Lacrosse
Boys
The Game of Lacrosse
Rules &
Regulations
The game of Lacrosse is
physical. Rules have been established which are intended to protect safety of
players and maintain control over the game. Each game must have a minimum of
two officials; a referee and an umpire. There may also be a field judge and a
chief bench official. Decisions regarding third and fourth officials are made
by the organization hosting the game.
It is
the coach's responsibility to teach and instill in each player that they are
expected to be physical, but not violent. They are required to play with mental
and physical control.
The NCAA has put forth
a comprehensive series of regulations and penalties for infractions. Following
is a brief summarization of some of the major and common rule violations.
Personal Fouls
Personal
Fouls are infractions of a serious nature, which carry suspension from the game
for periods ranging from a minute to three minutes, depending on the severity
and intent of the infraction. The penalty's length is determined by the
officials.
Cross
Check, Slashing, Illegal Body Check,
Tripping
Cross
Check is a check by one player on another with the part of the stick
between player's hands.
Slashing occurs when a player swings his/her stick at an
opponent in a deliberate, vicious, or reckless fashion, or when the stick comes
in contact with any area of opponent other than on their stick or gloves,
unless opponent is actively attempting to deflect a legitimate check with part
of their body. Slashing also occurs when the stick of a player strikes any part
of an opposing player's body above the neck, unless when done by a player in
the act of shooting, passing or scooping the ball.
Illegal Body Checks occur
when checking a player not within 5 yards of the ball, a late hit, contact from
behind or above the shoulders or below the waist. This also occurs when a body
check is thrown on an opponent who does not possess the ball, or when an
avoidable body check of the opponent is made after the opponent has made a shot
or pass.
Tripping is
obstructing an opponent at or below the waist with any part of the stick or
body. If a player makes a legitimate check with the stick to dislodge the ball
from an opponent's stick and subsequently the opponent trips over his/her own
or the checker's stick, this is not tripping.
Unnecessary Roughness occurs
when a player uses unnecessary and deliberate violent contact on an opposing
player or is an infraction of the rules by being excessively violent when
holding or pushing.
Unsportsmanlike
Conduct occurs when a person who represents a team attempts to argue
with or influence the decision of a game official, using threatening, profane,
abusive, or obscene language or gestures during the game; or baits, taunts or
acts in a manner considered unsportsmanlike by a game official.
Illegal Crosse is the use of
a crosse which does not conform to NCAA rules and standards.
Illegal Gloves are gloves
which do not conform to required standards or when the glove's fingers and/ or
palms have been altered or removed.
Holding,
Off-Side, Warding Off,
Stalling
Technical
Fouls
Technical fouls are less serious than personal fouls and are
subject to a 30 second suspension from play of the offending player.
Holding occurs when a
player impedes or interferes with an opponent's stick movement.
Off-Side occurs when there
are more than six players on the opponent's side of the field. This also occurs
when a defenseman crosses the center line as the ball is being cleared up the
field and all three attackmen and middies have progressed past the center line.
Warding Off occurs when a
player with the ball uses his/her free hand or any part of his/her body to
hold, push or control the stick or body of the player applying check.
Stalling is when a team
intentionally holds the ball without advancing toward the goal.
Screening occurs when an
offensive player moves into or makes contact with a defender with the purpose
of blocking the defensive player from opponent being played.
Illegal Procedure is a term
that includes touching of the ball by a player other than the goalie, playing
in the game without a stick, use of illegal equipment, avoidable lateness of
the team, placing a stick in an opponent's face, entering the game prior to
expiration of a penalty, delay of game, more than 10 men on the field, and
illegal playing out of bounds. (See complete description in NCAA rules).
Interference occurs when one
player interferes with free the movement of an opponent. Exceptions: when
opponent has the ball and a player is within five feet of opponent, or the ball
is loose or on the fly, and both players are within five feet of the ball.
