USA Lacrosse Athlete Protection and Safety Policy

A paramount principle of USA Lacrosse is ensuring that all athletes and participants are provided with the opportunity for safe and fun lacrosse. USA Lacrosse's commitment to providing a positive environment that is free of misconduct and abuse is exemplified in the Athlete Protection and Safety Program, a part of the USA Lacrosse Center for Sports Science & Safety.

The following program sets forth standards and responsibilities which apply to and should be followed by all USA Lacrosse members as well as the broader lacrosse community. The program is not intended to and does not take precedent over the Protecting Youth Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017, any applicable employment policies, or federal or state law. This program also does not cover on-field conduct that is governed by the rules of play.

All USA Lacrosse members are responsible for familiarizing themselves with this policy and conducting themselves in a manner that is representative of USA Lacrosse’s mission and values. As a condition of becoming a member, or renewing USAL membership, members agree to abide by this Athlete Protection and Safety Policy and the processes found in the following download: Download USAL Athlete Protection and Safety

NFHS/USAL Rule 1 (Part 2): Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

The Center Circle

There are several “areas” on the Girls Lacrosse field that shape play and penalty administration. First, there is the Center Circle.  The Draw occurs in this area.  Once the Draw takes place this area “disappears into the Field.

The Field

Once the Draw is completed, the Field is the next area to be considered.  The Field may be understood as all playing areas outside of the two Critical Scoring Areas.

Restraining Lines

The Restraining Lines themselves are not really areas, but in a sense, boundary lines that define an area on the field for the purposes of limiting play in a team’s goal area to seven-on-seven (plus a goalie).

NFHS/USAL Rule 1 (Part 1): Excerpt from "Girls Lacrosse for Beginners 2025"

Rule 1 the Playing Area and Goal

Rule 1 of the National Federation of High Schools Girls Lacrosse Rules Book addresses the playing area and goals.

There is some flexibility in the size of the Girls Lacrosse Field.  The maximum playing area is 140 x 70 yards, and the minimum is 110 x 60 yards. The goals should be no less than 90 yards and no more than one hundred yards apart. There must be a minimum of ten yards or a maximum of twenty yards of space behind each goal line to the boundary line. There must be 4m of space between the sideline boundary and the scorer’s table. There should be at least 4m of space between the other sideline and any spectator area.

Typically, a Girls Lacrosse field is played on a high school football field that measures 120 yards x 160 feet. Actually, the National Federation of High Schools rules book for football measures a football field (including the end zones) in feet, so the field is by rule 360 feet x 160 feet. In yards a football field is 120 yards x 53.33 yards.

Why is this important? Well, there is such a thing in Lacrosse as “Unified Field” markings. The Unified Field MUST BE 120 YARDS IN LENGTH. The width may vary between sixty yards and 53.33 yards.

Again, why is this important? The sidelines and endlines for Lacrosse Unified Field markings may also be the same as football. IF DIRECTORS OF ATHLETICS WOULD ONLY USE THE SAME BOUNDARY MARKINGS FOR FOOTBALL, BOYS LACROSSE, AND GIRLS LACROSSE THEY WOULD ELIMINATE TWO EXTRA SETS OF LINES AND A LOT OF CONFUSION!

Also, there is often a significant error when Directors of Athletics attempt to use Unified Field markings at their facility.  It is obvious that what many Directors of Athletics do is tell the Boys Lacrosse coach to mark the field; and then tell the Girls Lacrosse coach to unify the field.  There is a problem, however.

What happens is that the Boys Lacrosse coach will invariably use the markings for a Boys Lacrosse field – 110 yards long, with the goal line 15 yards from each endline. This places the center line for Boys Lacrosse 40 yards from each goal line and each restraining line 20 yards from the center line and the goal lines.

When the Girls Lacrosse coach goes to put her field markings on to the Boys Lacrosse markings she will find that it is not possible. The Unified Field must be exactly 120 yards long with the Unified goal lines 15 yards from the end lines and the restraining lines 40 yards from the goal lines.  This incorrect measuring of the length of the Unified Field leads to three possible errors or difficulties:

1. The end line markings run through the football end zones and the additional logos that are often placed there and not along the football end lines creating some visibility problems.
2. The Girls Lacrosse 12m Fans is pushed 5 yards closer to the restraining lines creating a safety problem.
3. The Girls Lacrosse restraining lines are ten yards closer to the center line creating a safety problem.

You will notice already a mixing of English and metric measurements. That mixture continues throughout the game and is illustrative of the complexity that is in part self-inflicted.

 The Field Markings

USAL/NFHS Girls Rules Interpretation Clinics and Other News

USA 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.

The Unofficial 2024 Girls High School State Rankings

1. Kentucky Country Day School (KSLL)
2. Louisville Eastern High School (KSLL)
3. Louisville Sacred Heart Academy (KSLL)
4. Louisville Assumption High School (KSLL)
5. Louisville Collegiate School (KSLL)
6. Louisville DuPont Manual High School (KSLL)
7. Lexington Sayre School (CL)
8. South Oldham High School (KSLL)
9. Lexington Henry Clay High School (CL)
10. Christian Academy of Louisville (KSLL)
11. Louisville Mercy Academy (KSLL)
12. Covington Notre Dame Academy (KSLL)
13. Bowling Green High School (CL)
14. South Warren High School (CL)
15. Lexington Catholic School (CL)
16. Lexington Paul Dunbar High School (CL)
17. Lexington Frederick Douglass High School (CL)
18. Louisville Atherton High School (KSLL)
19. Lexington Lafayette High School (CL)
20. North Oldham High School (KSLL)
21. Oldham County High School (KSLL)
22. Woodford County High School (CL)
23. Louisville Ballard High School (KSLL)
24. Georgetown Great Crossing High School (CL)
25. Greenwood High School (CL)
26. Louisville Male High School (KSLL)
27. Union Ryle High School (KSLL)
28. Lexington Tates Creek High School (CL)
29. Shelbyville Collins High School (KSLL)
30. Union Cooper High School (KSLL)
31. Elizabethtown High School (CL)
32. Central Hardin High School (CL)
33. Shelby County High School (KSLL)
34. Lexington Bryan Station High School (CL)
35. Lexington Christian Academy (CL)
36. Owensboro High School (Ind)
37. Fort Mitchell Dixie Heights High School (KSLL)

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.

GIRLS LAX NFHS RULES CHANGES FOR 2023

ACCESS THE 14 MINUTE GIRLS LACROSSE RULES CHANGES FOR 2023:

2023 Girls Rules Preview from USA Lacrosse on Vimeo.

A Comprehensive Training Process Designed to Produce Consistency for Girls' Lacrosse Umpires

Consistency in officiating is a primary "demand" in all sports.  Sports officials should strive to be consistent for the sake of coaches, players, and spectators.

SliderLAX has produced a comprehensive training process designed to produce a consistent "product" on the field by Girls' Lacrosse Umpires.

The promotional video is available below.  Manuals, Powerpoint Presentations, and Videos are available on this website. 

The Decision-Making Process for Sports Officials

Lacrosse Umpires make thousands of decisions throughout a game.  How are these decisions made?  This video provides a discussion of the process and complexity of making decision as a sports official.

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