The New Year is here, and that means it’s a good time for an update on my favorite rule myths in boys’ lacrosse, using the 2015 NFHS Boys Lacrosse rulebook. This post is meant for everyone involved in boys’ lacrosse, including officials. I’ve seen officials make incorrect rulings on just about all of the myths listed here, and I have also misapplied the rules on several of these myths as well. Learn from my mistakes and dig into the rulebook!
Please note that any time you see an asterisk (*) that means the rule has been changed or modified from the 2014 rulebook. Also note that this post is specific games played under NFHS rules.
1. The goalie has possession when he clamps down on top of the ball outside of the crease, so no player is allowed to check his crosse.
NFHS Rule 4.18.3 Situation B
“There is a loose ball in front of the crease. Goalkeeper reaches out to pick up the ball, and opponent checks goalkeeper’s crosse. RULING: Legal. Goalkeeper does not have possession of the ball.”
BUSTED!
Possession requires one of four things:
- Carrying
- Cradling
- Passing
- Shooting.
Clamping is not possession, and the goalkeeper’s crosse, while it is outside the crease, may be legally checked by the opponent even if the goalkeeper’s body is in the crease and he is not in possession of the ball. In the image below, the exposed part of the goalkeeper’s crosse is fair game unless he gains possession.
MORE AFTER THE BREAK
2. On a shot, the player closest to the sideline or end line that the ball went out on gets the ball, as long as they’re the closest to the line.
NFHS Rule 4.6.3.c
“When a loose ball goes out of bounds as a result of a shot or deflected shot at the goal, it shall be awarded to the team that had an inbounds player’s body nearest to the ball when it became an out-of-bounds ball, at the point where it was declared out of bounds. […] In determining which player is nearest, the ball is considered out of bounds when it crosses the plane of the end line or sideline. Note: For the purposes of this rule, the stick is not considered a part of the player’s body.”
BUSTED!
Possession is awarded to the team who has an inbounds player’s body closest to the ball WHERE it went out and WHEN it went out. In the image below, White #44 is closest to where the ball went out and should be awarded possession. Every player still reaches out to the line or dives in an effort play to gain possession for his team. This is a natural thing to do on the field, and even though the stick doesn’t count, the hand is a part of the body and that could make all the difference on a close chase.
3. On a shot, the ball is awarded to the team that did not last touch the ball.
NFHS Rule 4.6.3 Situation D
A1 shoots at goal, and the ball goes over the goal toward the end line. A2 tries to catch the ball in flight, and the ball hits his crosse and goes out of bounds. A2 is nearest to the out-of-bounds spot. RULING: Ball awarded to Team A.
BUSTED!
The ball could ricochet off two player’s bodies, three helmets, and six different sticks on a shot and whichever team has a player inbounds closest to the point when and where the ball went out will get the ball.
4. A two-part myth!
a. Teams can start a game man down
b. Teams can pull the goalie like in hockey
NFHS Rule 2.1.1
“A team shall begin the game with at least 10 players, and must have a legally equipped goalkeeper on the field at all times, or it forfeits the game.”
NFHS 2.1.3 Situation
Team B has fewer than seven players remaining due to penalties, injuries, ejections, etc. RULING: Because Team B has fewer than seven players on the field, the game may not continue and it shall be reported to the sponsoring authority.
BUSTED!
10 players and a legally equipped goalkeeper are required for the game to start. Putting a midfielder in between the pipes with an extra glove tied to the bottom of the helmet in lieu of a throat protector (it’s been tried) does not meet the requirements of a legally equipped goalkeeper. The situation referenced is a new rule for 2015 and was put in for both safety and fairness. If a team gets down to less than seven on-field players, the game ends. Teams are not permitted to pull the goalkeeper off the field either. But, they could flip the goalkeeper to the opposite half of the field in place of an attackman to have an extra short stick to press the ball in a short-time situation (have seen this exactly once in seven years).
5. The face-off midfielder gets one shake to get the ball out of the back of his stick.
NFHS 4.7.1 Situation A
Player A1 has the ball in the back of his crosse. (a) A1 attempts to pass, shoot or flip the ball out of the crosse and the ball stays in the crosse head when it should come out; (b) the back of A1’s crosse faces the ground, but the ball defies gravity and does not fall out; (c) A1 hits his own stick with his hand or arm in order to dislodge the ball; (d) A1 kicks his own stick in order to dislodge the ball; (e) A1 hits the ground with the stick in order to dislodge the ball. RULING: In all five cases, officials will rule that the ball is stuck in the head of the crosse, because it is not coming out of the head with a normal lacrosse move. Immediate whistle, with possession awarded to the opponent (withholding the ball from play).
