1. Central Pennsylvania Lacrosse Officials Association (CPLOA)
Officials Training
Rule 4, Sections 1 through 13

3. Recap of Rules 1, 2 and 3
You arrive at a game site and notice that the field is not marked according to rule, there are no box lines and/or substitution box lines, what do you do?
Official is to notify the home team head coach and ask him to make corrections. If unable to make corrections play game and then notify your assignor.

4. Recap of rules 1, 2 and 3
In the middle of a game both coaches notify official that they want to change the color of the ball. Do you allow it?
Legal, as long as both coaches agree and the new balls are legal (white, green, orange or yellow).

5. Recap of Rules 1, 2 and 3 During a stick check you find the following:
A: Stick has 2 ball stops
B: Stick has no ball stop
C: Stick is 43 inches long
D: Pocket depth of goalie stick is below sidewall
E: Head of stick is only 6 inches wide
What are the calls?
Rulings:
A: Illegal stick
B: No foul…a ball stop is no longer required (change 2010)
C: Illegal stick
D: Legal stick – goalie’s stick can have a deep pocket
E: Illegal stick - stick head is to narrow
How to officiate and how to assess penalties for these violations will be discussed in future classes

6. Recap of Rules 1, 2 and 3 What are the ‘mercy rule’ requirements?
After the first half, any time the score differential reaches 12 goals or more the clock will only stop for time-outs (team, official or injury). If the score differential falls below 12 goals normal timing rules resume. During this situation penalty time begins with the next whistle resuming play. Penalty time is also running time whenever there is a running clock.

7. RULE 4: PLAY OF THE GAME
Address Coaches at least 20 minutes prior to game to:
Certify LEGAL equipment
Get Captain’s numbers
Get In-Home number
Inquire about Line-up and National Anthem
Inquire about SPECIAL Game Day circumstances (i.e. Senior Recognition / Parents Day)
Ask for any additional questions

8. RULE 4: PLAY OF THE GAME
Address Coaches and Captains at least 5 minutes prior to game to read PIAA Sportsmanship message
(NOTE: Earlier if national anthem/announcements)
Coin Toss
Bring team captains together at center of field
Home team faces benches
Visiting team calls toss

9. HOME VISITOR R X U OO OO XX XX Coin Toss
Note: use a coin at least the size of a half dollar…
1) Bring Teams to Center
(In front of Box is Acceptable)
2) Home Team faces bench
3) Visiting team calls toss
4) Catch coin (Don’t flip)
Coin Toss

10. RULE 4: PLAY OF THE GAME
Address Coaches and Captains at least 5 minutes prior to game to read PIAA Sportsmanship message
( NOTE: Earlier if national anthem/announcements)
Coin Toss
Bring team captains together at center of field
Home team faces benches
Visiting team calls toss
Winner of coin toss chooses either:
1) First alternate possession
2) Choice of goals
3) Losing team gets the option NOT selected
by the winning team

11. HOME VISITOR R X X U Coin Toss 1) Rotate players’ backs to goal
XXXX
OOOO R
XX XX X X
OO OO U
1) Rotate players’ backs to goal
they are defending
2) Signal Direction Team will
be attacking 1st and 3rd
3) Tap shoulder for Team that is
receiving Alternating possession
4) Left shoulder to goal for line-up
Coin Toss

12. RULE 4: PLAY OF THE GAME Line Up - Prior to face off
Line both teams up at center of field facing each other
Goalies left shoulder towards goal they are defending
Explain any special ground rules or safety issues
Explain 5-yard rule (have teams 5 yards apart)

13. HOME VISITOR R X U Line Up
XXXX
OOOO
Note: R and U should line teams up 5 yards apart, and have teams line up on them, with their left shoulder toward goal defended.
X X X X X X X X X G R X U
G O O O O O O O O O
On request:
Goalies shake hands
Remaining players shake hands
Teams break to face off restriction positions.
Officials move to face off positions.
Line Up

14. FACING OFF

15. FACING OFF Used at start of game, start of periods, and after goals.
Position of other players:
Normal Situation, 10 players per side:
Face-Off player in center
1 player in each wing area, not touching line
Defensive side: Goalie and 3 other players behind restraining line
Offensive side: 3 behind restraining line

16. HOME VISITOR U X R Normal Face-off X X X X X X X
OOOO O X O U X O X O X R O X O O X X X X O O
Note: R runs far side of field first half, switches second half - unless there are
problems X X O
Normal Face-off

