1. 3-MAN LACROSSE MECHANICS
Updated: 02/03/09

2. Points of Emphasis Mechanics & Rules = Foundation of Officiating
Know your mechanics. If you have to think about where-to-go, you are in trouble. You can’t rule on plays properly when you are too busy being concerned with mechanics.
Communication is key.
Face-off:
Primary focus after a violation is to achieve a quick restart.
Restart should be on the offensive side of mid-line.
Trail official will watch for illegal sub.
It is the player’s responsibility to pick up the ball and get ready for play.

3. z
DEFENSIVE ZONE
ZONE 3
ZONE 4 C
Zones of the Field

4. U FJ R Pre-Coin Toss Get to corner of box before you call forOO XX U FJ
Get to corner of box
before you call for
Captains. R
Note: Crew should be available
for equipment checks.
1) Introduce Captains
to Referee
NOTE: Confirm time of coin-toss during coaches certification.
Note: Home team leaves first, and Visitor is about 5 steps behind
U R FJ
Pre-Coin Toss

5. FJ R U Coin Toss Note: Use a coin at least the
1) Home Team faces bench
2) Visiting team calls toss prior to
toss
3) Catch coin (Don’t flip)
4) Rotate players backs to goal
they are defending
5) Tap shoulder for Alternating
possession
6) Left shoulder to goal for line-up
Note: Use a coin at least the
size of a half dollar.
NOTE: Coin Toss winner gets choice of goal to defend or first alternating possession.
Speaking captain
OO OO FJ U R
XX XX
Note: U and FJ checks nets after
the coin toss. Check for balls.
Coin Toss

6. U R FJ Line-up Note: U and FJ should line up 5 yards apart, and have
teams line up on them
1) Teams should have their left shoulder
towards the goal they are defending
2)Don’t talk very much here as the
players just want to play.
OOOOO OOOO G U R
G XXXXX XXXX FJ
Line-up

7. FACE-OFF OFFICIAL Face-Off Official
Points of Emphasis
Keep free arm at your side. Keep the whistle in your mouth, or get it up there as soon as you say “down” and “set”!
Position yourself straddling the mid-field line, where you feel safe and can see sticks and neutral zone unobstructed.
Put players down together (one player delaying is unacceptable). FREEZE once players are down (whistle in mouth as players go down).
Stay “home”. No need to rush to goal- your partners have it. Watch face-off action.
Face-Off Official
Updated 6/21/05

8. FACE-OFF Wing Officials
Single Side: Along the wing line as close to center as necessary in order to assist F/O official with stick set up and movement. Remember – you have F/O’s goal responsibility! Be careful when close to midfield on the face-off.
Bench Side: Closer to end of wing line (same angle as Face-Off official so no need to pinch towards center line – plus goal responsibility should keep you closer to end of wing line.
Move toward your goal on the whistle.
Cover restraining line, goal, end-line.
Face-Off- Wings
Updated 6/21/05

9. B F/O SS Face-Off Position
F/O Responsibilities
- position as needed
to be safe, see sticks
- neutral zone
- stick heads
- handles of Crosse
- feet position
- gloves on Crosse
- most violations
- most possession calls
*Remember clearing beeper! If we call possession in defensive end, someone must have a beeper on. B
F/O
SS Responsibilities
- butt end facing him
- wing line jumps
- goal line coverage
- move on whistle
- some possession calls
- line violations
- 10-second counts
- 20-sec clearing timer
Bench Official Responsibilities
- wing line violations
- goal line coverage
- move on whistle
- some possession calls
- beeper to start play
- time outs
- line violations
Teaching Tips
- Face-off official position flexible
- Be still once you put the players down
- ball stays at center- stay home SS
Face-Off Position

10. Left Hand Up (Right Hand on Head?)

11. B F/O SS Face-off (ball stays) Bench official
- Move toward goal on whistle
- cover restraining line, goal B
F/O
Face-off official
- conduct face-off
- no point, no chop
- IF BALL STAYS, YOU STAY,
- but keep out of harm’s way
- take 99% of post-whistle F/O violations
Single-Side Official
- Move toward goal on whistle
- 10 second count
- cover restraining line, goal
- stay until called off by Lead SS
Face-off (ball stays)

