Author: WisconsinLacrosse

by WisconsinLacrosse

2017 Girls’ rule changes

Effective for the 2017 girls’ high school lacrosse season, US Lacrosse has announced the following rules changes.  US Lacrosse writes the rules for high school girls’ lacrosse, and those rules are endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

“The rule changes and approved revisions are a continued effort to minimize the risk of injury in girls’ lacrosse,” said Kathy Westdorp, chair of the NFHS girls’ lacrosse rules committee and a member of the US Lacrosse Women’s Rules Subcommittee. “Several of the rule revisions will reinforce that effort.”

US Lacrosse also authors separate rules that govern youth girls’ lacrosse. Those youth rule sets, also effective January 1, 2017, will be announced in mid-September.

The approved 2017 high school rule changes include updates on eyewear and headgear equipment certifications, the allowance of some ball contact by players, and clarifications on the requirements for the Obstruction of Free Space penalty.

Arguably the most noteworthy revision involves the rule governing the draw. Beginning in 2017, players below the restraining lines on the draw may not cross the lines until possession has been established. This rule change was influenced by concerns that the number of players contesting the ball, either in the air or on the ground, following the draw often leads to a scenario where an excessive number of players were competing in close physical contact.

“By limiting the number of players attempting to put the ball in play after the draw, we trust that there will be fewer fouls and that the ball will more quickly be put into play,” said Laurette Payette, a member of the US Lacrosse Women’s Officials Subcommittee. “The focus of the officials will be on the six players (three for each team) between the restraining lines.”

A player leaving the restraining line early, before possession is established, shall be penalized.

“The rules that govern the game play an important role in both safety and growth,” said Kristen Murray, chair of the US Lacrosse Board of Directors and a girls’ high school coach. “We continue to look for opportunities to simplify the rules to make it easier for officials to make calls and to improve the flow of the game. We want lacrosse to be a safe, fun and enriching experience for everyone who plays.

“We appreciate the efforts of the volunteer officials and coaches who spearheaded the comprehensive rules review and approval process. This process included a thorough review of suggested rule changes submitted to US Lacrosse and NFHS, as well as a review of pertinent injury surveillance statistics.”

A closer look at all the rule changes approved by the US Lacrosse Women’s Game Committee is below. Rule references are from the 2016 US Lacrosse Rule Book and will change for 2017.

Rule 2, Section 9: Outlines the certification changes to eyewear protection.

Rule 2, Section 10: Outlines the ASTM certification changes to headgear.

Rule 5, Section 1: Players below the restraining lines on the draw may not cross until possession has been established.

Rule 5, Section 28: Stick checks may only be requested during a stoppage of the game clock.

Rule 5, Section 28: Stick checks may be requested immediately following regulation or overtime.

Rule 6, Section 1: Adjusted the “note” to remove ‘looking to shoot’ from the Obstruction of Free Space criteria.

Rule 6, Section 2f: Added the wording “except with a kicking action on a non-shooting attempt” to the rule that ‘players may not use their bodies to play the ball.’

Rule 7, Section2: Penalty administration for dangerous shot and illegal shot to be aligned, with the ball being given to the closest defender no closer than 8m to the goal.

In addition, secondary material has been further defined in the Manufacturers Specifications, and the alternate officials duties are now stated within the Appendix.

Suggestions for future rule changes and modifications may also be submitted hereat any time. All submissions are reviewed by the US Lacrosse Women’s Game Rules Subcommittee.

by WisconsinLacrosse

Girl’s Umpire Training Dates

Required rules Interpretation meeting is scheduled for January 28th. You must be a current US Lacrosse Member to attend. This is open to both current and prospective officials. If you haven’t already done so, please RSVP so we can plan accordingly.  NOTE: Steinhafels requests that we park in the South parking lot behind merchandise pick-up; not near the main entrance (which is reserved for customers).  After you park, please enter in the main entrance.

Click here to RSVP

New and returning girls lacrosse officials training is planned for Saturday, February 25th at the Arrowhead High School (North Campus).
New Umpire Candidates and Returning YOUTH Umpires will have a classroom session in the Junior Study Hall from 9:00 – Noon then the West Gym from 1:00 – 4:00. You must be 16 years old by April 1st, 2017 to attend training

Returning Officials need to complete 3 hours Continuing Education. If you have attended a training or convention, that counts as your continuing ed. If not, we have some current opportunities for you:

  • February 25th – Arrowhead High School 1:00 PM -4:00 PM (meet in gym)
  • April 1 – Carroll University Schneider Stadium – field work (Time TBA)

Sign up to become a Girl’s official 

by WisconsinLacrosse

Get the most out of your practices

There’s no better place for your players to improve than practice, but only if that time is used wisely. US Lacrosse has several resources to help coaches position their players for success, and the latest offering is a series of age-appropriate practice guides for boys and girls.