17. Facing Off - Procedure
Off official checks the number and position of all players
On official waits for partner’s ready signal
(Point toward the direction of the goal you are covering)
Call both faceoff players together
Provide Faceoff instructions/expectations
Verbalize ‘DOWN’
Players shall assume their respective positions at the same time.
Players may not back out and reset their positions once the official has initiated the face-off positioning
Make sure players are positioned properly

18. HOME VISITOR U X R Normal Face-off X X X X X X X X O O O O O O O X O O

19. Face Off - Positioning
Crosses on ground parallel to and but not touching the center line, with ends pointing to opposite sides of the field
Crosse heads evenly matched, facing away from and not touching the ball
Each player shall have both hands gripping, not just resting on, the handle. Hands must be touching the ground and not touching the head of the stick or any strings
Players feet may not touch the crosse, nor touch the center line
Both players shall be positioned so that their entire body is to the left of the throat of his crosse
It is legal to lean over the center line

20. Facing Off - Procedure
Verbalize ‘SET’… From the time you say ‘set’ until the time you blow your whistle, neither of the face-off players may move!!!!!!!!!
Whistle to start play “QUICKLY” – no longer than one (1- 2) seconds from set to whistle
When possession is gained call out ‘POSSESSION’, ‘PLAY’ or the color of possessing team (i.e. ‘RED’) and wind arm
If ball crosses either restraining line call out ‘PLAY’ and wind arm

21. Face Off - Violations
Player moving after ‘set and prior to the whistle – stop play immediately and award ball to offended team. Trail always has this restart, and QUICKLY!!!!!
It is illegal to kick or step on the crosse of the opposing player
Watch for holds with stick, and with free arm
Watch for pushes and tripping. Watch for illegal body checking of face-off men
Face-off official is responsible for watching the 2 face-off players. Off Official is responsible for wing players actions
Both officials need to hustle to get into position once possession is gained

22. More on Facing Off Ball must be refaced it:
Whistle is blown by mistake after face-off but prior to possession
Ball goes out of bounds (in center of field) and official can’t determine who was responsible
Players from both teams commit simultaneous technical fouls
Players may freely move when:
Official signals possession
Ball passes over the defensive clearing line
A time-serving penalty is assessed
Ball goes out of bounds

23. Face Off – Man Down
Used at start of game, start of periods, and after goals.
Position of other players:
Normal Situation, 10 players per side:
Face-Off player in center
1 player in each wing area, not touching line
Defensive side: Goalie and 3 other players behind restraining line
Offensive side: 3 behind restraining line
One Man-Up/Down situation:
Players may not come up from the defensive restraining line

24. HOME VISITOR U X R 1 Man Down Normal Face-off X X O X X X X X X O O O
OOOO
HOT MAN:
NOT cross center line X O U
X O X O X R O X O O X X X X O O X X O
Normal Face-off

25. Face Off – Exceptions
Used at start of game, start of periods, and after goals.
Exceptions:
During man-up/down situations:
Any player has POSSESSION at the end of a period, the team WITH possession maintains possession at the mirrored location at the start of the new period
When there is a FLAG DOWN at the end of a period:
The OFFENDED team is awarded possession at the mirrored location
Neither team is in possession the offended team is awarded possession. The offended team starts with possession at the mirrored location at the start of the new period
When a foul or violation is committed during the interval after the last whistle but prior to the face-off: (Dead Ball)
Face off ends when a team gains possession OR ball crosses goal-area line OR ball goes out of bounds

26. HOME VISITOR U X R Normal Face-off X X X X X X X X O O O O X O O O
Restart END of PERIOD U O X O X O X O X X O X O O X X X X
ball O O O R X
RESTART
Normal Face-off

27. Play of the Ball – Section 5
Restart – when a player has been awarded the ball for any reason, 5 yard buffer before restarts
Player Possession – a player who can perform any of the normal functions of control with the ball
Team Possession – when a player of that team is in possession of the ball
Loose Ball – a ball not in possession
Pass – a ball thrown or bounced to a teammate
Completed Pass – when a pass is caught by a teammate
Ball in Flight – a ball in flight is from one teammate to another
Clear – when a team is attempting to move the ball out of its defensive half of the field

28. “THE WHEN AND WHERE RULE”
Out of Bounds – Section 6
Player in Possession – when a player in possession of the ball steps on, or beyond, or any part of his body or crosse touches on, or beyond, any boundary line the ball is out of bounds. Award ball to opposing team at the spot ball went out of bounds
Loose Ball – when a loose ball touches the boundary line, or beyond, or touches anything on or beyond the boundary line then the ball is out of bounds:
Not a shot – award ball to the team not touching the ball last at a point where the ball went out of bounds
Shot – award ball to the team whose inbounds player was nearest the BALL when it became an out-of-bounds ball
NOTE: Ball is out of bounds when it crosses the plane of the boundary line on a shot!
“THE WHEN AND WHERE RULE”
Always give the goalie 5-seconds to reenter the crease on ANY restart