12. Why FO needs to “stay home”…
Where’s the Ball?

13. Face-off with ball away
#1 Trail official
- conduct face-off
- no point, no chop
- determine possession
- sweep box
- jog into play
- If FO violation, restart play quickly, insure no subs from restricted boxes until we restart.
#2 Lead official
- has goal line, endline 2 1
#3 Single-Side Official
- don’t stop at cone!
- 10 second count
- help on questionable goal 3
Face-off with ball away

14. Face-off (ball towards)
#2 Trail official
- secondary offside
- substitutions
sweep box
time-outs
jog into play
If FO violation, insure
players restricted to boxes stay 2 1
#1 Lead official
- conduct face-off
- no point, no chop
- stay outside of passing
lanes getting to GLE
- get to GLE
- verbally call off SS
Teaching Tips
- get into position as soon as you can, but stay out of
passing lanes
#3 Single-Side Official
- GET TO GOAL LINE!!
- 10 second count
- help on questionable goal
- stay until called off by Lead 3
Face-off (ball towards)

15. T L SS Settled Situations Lead--be close to crease, and
keep ball in front of you. Move
in and out with ball.
Trail-- after sweeping box, jog to
5 yds. off, and 5 yds. in.
Will have most counts during settled situations. T L SS
Single-Side- about 5yds off & 5 yds. up
Must move in as Lead gets pushed
off the goal line.
Will start counts that begin in his alley.
Settled Situations

16. Coverage - Settled Situations
Trail is helping on crease,
watching shooter, has sideline, and
has all substitutions.
Lead has the front of the crease,
and is off official.
Note: Single & Lead need to
communicate on and off ball. T L X Ô SS
Single-Side has the ball, and is
the ON official.
Coverage - Settled Situations

17. T L SS Settled Situations
Stay outside of line of “next pass” (anticipate) T
Next Pass X L X
w/ ball X SS
Next Pass
Settled Situations

18. Goalie Save –Fast Break
Lead (now Trail) has 4 second
goalie count, and 20 second
beeper. Come up w/ball
If slow clear, stay deep as ball.
Trail (now Lead) breakout on save
look before you get to the midline,
if still coming get to goal-line
look T L X
SS- If ball is ahead of you, start count when ball hits midfield line, If you’re at “2” when you reach cone-
DON’T STOP! SS
look
Single-side breaks for cone w/save. Take
a few strides, take a look. Straddle
cone check offside, initiate 10 second
Count or signal Trail.
Note: new Lead should not get
beat to midfield, to top of
offensive box area, goal line or
endline.
Goalie Save –Fast Break

19. Goalie Save – Slow Clear
(“New”)
Trail (old Lead) stop at 1st cone, watch subs
Lead (old Trail) stop here, watch substitution area until ball position demands that you get to the goal. L
look T L X SS
look
Goalie Save – Slow Clear

20. B F/O SS Man-Down Face-Off X is man down Communicate which number
Situations to watch for:
1) How much time is left in period?
2) How much time is left in the
penalty?
3) Watch player coming out of box
Communicate which number
may be staying onsides. B O X O X X O O X O X
F/O X O O
NOTE: Remember the beeper O X X O SS O X
X is man down
Man-Down Face-Off

21. T L SS Sideline out of bounds Lead has goal-line Trail has beeper, and
any substitutes. T L
Single-Side has whistle
and count. SS
ball
Sideline out of bounds

22. Goal line Extended Out of Bounds
ball • T
T come to sideline and down to make the OOB call.
L make sure T is on the field before giving up the call. L SS
SS covers goal
Goal line Extended Out of Bounds

23. Goal line Extended Restart
T blows it out,
L blows it in unless it’s closer to T
w/ ball T
L Follow ball to goal SS
C MUST cover goal.
S covers goal
Goal line Extended Restart

24. Goal line Extended Restart
w/ ball
L- Blow it in, then follow ball to goal L
T blows it out, move into position on restart X T X SS
SS- Stay on goal until ball turns away from goal
C MUST cover goal.
Goal line Extended Restart

