1. 2017 Rules Update & Review
Rules Interpreter - Jill McCabe
Board President – Colleen Spiegelhoff
Assignor – Jason Brightful

2. Location: http://uslacrosse.org/rules/girls-rules 13:30 minutes
2017 USL Rules Interp Video
Location: 13:30 minutes

3. Official’s Main Season Goal
Safety & Consistency

4. 2017 Points of Emphasis Dangerous follow thru and Dangerous Propelling
Illegal Defensive Positioning
Game Management
2016 similar (Dangerous contact, attack fouls, game management)

5. Dangerous Follow Through and Dangerous Propelling:
A player must not follow through with her crosse in a dangerous or uncontrolled manner at any time. Should be called if defender has already established legal defensive position before the shot or pass. Contact DOES NOT need to occur to make this call. Often the trail official sees this foul. If defender moves into the path of the stick/follow-through after the ball has been released, the shooter/passer should not be penalized.
Dangerous Propelling:
A player must not propel the ball with her crosse by passing, flicking, batting or shooting in a dangerous or uncontrolled manner at any time without regard for the positioning of any other field players.
Officials should penalize a player who shoots or passes a ball into players – whether they are teammates or opponents, without regard to their positioning. Contact DOES NOT need to occur.
Considerations to consider: proximity of players, force of pass or shot and location of ball as it creates potential danger. If dangerous propel and obstruction of free space to goal both must be penalized.

6. Illegal Defensive Positioning
“Illegal Defensive Positioning” is not a distinct foul… BUT! The term is intended to improve the understanding of the fouls of Obstruction of Free Space to Goal and Three Seconds.
Obstruction of Free Space to Goal (shooting space):
defenders who put themselves in, or fail to remove themselves from, the shooting lane when the attack has the opportunity to shoot safely if the space were clear.
rule update… attack does not need to be “looking” to shoot!
Three Second rule – defenders unfairly take away cutting and passing lanes, as well as opportunities to shoot.

7. Game Management
Using all tools of the game to control the game and maintain safety… and to promote a fair outcome
Tools include whistle, flag and cards
Open communication between officials, coaches and players strengthens teamwork.
We won’t “let them play” when fouls mandate a whistle
An official’s preparation and the tone he or she sets upon arrival often influences the tenor of the game

8. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Scorer’s/Timers Table : pg 10, “h”
Officials may choose to have “possession indicator” point in direction team is attacking OR be on side of table closest to bench area of team.
Rule : pg 15, Art 4
Stick checks may only be requested during stoppage of the game clock
Notes:
- Previously at any time during game and executed at discretion of official
- Officials may still - at any time– do a stick check if officials feel a stick has become non-compliant
- Reminder – stick checks may only be made on sticks on the field… not in bench area
- single pressure to ball in crosse to check pocket depth

9. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Rule 2-4-4: pg 15, Art 4
Stick checks may be requested immediately following regulation or overtime
Notes:
Previously rule book noted requests allowed only “during” the game. This rule update clarifies. Officials must be aware of potential request in order to best manage end of game and/or overtime requests.
Players must still be on the field, requestor must note player number
Reminder: two stick check requests allowed per team, per game
Reminder: requests may be made by opposing Head Coach or any opposing player on field

10. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Rule 2 -5 -2: pg 16 & 17
If the head of the crosse becomes disconnected from the shaft due to a throwing/shooting motion or during a draw, the crosse no longer meets specifications (placed at table)
If ball entered goal, goal does NOT count
Player may go to bench area, get another crosse and immediately return to her place on field
No subs allowed during any stoppage to address crosse replacement
Play is restarted with Alternate Possession, unless head dislodged on draw. In that case – Redraw.
If head is dislodged from stick without possession, just call T.O. to address stick replacement No Alternating Possession.
Rule 2-7-2: pg 17, Art 2
Outlines ASTM eyewear certification
- For 2017, must meet ASTM F3077 only. This standard is specific to girls lax.
Primary difference between previous F803 and F3077 is the testing protocol for the F3077 which is specific to eyewear standards for girls lacrosse.
F803 meets a general standard used across multiple sports, F3077 was adopted in 2014 and is now our single eyewear standard.

11. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Rule 2-7-3: pg 18, Art 3 Optional !!!
Effective Jan 1, 2017, any player choosing to wear headgear may only wear headgear that meets the ASTM F3137 standard for women’s lacrosse.
Only soft headgear permitted. Must allow for the integration of legal eye protection and be worn as directed.
F3137 defines reliable and repeated test performance standards for headgear to be used by field player’s participating in the sport of women’s lacrosse.
Note:
Former “soft headgear” NOT allowed unless it meets the F3137 ASTM standard. Only 2 soft helmets meet that standard right now….cascade (goggles built in) and hummingbird
-- Doctor’s note/medical is not an exception for headgear – absolutely no soft bands – this came with clarification from USL headquarters.

12. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Rule 3-2-2: pg 23, Art 2
Head Coaches responsibilities include verbally certifying that all team equipment including crosses, eye protection, balls, goalkeeper helmet & other protective equipment is legal under USL rules.
We do not need to search out certifications – coaches job

13. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Rule 5-2-3: pg 35
Players below the restraining line on the draw may not cross until possession is established
“Possession” is defined as either team having the ball in her cross and being able to cradle, carry, pass, shoot, etc
OR…
- Ball goes out of bounds off a player
- Ball crosses the restraining line
- Whistle stops play for a foul
1. Mechanics of new draw protocol with addition of “windmill” possession signal and additional “possession!” call from official to alert players they are released.
2. Review Penalty Admin: Any early entry over restraining line gets an immediate whistle. Play is reset at center with two closest players and positioning for an illegal draw. Any foul between the restraining lines prior to possession ends the “draw” protocol because possession has been established and when foul is set up all players may move as they wish on the whistle.

14. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Rule 5-4: pg 38
Alternate Possession Update… When setting up Alt Possession in the CSA above GLE, with attack gaining possession, Goalkeeper MAY return to goal circle if she is above the GLE as long as she was NOT the player that fouled, or closest to the incident that stopped play.
Note: (Rule 5, section 4)
If the team awarded Alt Possession commits a foul before free position has been administered, they lose possession and any right to call time out.
- If T.O. already called and players still on field, cancel the T.O.
- If T.O. already called and begun, allow the T.O. and change possession once players are back

15. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Rule 9-1-1: pg 47, Body Ball
- Players may not use their bodies to deliberately impede, accelerate or change the direction of the ball, except with a kicking action on a non-shooting attempt
- defender kicks back to goalie – goal if crosses goal line
Note: The goalie MAY NOT attempt to blatantly stop a shot on goal while outside the circle with the use of her body. That would be a major foul.

16. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Rule 10-1-1: pg 51 Rule 10-1-1: pg 53
Looking to Shoot has been eliminated from Free Space to Gaol criteria
- Two remaining criteria are : Opportunity to shoot & Position to shoot
Note: Emphasis this year is to hold defense accountable to keep themselves
out of harms way. Unless marking a player, they should NOT be in shooting lane!
This does not excuse attack from responsibility not to shoot if player in lane.
Rule : pg 53
Penalty administration for dangerous shot and illegal shot shall be aligned with the ball being given to the closest defender 8 meters from goal.
- All dangerous and illegal shots shall be considered to have occurred outside the goal circle.
- Penalty Admin will take place 8m away from goal to nearest defender.

17. 2017 Rule Changes/Updates Reminders:
Rule 2-7: Article Eye black shall be regulated
One solid stroke extending no further than width of socket nor below cheekbone
No logo’s – numbers – letters
Reminders:
Delay of Game Carding Upgrades (pg 48/49)
Green : T.O., change of possession if applicable for minor foul – not applied to team card count (creeping, failure to move 4 away,…)
Green/Yellow: Treated as Major. Player removed for 2 min. No sub. Do not include in team card count
Full Yellow: Same as Green/Yellow, but DOES add towards team card count. Yellow card for misconduct