Rules of Lacrosse [PAGE 2]

December 2007

Section 4 Control of the Game

RULE 23 THE OFFICIALS

23.1 The game of lacrosse shall be controlled by 3 referees, one of whom shall be designated the head referee. Their duties shall be equal in all respects, except that, in the settlement of any dispute, the decision of the head referee shall be final. The referees shall have authority over the play of the game, with control and jurisdiction over the chief bench official, the bench manager, the time-keeper, penalty time-keepers, scorers, players, substitutes, coaches, anyone officially connected with the teams, and spectators.

23.2 The authority of the referees shall begin with their appearance on the field of play, and terminate upon the completion of the game.

23.3 By the sounding of his whistle, any of the referees may suspend the play of the game for any reason which he deems necessary for the proper enforcement of the rules of the game or the safe conduct of the game.

23.4 The referees shall keep a record of the goals scored by each team, and the number of the player scoring the goal. They shall check the score with the official scorer at the end of each period, but the referees' score shall be the official score of the game.

23.5 The referees and the chief bench official shall wear similar uniforms. This shall be vertical black and white striped shirt, white shorts, black and white socks and a black cap.

RULE 24 THE CHIEF BENCH OFFICIAL AND THE BENCH MANAGER

24.1 A chief bench official (CBO) shall be appointed, and he shall be equipped with a signal flag and a whistle. He shall supervise over and hold complete jurisdiction over the bench manager, time-keeper, penalty time-keepers, scorers, coaches, substitutes and any other officials within the bench areas, the special substitution area and the penalty box. He shall wear the same uniform as the referees, except that he shall also wear a suitably inscribed armband. The CBO shall be assisted by a bench manager, who shall act as the reserve referee. The bench manager shall have no jurisdictional power. He does not carry a whistle and he does not carry a flag. The bench manager shall wear the same uniform as the referees except that he wears a black shirt or jacket. If an on-field referee is unable to continue, then the bench manager shall replace him on the field of play. If the referee who is unable to continue is the head referee, then the referee named second on the official assignment shall become the head referee.

24.2 The CBO shall:
i) check the substitution of players going onto and off the field of play;
ii) check that each team has the correct number of players on the field of play;
iii) assist the referees in checking that each team obeys the off-side rule;
iv) check that no illegal stick exchange occurs;
v) check that no illegal actions are carried out by a coach or official member of either squad;
vi) check that no foul is committed by a player or substitute who is in the act of leaving the field of play or in the act of entering the field of play, or who is in the bench area, the special substitution area or the penalty box.

24.3 Where the CBO becomes aware of any of the above six infringements, he shall, depending on the circumstances, either throw a signal flag or blow his whistle, and apply the appropriate penalty.

24.4 The CBO and/or the bench manager shall acknowledge receipt and understanding of the referees' signals relating to penalties, penalty periods or any other matters relating to the play of the game, by repeating the signal. He shall then relay the decisions of the referees to the time-keeper, penalty time-keepers and scorers, as appropriate.

24.5 The CBO and/or the bench manager shall advise the coaches, if so requested, as to the decisions of the referees.

24.6 The CBO shall notify each team 30 seconds before the restart of play during a team time-out, and one minute before the start of each period.

24.7 The CBO shall notify the nearest referee if any player has incurred 5 personal fouls.

24.8 When a team requests a time-out: If the request is legal, the CBO shall blow his whistle. If the request is not legal, the CBO shall apply the provisions of Rule 50, The Penalty for Technical Fouls, and, if appropriate, Rule 82, The Slow Whistle Technique.

RULE 25 THE TIME-KEEPER

25.1 A time-keeper shall be appointed, and he must be equipped with a time piece which is able to record time in seconds.

25.2 The time-keeper shall keep an accurate record of the time played in each period, and he shall go out onto the field of play for the last 30 seconds of play in each period to count down the remaining time to the closest referee as follows; "30 seconds, 25 seconds, 20 seconds, 15 seconds, 14, 13.....3, 2, 1, Time".

25.3 The time-keeper shall keep an accurate record of the time intermissions between playing periods, and he shall notify the chief bench official one minute prior to the start of each period of play.