BUSTED!
The rule itself was not changed, but this situation was added because this myth simply won’t die. Boiled down, if the officials see evidence that the ball is stuck, there is no one shake, two seconds of shaking, shaking until the player reaches the restraining line, or any other form of shaking permitted. There is an immediate whistle and the ball is turned over.
6. If a goal is scored during a flag down, then the penalty is also wiped out.
NFHS Rule 7.9.2 Situation A
“A1 takes a shot from midfield. B2 illegally checks A2, and the ball enters the goal. RULING: Slow whistle, goal counts. B2’s violation, if technical, is wiped out; if personal foul, B2 serves penalty time. Faceoff.”
SOMETIMES!
Live-ball personal fouls (slashes, trips, illegal body checks, etc.) are always served, even if a goal is scored during the flag down, because these penalties are about safety and a goal shouldn’t wipe out a violent slash or an unnecessary hit away from the ball. Live-ball technical fouls are wiped out if a goal is scored during the flag down because technical fouls are about advantage. A hold isn’t a safety issue, and if the offended team scores, then they smartly took advantage of their free play and the penalty is wiped off.
7. The offensive player is warding if he lifts his arm up and over the defenseman’s crosse, if the defender managed to get his crosse under the arm of the offensive player.
NFHS Rule 6.11
“A player in possession of the ball shall not use his free hand or arm or any other part of his body to hold, push or control the direction of the movement of the crosse or body of the player applying the check.”
BUSTED!
If the defender executes a good lift check and forces the offensive player to lift his free arm over the defender’s stick and turn away from the pressure then both players are playing good lacrosse! Unless the offensive player uses his free hand to hold, push or control the crosse or body of his opponent, then there is no foul. Lifting an arm free is perfectly legal.
8. A moving pick, or illegal offensive screen, should be called anytime an offensive player is in motion without the ball near a defender.
NFHS Rule 6.4
“No offensive player shall move into and make contact with a defensive player with the purpose of blocking a defensive player from the man he is playing, nor shall the offensive player hold his crosse rigid or extend his crosse rigid to impede the normal movements of the defensive man. If contact is made between offensive and defensive players as a result of the offensive player’s setting a screen, the offensive player shall be stationary before the contact occurs, with his feet no wider than shoulder-width apart. NOTE: There has to be contact to be called illegal offensive screening.”
BUSTED!
The second-most common shout from the fans is “moving pick!” It is seldom correct because even though the offensive player may be moving, without contact there is nothing to call. The other time that phrase is yelled is when the offensive player sets a great pick, is totally stationary on the initial contact, but there is movement after the two players meet.
9. Players on the ground (three-part myth!)
a. You can’t play lacrosse on the ground
b. You can body check a player on the ground
c. You can stick check a player on the ground
NFHS Rule 5.3.3
“Body-checking of an opponent who has any part of his body other than his feet on the ground” is an illegal body check.
a. BUSTED!
There is no rule anywhere that prohibits a player from playing from the ground. You can pass, catch, and cradle from the ground for as long as you like. Just don’t try to cover up the ball with your body, because you will likely be called for withholding the ball from play.
b. BUSTED!
You cannot body check a player who is on the ground. This would be an illegal body check for 1, 2 or 3 minutes, depending on how the official judges the severity of the hit.
c. CONFIRMED!
You can stick check an opponent’s crosse and his hands holding his crosse with your stick while he is on the ground. Just because a player is on the ground doesn’t mean he can’t be stick checked.
10. If the ball touches the line or the ball hits two or more goal pipes, then a goal has been scored.
NFHS Rule 4.8
“A goal is scored when a loose ball passes from the front, completely through the imaginary plane formed by the rear edges of the goal line, the goal posts and the crossbar of the goal, regardless of who supplied the impetus.”
BUSTED!
Resting on the line or hitting two or more pipes means the entire ball did not fully cross the rear edges of the goal line. The diagram below illustrates that even if the ball touches on the line it still isn’t a goal until the entire ball crosses the entire line.
In closing, it's often said that ignorance of the law excuses no one. Do your part to help educate new players and fans by knowing the rules.
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