To all interested in becoming a boy's or girl’s lacrosse official To become a boys lacrosse official you must be 15 years of age or older by April 1st, become a member of US Lacrosse with an Official designation (officials membership expires on September 30th of each year), pass all required test with an 85% or better, and attend ALL required training sessions. Training includes 12 hours of classroom training and an additional 3 hours of on-field training. New youth officials, once approved, must market themselves to local youth programs in order to secure youth games to officiate. Each year returning officials must attend a 1 day (3 hours) Rules Interpretation meeting and pass all required test with an 85% or better in order to recertify for the upcoming year. Cost includes an annual fee of $75 for new officials and $65 for returning youth officials. New youth officials are also responsible for purchasing the correct uniform and equipment required by all lacrosse officials. Uniform and equipment specifics will be outlined in class. There will be 2 options for the classroom trainings in 2019. The 1st option will be 5 -- 2.5 hour classroom sessions in the Londonderry area on weeknights in February and March. The 2nd classroom option will be in the Wolfeboro area on 2 Sundays – 9am to 3pm in March. Attendance at all classroom sessions (either weeknights or both Sundays) is mandatory. On field training opportunities will be held on Sundays in late March and early April. Dates, times, and locations for classroom and on-field trainings will be posted on the www.nhyla.org web site once finalized. Registration will take place in early November on the NHYLA web site. Click on Home then Officials Registration on the drop down menu. If you have further questions please contact me at wdemers@comcast.net or call at 603-778-8411. Wayne Wayne M. Demers NHYLA Youth Officials Coordinator 603-778-8411 wdemers@comcast.net

This article was borrowed from PlaySportsTV.com.  There also are some great training videos!

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10 Important Girls’ Lacrosse Rules for Beginners

Get your youngsters in the game

By Craig Haley
PlaySportsTV Managing Editor

A girls’ lacrosse coach who is teaching beginners must explain the sport’s rules as much as skills. Girls have to learn field dynamics as well as how to legally catch, pass and shoot a ball.

Safety is a big part of coaching lacrosse. Following are 10 important US Lacrosse rules to coach with your girls’ lacrosse players:

(Learn how to coach young players with PSTV lacrosse training plans. Hear's how to teach players to catch the ball on their weak side.)

Draw control motion. On draw controls, the two opposing players must move the ball with an up-and-away motion with their lacrosse sticks. A downward or outward motion is illegal, and the ball is awarded to the non-offending team with a free position.

Restraining line. An offside is called when a team has more than seven players on or over the restraining line in its offensive end or more than eight players on or over the restraining line in its defensive end.

3-second rule. Girls’ lacrosse encourages ball movement when the person with the ball is closely guarded within the restraining area. The offensive player has three seconds to pass the ball or change her cradle – either switching her hands or the level she is holding the ball. If the ball remains stationary for more than three seconds, the referee awards the defense with a free position. This lacrosse rule is exempt if the offensive player is behind the goal and the defensive player guarding her is in front of the goal and mirroring her.

Avoid the goalie circle. Players must stay out of the goalie circle. A goal does not count if the shooter or another offensive player steps on or into the goal circle or interferes with the goalie. A defensive player can reach her stick inside the goal circle to block or redirect a shot. Below the ninth-grade level, a shooter may not follow through with her lacrosse stick into the goalie circle.

Free position or indirect free position. The penalty for fouls is a free position. When a team is awarded the ball after a foul, the player can run, pass or shoot it. However, an indirect free position is awarded for minor defensive fouls inside the 12-meter fan, and the player who restarts the ball can’t shoot until a defensive player or a teammate touches it. Only a goalie can take a free position within the 8-meter circle and no free position can be taken within four meters of a field boundary.

Major or minor fouls. All players must stand at least four meters away from the player restarting a free position or indirect free position. On a major foul, the offending player must stand four meters behind the player taking the free position. On a minor foul, the offending player stands four meters away in the direction from which she approached before committing the foul.

Empty stick check.  A girls’ lacrosse player can’t check another player’s stick that isn’t in contact with the ball. This applies only when the opponent could have gained possession of the ball.

