MEMORANDUM
September 15, 2016
VIA EMAIL
TO:
Head Women’s Lacrosse Coaches and Officials.
FROM: Stefanie Sparks Smith
Secretary-Rules Editor, NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee
Melissa Coyne
National Coordinator of Officials.
SUBJECT: 2016 New Rules, Rule Changes, Selected Clarifications and Mechanics.
This memorandum is being distributed to assist coaches and officials in preparation for the start of
the Fall 2016 Season and the introduction of new rules, rule changes, and the experimental rule
involving the placement of players for an 8-meter free position. Additionally, this memorandum
outlines several officiating mechanics provided by Patty Daley and Laurette Payette of the
CWLOA and Liz Brush and Peter Hyde of US Lacrosse. Except for the experimental rule, all
other new rules, rules changes, officiating mechanics, and clarifications provided below will be
implemented for the 2017 Season.
90-Second Possession Clock1
After a team has gained possession of the ball, a visible 90-second possession clock will start. For
example, following a draw or 50/50 ball, once possession has been determined, officials will signal
Possession Clock Start and the 90-second possession clock shall start.
The 90-second possession clock will be reset as a result of the following occurrences:
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1
Any card (yellow, red or green) has been issued to the team without possession
Shot on goal by the team with possession
Save by the goalkeeper of the team without possession
Shot by the team with possession that hits a pipe
Shot by the team with possession that rebounds off a save and the team who shot the ball
retains possession
Change of possession
Note: For Division 2 and 3 institutions, the 90-second possession clock is NOT in effect until the 2018 Season.
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September 15, 2016
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Note: A shot that goes wide of the pipes or above the crossbar does NOT reset the possession
clock.
Note: A shot must be released prior to the possession clock horn in order to count as a goal.
If the 90-second possession clock expires before any of the above scenarios necessitating a reset
occur, the horn shall sound. If a possession clock violation has occurred, officials will blow their
whistle, signal Illegal Procedure/Possession Clock Violation, and award a free position to the
opposing team at the spot of the ball within the playing area at the time of the violation (players
on the opposing team shall be 4 meters away). After a change of possession, officials will signal
a reset of the possession clock and when necessary, signal the start of the possession when the
player is in a settled stance (both feet stationary on the ground and the ball positioned in the head
of the crosse). If the possession clock violation occurs in the Critical Scoring Area, the official
shall blow their whistle and signal time out to stop the game clock. All self-start rules apply.
The 90-second possession clock will stop as a result of the following occurrences:
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At any point the game clock is stopped
After all major and minor fouls within the critical scoring area
When the ball goes out of bounds (sideline and end line)
Note: The 90-second possession clock has no effect on Rule 5-18.a. Additionally, the 90-second
possession clock will stop regardless of whether there is a score differential of ten or more goals.
It is recommended that two visible 90-second possession clocks be positioned at either end of the
field. However, one visible 90-second possession clock at mid-field will satisfy the requirement
of this rule.
Note: If the request for a possession timeout is made to the official timer, the official timer shall
immediately sound the air horn TWICE to indicate the timeout request, and the game clock,
possession clock, and play shall stop on the sound of the double horn. This same procedure shall
also be used to indicate an illegal substitute.
Signals
The signals that officials will use for the implementation of the 90-second possession clock include
the following:
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September 15, 2016
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Possession Clock Start
*Possession Clock Reset
*Possession Clock Stop
Possession Clock Violation/Illegal Procedure
Note: The signals with asterisks highlight two revisions to Appendix B of the 2016 and 2017
Women’s Lacrosse Rules and Interpretations.
Scenarios Related to the 90-Second Possession Clock:
 Under 2 minutes—Time out on each whistle stops the game and possession clock;
Signal—Timeout, Start or Timeout, Reset, Start.
If a team gains possession with 90 seconds or less remaining in a half, the possession
clock may be turned off. However, if there are 90 seconds or less remaining in a half
and the possession clock could expire before the end of a half, then the possession clock
must remain on.
 Under 2 minutes with a 10-goal differential—The game and possession clocks stop
when a card is administered, injury/illness/accident, stick check request, or an unusual
circumstance.
 Shot is released prior to the expiration of the possession clock horn, but the ball
crosses the goal line after the game clock horn (end of half/game) —No Goal.2
2
See Rule 4, Section 9 (c). The Rules Committee has highlighted this existing rule as a rule to be evaluated in June,
2017 during a rules change year.
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September 15, 2016
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Wide shot over end line/sideline and the shooting team maintains possession of the
ball—Stop the possession clock and start the possession clock when the ball is
inbounds.
Wide shot over end line/sideline and the defensive team gains possession of the
ball—Stop the possession clock, reset the possession clock, start the possession clock.
Ball goes over the sideline or end line—Stop the possession clock and start the
possession clock if the same team maintains possession of the ball. Stop the possession
clock, reset the possession clock, and start the possession clock if there is a change of
possession.
