Girls Lacrosse Guide for Jr & Sr Parents and Players

1) Game Play for the Junior and Senior Level:

We will be playing 12 v 12 (11 players and 1 goalie) which is the typical format for girls lacrosse. The layout of the positions on the field is shown below:

We will be using the “modern” names for the different field positions:

  • Attack (3): play primarily in the offensive end of the field. The attack can also be named (first home, second home, and third home). We’ll be sticking to “attack” name to make things easier at this level.
  • Attack wings (2): Will play mainly in offense area and are responsible for transitioning the ball from the defensive to offense zones. One of the attack wings can go into the defensive end to play defense.
  • Center (1): Responsible for the “draw” and plays both offense and defense.
  • Defense-Wing (2) – play primarily in the defensive end of the field. One of the Defense Wings can also enter the offensive zone to play offense.
  • Defense (3) – play in the defensive end of the field. We’ll be sticking to “defense” name this year.

During the game, each team can send no more than seven players into the offensive zone (end-line to restraining) and conversely when the ball is in the defense zone, four players (typically the attack and one attack-wing) must stay on the defense side of the field. The purpose is this rule is to keep teams from “overloading” one side of the field.

Juniors will have the 3 Pass rule and the modified checking. Seniors will play with just modified checking.

“Offsides” Overview: During the game, when the ball is down in the offense end of the field, the team on offense must keep at least four people (typically the defense and 1 defense wing) plus goalie behind the offense zone’s restraining line in the defense end– and conversely when the ball is in the defense zone, four players (typically the attack and one attack wing) must stay on the offense side of the field behind the restraining line. See the two images below as reference. To put it another way, a team is “off-sides” if it has more than 7 players in the offensive zone when the ball is there or more than 8 players on the defense side (7 + the goalie). The purpose is this rule is to keep teams from “overloading” one side of the field during play.

BALL IN OFFENSIVE END OF FIELD

BALL IN DEFENSIVE END OF FIELD

Selected Key Rules:

1) Out-of-Bounds:

a) On a Pass or when a player with the ball crosses a boundary line: When a ball goes out of bounds on a pass or on a dropped ball, the other team will get possession of the ball. When the referee blows the whistle, all the players must stand still and not move. The player who is given the ball is placed 4 m in from the sideline and is able to either pass the ball or run with the ball (unlike soccer or basketball where the player must pass the ball into the field.

b) After a Shot: When a ball is shot on the net and either goes out off the end-line behind the crease or off a side-line, the ball is given to the team whose player is closest to the spot where the ball crosses the line. It’s important for our girls to chase the ball out of bounds after a shot to make sure we get control of the ball. It’s like a rebound after a shot in basketball.

2) Crease violations: Players either offense or defensive players are not allowed to enter the crease which is the area around the goal area.

2) Modified Checking (Jr and Sr Level): A form of checking is allowed at the Junior and Senior levels. Modified checking is defined as checking the stick if it is below shoulder level, using a downward motion away from the other player's body.

4) “Covering” When picking up a ground ball, a player cannot “cover” the ball with the stick but must scoop through the ball. This is a common foul with the bantams;

5) Dangerous Shot: A player cannot shoot on net when another player (not the goalie) is in front of the net, a player follows through after the shot and hits another player, or shoots at the goalies head or body.

7) “Three Seconds” – “GOOD DEFENSE”

A player will be “lose” the ball if she stands still with the stick in a position that the defender can check. The official definition is as follows: No holding the ball for more than 3 seconds when closely guarded/marked (rulebook definition - ‘Position to Check’ - player has an opportunity to legally check the stick without fouling) and the defense HAS BOTH HANDS ON THE STICK and is in position to legally check if checking WERE allowed. The Umpire will give an audible count when the 3 seconds are started.

8) “Three Seconds” – “8M Violation”

A defensive player cannot stay in the 8 meter arc w/o marking up an offensive player. This call is going to be called more frequently this year. The intent is to keep the space in front of the 8 M arc more open so that defenders do not just stand in front of the goal playing a zone-like defense. If a player is within a

9) Shooting Space: This is a more complicated rule to explain and is designed to keep defensive teams from forming a “shield” in front of the goal to prevent the offensive team from shooting. A defense player must not stand in front of the area of the goal without marking up against one of the offensive players.

a) Shooting Space Violationb)Proper Positioning c) Non-Shooting Space

Violation

a) Violation – if A1 is in position to shoot, then D2 is in violation of shooting space. She is in A1’s shooting lane and is not covering an offensive player (A2).

b) No violation – D2 is covering her player A2 and is not blocking A1’s shooting lane. A1 can run past D1 and shoot on the goal.

c) No violation – D2 is in A1’s shooting lane but she is covering her player A2. A1 cannot shoot because she is blocked by her player A2 and D2. It would be considered a dangerous shot. This is a position that we want to avoid after we’ve made our three passes. You’ll hear us yell for the girls to spread out after the third pass so that players like A2 will have to move away from the goal drawing her defender D2 away from the shooting area (to get the position depicted in diagram 2 above)

The “Crease” is the circular area around the goal. During the game, no player except the goalie can be in the crease. It’s a penalty for either an offense or defensive player to run through the crease.

Tactics of the Game:

We’ll be providing more detailed info over the course of the season as we work through the various elements of the game (offense/defense/shooting/riding/clearing, etc). This guide was meant to provide an overview of the basics.

Please don’t hesitate to contact one of the coaches if you have any questions about the game. I’d encourage the players and parents to review this and quiz each other on the rules – that will confirm understanding and make our jobs as coaches easier when we are explaining rules during practice and games.