Offensive charging. A girls’ lacrosse player with the ball cannot push into a defensive player who has established position. This major foul often occurs within the 12-meter fan when a player is going toward the goal.

Dangerous propelling. A player cannot maneuver the ball in her lacrosse stick in a dangerous manner and without regard to the people around her.

Pick or screen?  An illegal screen occurs when a player without the ball, by her positioning, forces an opponent to take another route. To be legal, the player must be set within the visual field of the opponent, allowing the defender time and space to change her direction.

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For more great girls' lacrosse tips, check out PSTV's complete collection of girls' lacrosse videos.

https://devzone.positivecoach.org/resource/video/why-its-important-play-other-kids-are-same-age

 

This Positive Coaching group provides a variety of podcasts available for whatever aspect of sports and life interests you.  Here is one on the benefits of having your player stay with their grade level teams.  Check out some others, too.

GIRLS must have:

Girl's stick

eye cage

mouth guard, neither white nor clear

uniform (supplied by Cocheco)

cleats

 

BOYS must have:

Boy's stick

Helmet

mouth guard, neither white nor clear

shoulder pads

elbow pads

gloves (with a gauntlet to protect their wrists)

protective cup

uniform (supplied by Cocheco)

cleats

Girls
Grades 1/2 or 8U - Short Field		Grades 3/4 or 10U – Short Field
Players – 7 versus 7 of which one can be a goalie.   Goals may not be upside down		Players – 7 versus 7 of which one can be a goalie.   Goals may not be upside down
Field – 60-70 yds by 30-40 yds.  (roughly half of regulation)		Field – 60-70 yds by 30-40 yds. (roughly half of regulation)
Halves start with draw – after a goal, the team that was scored on gets the ball on the goal line extended.  All players 4m away.		Halves start with draw – after goal, draw Three players allowed at draw.  All others to be below 8m arc until after possession.
Markings – Goal Circle, Goal line, 8m arc and Center line – used as restraining line with one back (plus goalie)  *some fields will have a draw circle		Markings – Goal Circle, Goal line, 8m arc and Center line – used as restraining line with one back (plus goalie)  *some fields will have a draw circle
Regulation or soft ball.  Eyewear and mouthguard required.		Regulation or soft ball.  Eyewear and mouthguard required.
Goals – 4x4 OR 6’ by 6’		Goals – 4 x 4' OR  6’ by 6’
20-minute halves, running time; No OT		20-minute halves, running time; No OT
Two time outs per game		Two time outs per game
No scoreboard; ref keeps time		No scoreboard; ref keeps time
One Pass Rule (at least)		One Pass Rule (at least)
Cards are not used.  Player might be asked to leave field briefly (for coach discussion) and be replaced. NO CONTACT.  Intentional or dangerous contact and unsporting conduct are major fouls and player is off field for short time and replaced.		Carded Players might leave field (for coach discussion) and must be replaced.    NO CONTACT – excessive contact cardable
One official required, two recommended. One coach may be on the field for coaching,		One officials required, two recommended. Coach on field if lots of newbies.  Cover in pre-game meeting.
Youth Rules a. Contested ball by two players only.  Third player results in ball being awarded by alternate possession b. 1 on 1 defense only c. 3-seconds closely guarded results in a turnover d. Players may not kick the ball nor cover the ball.  Flicking is allowed, but cross must be vertical.		Youth Rules a. Contested ball by two players only.  Third player results in ball being awarded by alternate possession b. 1 on 1 defense only  c. 3-seconds closely guarded results in a turnover d. Players may not kick the ball nor cover the ball.  Flicking is allowed, but cross must be vertical.

