Signals are an important part of a Girls Lacrosse Umpires communication with his or her partner, players, coaches, and spectators.
There are many signals that are available. For new officials I suggest starting with three basic signals - Direction, Start/Restart Play, Time-out. Once you have these three basics, add three more. Keep adding.
There are some short-cuts. Most signals look like what the foul was and/or are consistent with well-known signals from other sports. You will notice that the "Illegal Procedure" signal is the same as in football and is used for about half of the Minor Fouls.
Another important part of Signals is the whistle New Umpires should get used to blowing the whistle and talking with their whistles.
Finally, be "proud and humble" with your signals. By "Proud" I mean, stand up straight, look up, and make your signals visible. By "Humble" I mean, do not gloat over a signal; but be unemotional.
Here are a series of videos that were originally posted in 2018.
As a part of registration as a Girls Lacrosse Official with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, each official is provided with membership in the NFOA (a part of NFHS) that also provides insurance. Please download the summary of the insurance as needed: Download NFOA Insurance
Rule 13 is actually not a rule. It is a helpful glossary of terms to assist in understanding the rules. Here is a selection of terms:
8 METER ARC – An area formed at both goals that begins at the Goal Circle and extends 8 meters beyond and in front of the Goal Circle.
12 METER FAN – A semi-circle formed at both goals, touching the GLE and extending 12 meters from the Goal Circle. The 12 Meter Fan forms the Critical Score Area above the Goal Line Extended.
BLOCKING – Moving into the path of a player with the ball without giving that player a chance to stop or change direction causing contact.
CHARGING – A player with the ball pushes into, shoulders, or backs into and makes bodily contact with an opponent who has already established position (though not necessarily stationary).
CHECKING – An attempt to dislodge the ball from an opponent’s crosse by using controlled crosse-to-crosse contact.
CRITICAL SCORING AREA (CSA) – An area formed by the 12 Meter Fan above the Goal Line Extended (GLE) and continuing below the GLE to the endline.
CROSS[E]-CHECK – Using the shaft of the crosse to hit, push, or displace an opponent.
DANGEROUS PLAY – Any action that is rough, threatening, and/or are without regard to player safety.
DEPUTY – A player on the defensive goalkeeper’s team who may only enter or remain in the goal circle when the deputy’s team is in possession of the ball and the goalkeeper is out of the goal circle.
FLAG – Recognition and advantage of a Major Foul committed by the defense in the CSA while the attack is on a scoring play.
GOAL LINE EXTENDED (GLE) – The imaginary extension of the Goal Line that is located between both posts of a Goal. The GLE divides the CSA into areas “Above the GLE” (in front of the Goal) and “Below the GLE” (behind the Goal).
HASH MARKS – Marks for penalty administration on the 8 Meter Arc. The “Hanging Hash Mark” is the mark located outside the Arc and along the edge of the “Pie.”
HELD WHISTLE - Refraining from enforcing a rule when a player is fouled but maintains quality possession; and calling a foul would disadvantage the non-offending team.
LOWER SIDE OF CROSSE – The wooden part on the head of a wooden crosse or the right side on a plastic crosse as one looks at the crosse with the pocket open to the viewer.
PENALTY ZONE – The area formed by the 8 Meter Arc, the marks 8 meters away from the goal circle on the GLE, and the area formed by the dots below the GLE.
PICK – A technique in which a player without the ball, whose positioning, forces the opponent to take another route. To be legal it must be set within the visual field of the opponent allowing enough time and space to stop or change direction. A legal pick may be moving or stationery.
“PIE” – An unofficial reference to the pie-shaped area formed by the arms of the 8 Meter Arc, the “Hanging Hash Mark,” and the GLE.
PLAYED – An action whereby the ball leaves the player’s crosse and is touched by another player, or crosse 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.
PLAYING DISTANCE – The length of a stick and a half.
SCORING PLAY – A continuous effort by the attacking team to move the ball toward the goal and to complete a shot on goal.
SLASH – A reckless, dangerous, or uncontrolled swing of the crosse at an opponent’s crosse or body whether or not the opponent’s crosse or body is struck.
SLOW WHISTLE – See FLAG.
SPHERE – An imaginary area of 7 inches (average crosse width) surrounding a player’s head and excluding hair whether or not a helmet is worn.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
The 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.
When 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.