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Clarifications/Corrections to 2012 Boys' Rules

BALTIMORE, Feb. 22, 2012 - US Lacrosse has received clarifications and corrections to the rules for high school boys' lacrosse in 2012 from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The NFHS is the rules-writing body for high school boys' lacrosse.

Clarification for Rule 4-15 – Rules Once the Goal Area is Gained

Once the ball has been successfully advanced into the goal area, a team is provided the opportunity to run its offense on its offensive half of the field. If the offensive team carries or intentionally passes or propels the ball to its defensive half of the field and the offensive team was last in possession, the official will signal and verbally announce "get it in/keep it in" if the offensive team gains possession. The offensive team has 10 seconds to return the ball to the goal area, at which point it must "keep it in." Once the goal area is gained, the officials will signal and verbally say "keep it in." In all other situations in which the ball returns to the defensive half of the field, normal rules for advancing the ball will apply with the appropriate count starting upon possession.

Tape Rings

In a March 2011 memo, a situation was distributed regarding tape rings. Due to an oversight, that situation and ruling was not included in the 2012 Boys' Lacrosse Rules Book. However, the interpretation is still valid and that situation follows:

1.6.1 SITUATION: During an equipment inspection, A1's handle has a tape ring measuring more than 3.5 inches in circumference that is (a) within 3 inches or (b) more than 3 inches from the butt end of the handle. RULING: (a) Legal (b) Illegal. The tape ring must be removed before the crosse can return to play.

Revision to Rule 1-7-3 – End Caps

All hollow crosse handles must have their open end covered with a plastic or rubber end cap manufactured for a lacrosse stick.

When the rules committee adopted that language, it was believed that plastic and rubber were the only two materials used in the production of lacrosse end caps. It has since been determined that end caps are manufactured for use on a hollow stick using wood. As a result, the rule is further revised for the 2012 season as follows:

All hollow crosse handles must have their open end covered with an end cap manufactured for a lacrosse stick.

Offside

Due to this year's 4-11 rule revision, "Not Offside," the ruling for 4.10 Situation I on page 36 of the 2012 Boys' Lacrosse Rules Book is incorrect. That situation and ruling should read as follows:

4.10 SITUATION I: Team A delays their substitution which causes them to have too few players on either end of the field. RULING: Illegal procedure if Team A gains an advantage by the delayed substitution. Ball is awarded at the spot of the foul (or laterally outside the goal area).

Delayed Substitution

Upon recognizing a delayed substitution situation, the official should employ a "silent play-on" mechanic.

4.11 SITUATION: During a special substitution, A1 delays his entrance onto the field. The trailing official sees the delay. RULING: Silent play-on. The official will raise an arm. If A1 gains an advantage by the delayed substitution, call illegal procedure on A1. If no advantage is gained, drop the arm and play continues.

Questions about rules may be directed to mensdivision@uslacrosse.org

NFHS Additional Clarifications to HS Boys' Rules

BALTIMORE, March 6, 2012 — US Lacrosse has received additional clarifications and corrections to the rules for high school boys' lacrosse in 2012 from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The NFHS is the rules-writing body for high school boys' lacrosse. From the NFHS:

1. The 2012 revision to rule 7-1-1d stipulates that a player entering the field following expiration of his penalty time must wait until possession is gained on a faceoff. If, however, the ball breaks the restraining line without possession, this would end the faceoff and the player could enter the field at that point. Thus, the wording of the revision should be:

Wait until the faceoff has ended before entering the field through the table area even when his penalty time has expired."

2. The February 14 memo included a situation and ruling that was inadvertently omitted from the rules book. That situation on rule 1.6.1 should be stated as follows:

During an equipment inspection, A1's handle has a tape ring measuring more than 3.5 inches in circumference that is (a) within 3 inches or (b) more than 3 inches from the butt end of the handle. Ruling: (a) Legal (b) The stick is not considered illegal. The tape ring, which is more than 3 inches from the butt end of the handle, must be removed before the stick is returned to play. There is no penalty assessed.

