USL Women's Rule Changes Proposed for 2012
from press release
BALTIMORE – The US Lacrosse Women’s
Game Rules Subcommittee has issued a set of rules change
recommendations for the 2012 lacrosse season that will be voted on
by the US Lacrosse Board of Directors in September. US Lacrosse
rules govern all levels of women’s lacrosse played in the
United States with the exception of the NCAA and international
competition.
US Lacrosse will also be proposing standardized boys and girls
youth (U15 and below) rule changes for 2012. More information on US
Lacrosse youth rules can be found at http://www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav2Right/Rules/YouthRules2012.aspx
A summary of the major changes and points of emphasis for women's
lacrosse rules:
Checking
• A player may not check towards the body. (In 2011, checks
towards the body were allowed as long as the check was deemed
controlled and did not cause the crosse or ball to go into the
sphere, which is defined as the roughly seven-inch perimeter around
a player’s head).
Sphere
• Defensive players may not reach into the sphere to make a
check
• Offensive players will not be permitted to hold their
crosses in the sphere so that a check can not be made. (This is not
a rule change, but a change in emphasis).
Cross Checking
• A point of emphasis in 2012 will be that the use of a
player’s shaft to hit, push or displace an opponent will not
be permitted. (Previously, this foul was included under the Illegal
Use of the Crosse section, but will not be stressed in its own
category.
Carding Changes
• Any player or coach receiving two yellow cards will be
suspended from the rest of the game. They may both participate in
the next game. (Under the 2011 rules, anyone receiving two yellow
cards would have been ineligible to participate in the team’s
next game).
• A suspended player must remain in her team’s bench
area for the entire game, including on-field, pre-game, game or
post-game activities. If a player is suspended from her
team’s next game because of a red card, that player may not
be dressed in her game uniform for the next game.
• When a card has been issued, a player must leave the field
for three minutes. Her team must play short in both the offensive
and defensive ends of the field.
Team Foul for Offsides
• When the offensive team commits an offsides violation, the
defender closest to the ball will be awarded a free position at
that spot (no closer than 8m to the goal circle). The attack player
that had the ball will go 4m behind, and the attacker closest to
the restraining line will move back onside. Previously, the
defensive team wwas awarded the ball 4m outside of the restraining
line.
About US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national
governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. US
Lacrosse is the parent organization of the U.S. men’s and
women’s national teams program. US Lacrosse has nearly
375,000 members in 63 regional chapters around the country. Through
responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse strives to provide
programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the
integrity of the game. To learn more about US Lacrosse, please
visit www.uslacrosse.org
