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Women's
Lacrosse Rules
- Before the
game begins, the umpires check every stick for legality.
The most common illegality in a stick is that its
pocket is too deep. The strings at the bottom of the
stick's head can be pulled to tighten the pocket.
- If a player
commits a foul, the umpire blows the whistle and play
stops. The player fouled wins or retains the ball,
while the player who fouled her is moved several yards
behind or to the side of the player she fouled.
- If a major
foul is committed in the arc by the defense, the umpire
blows the whistle, and a "free shot" on goal is taken
by the player fouled. All of the defense players are
required to clear the arc to the border closest to
which they were standing when the whistle blew. The
attack player who was fouled takes her place at the
hash mark closest to which she was standing when she
was fouled. The defense must move away at least four
meters from the fouled player. When the umpire blows
the whistle again, the player can take a shot on goal
or pass while the defense moves in.
- There are
no boundaries to the field, but if a ball enters an
area that is dangerous, unplayable or not clearly
visible to the umpire, the player who retains it or
is closest to it (if the ball has been grounded),
at the umpire's whistle wins it. The player then waits
for the second whistle to begin play again, either
by running with or passing the ball.
- When the
umpire blows the whistle because a foul has occurred,
or the ball has gone "out of bounds" all players must
stop and check all forward movement. Play resumes
and the players can move when the umpire blows the
whistle again.
- Checking
-- the method by which a player knocks the ball from
another's stick -- is prohibited when it is: directed
toward the face; uncontrolled; holding down the other's
stick,or when the checker's stick is too close to
the head or face.
- Defensemen
may not remain in the arc without guarding another
player for more than three seconds.
- When the
ball is grounded, covering it with the back of a stick's
net, and preventing play by another player is prohibited.
- No players,
other than the goalie, may enter the circle around
the goal cage if the goalie is present.
- When a foul
occurs, the player who was fouled is allowed a free
shot at the goal, with the defense pushed to the perimeter
around the arc.
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