placed parallel to the ground and in the plane of the center line.  The open side of the head faces the goalkeeper of each center player, with the players crosse heads coming together on the closed side of the head.  The ball is placed between the widest part of both stick heads.  Once this positioning is accomplished the Umpire says, “Ready.” At this point and until the whistle is blown, both players performing the draw must remain motionless except for their heads.

Occasionally, Umpires will be asked why left-handed players must draw “backwards.”  This question makes an incorrect assumption.  For the draw both sticks are in the same position – with the right side of the head towards the ground. The players may choose on what side of the center line to stand.

The right side of the head is determined by a player holding the crosse in the left hand with the open side of the head facing the player.  With her right hand the player grasps the railing of the head on the right-hand side.  It is this side that is the right side of the stick.  Having a “right side” of the crosse goes back to the history of lacrosse equipment where the head of the crosse formed a hook with the open end that was closed with a string or other material.

PlayerWhen there is a violation of the rules, a foul is called, and a free position is awarded. No free positions should be taken closer than four meters from a boundary line.  No free position for the attack is taken closer than eight meters from the goal.

The location of the free position is determined by many factors and can be complicated.  Basically, all fouls committed in the field and outside the CSAs result in a free position within four meters of the point of the foul.  Defensive players who are awarded a free position in their defensive CSA simply have a free position at the point of the foul. Umpires will place free positions for all other fouls based on several criteria that would require more space than is available here.  Many Umpires are open to discussing (not arguing) his or her thought process for locating the free position after the game.

Players may self-start for free positions in the field.  Starting with the 2024 season players who are awarded the free position need not come to a stop or pause.  The player with the ball may choose not to self-start or delay her self-start until opposing players have given the appropriate distance from the ball.

Umpires will instruct opponents to give ground until the self-start is executed, at which point defenders may engage. It is considered a Delay of Game for a defender not to give ground in order to attain the four yards away until the person with the ball initiates the start.  In 2025 it is a Point of Emphasis to use the Delay of Game carding progression for defenders who will not attempt to give the four yards away (or behind) distance.

A self-start is NOT an option when ...

  • The clock is stopped;
  • An offside violation is called;
  • There is a defensive foul in the CSA;
  • There is an alternating possession;
  • There is an inadvertent whistle;
  • There is a three-second violation;
  • Or there is a goal scored.

Alternating possessions would seem to be an easy set-up, but the administration of APs can become complicated based on locations.  In a situation where there are off-setting fouls that should be an AP, but one foul will result in a card, the carded foul is administered.