Pushing is when a player
pushes, thrusts, or shoves an opponent from behind. Pushing is permitted from
the front and sides when an opponent has possession of the ball or is within
five yards of a loose ball.
ATTACK
The
Position:
The position of attack requires the most stick skill
of all positions, with the exception of the goalie. Attackmen should
demonstrate good stick work with either hand and have quick feet to maneuver
around the goal in heavy traffic. Effective attackmen have good peripheral
vision, precision passes, and can effectively dodge, screen and shoot. The
attack are always on the field as a scoring threat and, given an even match up,
should score often. Typically the attack work behind the net, called the "X"
area, and on the flanks of the crease, called the "wings". This gives the
attackmen the most room to dodge and cut. Attackmen generally restrict their
play to half of the field. They must work with the midfield to run an effective
offense. An attackman should be quick, alert, confident in one-on-one
situations and be able to withstand physical punishment by the opposing
defensemen.
Some Rules:
The attack use dodging,
picks (just like in basketball), and passing to generate a good shot. Similar
to basketball, the object is to move the ball around until the defense breaks
and someone is left with an open shot. One way to do this is by letting an
attackman go one-on-one with a defender. The attackman tries to beat his
defender by dodging, causing another defenseman to slide, creating an
unbalanced situation in which he can either shoot or pass to someone else who
is wide open. The attackman can move in any direction with any amount of force,
as there are no charging rules. The attackman, however, like all players cannot
clamp the ball in his stick with his thumb, chest, or helmet. He is also not
allowed to push or hit the defenseman's stick with his arms or hands. This is
called warding.
THE MIDFIELDER
The
Position:
The midfielder is considered by many to be the
backbone of the lacrosse team. Good midfielders need speed, stamina, hustle and
determination. They are required to play both defense and offense. However, the
middies are largely responsible for a key aspect of the game - transition.
Transition is by far the most important part of the game and helped create the
nickname, 'The Fastest Game on Two Feet'. It involves retrieving loose balls,
or clearing saved shots and running and passing the ball up the length of the
field. If a team can get the ball and have an extra man advantage on the
offensive end of the field, even for a split second, they have a good
opportunity to score. When this advantage occurs in transition it is called a
fast break. A midfielder should be able to shift quickly from offense to
defense. Midfielders do not have to be proficient scorers, but should be able
to "read" what is about to happen next.
Some
Rules:
Along the center of the field is the midfield line. It
is this reference point that determines whether a team is offsides or not. The
rules for offsides are simple: you must have 4 players on your defensive end at
all times, and 3 players on your offensive end at all times. Since it doesn't
matter which players stay on what side, it is up to the midfield to keep their
team onsides, by staying on one side or the other. Since the position requires
so much running, the midfielders often changes lines on the fly, as in
hockey.
DEFENSE
The
Position:
The defenseman′s responsibility is to defend the
goal. Although size aids the defenseman, more importantly defensemen should be
quick, agile and aggressive. Speed is always a valuable commodity, but the
ability to act and react, to judiciously apply pressure and to recover are the
key ingredients to an effective defenseman. They must keep the attack at bay.
Their job is to keep the ball away from the net so the opposing attack doesn't
get a good look at the goal. The job is difficult: A defenseman doesn't know
where the attack are going or what they are going to do. In his arsenal the
defenseman has a long stick (11U and above). This stick allows a defender to
keep the attackmen at a distance, thus allowing him to throw checks without
being beaten on foot. Good footwork is an extremely important part of playing
good defense. A defenseman must be able to apply pressure and be aggressive,
without lunging a foot and body forward is key, otherwise the offensive player
can then easily go around the overly aggressive defenseman. A defenseman must
be able to think and react quickly, and most importantly communicate with his
fellow defensemen.