These guides, available free of charge on the US Lacrosse web site, emphasize station-based practices and can work as a “canned curriculum” for a brand new lacrosse coach as well as a starting point to help even the most experienced coach plan practices in a way that the kids will love. Each plan has been carefully crafted to put the athlete first to help them reach their full potential.

There are four books total in the series, each available in PDF format:

Each book includes an overview of the concept of station-based practices, guides to key objectives for success depending on the age of your athletes, several complete practice plans and a sampling of age-appropriate drills that you can utilize in your own practice schedule.

by WisconsinLacrosse

2017 Wisconsin High School Championships

The Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation today announced the Wisconsin High School State Championship Games will be held over a two-day period on Friday June 9th and Saturday June 10th at Schneider Stadium on the campus of Carroll University, Waukesha.

For the first time since a Girl’s Championship Game was added in 2007, the girl’s state contest will be held on its own separate day.

The Boy’s DI and DII Championships are slated to be played on Saturday.

“We felt that by trying to fit 3 games into a day we were short changing the celebration and recognition of our All State, All American and Hall of Fame honorees not to mention the incredibly hard work of the 6 teams who make it to the championships”, said Randy Kohn, President of the WLF.   “We’re hoping by spreading this out we can really create a two day celebration of fastest growing sport in Wisconsin. ”

Friday June 9th 

4:30 – Doors Open

5:30 – Presentation of Girls All State honors

6:00 – Warm up.

7:00 – Face off of the Girls Championship Game

Trophy presentation immediately following the game

Saturday, June 10th 

2:00 – Doors Open

3:00 – DII Boys warm up

4:00 – Face off DII Championship

6:00 – Boys All State/ All American Honorees

6:30 – DI Warm up

7:30 – Face off DI Championship

Trophy Presentations immediately following both games.

Sponsorship, advertising and vendor booth opportunities are still available.

The Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation was established in 2001 as the state chapter for US Lacrosse, the national governing body of lacrosse. The WLF oversees boy’s and girl’s youth and high school lacrosse and promotes Lacrosse played at all levels in the State of Wisconsin. Over 6,500 boys and girls play youth and high school lacrosse across Wisconsin.   More information can be found at http://wisconsinlacrosse.com.

by WisconsinLacrosse

Level 1 Coach Development Program
Upcoming Coach Development Clinic in

Sun Prairie
We are pleased to announce a Level 1 Coach Development Program (CDP) Clinic being held in Sun Prairie. Receive instruction on the responsibilities and philosophies of coaching and how to provide a safe and athlete-centered environment that emphasizes positive growth and sportsmanship.

Level 1 Clinic
February 12, 2016 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Sun Prairie High School
Cost: $75 – includes lunch and clinic materials
Registration: Men’s Game | Women’s Game
Learn More

by WisconsinLacrosse

What’s the rule?

Each season the US Lacrosse Officials Education Program receives emails from coaches, players, parents, and officials on game situations wondering what the correct ruling is. Here are the top 10 questions from the 2016 season.

1. Player A is legally body checked and falls to the ground. While on the ground, he still chops at the other player’s stick with his own. I called this as illegal procedure, but the coach wanted to see it in the rulebook. Was this the right call? I could not find any ruling in the rulebook. My thoughts were it gave him an advantage to be on the ground.

A: There is no advantage gained from playing while on the ground. That player is likely more disadvantaged than the opposing players because his movement is significantly limited while on the ground. Remember that NFHS Rule 5.3 states that it is illegal to body check an opponent who is on the ground (stick checks are okay), and the rulebook does allow for the player on the ground to legally participate in play if he is able to.

2. Can a player be flagged twice for going offside once, returning to his half of the field, and then going offside again?

A: No. NFHS Rule 4.10 Situation F is clear on this game situation: “The same player going offside twice is one technical foul.” This is why many coaches will tell the player that went offside to go and play defense because the team may then play with 8 defenders (7 + 1 goalie) and increase their chances of putting the ball on the ground during the flag down.

3. Offensive player shoots and scores, the ball enters the goal first and then the player touches the crease due to his normal momentum. Is the goal good or does the player entering the crease wipe out the goal?