Shot Taken—Wait! See if shot is wide/high of the goal cage or if the ball hits the goal
cage or goalie.
o If the shot hits the goal cage or goalie, and the shooting team maintains possession
of the ball—reset the possession clock.
o If the shot goes wide of the goal cage and the shooting team maintains possession
of the ball—there is no reset of the possession clock.
o If the shot goes wide of the goal cage and the defensive team gets possession of the
ball—reset the possession clock and start the possession clock.
o If the shot hits the goal cage or goalie, and the defensive team or goalie gains
possession of the ball—reset the possession clock and start the possession clock.
o If the possession clock horn sounds prior to a shot being released—whistle a foul,
signal the possession clock violation, reset the possession clock, and start the
possession clock.
Goalie Clear is overthrown out of bounds—Opponent touches the ball but does not
possess the ball. Goalie’s team gets the ball inside the boundary line and the possession
clock is not reset since the opponent did not possess the ball. Stop the possession clock,
whistle boundary ball, whistle play to begin, and start the possession clock.
Goalie Clear is overthrown and the ball is inbounds with the opponent gaining
possession of the ball inbounds. Reset the possession clock, start the possession clock.
Goalie Clear is overthrown and the ball is out of bounds and opponent gains
possession of the ball on the boundary ball. Stop the possession clock and whistle
boundary ball, whistle play to begin, reset the possession clock, and start the possession
clock.
Goalie makes a save in goal circle—reset the possession clock, start the possession
clock.
Goalie clears ball and it goes over the sideline. On the same play, there is a foul
inside the boundary line by the goalie’s team. Opponent gets the ball inside the
boundary line and may self start—stop the possession clock, reset the possession clock,
start the possession clock when player is in a settled stance.
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September 15, 2016
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Three Seconds
A three-seconds violation will be a Major Foul for the 2017 season. However, the penalty
administration for a three-seconds violation will take place at the spot of the ball.
Officiating Procedure for Calling Three Seconds
Three Seconds is a Major Foul that may be signaled as an advantage, whistled immediately, or
flagged on a scoring play. The penalty administration is at the spot of the ball. On a scoring play
where a flag was raised, the ball is placed at the spot of the ball when the flag was raised. On a
non-scoring play when a whistle was blown, the ball is placed at the spot of the ball when the
whistle was blown.
Pocket Depth Stick Check Procedure
While holding the stick horizontally at eye level, the official drops the ball into the stick. The
official will not apply additional force with their hand. To ensure the ball rolls freely, the official
will tilt the stick in both directions so that the ball moves freely from the ball stop to the scoop and
out of the stick. If the ball moves freely from the ball stop to the scoop and, the top of the ball
remains visible/seen above the top of the sidewall, the pocket is legal. Videos of this mechanic
are available on “The Draw.”
Note: The purpose of this mechanic/guidance is to ensure a standard pocket depth stick check is
done in all collegiate games during which no force is applied to the ball with the official’s hand.
There are 4 times that this “pocket depth” check is applied:
 Pre-Game
 Random 5
 Coach Requested
 After a Goal
Experimental Rule
For all 8-meter free positions, in addition to the current placement of players (all players’ bodies
and crosses must be cleared from the 8-meter arc and penalty lane), the experimental rule for the
Fall 2016 Season provides that all players’ bodies and crosses positioned below the 8-meter free
position, outside of the 8-meter arc, and within the critical scoring area (including below goal line
extended) will have to clear to space outside of an imaginary arc that extends from the ends of the
arc of the 8-meter arc to the extended hash marks to the dots and continues to the end line (taking
the shortest route out, relative to one’s position). See diagram below (not drawn to scale). The
players’ bodies and crosses must be cleared to space outside of the red lines.
Note: This includes 8-meter free positions from the hanging hash.
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September 15, 2016
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The Committee strongly encourages teams to use the experimental for at least one half a game
during the Fall 2016 Season.
Repeated/Persistent Fouls
Pursuant to Rule 7, Section 1, repeated or persistent minor fouls may be penalized as major fouls
and repeated or persistent major fouls may be carded. Whenever possible during the game,
officials are encouraged to warn the player/coach prior to upgrading fouls.
Personal Equipment
All field players may wear close-fitting gloves and soft headgear. Beginning on January 1, 2017,
any field player choosing to wear headgear will only be allowed to wear headgear that meets the
current ASTM standard for women’s lacrosse. Players may use further protective devices
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September 15, 2016
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necessitated on genuine medical grounds, provided that the officials agree that they do not
endanger other players. All protective devices used should be close-fitting, padded where
necessary, and not be of excessive weight. No equipment, including protective devices, may be
used unless it complies with the rules or manufacturers specifications and is deemed not dangerous
to other players by the officials.
Please direct all questions to Stefanie Sparks Smith, Secretary-Rules Editor,
[email protected] or Melissa Coyne, National Coordinator of Officials,
[email protected].
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