25.4 The time-keeper shall keep an accurate record of the time taken during team time-outs, and he shall notify the chief bench official 30 seconds before the re-start of play.

RULE 26 THE PENALTY TIME-KEEPERS

26.1 Two penalty time-keepers shall be appointed for each squad, and they shall be equipped with time pieces which can record time in seconds. The penalty time-keepers shall be positioned at either side of the timer's table, behind the penalty box.

26.2 The penalty time-keepers shall time the period of any penalty imposed by the referees, and shall audibly count down the penalty time to the player concerned and to any substitute who may be about to go on to the field in place of the penalised player, as follows: "30 seconds, 15 seconds, 10, 9, 8....3, 2, 1, Release".

RULE 27 THE SCORERS

27.1 Each team shall provide a scorer and, unless otherwise designated by the head referee, the visiting scorer shall be the official scorer.

27.2 The scorers shall keep a record of the goals scored by each team, the name and number of the player scoring the goal, and the name and number of the player making an assist.

27.3 The scorers shall check with the referees at the end of each period to ensure that they have the same score.

27.4 The scorers shall keep an accurate record of the number of time-outs taken by each team, and they shall notify the chief bench official immediately if a team exceeds the number allowed in a half or in an overtime period.

27.5 The scorers shall keep a record of the name and number of each player upon whom a penalty is inflicted, the type of foul, the duration of the penalty, and the game time of the penalty.

27.6 The scorers shall notify the chief bench official if any player should incur 5 personal fouls.

RULE 28 MISTAKES BY THE BENCH OFFICIALS

28.1 Where a chief bench official, time-keeper, penalty time-keeper, or scorer becomes aware that a mistake is being made which would result in a player or a team being penalised, then he shall promptly correct the mistake. If a goal is scored during the mistake and it is brought to the attention of the referees before the next live ball, after the player in question has participated in the game, then the referees shall allow or disallow the goal depending on the circumstances.

AR 28.1 A Blue player has been given a 1-minute penalty. After 30 seconds, he is released by a penalty time-keeper. A Blue player then scores. Before the ball is faced, the referees become aware of the mistake.

RULING: No goal, the penalised Blue player returns to the penalty box for 30 seconds, and the ball is faced.

AR 28.2 A Blue player has been given a 1-minute penalty. After 30 seconds, he is released by a penalty time-keeper. A Blue player then scores. After the face-off, the Red team protest to the referees.

RULING: Goal. The Blue player stays in the game.

Section 5: The Length of the Game

RULE 29 TIME OF THE MATCH

29.1 The match shall be divided into 4 periods of 20 minutes duration each. "Time off" incurred in each quarter shall be added to the playing time of that quarter.

29.2 During the last 3 minutes of the fourth quarter, and during any overtime period, the game-clock and, if applicable, the penalty clock(s) shall stop whenever the ball becomes dead, and they shall restart whenever play is restarted. This shall apply for all stoppages, including the scoring of a goal. Such a stoppage of play shall not be considered to be an official time-out for the purpose of illegal substitution, the gate or the coaches’ area, unless an official time-out is specifically requested by a referee or by the CBO.

29.3 At the end of each quarter, the teams shall change ends.
The interval between the first and second quarters shall be of 2 minutes' duration.
At half-time, the interval shall be 10 minutes long.
At three-quarter time, the interval shall be three minutes.

29.4 Between the first and second periods, and between the third and fourth periods, the players shall, on leaving the playing field, assemble in the bench area only; to go beyond this area, they must have the permission of the referees. At half-time, the teams may leave the playing field.

RULE 30 INTERRUPTED OR UNCOMPLETED MATCH

30.1 Where the Head Referee and/or the tournament's Referee-in-Chief feels that electrical storms and/or lightning make it inadvisable for a match to continue, then the game shall be halted.

30.2 All participants, including players, referees, bench officials, ball boys and others, shall be required to go indoors at the earliest opportunity.

30.3 If it is subsequently possible to resume the match, then the teams shall be allowed to warm-up on the field of play prior to re-start, as follows:

- If the delay from leaving the field to re-entering the field is not more than 30 minutes, then a 10 minute warm-up will be allowed.
- If the delay is more than 30 minutes, but not more than 60 minutes, then a 15 minute warm-up will be allowed.
- If the delay is more than 60 minutes, then a 20 minute warm-up will be allowed.

