US Lacrosse

NFHS/USAL Rules Book Changes for 2025

NFHSHere are the NFHS/USAL 2025 Rules Changes for Girls Lacrosse. There are no major changes, rather minor tweaks.

  • 4-1-2: Establishes that the clock will stop on the official’s whistle after each goal and when there is a foul called in the critical scoring area during the last minute of each quarter. Rationale: Provides consistency in clock management at the end of each quarter and eliminates the potential for time to expire before a free position can be administered when there is a foul in the CSA at the end of each quarter.
  • 5-2 PENALTIES 1 & 2: Moves the free position from the center line to the spot of the ball when one player draws illegally and maintains that a re-draw will occur at the center line when both players draw illegally. Rationale: Improves the flow of the game by eliminating the need to bring the ball back to the center for a re-draw when a player draws illegally.
  • 9-1 PENALTIES for Violation of 9-1a, b and e-r: 4a, b; 13 Definition of Terms: Eliminates the indirect free position for a minor foul by a defense player occurring in the 12-meter fan and allows the player who is fouled to shoot from a free position on the 12-meter fan. Rationale: Simplifies the penalty application for minor fouls in the critical scoring area while maintaining a balance of offense and defense.
  • 10-1p, 13 Definition of Terms: Establishes player body and crosse positioning for a legal pick. Rationale: Clarifies the body and crosse positioning a player must have when setting a safe and legal pick.
  • 10-1r(1): Expands the definition of a major foul for Illegal Stick Contact to include contact with the opponent’s crosse when a player’s crosse is held in a horizontal position. Rationale: Clarifies that it is illegal for a player to make contact with an opponent’s crosse or body when the player’s crosse is in a horizontal position.
  • 10-1v(2): Expands the definition of a Rough/Dangerous Check to include checking an opponent’s hand. Rationale: Clarifies a player’s hand is part of their body and should be protected against rough and dangerous checking.

2025 Girls Lacrosse Editorial Changes

2-2-4; 2-5-2e; 2-7-5a; 2-7-7 NOTE; 2-9-4; 3-5-3g (NEW); 3-6-1; 4-3-3b, c; 4-7-1; 4-7-5a; 5-3; 5-4-4; 8-1-1 NOTE (NEW); 9-1m(6); 10-1 PENALTIES 6; 10-1 PENALTIES 13 (NEW); 12 NOTES 1 & 2 (NEW); 12-8 TEAM CARD PENALTIES

2025 Girls Lacrosse Points of Emphasis 

  1. Use of the Green Card / Delay of Game
  2. Managing Safe Play in the 8-Meter Arc
  3. Offensive Fouls Inside the Critical Scoring Area

USAL/NFHS Girls Rules Interpretation Clinics and Other News

D0332cf498ea39a09ec3b6f7d2488984USA 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.

2022 KLUB Rules Interpretation Clinic Video

Rules Inerp Clinic
This video is the recording of the Rules Interpretation Clinic for 2022 conducted via ZOOM on 5 February 2022 by the Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board (KLUB). Because of weather considerations the in-person clinic was moved to ZOOM.

The quality of the ZOOM video is not good.  It is suggested that the 12 minute NFHS rules interpretation video found on the right sidebar be viewed after viewing the ZOOM video.


Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs
Here are the link for FAQs for certain areas of Girls Lacrosse. Please use these resources in conjunction with the rules book and manual since changes have occurred since the FAQs were produced.

Here are links for some additional resources to help explain the game of Girls Lacrosse:


USA Lacrosse 2022 Women's Game Officials Training Manual

USAL Manual 2022
The USA Lacrosse 2022 Women's Game Officials Training Manual is required reading for officials and highly recommended reading for coaches.  The manual is now available using this link: Download 2022 USAL Womens Game Officials Training Manual


USA Lacrosse 2020 Women's Game Officials Training Manual

USAL MANUAL 2020
The USA Lacrosse Women's Game Officials Training Manual is required reading for officials and highly recommended reading for coaches.  While awaiting the release of the 2022 Manual the 2020 Manual may be used.  The document is provided here: Download 2020 USL Officials Training Manual

It is recommended that this large document not be printed, but downloaded to a file on a computer.


USA Lacrosse 2022 Youth Girls Lacrosse Rule Interpretation Video

USAL Youth
The following video and powerpoint is provided as a supplement for the in-person clinic presented by the Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board for umpires and coaches.  The 2022 Girls Lacrosse Youth Rules and Q&A from LAXCON 2022 is also provided here: Download 2022 Girls-Youth Rules-Interp


2022 NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Interpretation

NFHS
The following video and powerpoint is provided as a supplement for the in-person clinic presented by the Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board for umpires and coaches.  The 2022 Girls Lacrosse Rules and Q&A from LAXCON 2022 is also provided here:  Download 2022-Girls-NFHS-Rules-Interp