Girls Lacrosse Points of Emphasis - 2025

BY NFHS ON May 6, 2025 | RULES, LACROSSE-GIRLS

Use of the Green Card/Delay of Game
Proper use of the green card by officials is important to discourage and penalize fouls that interrupt the flow of the game. Officials should be aware and knowledgeable of all delay-of-game behavior and use the green card procedure whenever the rule is violated. Ignoring the violation or repeatedly resetting the play perpetuates delay-of-game behavior and negatively impacts the flow of the game. Effective green card management will enforce fair play and minimize repeated violations. The following are common examples of delay-of-game violations that should be penalized with a green card:

  • Defenders failing to promptly move 4 meters away from a free position;

  • Offenders continuing to run down the field after committing a foul in the midfield rather than taking action to move 4 meters away or behind the ball carrier;

  • Players failing to promptly clear the penalty zone; and

  • Teams failing to promptly return to the field after the time-out or time between quarters has expired.

Proper Delay of Game Procedures:

  • Time-out is called to administer a delay-of-game card.

  • First violation – a green card shall be issued against the offending team. A change of possession takes place if applicable for the minor foul.

  • Second violation – a green/yellow card shall be issued against the offending player and award the appropriate penalty for a major foul. The offending player must leave the field and enter the penalty area for two minutes of elapsed playing time. The team will play short below the restraining line in both its offensive and defensive ends of the field for the entire penalty time. This card is not included in the team or player’s card count.

  • Third/subsequent violation – will result in a yellow card for misconduct and will be included in the team and player’s card count.

Managing Safe Play in the 8-meter Arc
Officials must work together to manage safe play in the 8-meter arc. Coaches must teach players to respect and abide by all playing rules that minimize risk in the 8-meter arc due to the proximity of players in this area. Teaching and practicing safe play will decrease the risk of injury and help maintain the pace of play that upholds the integrity of the game. Officials must recognize and penalize the following:

  • Any use of the stick in an unsafe manner that jeopardizes the safety of the opponent’s head or neck area.

  • Illegal contact by the defense with the crosse or body in a dangerous or uncontrolled manner during or after a shot on goal.

  • Use of the stick in a horizontal position that makes contact with an opponent’s body or crosse.

  • Any check that contacts another player’s crosse, body or hand(s) that is rough, dangerous or intimidating.

Offensive Fouls Inside the Critical Scoring Area
It is important for officials to properly adjudicate the rules regarding illegal play by offensive players with a focus on offensive fouls that are not consistently called by officials. These include attack players pushing and/or displacing defenders by backing into them, forcing through, illegal cradling, charging into defenders during or after a shot, and dangerous propelling when a defender is in shooting space. Officials must work together to avoid penalizing the defender who has established and maintained legal positioning prior to the attack player initiating illegal contact. When an attack player charges or forces through defenders (provided there is no illegal use of stick or body by the defense), officials should properly enforce the rules by calling the offensive foul. Trail and Lead officials need to work together to properly officiate these offensive fouls, along with illegal picks, offensive holding, dangerous followthrough and dangerous propelling.