Some Rules:
Defensemen are
allowed to check the attackmen they are covering. What this means is a
defenseman is allowed to use his stick to hit the attackman's stick and arms. A
defenseman cannot strike the attackman on the head, and cannot strike the
attackman's body with the stick with any significant force. This penalty is
called a slash. Most slash penalties occur when a defenseman employs the use of
a 'slap' check, which is when the stick is swung perpendicular to the
attackman's shaft in a slapping motion. The other common check is the 'poke'
check, in which the defenseman simply jabs straight on at an attackman's stick
in a motion like that of a pool cue. When the attackman is close enough, a
defenseman can use his body for defense. Body checking, or hitting, in lacrosse
is very similar to that in hockey. A legal body check is any hit that is head
to head (no hitting from behind). People who are legal targets are anyone
standing within five yards of a loose ball, or anyone with possession of the
ball. Hitting someone without the ball, while another player has possession is
called interference.
THE GOALIE
The
Position:
The position of goalie in lacrosse is probably one of
the most intense positions of all sports. Essentially, you must play catch with
people at a very high speed. Unfortunately for the goalie, most people don't
throw at his stick. The goalie wears additional protective equipment: throat
guard and chest protector. A goalie stick is typically of normal length, 40-50
inches, with an extra wide head. Unlike goalies in hockey, lacrosse goalies
must be very mobile. They often come out of the circular crease that surrounds
the 6′x6′ goal. Explosive speed and very quick hands are key ingredients in
making a goalie, as well as a tolerance for pain. When a goalie comes out of
the crease to fetch ground balls or to clear a saved shot, he becomes a target,
much like the quarterback in football A good goalie leads the defense by
reading the situation and directing the defensemen to react. A goalie also
directs the clearing patterns and provides intangible cohesion that binds a
team together. A good goalie should have excellent hand/eye coordination and a
strong voice. Quickness, agility, confidence, a "thick skin" by not getting too
down when scored on and the ability to concentrate are also
essential.
Quick hint:
Offense starts
with an O and when you have the ball your team is
on offense. The shape of a lacrosse ball is a circle another good way to
remember.
Defense starts with a D. When you dont have the
ball your team is on defense.
Boys
The Game of Lacrosse
Rules &
Regulations
The game of Lacrosse is
physical. Rules have been established which are intended to protect safety of
players and maintain control over the game. Each game must have a minimum of
two officials; a referee and an umpire. There may also be a field judge and a
chief bench official. Decisions regarding third and fourth officials are made
by the organization hosting the game.
It is
the coach's responsibility to teach and instill in each player that they are
expected to be physical, but not violent. They are required to play with mental
and physical control.
The NCAA has put forth
a comprehensive series of regulations and penalties for infractions. Following
is a brief summarization of some of the major and common rule violations.
Personal Fouls
Personal
Fouls are infractions of a serious nature, which carry suspension from the game
for periods ranging from a minute to three minutes, depending on the severity
and intent of the infraction. The penalty's length is determined by the
officials.
Cross
Check, Slashing, Illegal Body Check,
Tripping
Cross
Check is a check by one player on another with the part of the stick
between player's hands.
Slashing occurs when a player swings his/her stick at an
opponent in a deliberate, vicious, or reckless fashion, or when the stick comes
in contact with any area of opponent other than on their stick or gloves,
unless opponent is actively attempting to deflect a legitimate check with part
of their body. Slashing also occurs when the stick of a player strikes any part
of an opposing player's body above the neck, unless when done by a player in
the act of shooting, passing or scooping the ball.
Illegal Body Checks occur
when checking a player not within 5 yards of the ball, a late hit, contact from
behind or above the shoulders or below the waist. This also occurs when a body
check is thrown on an opponent who does not possess the ball, or when an
avoidable body check of the opponent is made after the opponent has made a shot
or pass.
Tripping is
obstructing an opponent at or below the waist with any part of the stick or
body. If a player makes a legitimate check with the stick to dislodge the ball
from an opponent's stick and subsequently the opponent trips over his/her own
or the checker's stick, this is not tripping.
