Lacrosse Program
Fritz Monroe, Director
DYA’s Basic Rule of Lacrosse:
Delayed Flag; When the
team that has the ball is fouled, the referee will throw a flag to signal the
foul. Play is not stopped, however,
until the ball becomes “loose”.
·
A ‘loose’ ball means neither team has possession.
The
importance of a delayed flag is that the offense can continue its play and even
take a shot on goal. If the shot misses,
play is stopped and the penalty enforced.
·
If the goal is good, only Technical Fouls are erased.
·
If a flag is dropped on a Personal Foul and the offense
scores, the team that committed the foul will still suffer the penalty.
Goals Erase Penalties: When a flag is thrown and play
continues, if a goal is scored while the flag is down some penalties are
erased, some are not. Technical Fouls,
the more minor fouls, are erased.
Personal Fouls, the more major fouls, are not erased. In grades 3 & 4 this results in a penalty
situation described below. In grades 5
& 6 the offending player will serve a penalty with no substitution, making
his team a “man
down”. A team must stay “man down” until
the penalty expires or his team is scored against. Goals scored against you, while your team is
serving a penalty, erase the penalty.
Off Sides; Each team
must keep a defined number of players on the defensive side of the field. For DYA boys, in grades 1 & 2, that
number is 2; In
grades 3 & 4, that number is 3; In
grades 5 & 6 that number is 4. Each
team must keep part of their team on the defensive end. Players may change,
numbers may increase, but cannot go below their defined limit. You may often hear players and coaches call
“Middie Back!”.
This is a signal that a defensive player, or goalie, is going over the
mid-filed line and a player must stay back to keep the numbers correct. Penalty is loss of ball or 30 second
Technical Foul in Boys Grades 5 & 6.
Girls Off
Sides is much the same, the numbers vary for each league.
Ball Out of Bounds after a Shot on Goal; When shooting at the goal, if the ball goes
out of bounds behind the goal, the team closest to the ball when the ball goes
out of bounds is given possession. This
is sometimes the goalie, sometimes the defense, or on better coached teams, an
offensive player will be “backing up the goal” and be closest to keep possession
for their team.
One Pass Rule; This rule is
common through out most of Central Ohio Youth Lacrosse. It will be applied in grades 1 & 2 and 3
& 4. Beginning in 2007 it is not
applied in grades 5 & 6. It states
simply that a team must throw a pass and catch it in their Offensive Box of the
field.
·
Around each goal is a small circle, the crease. Only defensive players are allowed in the
crease. A large box, roughly 30 x 40
yards, is around each goal and crease.
These are the boxes;
offensive and defensive boxes for each team.
·
This “one pass” may start anywhere,
it must be caught in the box.
·
Once completing the pass, a team may shoot and shoot until
they score, OR, the defense gets possession
of the ball outside of the box.
Sample scenarios:
·
If a team shoots on the goal and the ball goes out of
bounds, if they are closest and retain possession they do not need to
re-complete their one pass.
·
If the goalie gets the ball and tries to throw it out of the
box, but offense intercepts, the offense can shoot again right away, without
re-completing their one pass.
·
If the defense gets possession of the ball in the box, but
gets checked and the offense gains the ball back, they can shoot right
away. The defense did not possession of
the ball outside the box.
·
If the goalie makes a save and throws a long, long pass, but
the offense intercepts, they may run it right back and shoot right away.
Penalties:
For grades 1 & 2 all penalties are
called by the coaches who coach and ref at the same time. Teams will lose the ball upon a rules
infraction and the coach will explain to the player why they lost the ball.
For grades 3 & 4 there are two
types of penalties: Technical Fouls and Personal Fouls.
·
If
a Technical Foul, usually pushing, is committed on a loss ball, the offended
team is awarded the ball.
·
If
a Technical Foul is committed while a team has the ball, a flag is thrown and
play continues until the first loose ball.
Play is then re-started at mid-field with the offending player having to
wait while the other team has a fast break.
·
If
a Personal Foul, slashing, illegal body check, tripping, is committed, a flag
is thrown and upon the first loose ball play is stopped. Play is re-started at mid-field with the
offending player having to wait while the other team has a fast break with the
For grades 5 & 6 players are suspended from the game for
the time of their penalty and they cannot have a substitute. For Technical Fouls a player must sit out for
30 seconds, for Personal Fouls, 1 minute.
During this time a team is “man down” and plays with one less defensive
player. If a team is scored upon during
a “man down” situation, the penalty is erased.
I hope this short explanation has been helpful. As you have questions, please email me at the
address above and I’ll expand and clarify this piece.
Thank you,
Fritz Monroe
Director, DYA Lacrosse