By mutual consent of both coaches, the above warm-up times may be shortened.

30.4 In the event of a match not being completed because of darkness, bad weather, or any circumstances whereby the head referee thinks it inadvisable to continue playing, such uncompleted match shall be referred to the controlling body for adjudication of a result.

RULE 31 TIED GAME

31.1 In the event of the scores being tied at the end of regulation playing time, then 2 periods of overtime shall be played. The following procedure shall apply:

i) There shall be an interval of 5 minutes, during which the teams shall change ends.
ii) Both periods of overtime shall start with a face-off as at the start of each quarter, subject to the provisions of Rule 34.1 being followed.
iii) The overtime periods shall be of 4 minutes' duration, and there shall be a two minute interval between them.
iv) The teams shall change ends between the 2 overtime periods.

31.2 If the scores are still tied at the end of the 2 overtime periods, then the following "sudden death" procedure will take place:

i) The captains will toss a coin during a 1-minute intermission, with the winner selecting the goal which he wishes to defend.
ii) Play will then resume with a face-off at the centre of the field, subject to the provisions of Rule 34.1 being followed, for 4-minute periods until a goal is scored.
iii) At the end of each 4-minute period, the teams shall change ends, but the team in possession of the ball at the end of a period shall retain possession of the ball in the same relative position of the field as when the period ended, except that the ball shall not be put into play closer than 20 yards (18.29 metres) from the cage, or with an opponent or a team-mate nearer to the player who has possession of the ball than 5 yards (4.57 metres); play will then continue immediately. If a sudden-death overtime period ends when the ball is loose, then the next period will start with a face-off in the same relative position as when play ended.
iv) This procedure will continue until a goal is scored, thus deciding the winner.

AR 31.1 A sudden death period ends with the Blue goalkeeper in possession in his crease.
RULING: The next period commences with Blue in possession 20 yards (18.29 metres) laterally from the cage.

RULE 32 DEFAULTED GAME

32.1 A team shall be declared the winner of a game by default if its opponent fails to appear at the appointed time and place for the contest, or for any reason a team fails to finish a contest. The score of such a defaulted game shall be 1-0 against the defaulting team.

32.2 The visiting team shall be declared the winner of the game by default, if the field does not meet the specifications as set forth in these rules. Any unavoidable local conditions must be agreed to in writing prior to the day of the game.

Section 6: The Play of the Game

33.1 The referees, the CBO and the bench manager shall call together the captains of each team at the centre of the field approximately 5 minutes before the start of the game. The head referee shall toss a coin to determine choice of goals; the visiting captain shall call the toss. At this time, any special ground rules shall be explained.

33.2 The referees, the CBO and the bench manager shall then draw up the starting line-ups in lines facing each other at the centre of the field, with their left sides towards the goal they are defending. There shall be no pre-game stick-checks or equipment-checks. Any special ground rules shall be explained.

RULE 34 FACING AT THE CENTRE

34.1 Play shall normally be started at the beginning of each period, and after each goal has been scored, by facing the ball at the centre of the field, subject to the following exceptions:

i) In the event of an extra man situation at the conclusion of ANY period, then the next period shall be commenced by awarding the ball to the team which had possession at the conclusion of the prior period in the same relative position on the field. However, if the period ends with no team in possession, the ball shall be faced at the centre with all the usual restrictions.
ii) Once the players facing have taken up their positions for the face-off, then the players are "set", and any movement of a player's stick or gloves prior to the whistle will result in possession being awarded to the offended team. The player is allowed to move his feet or his body, provided that this movement is not transmitted to the gloves or stick.
iii) If a face-off is about to take place, and a team is guilty of delaying the game, then possession shall be awarded to the offended team. At the discretion of the referees, repeated commission of this foul may be construed as unsportsmanlike conduct.
iv) If a player, substitute, coach or non-playing member of a squad commits a foul before any face-off, the ball will be awarded to the offended team at the centre of the field. All confined players are released from their goal areas and wing areas immediately.

