BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums LACROSSE LIBRARY RULES & REGULATIONS NCAA WLAX 2014/2015 Rules Changes

Goalkeeper stick (Rule 2): The crosse’s overall length shall be a minimum of 35½” and a maximum of 52”.

Explanation: The overall maximum length for the goalie’s stick will increase from 48” to 52”.

Game ball (Rule 2): The game ball must be NOCSAE certified and contain the NOCSAE seal.

Explanation: Because the new NOCSAE balls are still in production and generally not readily available yet this rule will not be enforced during the 2013 fall ball season.

Coach/Umpires meeting (Rule 3): Each head coach and the officials must meet at the scorer’s table with 10 minutes showing on the pre-game clock.

Explanation: The change to the word “must” emphasizes the importance of this required meeting. A minor foul may be called if the head coach does not make a timely appearance.

Possession timeout horn (Rule 3): The official timer will sound the horn to indicate a timeout request by the team in possession during a live-ball or dead-ball situation.

Explanation: The coach may request a live-ball possession timeout through the table or through the officials on the field. The official timer or personnel at the scorer’s table on the field may sound the horn if the official timer is located in the press box. It is the home team’s responsibility to ensure table personnel have a working horn at the table.

Team timeouts (Rule 4): Each team will be permitted three timeouts during regulation time that do not carry over into overtime.

Goal scoring player/crosse (Rule 4): A goal is not scored when the player who scored the goal does not drop her crosse or hand her crosse to the nearest official in a timely fashion. A goal is not scored when the goal scorer or any teammate adjusts the goal-scoring crosse in any way before dropping the crosse or handing it to the official. The crosse will be considered illegal and will be removed from the game.
Explanation: The focus should not be on how quickly the player drops her stick or how quickly she hands the stick to an official. Rather the officials should focus on ensuring that neither the scoring player nor any teammate adjusts the stick in any way. The nearest umpire will take possession of the stick and may perform a discretionary stick check. The umpire should allow reasonable time for the opposing team to request a stick check before returning the stick. It is expected that this new procedure will take place quickly and not delay the restart of play.

If the goal scoring stick is not relinquished in a timely fashion or if it is adjusted in any way or if it is found to be illegal after a stick check is performed, the goal will not count, the stick will be removed from the game, and play will restart with a free position at center. Player positioning for the draw will apply.

Stick Check Requests (Rule 5): Each team will be allowed three stick check requests per game. If a stick check is requested and the stick is found to be illegal, the team requesting the stick check will not lose any of their three allowable requests.

Defensive players in the goal circle (Rule 5): Players on the defending team may run through any portion of the goal circle as long as their team is not in possession of the ball. Only one defensive player who is directly marking the ball carrier within a stick’s length may remain in the goal circle while defending.

NOTE: Any defender moving through the goal circle must still abide by all provisions of the obstruction of the free space to goal rule.

NOTE: A ball on the ground within the goal circle constitutes possession for the defending team and only the goalkeeper or the deputy may then be in the goal circle and playing the ball.

Explanation: Members of the defending team will be allowed in the goal circle as long as their team is not in possession of the ball. They must still abide by all other provisions of the goal circle rules. For instance, if the goalkeeper is outside the circle with the ball and she wants to return the ball to the circle, she must toss the ball into the circle without having her stick break the plane of the circle.

A defensive goal circle foul will be called if a defensive player remains in the goal circle too long, or remains in the circle when her team loses possession of the ball, or stands in the circle while not marking the player with the ball within a stick’s length.

Foul after a goal (Rule 7): A Note will be added to Rule 7, Section 1 indicating that any foul that is called after a goal has scored will be penalized, whether the foul is a cardable foul, a major foul or a minor foul. Any of these fouls by the defensive team will result in a free position at the center to restart play rather than a draw. Certain fouls by the attacking team, for instance a charge during/immediately after the shot, will result in a no goal call and a free position being awarded to the defending team. Certain minor fouls such as a mouth guard or jewelry violation by the attack will result in a free position at center (See Rule 4, Section 8).

Explanation: Fouls after a goal, other than cardable fouls, were essentially going unpunished. The addition of this Note in Rule 7 will clarify that all fouls are subject to the provisions for penalty administration outlined in Rule 7.

The rules apply do not apply to this spring season, but the season after, correct?

Based on what the NCAA is saying, these rule changes are planned for Spring 2014.

Any thoughts on How soon these NCAA rules will filter down to local High Schools