3. In the February 14 memo, there was a clarification to rule 4-15, which has caused some confusion regarding the revision. While the original interpretation on this rule has not changed, the wording of that item has been revised as follows:

Clarification for Rule 4-15 – Rules Once the Goal Area is Gained

Once the ball has been successfully advanced into the goal area, a team is provided the opportunity to run its offense in its offensive half of the field. If the offensive team carries, intentionally passes, or intentionally propels the ball to its defensive half of the field and the offensive team was last in possession, the official will signal and verbally announce "get it in/keep it in" if the offensive team gains possession. The offensive team has 10 seconds to return the ball to the goal area, at which point it must "keep it in." Once the goal area is gained, the officials will signal and verbally say, "keep it in."

In all other situations in which the ball returns to the defensive half of the field, normal rules for advancing the ball will apply. Should the offensive team regain possession, they will have 20 seconds to advance the ball past the center line and then 10 seconds to advance the ball into the goal area. Should the offensive team regain possession in their offensive half of the field, they will have 10 seconds to advance the ball into the goal area.

Questions about rules may be directed to mensdivision@uslacrosse.org

US Lacrosse has received added clarifications and corrections to the rules for high school boys’ lacrosse in 2012 from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The NFHS is the rules-writing body for high school boys’ lacrosse.

From the NFHS:

There are conflicting rulings in the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Book with regard to the revision to rule 4-11-3, Not Offside. In the memo dated February 14, 2012, the following corrections and clarifications were made:

Due to this year’s 4-11 rule revision, “Not Offside,” the ruling for 4.10 Situation I on page 36 of the 2012 Boys Lacrosse Rules Book is incorrect. That situation and ruling should read as follows:

4.10 SITUATION I: Team A delays their substitution which causes them to have too few players on either end of the field. RULING: Illegal procedure if Team A gains an advantage by the delayed substitution. Ball is awarded at the spot of the foul (or laterally outside the goal area).

Upon recognizing a delayed substitution situation, the official should employ a “silent play-on” mechanic.

Note: The following situation was added subsequent to the publication of the 2012 Boys Lacrosse Rules Book and was distributed via memorandum dated February 14, 2012:

4.11 SITUATION: During a special substitution, A1 delays his entrance onto the field. The trailing official sees the delay. RULING: Silent play-on. The official will raise an arm. If A1 gains an advantage by the delayed substitution, call illegal procedure on A1. If no advantage is gained, drop the arm and play continues.

Since that time, an additional situation and ruling has been identified that is in conflict with the two situations above. On page 45, Rule 4-24, Special Substitution, 4.24.2 SITUATION A reads as follows:

4.24.2 SITUATION A: During a special substitution (during play), player A1 exits the field and A2 delays his entry onto the field. Ruling: Illegal procedure on A2. If it was deliberate, this could be an unsportsmanlike conduct one-minute releasable penalty.

The two situations previously distributed (4.10 Situation I and 4.11 Situation) correctly and adequately explain the interpretation of this rule. Thus, 4.24.2 Situation A is incorrect and must be considered deleted from the 2012 NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Book.

Questions about rules may be directed to mensdivision@uslacrosse.org

Not sure where else to ask ,are there specific rules in nys about playing time on the middle school level or modified lacrosse and if so where can they be found , thanks for any help

BOTC will post the full NYSPHSAA Handbook covering all of the rules and regulations in place for 2010-2012. In summary, the following key points for middle school sports apply :

Boys Lacrosse - Regulation games have nine (9) minute quarters, five (5) period play includes nine (9) minute quarters, four (4) quarter extended play includes eleven (11) minute quarters, and four (4) quarter extended play much have at least fourteen (14) players.

Girls Lacrosse - Regulation games have twenty-five (25) minute halves, five (5) period play includes twelve (12) minute quarters, four (4) quarter extended play includes fifteen (15) minute quarters, and four (4) quarter extended play much have at least sixteen (16) players.

In boys’ and girls’ lacrosse and in girls' field hockey, if a team has only one goal keeper that goal keeper may play in all periods of 4 Quarter Extended Play or in all periods of 5 Period Play. Except for the goal keeper, the "time" allocated for the game will not be extended. All players except for the goal keeper will follow the 4 quarter or 5 periods extended playing time format and are therefore only eligible to play 3 periods.

This is the only area when playing time in modified rules in NYS is discussed.

So what is the implication of this highlighted area? Generally, if a middle school team has enough players, each can take three quarters in a game and in theory, some players might not get into the match. However, the general feeling is that since middle school records are not kept, the coaches will agree that at least one quarter for each player on the bench.