Lacrosse Officials Training: Understanding Personal and Technical Fouls

1. Central Pennsylvania Lacrosse Officials Association(CPLOA) Officials Training Rule 5 – Personal Fouls Rule 6 – Technical Fouls Rule 7- Penalty Enforcement

2. Rule 5 - Personal Fouls • Violations of a serious nature • Cross check • Illegal body check • Illegal crosse • Use of illegal equipment • Slashing • Tripping • Unnecessary roughness • Unsportsmanlike conduct • Penalty time • 1 – 3 minutes • Depends on official’s judgment of • Severity • Perceived intent

3. Rule 5 - Personal Fouls NEW NEW • Violations of a serious nature • Cross check “to the HEAD” • Illegal body check “to the HEAD” • Unnecessary roughness “Where there is HEAD contact” * Even if the contact INITIATES legally and ends with HEAD contact • Penalty time • 1 – 3 minutes NON-RELEASABLE • Depends on official’s judgment of • Severity • Perceived intent

4. Cross check • Applying a check with the crosse • Thrusting • Holding away from body • Crosse between hands • If hands are together, not a cross check

5. Illegal body check • Bodychecking is a part of the game • Bodychecking illegal when: • Body check when opponent • Not possess ball, or • Not within 5 yards of loose ball • From rear, below waist, above shoulders • If player turns, not illegal • Judge initial contact • Body check when opponent on ground • When anything other than feet touching ground • Avoidable body check after • Pass or shot • Turning • Spearing • Minimum 1 minute, non-releasable (3 min. if vicious)

6. Illegal body check Rule 5-4 ART. 1 . . . A player shall not initiate contact to an opponent’s head or neck with a cross-check or with any part of his body (head, elbow, shoulder, etc.) or stick. Any follow-through that contacts the head or neck shall also be considered a violation of this rule. ART. 2 . . . A player shall not initiate an excessive, violent or uncontrolled slash to the head/neck. ART 3 . . . A player, including an offensive player in possession of the ball, shall not block an opponent with the head or initiate contact with the head (known as spearing). PENALTY: One-, two- or three-minute non-releasable foul, at the official’s discretion, for violation of Article 1, 2 or 3. If the contact to the head/neck is considered deliberate or reckless, the penalty shall be a minimum two- or three-minute non-releasable foul. An excessively violent violation of this rule may result in an ejection.

7. Illegal crosse • One or three minute non releasable • Deep pocket • 1 min. non releasable • Altered crosse • Length, head dimension, etc. • 3 min. non releasable • Stick remains at table • Player adjusts crosse (for stick check) • 1 minute non releasable - automatic • Additional 1-3 min. NR if crosse is illegal

8. Illegal equipment • Fingers and palms of gloves • If cut, illegal (1 min. NR) • If holes worn, instruct to tape the holes • Not wearing shoulder pads, arm pads • 1 minute NR • Does not apply to goalie • Goalie has option to not wear these pads • Goalie must wear • Throat protector • Chest protector

9. Slashing • Swinging the crosse • Deliberate viciousness and reckless abandon • Player need not be struck • Striking a player • Head (helmet) • Neck • Back (flank) • Chest (stomach) • Arms (when not playing the crosse) • Unless used to deflect stick check • Cannot deliberately beat on the arm • 3rd hit – flag down, slash • Legs (always) • Pass, shot, scoop • Not a slash

10. Tripping • Obstruct a player below the waist with (causing to fall down) • Legs, crosse, hands, etc. • Must be positive primary action • When standing • Any secondary action • When not standing • Not tripping if • Trip over own crosse being checked • During a scoop

11. Unnecessary roughness • Excessively violent push or hold • Violent contact of a screener • Excessively violent contact which is avoidable • May have been otherwise legal • Check delivered with punching blow • UNR is not fighting • Fighting is not related to the game of lacrosse

12. Unsportsmanlike conduct • 1 Arguing with an official* • 2 Threaten, profane, obscene* • Language • Gestures • 3 Bait, call undue attention to self* • Repeatedly commit same Technical foul • Deliberately fail to return to field • Deliberately fail to substitute properly *Note: fouls in red (1, 2, & 3) are 1-3 min and are Non-Releaseable

13. 2013NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Revisions Rules 5-10-1d New 5-10-1d . . . d. Deliberately use his hand or fingers to play the ball or grab an opponent’s crosse with the open hand or fingers. Note: Inadvertent touching of the ball when the hand is grasping the stick should not be called as an unsportsmanlike conduct foul. Unsportsmanlike conduct