Unnecessary Roughness occurs
when a player uses unnecessary and deliberate violent contact on an opposing
player or is an infraction of the rules by being excessively violent when
holding or pushing.
Unsportsmanlike
Conduct occurs when a person who represents a team attempts to argue
with or influence the decision of a game official, using threatening, profane,
abusive, or obscene language or gestures during the game; or baits, taunts or
acts in a manner considered unsportsmanlike by a game official.
Illegal Crosse is the use of
a crosse which does not conform to NCAA rules and standards.
Illegal Gloves are gloves
which do not conform to required standards or when the glove's fingers and/ or
palms have been altered or removed.
Holding,
Off-Side, Warding Off,
Stalling
Technical
Fouls
Technical fouls are less serious than personal fouls and are
subject to a 30 second suspension from play of the offending player.
Holding occurs when a
player impedes or interferes with an opponent's stick movement.
Off-Side occurs when there
are more than six players on the opponent's side of the field. This also occurs
when a defenseman crosses the center line as the ball is being cleared up the
field and all three attackmen and middies have progressed past the center line.
Warding Off occurs when a
player with the ball uses his/her free hand or any part of his/her body to
hold, push or control the stick or body of the player applying check.
Stalling is when a team
intentionally holds the ball without advancing toward the goal.
Screening occurs when an
offensive player moves into or makes contact with a defender with the purpose
of blocking the defensive player from opponent being played.
Illegal Procedure is a term
that includes touching of the ball by a player other than the goalie, playing
in the game without a stick, use of illegal equipment, avoidable lateness of
the team, placing a stick in an opponent's face, entering the game prior to
expiration of a penalty, delay of game, more than 10 men on the field, and
illegal playing out of bounds. (See complete description in NCAA rules).
Interference occurs when one
player interferes with free the movement of an opponent. Exceptions: when
opponent has the ball and a player is within five feet of opponent, or the ball
is loose or on the fly, and both players are within five feet of the ball.
Pushing is when a player
pushes, thrusts, or shoves an opponent from behind. Pushing is permitted from
the front and sides when an opponent has possession of the ball or is within
five yards of a loose ball.
ATTACK
The
Position:
The position of attack requires the most stick skill
of all positions, with the exception of the goalie. Attackmen should
demonstrate good stick work with either hand and have quick feet to maneuver
around the goal in heavy traffic. Effective attackmen have good peripheral
vision, precision passes, and can effectively dodge, screen and shoot. The
attack are always on the field as a scoring threat and, given an even match up,
should score often. Typically the attack work behind the net, called the "X"
area, and on the flanks of the crease, called the "wings". This gives the
attackmen the most room to dodge and cut. Attackmen generally restrict their
play to half of the field. They must work with the midfield to run an effective
offense. An attackman should be quick, alert, confident in one-on-one
situations and be able to withstand physical punishment by the opposing
defensemen.
Some Rules:
The attack use dodging,
picks (just like in basketball), and passing to generate a good shot. Similar
to basketball, the object is to move the ball around until the defense breaks
and someone is left with an open shot. One way to do this is by letting an
attackman go one-on-one with a defender. The attackman tries to beat his
defender by dodging, causing another defenseman to slide, creating an
unbalanced situation in which he can either shoot or pass to someone else who
is wide open. The attackman can move in any direction with any amount of force,
as there are no charging rules. The attackman, however, like all players cannot
clamp the ball in his stick with his thumb, chest, or helmet. He is also not
allowed to push or hit the defenseman's stick with his arms or hands. This is
called warding.
THE MIDFIELDER
The
Position:
The midfielder is considered by many to be the
backbone of the lacrosse team. Good midfielders need speed, stamina, hustle and
determination. They are required to play both defense and offense. However, the
middies are largely responsible for a key aspect of the game - transition.
