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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

THANK YOU David Seidman PIAA Statewide Boys Lacrosse Rules Interpreter 407 Dogwood Drive Maple Glen, PA / com Dr. Robert A. Lombardi Assoc. Executive Director PIAA 550 Gettysburg Road P.O. Box 2008 Mechanicsburg, PA / /

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 ?

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 2 nd check is requested ? If all equipment is legal – charge timeout, if no timeouts left – illegal procedure

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

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)