34.2 The referee shall place the ball on the ground at the centre of the field.
The players facing shall stand on the same side of the centre line as the goal each is defending. The referee shall indicate to both players to assume their respective positions at the same time. The crosses and the ball should be within the 4" wide centre line, or as close as the equipment (ball and crosses) will permit. The crosses shall rest on the ground along the centre line and be placed parallel to each other, up to, but not touching, the ball. Players may not back out and re-set their positions once the referee has initiated the face-off position. The referee shall make certain that the reverse surfaces of the crosses match evenly, and each player must have both hands on the handle of his own crosse, not touching any strings, and both gloved hands must be on the ground. The feet shall not touch the crosse. Both hands and both feet of each player must be to the left of the throat of his crosse. The left foot and the handle of the crosse may not crosse the centre line. No portion of either crosse may touch. Neither player may be in contact with his opponent's body by encroaching on his opponent's territory.

34.3 Once the players facing have assumed their positions, the referee shall say "Set".Once this signal is given, the hands and gloves of both players must remain motionless until the whistle sounds to start play.

34.4 When the referee sounds his whistle to start play, each player may attempt to direct the course of the ball by movement of his crosse in any manner he desires. Kicking or stepping on an opponent's crosse is illegal. A player may not "kick through" his own crosse in order to move the crosse of his opponent.

34.5 Whilst the two players who are participating in the face-off are still down in the face-off position, and the ball is still between and in contact with their sticks, it shall be illegal for any other player to make contact with the body or crosse of either of those two players. Checking either the stick or the gloved hand of either player participating in the face-off is a Technical Foul. Body checking either player participating in the face-off is a personal foul.

34.6 No player who is using a left-handed crosse shall take part in a face-off. A stick in which the net is woven to the head in such a manner that a lip or hook is formed which might ensnare the ball shall be illegal for use in face-offs.

34.7 At the time of a centre face-off, a team which has 10 players on the field of play (excluding the penalty box) shall confine the goalkeeper and 3 other players in its defence goal area, 3 players in its attack goal area, and 1 player in each of its wing areas.

When the whistle sounds to start play, the players in the wing areas shall be released. All other players are confined to the specified goal areas until possession of the ball is gained by any player, the ball touches or crosses a goal area line, or the ball goes out of bounds. For the purpose of player release at a centre face-off, either from the goal areas or the wing areas, the gloved hand is not considered part of the crosse, whether or not it is holding the crosse.

34.8 In the above circumstances, when possession is gained by a player, the referee shall rotate his right arm in full circular cranking motion and shout "Possession". When the ball touches or crosses a goal area line before possession has been called, the referee shall rotate his right arm in full circular cranking motion and shout "Free ball".

34.9 Where a team has 1 or more players out of the game on penalty, then that team shall be exempt from confining its players to the goal and wing areas to the extent of its players in the penalty box. Such a team shall have the right to choose the confining area(s) in which it shall exercise its exemption, but it must obey the off-side rule.

34.10 At a centre face-off, before "Possession" or "Free ball" have been called, if a referee mistakenly blows his whistle, then the ball shall be re-faced at the centre of the field with the same restrictions as the original face-off.

34.11 If a foul is committed during or after a centre face-off before "Possession" or "Free ball" have been called, then confined players will not be released from the goal areas until the whistle blows to resume play.

34.12 If the ball goes directly out-of-bounds from a face-off, then it shall be re-faced at the same place as the previous face, and subject to the same restrictions as the previous face.

AR 34.1 A Blue player is in the penalty box, and Red have possession. A Red player passes the ball to a team-mate but, whilst the ball is in flight between them, the whistle blows to end the period.
RULING: The next period starts with Red in possession.

AR 34.2 A Blue player is in the penalty box. Red take a shot (or make a bad pass) and the ball is rolling towards a boundary line when the whistle blows to end the period.
RULING: As there is no possession at the end of the period, the next period starts with a centre face-off.

AR 34.3 A Blue player is in the penalty box. Red shoot, the ball passes over a boundary line with a Red player nearest to the ball but, before the Red player can pick the ball up, the whistle blows to end the period.
RULING: As the Red player WOULD have had possession of the ball had the period not ended, he is deemed to be in possession of the ball. The next period thus starts with Red in possession.