29. Ball caught in Crosse or Equipment
If at any point the ball becomes stuck in the front or back of the crosse:
Immediate whistle
Ball awarded to the opposing team
Ball caught in players uniform or equipment – stop play and award according to alternative possession
Exception: Special rules apply to when ball is caught in GOALKEEPERS uniform or equipment when the designated goalkeeper is WITHIN his goal-crease area at the time the ball becomes stuck
- Award ball to a defensive player lateral to the crease,
outside the goal area

30. Section 8 – Goal Scored
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
Any action after this point is considered after the play

31. Section 9 - Goal Not Counted
A goal will be disallowed when:
Game horn sounds or period has ended, regardless of whether the official’s whistle may have sounded
An attacking player is in the crease before goal scored.
(Know how he got there! Was he pushed legally, illegally?)
Attacking team has too many players on the field, is considered OFFSIDES
Player on the attacking team left the box early from a penalty.
(NOT by fault of the TIME KEEPER)
An official has blown his/her whistle for any reason
If the head comes off of a stick in the act of shooting

32. Section 9 - Goal Not Counted
A goal will be disallowed when:
Flag down or play on against the scoring team
Scoring player’s stick is illegal stick, or adjusts it after request
Player in the act of shooting touches the goalkeeper in the crease or touches any part of the goal or netting
Official recognizes a request for a timeout from team in possession, regardless of whether the official has had time to blow the whistle
An offensive player deliberately leaves his feet by diving or jumping and his own momentum carries him into the crease and the shot goes into the goal, the goal is disallowed

33. Section 10 - Offside A team is considered offside when it has:
More than six players in its offensive half of the field
More than seven players in the defensive half of the field
NOTE: Too Many is Off Sides. Too little is not!
Being on the line is being over the line.
Mechanical Points:
Always TRY to Count forward, so a team should have no more than 7 players on Defense and 6 players on Offense

34. Offside NOTE: This is only one offside
Player may run out of bounds to avoid being offside.
He must return to the field legally and immediately
Player legally checked offside is offside
Player illegally checked offside
whistle to end play and award ball or flag down as needed
Player using his crosse to avoid offside…legal
not offside unless some part of the players body touches on or over the line
Player may only be offside once:
Example: A defensive player goes offside and you throw the flag, player then returns to proper side of the field, then goes offside again to play defense
NOTE: This is only one offside

35. Section 11 – Offside Enforcement
Team in possession is offside:
Technical foul, Take ball away
Give ball to other team at Mid-Line
Opposing Team in possession is offside:
Technical foul, “FLAG DOWN”
30-second penalty
If both teams offside:
One team has possession of the ball:
Whistle to Stop Play
Put players back onside
Resume play with team in possession retaining possession.
No possession:
Award ball using AP

36. Section 12 - Offside, Goal Scored
Attacking team is offside:
No goal (see rule 4, section 9)
award ball to offended team in its offensive half of the field at Mid-Line
Defensive team is offside:
Goal counts
Flag down
Technical foul waived off by the goal
Both teams offside:
Goal not counted
Award using AP

37. Play-On Technique LOOSE BALL ONLY Technical Fouls
If offended team is disadvantaged during play
Hold whistle (allow play to continue)
Verbally call “Play On”!
Visually give “Play On” signal – Hand in the Air
Play-on is over if
Offended team gains possession
Offended team commits violation
Verbally call “Play” or “Play On Off”!
Drop Hand
Default should be “Play On”
You can never un-blow your whistle

38. Slow Whistle Technique ”Flag Down”
Technical Fouls against Team WITH Possession
Any Personal Fouls with or without Possession
Toss flag HIGH in the Air
Verbally call “FLAG DOWN”!
Partner should vocalize as well
Hold whistle (i.e., DON”T blow your whistle yet)
Allow play to continue UNTIL…
ONLY Blow your whistle when…
Attacking teams scoring opportunity ends
Ball hits the ground (except a bounced shot)
Goal scored
Defense get possession
Ball goes out of bounds
Shot is no good
Player carries ball out of goal area
Player loses equipment in scrimmage area
Loose ball occurs
Team in Possession commits Personal or Technical Foul
Team in Possession fails to ADVANCE
20 second clear or 10 second into Attack Box
Enforcement will be covered LATER in Rule 7

39. To Be Continued