A: NFHS Rule 4.9.2.n states that a player “may legally score a goal and touch the crease area, provided the ball enters the goal before the contact and with the crease and his feet are grounded prior to, during and after a shot.” As long as the player does not dive (remains grounded) and he touches on or inside the crease line then the goal stands.

4. Assistant coach of Team A is holding a stick while on the sideline during a game. Coach of Team B asks for that stick to be checked. Referee rules it violates pocket depth and issues the penalty per the rules. Does the stick check apply to coaches or just to the players?

A: Under NFHS rules a coach-requested equipment check must refer to a specific player on the opposing team. The major reason is because under NFHS rules the officials must also check the required equipment of a player, and that cannot be done on a coach. According to NFHS Rule 4.27.1 these requests must be made during a dead ball and only one player’s equipment and crosse may be inspected per coach request. The coach may not ask the officials to check the assistant coach’s crosse, nor may be point to a stick on the opponent’s bench and ask the officials to check it. The request must be for a specific player on the opposing team.

5. When are horns permitted? Some folks say they are no longer allowed; or is their use more narrowly specified?

A: Horns are no longer permitted in games played under NFHS rules. All substitutions must be made on the fly. There are youth provisions permitting horns for play in the U9 and U11 age divisions if the local league authorizes their use (NFHS rulebook page 107).

6. Team A is man up and loses possession of the ball right before the end of a period. Team B (man down) gains and maintains possession when the period ends (still man down). Question: Is there a faceoff to begin the next period or does Team B (man down) get the ball?

A: There is no faceoff. Team B gets possession to start the next period at the spot the ball was when the period ended. Rule 4.3.1. Exceptions 1: “In the event of an extra-man situation or a flag-down creating an extra-man situation at the conclusion of a period, the next period shall be commenced by awarding possession of the ball in the same relative position on the field to the team that had possession of the ball (or is entitled to possession by a play-on) at the conclusion of the prior period.” This is why many coaches when there is short time on the clock but longer time on the penalty tell their players to hold onto the ball and not shoot. This is only applicable on a flag-down or when there is an uneven situation. If Team A and Team B have one player in the penalty box then even if one team has possession at the end of the period the next period will start with a faceoff.

7. A goal is scored using a stick that is found to be illegal after a coach requests a stick check to an official during the dead ball before the next faceoff. Does that goal count or should it be waived off? Also, if the player scored multiple goals are all of the goals he scored waived off?

A: The goal should be waved off, the shooter serves the penalty time (1-minute deep pocket, or 3-minutes for any other violation), and the ball is awarded to the opposing team at Center X. Rule 5.5 Situation F states: “Team B is a man down and A1 scores. Before the next whistle, it is discovered A1 was playing with an illegal crosse. RULING: Goal does not count. A1 serves a one- or three-minute non-releasable penalty.” The only goal that gets waived off is the goal scored right before the equipment check that discovered the illegal crosse. If the player scored goals earlier then they remain on the board.

8. During play an official blew his whistle. The defense stopped playing once the whistle was heard, but the offensive player continued to advance toward the goal. He made a shot after the whistle and scored. The officials counted the goal. Should play have been stopped after the whistle?

A: Rule 7.13.3 states: “In the event of an inadvertent whistle, play shall be suspended immediately. The team with possession or entitled to possession when the whistle was blown shall retain possession.” In this situation the goal should not count because the official blew his whistle creating a dead ball. Had the ball been loose outside the crease possession would be awarded via AP. Loose inside the crease awarded to the defensive team. If a team had possession, they would retain possession for the next restart. Rule 4.9.2.f further clarifies that a goal is not counted “after one of the officials has sounded the whistle for any reason, even if the sounding of the whistle is inadvertent.”

9. If a player has five minutes in penalties, he has fouled out. However, if the player in question had three 1-minute fouls. He served 4.5 minutes for them, as we were in a running clock game. So is the 4.5 minutes of time served count towards the five minutes or is it based on the actual time called out by the referee for the foul(s); 3 minutes?

A: The rulebook is quiet on this calculation for running time games, and the convention is to use the penalty time that would be assessed in a stop-time game for the purposes of determining disqualification. Three-minutes of personal fouls (4.5 minutes in running time games) would mean the player still has two minutes of penalty time before being disqualified. As a point of clarification technical fouls do not count toward minutes before being disqualified, only personal fouls.

10. If there are 5 long poles on the field, what is the penalty? Illegal stick, 3 minutes non-releasable or something else? Offending team did not have possession.