14. Fouling out • 5 MINUTES of Personal fouls • Disqualified • Time served by self • Substitute may enter after time served • Man-down time is complete

15. Ejection • Deliberately striking or attempting to strike • Leaving bench during an altercation • Use of tobacco (any kind) • Second non-releasable foul • Flagrant conduct • In official’s judgment • Penalty • 3 min. NR • Ejection for remainder of game • Ejected coach leaves premises • Ejected player leaves premises if supervised

16. Rule 6 - Technical fouls • Violations of a less serious nature • Crease violation • Goalie interference • Holding • Illegal screening • Illegal procedure • Conduct foul • Interference • Offside • Pushing • Stalling • Warding off • Withholding • Penalty time • 30 seconds (releasable), or • turnover

17. Crease violation • Attacking team violates the crease • Player steps on crease line or in crease • Defense enters own crease with ball • Defense may receive a pass in the crease • A player may never enter opponents crease • A player may enter own crease • Unless possesses the ball • May receive pass in the crease

18. Goalie interference • Obstructing or touching the goalie while in the crease • Goalie’s stick may not be touched inside the crease • Goalie’s body may not be touched if he is in the crease • Goalie’s stick may be checked outside of the crease • Unless he has possession and he is in the crease • If a toenail is in the crease, he is in the crease • He is out when nothing is in the crease • He has possession when he has the ball • i.e., a “clamp” is not possession • Goalie does not have possession • Play on (slow whistle) • Award laterally if his team does not gain possession • Goalie has possession • Play on (slow whistle) • Award at center faceoff X if they fail to clear

19. Holding • Holding is • NOT NECESSARILY AN ILLEGAL ACT • Definition: Impeding movement of player or his crosse • Permitted when • From front or side, if • Opponent has possession • Opponent within 5 yards of loose ball • From rear, if • No more than equal pressure applied • Must be closed hand, shoulder, forearm, both hands on crosse • Illegal • Handle between hands • Step on crosse • From behind if more than equal pressure exerted • Free hand (hand not on crosse)

20. Illegal screening • Block a defensive player • Impede a player with the crosse • Offensive player must be stationary • There must be contact for a screen to take place • Officiate just like basketball • No contact, no foul

21. Illegal procedure • Technical in nature (long list) • Touching the ball • Illegal actions with the crosse • Throwing the crosse • Participating without the crosse • Crosse in face of opponent • Avoidable lateness • Leaving penalty box too soon • Delaying game • Participating from out of bounds • Not in restraining area at face off • Not 5 yards away • Substitution infractions • Goal-crease violations • Time out violations • More than 10 players • More than 1 unsuccessful inspection requests • More than 4 long crosses • Creating delay (rolling ball away) • Failure to advance into goal area in 10 seconds • No horn

22. NEW Rule 6 2017NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Revisions Rule 6-5-2: Failure to wear the required mouthpiece (unless it comes out during play) is now a technical foul • Failure to wear a mouthpiece PROPERLY • Fish hooking • Altered Mouthpiece (nub) • Not in Mouth • Hanging from Facemask • Sitting in Helmet TAKE THE BALL AWAY!

23. Conduct foul • Coach enters field of play • Coach violating coaching box • Using electronic communicating devices • Players violating bench area • Objecting to an official’s decision • Arguing, gesturing • On opponent’s side of the field • Band, other artificial noise

24. Interference • Obstructing free movement of opponent who • Does not have possession • Not within 5 yards of loose ball

25. Offside • Failure to keep • 3 players on attack half of field • 4 players on defense half of field • Usually 3 + goalie • If goalie goes across, another player must stay • Requirements may be met by ANY player • We don’t care if it is A, M, D, or G

26. Pushing • Pushing defined • Thrust or shove • Not a violent blow • Permitted from front or side • If player • has ball or • within 5 yards of loose ball • Not permitted • From rear • If player does not have ball • Player not within 5 yards of loose ball • Interference • Illegal screen

27. NEW Rule 6 2017NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Revisions Rule 6-10-3: During the last two minutes of regulation play, stalling rules are in effect for the team that is ahead by four goals or less.   When the score differential is five goals or more, neither team is forced to keep the ball in the goal area unless warned to “keep it in.”

