PIAA BOYS’ LACROSSE CONCERNS

1. PIAA BOYS’ LACROSSE CONCERNS The following slides depict areas of concern. View more information on PIAA website, www.piaa.org

2. PIAA SPORTSMANSHIP MESSAGE • Must be read or recited VERBATIM to Head Coaches and Captains. • Head Coaches MUST certify their team is legally equipped by NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules. • Failure to do so indicates the officials will promote selective enforcement of rules.

3. CONCERNS REGARDING MRSA METHACILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCAL AUREUS • Coaches and officials need to be aware of this common bacterium that can exist on the body and upon competition surfaces. • MRSA has developed a resistance to certain antibiotics. • PIAA Sports Medicine Committee recommends the following measures to minimize the risk of MRSA.

4. MRSA PREVENTION MEASURES • Shower after all activity • Wash all workout gear/uniforms after practices or competition. • Clean sports equipment before practice or competition. • Use liquid soap. • Don’t share towels or hygiene products. • Notify parents/coaches/health care professional of any skin sores, boils or abscesses.

5. OFFICIALS’ PROPER UNIFORM • The proper uniform for PIAA Registered Boys’ Lacrosse Officials is clearly defined in the Annual PIAA Pre-Season Boys’ Lacrosse Bulletin. • Contest officials must be dressed alike.

6. OFFICIALS’ PROPER UNIFORM (CON’T) • Black cap with white piping • Black & white striped collared shirt • White shorts or solid black windpants • One piece, knee length, white sock with 4” black top or black stirrup sock and white over the calf sock. • Solid black shoes

7. DISQUALIFICATION PROCESS • If you have to eject a player/coach or bench personnel from a contest, • You MUST: • Submit a DQ form to the PIAA Office within 24 hours citing the rule and actions under which the ejection occurred. Do not editorialize!! • Submit as many details as possible • Forms are available on-line. • They are ejected for the remainder of the day and the next contest day.

8. DISQUALIFICATION PROCESS CON’T • Failure to submit report in timely fashion may cause problems for schools; officials; PIAA and you. • Failure to adhere may result in your probation or suspension. • Cannot make ejection go away with no report. • If eject; must report. No exceptions. • Report sent to school & dist. committee

9. PIAA ADOPTIONS • Listed in Annual Pre-Season Boys’ Lacrosse Bulletin. • Cannot change; just enforce. • Includes officials not wearing jackets during competition. • DO NOT MODIFY – if desire change follow process as previously stated.

10. SIGNALS • All PIAA boys lacrosse officials are to utilize proper NFHS Lacrosse signals without exception. • Practice them; use them; critique fellow chapter officials. • DO NOT use homemade or chapter “adopted” signals/mechanics.

11. SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF RULES • Officials MUST enforce all rules as adopted by the PIAA Board of Directors. • If officials do not agree with rules, they still must enforce them as written. • Official SHALL NOT have selective enforcement of what they think the rules should be. • There is a formalized process for changing Rules; please follow it.

12. INJURY REPORT • If a serious injury occurs in one of your games, please report this incident with as much detail as possible to Dr. Robert A. Lombardi at the PIAA Office. • Need statistics for NFHS & rules considerations. • Form available on-line and in Pre-Season Bulletin.

13. RULES CHANGE PROCESS • Request a NFHS rules change proposal from the PIAA Office. • Complete the NFHS rules change proposal form and submit to Dr. Robert A. Lombardi, Associate Executive Director • Acceptable rules proposals will be submitted to NFHS.

14. GOOD LUCK – BEST WISHES • Enjoy interscholastic athletics at its best. • Enjoy the camaraderie of brother and sister officials. • Promote participation in the interscholastic sports arena. • Encourage others to get involved with interscholastic athletics – “The Best Game in Town”.

15. David Seidman PIAA Statewide Boys Lacrosse Rules Interpreter 407 Dogwood Drive Maple Glen, PA 19002 215/545-2233 davidseidman@mac.com Dr. Robert A. Lombardi Assoc. Executive Director PIAA 550 Gettysburg Road P.O. Box 2008 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 800/382-1392 717/697-0374 rlombardi@piaa.org THANK YOU

16. Mandatory and optional Equipment • Mandatory equipment – professionally manufactured and not altered • Helmet with face mask, chin pad, and chin straps BUCKLED • Must have NOCSAE seal • All players same team same colors • Mouthpiece covering one or both upper and lower teeth • 2009 – any readily visible color other than white or clear • Gloves – can’t be altered • Shoulder pads and arm pads – optional for goalies • Shoes – lots of specs – see rule 1-9-F • Goalies – throat and chest protection • Stick (crosse) – three types – shortie (40”-42”), long stick (52”-72”), and goalie stick • What is the foul for not wearing required equipment ? • Is it the same for uniforms ? Before game, during game ?

17. Equipment • Optional equipment • Undershirts – if visible – white, gray, or one of the teams colors • Same color for all that wear them • Compression shorts, Sweatpants – same color • Shield (visor) allowed in 2009 – must be clear and can’t have tinted glasses • If any player loses any required equipment in a scrimmage area • Stop play immediately • Otherwise – slow whistle (rule 7-8) • When in doubt…… • Coach can request equipment check – one “free check” per game • Rule 4-30 • Check all equipment • If no equipment problems – no foul • All officials must record the time • What if a 2nd check is requested ? • If all equipment is legal – charge timeout, if no timeouts left – illegal procedure

18. Stick Requirements • Violation of the following rules results in a 3 minute non-releasable illegal crosse penalty (plus the crosse is confiscated and any goal disallowed) • The head must be 6.5"–10" wide, or 10"–12" wide (goalie stick) at the widest point, inside measurement. • The head must be at least 10 inches long from the outside edge of the top of the head to the furthest unexposed edge of the ball stop. A goalie crosse may be a maximum of 16.5" when measured the same way. • The crosse must be 40"–42" (short stick), 52"–72" (long pole), or 40"–72" (goalie stick) overall length. There is no rule regarding length of shaft or head taken alone, only as a unit. • The ball must dislodge freely from the stick when the head is rotated toward the ground. No specific angle is specified. • Exception: if the pocket is deep and the officials feel that the deep pocket is the reason the ball will not roll out, a 1-minute non-releasable penalty may be assessed and the crosse may return if adjusted • The sidewall may not be more than 2" high. • There may be no lip or hook in the mesh that might ensnare the ball. • The shaft may not be bent or cambered

19. Stick requirements • The stick, when placed facedown on a table, may have no part more than 2.75 inches above the table (the “table test”). This test is generally only performed if requested by the opposing coach. • The circumference of handle may not exceed 3.5 inches. • Under NFHS rules, a ball stop is not required. • Under NFHS rules, a crosse may not have two ball stops. • Under NFHS rules, the crosse may not have a hole in its mesh designed to ensnare the ball on face-offs. • Deep pocket - The pocket of a non-goalkeeper stick may not be deep enough for the top of the ball to be visible below the sidewall. • Violation results in 1-minute non-releasable penalty (plus goal disallowed if by the shooter. Stick may return if adjusted)