A: This is not considered an illegal crosse. This is illegal procedure and is a technical foul according to NFHS Rule 6.5.2.p: “having more than four long crosses in a game.” If the ball is loose this is a turnover to the opposing team. If the opposing team has possession of the ball while there are 5 long poles on the field then a flag should be thrown.

The Officials Education Program enjoys reading and answering the questions. If you have a question from a game this summer let us know by filling out the form here.

by WisconsinLacrosse

New Program Needs a Coach

Help us jump start our new program!

The Sussex Hamilton Charges Lacrosse Club is looking for both a JV head coach and assistant coach for the Boys JV team this Spring 2017.  Sussex Hamilton Charges Lacrosse Club is starting up a brand new lacrosse program in Spring 2017 and is looking for an enthusiastic head and assistant coach to help jump start our program.  These are both paid positions depending on experience.  A full board is in place to support the coaches in all areas of the club.

Please contact me for more information.

Tracy Dow

Phone number: (262) 893-4561

Email address: dow_tracy75@Hotmail.com

by WisconsinLacrosse

How did you miss that?

The following is a post written by Gordon Corsetti, Manager of Officials Education for US Lacrosse.

We say officials have the best seat in the house. While it’s true that we are the closest to the action we can’t watch the game the same way everyone else does, which is typically watching where the ball goes. I love being on the field officiating, but I only see one-half or one-third of the entire game depending on if I’m working in a two- or three-person crew. That’s because proper mechanics demand that at least one official watches the action that no one else is paying attention to away from the ball.

In a two-person game the field is split diagonally between the two officials in settled situations. The Trail Official is the furthest from the goal and takes a position just above the attack box. The Lead Official is near Goal Line Extended (GLE). Depending on where the ball is on the field, one official is responsible for the area immediately around the ball, while the other official scans the off ball action. They are known as the On or Off official.

The clearest distinction between the two officials’ responsibilities is on a shot. When a player shoots the only official responsible for watching that player is the Trail official. This official stays with the shooter watching for late hits. The Lead official tracks the ball as soon as it leaves the crosse, and often has no eyes on the shooter at any point after the shot. These separate responsibilities make it possible for one official to cover the goal, while having another official focused on the safety of the player. That’s an easy situation though, let’s do a tougher one.

In transition, a penalty could occur on the far side of the field opposite the new Lead Official (the official running to GLE during the clear), and the new Lead Official may call a personal or technical foul near the far sideline because that official has an unobstructed angle to the play. The new Trail Official coming up field may not even have eyes on the play if there are two players behind that need to be watched to make sure nothing bad occurs away from the play upfield. But even if the new Trail Official is running up he might have a lot of bodies in front of him and has no way to make the call even if he is closer than his partner.

If more coaches understood the basic mechanics of officiating (the Men’s Officials Rules and Penalty Course is available on learning.uslacrosse.org) and why we stand where we do, I think a lot of calls would make a lot more sense. For example, I officiated a tournament not too long ago where I was the Trail official in a settled play. The offensive player shot the ball near the crease, missed the goal, was pushed from behind, and landed in the crease. I put my hand into the air for a loose-ball push, and at the same time my partner as the Lead put his hand in the air and whistled the play dead for a crease violation. I asked what he had, and he said “White stepped in the crease.” I replied, “Yes, but he was pushed in first. The ball stays with White.”

Two coaches on the Blue team were not pleased with me and while my partner readied the ball for play they asked me what happened. I told them their defenseman pushed the shooter into the crease after he shot the ball, giving the ball to the White team. Then one coach told me that that call wasn’t my responsibility. He then told me that while in the Trail position all I was supposed to call was offside.

If I only had to call offside when the Trail Official then lacrosse officiating would be one of the easiest jobs I could think of! I’m only responsible for one thing? Great! I’m just going to stand on the midline and focus only on this four-inch line, and when a player gets destroyed on a late hit I’ll calmly inform the coach that I’m only supposed to call offside.

I’m being facetious here to drive home the point that the official furthest away from where the ball is may be in the best and only position to make the correct safety or fairness call for the situation. We have fundamental mechanics that are drilled into us in every training class and field evaluation because the referees that came before us experimented with a lot of different ways to officiate the game until they broke down the most effective ways to position officials to watch for safety and fairness.

Gordon Corsetti is manager of men’s officials education for US Lacrosse. You can support US Lacrosse officials education efforts through the US Lacrosse Foundation.