AR 34.4 A Blue player is in the penalty box. A bad pass from Red passes over a boundary line. Before a Blue player can pick the ball up, the whistle blows to end the period.
RULING: As the Blue player WOULD have had possession of the ball had the period not ended, he is deemed to be in possession of the ball. The next period thus starts with Blue in possession.

AR 34.5 A Red player is in the penalty box. A Blue attacker, in possession of the ball, wards off a Red defender. As the whistle blows to denote the foul, the period ends.
RULING: As Red WOULD have had possession of the ball had the period not ended, they are deemed to be in possession of the ball. As there is an extra man situation, Red thus start the next period in possession.

AR 34.6 A Red player is in the penalty box. Blue score, and the whistle immediately blows to end the period.
RULING: As there is no possession, the next period starts with a face-off.

AR 34.7 A Red player is in the penalty box. Red then gain possession of the ball. Blue commit a foul, and a flag is thrown. The period ends.
RULING: As a Red player is already in the penalty box, and a Blue player is about to go into the penalty box, there is NOT a man-up situation. The next period starts with a face-off.

AR 34.8 Blue attacking and a flag is down. The whistle ends the period with Blue in possession.
RULING: Blue retain the ball at the start of the next period, with the Red player in the penalty box.

AR 34.9 Blue attacking and a flag is down. The ball becomes loose as the period ends.
RULING: Blue retain the ball at the start of the next period, with the Red player in the penalty box.

AR 34.10 Blue attacking and a flag is down for a technical offence. As the period ends, a Blue player commits a technical foul.
RULING: Simultaneous technical fouls cancel: no send-off: the next period starts with a centre face-off.

AR 34.11 Blue attacking and a flag is down for a personal foul. As the period ends, a Blue player commits a personal foul.
RULING: Simultaneous fouls. Both players serve penalty time: as there is not an extra man situation, the next period starts with a centre face-off.

AR 34.12 Blue attacking and a flag is down for a personal foul. Blue score, and the whistle immediately blows to end the period.
RULING: As there is no possession, the next period starts with a face-off.

AR 34.13 A period ends with a Blue player in the penalty box, and Red in possession. During the break, a Red player commits a foul, and the extra-man situation is thus nullified.
RULING: The next period starts with a centre face-off.

AR 34.14 A period ends with a Blue player in the penalty box, and Red in possession. During the break, a Red player and a Blue player commit fouls.
RULING: There is thus still an extra man situation, and the ball is awarded to the team having less total penalty time. If the penalty times are equal, then the next period starts with Red in possession.

AR 34.15 A period ends with both teams at full strength. A player commits a foul in the interval.
RULING: The ball is awarded to his opponents at the centre.

AR 34.16 A player is injured at a centre face-off with the ball still loose.
RULING: The ball is re-faced at the centre with the original restrictions in force.

AR 34.17 A player loses an item of equipment at a centre face-off with the ball still loose.
RULING: The ball is re-faced at the centre with the original restrictions in force.

AR 34.18 The ball goes out-of-bounds at a centre face-off after being touched by a player, but the referees do not know who last touched it.
RULING: The ball is faced 20 feet (6.1 metres) from the out-of-bounds spot, and all players are released from their confined areas immediately.

AR 34.19 A team which has no players in the penalty box has only nine players on the field at the time of a centre face-off.
RULING: Legal play: The team shall be exempt from confining its players to the goal and wing areas to the extent of the number of players which it is playing short. The team shall have the right to choose the confining area(s) in which it shall exercise its exemption, but it must obey the off-side rule.

AR 34.20: A player shoots at his opponents goal and scores. When the ball is further than three yards from him, but before it has crossed the goal line, he is bodychecked by a defender.
RULING: Illegal bodycheck : The defender serves a personal penalty. As the ball is still in play at the time of the offence, the goal stands and the ball is faced at the centre.

AR 34.21 : A player shoots at his opponent's goal and scores. After the ball has crossed the goal line, he is bodychecked by a defender.
RULING: Illegal bodycheck : The defender serves a personal penalty. As the ball had crossed the line before the foul was committed, the foul is treated as happening before the next face-off, and the attacker's team is awarded the ball at the centre.