Transition is by far the most important part of the game and helped create the
nickname, 'The Fastest Game on Two Feet'. It involves retrieving loose balls,
or clearing saved shots and running and passing the ball up the length of the
field. If a team can get the ball and have an extra man advantage on the
offensive end of the field, even for a split second, they have a good
opportunity to score. When this advantage occurs in transition it is called a
fast break. A midfielder should be able to shift quickly from offense to
defense. Midfielders do not have to be proficient scorers, but should be able
to "read" what is about to happen next.
Some
Rules:
Along the center of the field is the midfield line. It
is this reference point that determines whether a team is offsides or not. The
rules for offsides are simple: you must have 4 players on your defensive end at
all times, and 3 players on your offensive end at all times. Since it doesn't
matter which players stay on what side, it is up to the midfield to keep their
team onsides, by staying on one side or the other. Since the position requires
so much running, the midfielders often changes lines on the fly, as in
hockey.
DEFENSE
The
Position:
The defenseman′s responsibility is to defend the
goal. Although size aids the defenseman, more importantly defensemen should be
quick, agile and aggressive. Speed is always a valuable commodity, but the
ability to act and react, to judiciously apply pressure and to recover are the
key ingredients to an effective defenseman. They must keep the attack at bay.
Their job is to keep the ball away from the net so the opposing attack doesn't
get a good look at the goal. The job is difficult: A defenseman doesn't know
where the attack are going or what they are going to do. In his arsenal the
defenseman has a long stick (11U and above). This stick allows a defender to
keep the attackmen at a distance, thus allowing him to throw checks without
being beaten on foot. Good footwork is an extremely important part of playing
good defense. A defenseman must be able to apply pressure and be aggressive,
without lunging a foot and body forward is key, otherwise the offensive player
can then easily go around the overly aggressive defenseman. A defenseman must
be able to think and react quickly, and most importantly communicate with his
fellow defensemen.
Some Rules:
Defensemen are
allowed to check the attackmen they are covering. What this means is a
defenseman is allowed to use his stick to hit the attackman's stick and arms. A
defenseman cannot strike the attackman on the head, and cannot strike the
attackman's body with the stick with any significant force. This penalty is
called a slash. Most slash penalties occur when a defenseman employs the use of
a 'slap' check, which is when the stick is swung perpendicular to the
attackman's shaft in a slapping motion. The other common check is the 'poke'
check, in which the defenseman simply jabs straight on at an attackman's stick
in a motion like that of a pool cue. When the attackman is close enough, a
defenseman can use his body for defense. Body checking, or hitting, in lacrosse
is very similar to that in hockey. A legal body check is any hit that is head
to head (no hitting from behind). People who are legal targets are anyone
standing within five yards of a loose ball, or anyone with possession of the
ball. Hitting someone without the ball, while another player has possession is
called interference.
THE GOALIE
The
Position:
The position of goalie in lacrosse is probably one of
the most intense positions of all sports. Essentially, you must play catch with
people at a very high speed. Unfortunately for the goalie, most people don't
throw at his stick. The goalie wears additional protective equipment: throat
guard and chest protector. A goalie stick is typically of normal length, 40-50
inches, with an extra wide head. Unlike goalies in hockey, lacrosse goalies
must be very mobile. They often come out of the circular crease that surrounds
the 6′x6′ goal. Explosive speed and very quick hands are key ingredients in
making a goalie, as well as a tolerance for pain. When a goalie comes out of
the crease to fetch ground balls or to clear a saved shot, he becomes a target,
much like the quarterback in football A good goalie leads the defense by
reading the situation and directing the defensemen to react. A goalie also
directs the clearing patterns and provides intangible cohesion that binds a
team together. A good goalie should have excellent hand/eye coordination and a
strong voice. Quickness, agility, confidence, a "thick skin" by not getting too
down when scored on and the ability to concentrate are also
essential.
Quick hint:
Offense starts
with an O and when you have the ball your team is
on offense. The shape of a lacrosse ball is a circle another good way to
remember.
Defense starts with a D. When you dont have the
ball your team is on defense.