25. End line out of bounds- far side
Trail has any subs on the fly.
Open up and let the subs go in
front of you. Close in behind.
Lead has goal-line.
Note: remember goalie
5-sec count if he chases.
Communicate this with SS so restart isn’t too soon T * L
Communicate with Single-Side on who puts the ball back in play.
*If ball is double-teamed on endline, T must move inside box.*
Single-Side has whistle and count
Need to talk with Lead on this SS Ô
ball
End line out of bounds- far side

26. End line out of bounds- bench side
Trail has subs, count. Ô
ball
Lead has restart. Follow ball to goal. SS
SS covers goal.
End line out of bounds- bench side

27. T L SS Sub Area out of bounds NOTE: be sure where the
ball T
Trail brings the ball in 5 yds
has the beeper. Sweep box
after starting play. Be ready
for ball changing directions.
L and SS need to communicate.
Lead has goal. L
NOTE: be sure where the
ball went out of bounds!
Single-Side will take count.
Be ready for midline jump play.
You have offside. SS
Sub Area out of bounds

28. L T SS Time-Out Procedures Try to have at least 1 official where
the teams are crossing. L
X ball T SS
After all clear, meet at center. After discussion, official w/ restart at ball, others 20 yards off benches.
Time-Out Procedures

29. T L SS Fight Procedure Note: Coaches are to assist
in freezing benches.
FREEZE BENCHES T L
X fight O SS
NOTE:
Get #’s. Blow whistle very loud
and long. Be careful handling
players.
Fight Procedure

30. T L SS Penalty Relay #1 NOTE: Officials not involved
Trail move toward SS in the open,
stop and take penalty. Don’t be in a
hurry. Turn to table, stop, and relay
the penalty. Put your beeper on, and
return to the play. T
Report Only:
Color, Number, Foul, Time
Repeat sequence to table to insure foul/penalty is recorded properly L SS
NOTE: Officials not involved
in reporting penalty, be sure to
get the ball ready for play!
Restart far side if given a choice (offensive half)
Flag down here
NOTE 2: When play is halted with ball in box, restart FAR SIDE!
Single-Side calls out “flag down” stops
play when appropriate. Gets out to
an open area, and stops. Then signals.
Penalty Relay #1

31. Trail be sure to inform your
partners of the foul BEFORE
telling the table.
Trail has flag
flag down here T
come in and give call L SS
NOTE : When play is halted with ball in box, restart FAR SIDE!
Lead and Single-Side to get ball ready for play when Trail
returns.
Penalty Relay #2

32. T L SS Flag Down Trail move to corner of box upon “flag down”.

33. Stick/Equipment Check
Note: meet the players at the
wing area. Take stick,
with you to “X” T
NOTE: Watch player as you ask
him for his stick! If he adjusts stick
you have a foul! L R FJ U SS
Referee to measure “both”
sticks. FJ & U face benches
on either side of midline
Single-Side get ball, bench officials get stick that comes to you. Meet at midfield. Hold stick for Referee to measure.
Stick/Equipment Check

34. Free Clear- no time served
Trail hustles down to be
the new Lead. T
Lead has substitutions
Sweep box, join play as
new Trail T
make call and signal L L SS
whistle
and count SS
Single-Side get down field. Help positioning players
over midfield on your way downfield. Start play and
take count as ball is coming in.
Free Clear- no time served

35. Free Clear- time served
Trail hustles down to be
the new Lead.
Lead report penalty, check box, re-start play as new Trail. T T
make call and signal L L SS
count SS
Singe-Side get down field. Help positioning players
over midfield on your way downfield. Take count
as ball is coming in.
Free Clear- time served

36. BE PREPARED! Points of Emphasis
Partner communication is key before every restart.
Goal must be covered at all times. No excuses in 3-man games.
Offsides, Counts, etc. – again, no excuses.
Know where you are going, what to look for, etc. on face-offs.
Don’t over-hustle.
Shooter/Passer should always be covered by an official. Late hits must be called – and again, no excuses in a 3-man game!
Trail takes time in box. Transition through slowly, clean up box and benches, while at the same time being alert of ball movement on field.
Multiple flags? Always conference. Don’t assume it’s the same call.
Know your sideline and end-line responsibilities! Don’t call what isn’t yours!
After reporting foul, note time on scoreboard clock. Call out the return time of the penalized player to your partners. This may get you out of hot water down the line.
BE PREPARED!
Points of Emphasis