 

Girls
	12U		14U
	Players – 12 versus 12 including Goalie		Players – 12 versus 12 including Goalie
	Field – Regulation:  60-70' x 90-100'		Field – Regulation:  60-70' x 90-100'
	Markings – All Standard HS, including draw circle with line, 8 arc and 12m fan		Markings – All Standard HS, including draw circle with line, 8 arc and 12m fan
	Modified checking		Modified checking
	Offsides:  5 players behind line when ball in offensive end, 4 players behind when ball is in defensive end.		Offsides:  5 players behind line when ball in offensive end, 4 players behind when ball is in defensive end.
	Halves start with draw – after goal, draw.  Mercy Rule Applies at 4 goals. Players below restraining line may not cross until possession is established.		Halves start with draw – after goal, draw.  Mercy Rule Applies at 4 goals. Players below restraining line may not cross until possession is established.
	Regulation ball.  Eyewear and mouthguard required.		Regulation ball.  Eyewear and mouthguard required.
	Goals – as high school 6’ by 6’		Goals – as high school 6’ by 6’
	One Pass Rule		No Pass Rule
	25-minute halves, running time Two (2) three-minute sudden death overtimes.		25-minute halves, stopped time only for last two minutes Two (2) three-minute sudden death overtimes.
	Two time outs per game		Two time outs per game
	Two officials required		Two officials required for full field; one must be adult-rated or above.
	Keep score using time keeper and score keeper at table		Keep score using time keeper and score keeper at table
	Carded Player leaves field.  Team plays short 2 minutes for yellow and duration of game for red.		Carded Player leaves field. Team plays short 2 minutes for yellow and duration of game for red.
	Players may kick the ball to move, but not to score.		Players may kick the ball.

 

4.3.2. Pass Rule only applies to 8U, 10U, and 12U.  One attempted pass is required after the ball and the ball carrier completely cross their respective offensive restraining line before a shot can be taken at the goal.  An additional pass is not required until the ball leaves the offensive side of the field beyond the restraining line.  If a shot is taken before the pass is attempted, it is considered a goal circle violation and the ball is awarded to the goal keeper.

 

Women's Lacrosse Headgear FAQs

Points of Emphasis

• The use of headgear is optional in girls' and women's lacrosse.
• Any headgear used after January 1, 2017 must meet the ASTM standard, F3137.
• The ASTM standard, F3137, is a performance standard, not a design standard.
• Product designs will likely vary from one manufacturer to another.
• Products must provide full coverage of the head.
• Products must be worn with required ASTM women’s lacrosse eyewear.
• There must be marking on both the packaging and product that states that the headgear conforms to ASTM standard F3137.

What does the standard mean?
The ASTM standard is the first-ever performance standard for women’s lacrosse headgear, developed to help reduce impact forces associated with stick and ball contact in women’s lacrosse.

Will the new headgear prevent concussions?
The headgear standard was developed to decrease ball- and stick-to-head impact force. No headgear or helmet in any sport has been proven to prevent concussions.

Is the use of headgear required?
No. Headgear remains optional in the US Lacrosse Youth Rule Book and in the USL/NFHS Rule Book.

When will this headgear be available?
Headgear products have begun to be available in the marketplace, as of September 2016. US Lacrosse has created an online listing for headgear models that have submitted a passing report in compliance with ASTM standard F3137.

What does this mean for the 2016 season?
During the remainder of 2016, both current soft headgear allowable under the 2016 rules and any headgear that meets the ASTM standard will be legal for play. US Lacrosse encourages parents, program administrators and athletic directors to contact the manufacturer of gear already purchased for information on compliance to the new standard.

Will the new headgear be soft?
ASTM standard F3137 is not a soft headgear standard and the standard itself makes no mention of the word "soft." However, the testing protocol does require that the product meets a certain flexibility to insure that players who are wearing the product do not injure those who are not.

How much will the new headgear products cost?
Products vary in cost and design. Please contact the headgear manufacturers for more information.

What will the headgear look like?
The ASTM standard requires the headgear to fully cover the head, thus precluding the use of head band type products currently used by some players. All headgear must be worn with required eyewear, and some headgear models have integrated eyewear. The standard has two options, allowing manufacturers to make their headgear with eyewear implemented or a product that is compatible with various eyewear products currently on the market.

For further inquiries, please contact Caitlin Kelley, Women's Game Senior Manager at US Lacrosse, at ckelley@uslacrosse.org.