RNLO

1. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference
Points of Emphasis
Comments collected about the 2021-2022 season have pointed out a
couple of areas where NLB officals as a whole can improve most.
This of course does not mean that these are the only important rules
and situations. As always, as officials, we are watching for everything
at all times. These are merely reminders and a way to get all NLB
officials on the same page on these topics.
Never forget, the main focus of officals should always be safety, fair
play and game flow.

2. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference
Differentiating Between Fouls
Personal fouls are not always one minute fouls.
There should be a difference between a accidental, clumsy slash on
the shoulder and a vicious slash on the back.
So how can you judge which penalty is worth more than one minute?

3. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference
Differentiating Between Fouls
There are many rules of thumb to differentiate between fouls. These
are all guidelines. As always, every situation needs to be judged in
real time in the context of a game.
As a general rule, make sure that during a game the same category of
fouls gets the same penalty. If accidental slashez fall into the one
minute category, a vicious slash on the back cannot fall into the same
category and must be a two or three minute penalty.

4. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference
Differentiating Between Fouls
A general guideline is given by World Lacrosse in the manual section
9.2.1 ‘Penalty Application’, below is a summary:
• One minute personal foul:
• Anything that happens with reasonable force in the regular
occurrence of the game in the scrimmage area. Basically,
these are the events that happen while players are making
efforts to play the game, but accidents happen.

5. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference
Differentiating Between Fouls
• Two minute personal foul:
• A foul that occurs with reasonable force but occurs away
from the scrimmage area.
• A foul that occurs in the regular course of play that has
excessive force.
• Three minute personal foul:
• A foul that is both excessive and away from the scrimmage
area.
• A foul that is extremely excessive with apparent malice.
• A foul that severely endangers a player’s safety.
• If deserved, the official should consider expulsion of the
player from the game.

6. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
Quick Restarts (after fouls)
• The ball is restarted in the same relative position as where the ball
was when the whistle to stop play was blown .
• All restarts need to be at least 20 yards (18.2 m) away from goal.
• Look for the (extended) wingline and restraining line.
• This goes for restarts behind the goal as well.
• All restarts need to be at least 5 yards (4.6 m) away from the
substitution area.
• Restarts need to be as quick a possible, but safe for all involved.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference

7. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
Quick Restarts
• No player may be within 5 yards (4.6 m) of the ball carrier at the
time of the restart.
• If a player is within 5 yards at the time of restart the player is
not allowed to defend the ball until he first reaches a distance
of 5 yards from the ball (carrier).
• Violation of this rule: illegal procedure
• Slow whistle / flag since the offended team is in
possession.
• 30 seconds time served penalty.
• Restarts should always be fair and safe; quick but not hasty.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference

8. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
Offside
• A team can have a maximum of 6 players on the offensive half and
a maximum of 7 players on the defensive half.
• A player whose body (not including the stick) touches on or across
the center line is considered to have entered that half of the field.
It is important to always count players crossing the centre line
(counting foward). This way, an offside can be called immediately and
this make sure it is more clear to all involved.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference

9. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
Over and Back
• When a ball or ball carrier returns to the defensive half through
actions of the offensive team:
• Play on when the other team is in a position to pick up the
ball
• Whistle, signal over and back and quick restart when there is
no chance for the other team to pick up the ball quickly
• Signal: move lower arm away and then towards body
• Being legally body checked across the midline is over and back
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference

10. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
Over and Back
• When a team enters the attack goal area (crosses the offensive
restraining line) the single side referee will signal:
• Arm straight up and then point down to the attack goal area.
• This is to let teams and officials know that over and back rule
will be applied on a ball going back across the midline.
• When a ball or ball carrier is moving close to the midline, SR will
signal to assist the trail referee:
• “Yes, yes, yes!” in case of over and back rule in effect.
• “No, no, no!” in case of over and back rule not in effect.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference

11. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
Goalie Interference
• The goalie has special protection:
• May not be body checked when in contact with the crease.
• Called as illegal bodycheck (personal).
• May not be stick checked when in possession and in contact
with the crease.
• Called as interference (technical).
• Empty stick outside the crease area may be checked.
• A goalie not in contact with the crease no longer has any
special protection.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference

12. Webhelp Classified - Confidential
Men’s Lacrosse 2022-2023 Recertification
Differentiating Between Fouls
Goalie Interference
• The goalie has special protection:
• May not be body checked when in contact with the crease.
• Called as illegal bodycheck (personal).
• May not be stick checked when in possession and in contact
with the crease.
• Called as interference (technical).
• An empty stick outside the crease area may be checked.
• A goalie not in contact with the crease no longer has any
special protection.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
video
Quick Restarts
Offside
Over and Back
Goalie Interference