RULE 35 FACING OTHER THAN AT THE CENTRE

35.1 When a face-off occurs other than at the centre of the field, then the following rules shall apply:

i) The crosses of the two players shall be placed at right angles to an imaginary line running from the ball to the centre of the nearer goal line.
ii) The defending player shall stand between his crosse and his own goal, so as to have his back to his own goal.
iii) The attacking player shall face towards the goal he is attacking.
iv) The conditions laid down in Rule 34 apply as to the method of facing.
v) The ball shall not be faced closer to the cage than 20 yards (18.29 metres) in any direction, and it shall be moved laterally to a point 20 yards (18.29 metres) from the cage, if required.
vi) The ball shall not be faced closer to a boundary line than 20 feet (6.1 metres).
vii) At the time the whistle sounds to start the face-off, no player shall be within 10 yards (9.14 metres) of the players facing the ball.

RULE 36 THE STATUS OF THE BALL

36.1 A ball is either a live ball or a dead ball.

36.2 Once the whistle has blown to (re)start play, for example at a face-off, or when the ball is being put back into play after going out-of-bounds, or when the ball is being put back into play after a foul has been committed, then the ball is a live ball.

36.3 When the whistle blows to stop play, for example because a goal has been scored, or because the ball has gone out-of-bounds, or because a whistle has blown denoting a foul, then the ball is a dead ball.

36.4 If a flag is thrown, and play continues, then the ball is still a live ball.

AR 36.1 Blue attacking and a flag is down. Blue drop the ball. The whistle blows. Red, who still have a time-out left, call one.
RULING: The time-out is granted, because the ball is dead. The position of the ball on the field of play is of no consequence.

RULE 37 FREE PLAY

37.1 When a player has been awarded the ball for any reason, no opposing player or team-mate may take a position closer to him than 5 yards (4.57 metres). The referee shall clearly indicate to the opposing goalkeeper the player who is going to re-start the play.

37.2 A free play shall not take place closer to the cage than 20 yards (18.29 metres) in any direction, and the ball shall be moved laterally to a point 20 yards (18.29 metres) from the cage, if required.

37.3 A free play shall not take place within 5 yards (4.57 metres) of the gate, and the ball shall be moved laterally into the field of play until it is 5 yards (4.57 metres) from the nearest part of the gate, if required.

RULE 38 SCORING

38.1 A goal counts one point, and is scored when a loose ball passes from the front completely through the imaginary plane formed by the rear edges of the goal line as a base, the cross-bar as the top, and the goal posts as the two sides. Should the ball be caused to pass through the plane of the goal by one of the defending players, it counts as a goal for the attacking team.

38.2 When the ball passes through the plane of the goal in the following circumstances, however, a goal does not count:

i) after a referee's whistle has sounded to indicate the end of a period;
ii) after the period has ended, regardless of whether or not a referee's whistle has sounded;
iii) after a referee's whistle has sounded for any reason, even though the sounding of the whistle was inadvertent;
iv) when any part of the body of an attacking player is touching the goal crease area;
v) when the attacking team has more than 10 men on the field of play (including the penalty box) at the time;
vi) when the attacking team has more men than it should have on the actual field of play (excluding the penalty box) at the time;
vii) when the attacking team or both teams are off-side at the time.

AR 38.1 A goalkeeper who is in possession of the ball brings his crosse back over the goal line in order to clear, and the ball breaks the plane of the goal.
RULING: No goal, as the ball is not loose.

AR 38.2 A goalkeeper makes a save, but the power of the shot forces the ball, in his stick, over the goal line.
RULING: Goal, as the goalkeeper does not have control over it as required by Rule 39.1, and it is therefore technically a loose ball.

RULE 39 POSSESSION OF THE BALL

39.1 A player shall be considered in possession of the ball when he has control of it and could perform any of the normal functions of play such as carrying, cradling, passing or shooting.

In addition, the designated goalkeeper shall be considered to be in possession of the ball when he has one or both of his feet within the crease and he is raking back a ball which is within his crease.

39.2 A team shall be considered in possession of the ball when a player on that team has possession of the ball, or when the ball is in flight from a player to a team-mate.

39.3 A ball not in a player's possession or a team's possession is a loose ball.

Page 1 | Page 3 | Page 4