28. Stalling • Stall warning for • Failure to attack the goal (occasional) • Last two minutes of game (common) • Team that is ahead by FOUR goals or LESS • Must keep ball in attack box • Stalling violation if • Attacking team • Passes ball out of box • Runs ball out of box • Not stalling violation if • Shot ricochets out of box • Deflection by defense

29. NEW Rule 6 2013NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Revisions Rule 6-5-2v New v. When no player from the team awarded possession picks up the ball and moves to the position of the restart within five seconds of when the officials are ready to restart play. (Note: This only applies to situations in which Rule 6-5-2f does not apply.) 6-6-3bA coach or player may leave the bench/coaches area while play is suspended and enter the table area for the sole and distinct purpose of seeking information from the timer, score-keeper or chief official and enter the table area only (1) To exchange a crosse with a player on the field in the opposite end of the field from that team’s bench during a live ball or dead ball; or (2) To seek information from the timer or scorekeeper during a dead ball.

30. Warding off • Player in possession shall not • Use free hand, arm, other part of body to • Hold, push, control direction of movement of • crosse • body • Of player applying a check • Player in possession may • Protect his crosse with • Hand, arm, other part of body when • Opponent makes a play to check his crosse

31. Withholding ball from play • Player may not • Lie on the ball • Trap the ball with his crosse • Longer than is necessary to control and pick it up • Withhold ball in any other manner

32. Penalty Decision Tree Foul Occurs Technical Personal Flag down slow whistle LOOSE Ball? 1 – 3 min No Yes NO FLAG No Whistle B Fouls A Fouls Releasable Non Releasable PLAY ON 30 Sec Take Ball Away Simultaneous Unsportmanslike Conduct Spearing Illegal Crosse Illegal Equipment Fighting Permit Offended Team to Gain Possession A Scores Cancel Foul

33. Rule 7 – Penalty Enforcement • Procedure • Penalty time • Player shall • Leave field at once • Report to scorer’s table • Remain at scorer’s table • Sit or kneel in front of scorer’s table • If goalie • 1 minute allowed to warm up new goalie

34. Penalty time • Time begins when play resumes • If goal scored • Team scored against, released (if releasable) • Team scored, not released • All NR penalties serve full time • If not released, carries over to new period • Penalties on opposing players • Shorter time is NR for both players • Multiple penalties • NR served first

35. Resuming play • Resume play at • Spot ball became dead • Outside the attack box • At center face off X (if defensive half) • For time-serving man advantage penalties only

36. Team penalties • No definite player involved • No player in the game • “In-home” must serve • Next attack also for multiple fouls • A substitute must serve his own time

37. Simultaneous fouls • Opposing players • During a live ball • Dead ball when sequence not known • Technical fouls cancel if • No flag down or play on • Team in possession commits • Technical, no time served • Personal fouls, time served • Award ball • Less total penalty time • If same total penalty time • Team in possession retains possession • No possession, AP 2013NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Revisions Rule 7-3 Exception • Exception: For live ball simultaneous fouls where time is to be served by each team… 

38. Slow whistle“Flag Down” • Foul against team in possession • Throw flag high in the air • Yell “flag down” • Hold whistle (allow play to continue) • Blow whistle when • Ball hits the ground (except a shot) • Goal scored • Ball goes out of bounds • Defense get possession • Shot is no good • Player carries ball out of goal area • Player loses equipment in scrimmage area • Loose ball occurs • Attack commits foul • Fail to clear

39. After slow whistle • Enforcement after slow whistle • Personal foul • Time is served (1-3 minutes) • Technical foul • If goal scored • No penalty • If no goal • Penalty served (30 seconds) • Ball awarded to team fouled • Spot of ball when play suspended • Outside box • If there were simultaneous fouls • No goal

40. Play on • Loose ball • If offended team is disadvantaged by whistle • Hold whistle (allow play to continue) • Verbally signal “play on” and • Visually give “play-on” signal • Play on is over if • Offended team gains possession • Offended team commits • For crease violation with goalie possession • Play continues until offended team is disadvantaged

41. Play-on enforcement • Offended player gains possession • No whistle • Play continues • Offended player fails to gain possession • Blow whistle, award ball to team offended • Goalie in possession • Play on until goalie makes outlet

42. Correction of errors 2013NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Revisions Rule 7-13 • ART 2 . . . Inadvertent Whistles –…The team with possession or entitled to possession when the whistle was blown… 

43. Correction of errors • Misapplication of rule • Coach may approach scorer’s table • Double horn at next dead ball • If coach is right, no time out charged • If coach is wrong, time out charged • Coach may not debate judgment calls • Inadvertent whistle • Team in possession restarts • If ball loose, AP • Inadvertent flag • Wave flag • Possession same as inadvertent whistle

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