Publisher’s Note: The National Federation of State High School Associations is the only source of official high school interpretations. They do not set aside nor modify any rule. They are made and published by the NFHS in response to situations presented.

Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff, Publisher, NFHS Publications © 2020

RULES BOOK CORRECTIONS: (Underlining shows additions; strikethrough shows deletions.)
Page 3, 2020 Girls Lacrosse Editorial Changes: 2-7-34; Page 42, RESTARTING PLAY – SELF-START: 5.4.2 SITUATION: A Blue player…The White Blue player engages the Blue White player after the self-start…; Page 57, 10-1y(2): A defensive player…is responsible to simultaneously abide by Rule 10-1sw; Page 61, 10.1 PEN SITUATION A: (10-1ut); Page 61, 10.1 PEN SITUATION D: (10-1ut).

SITUATION 1: A Blue player is awarded a boundary ball when there is under two minutes left in the first half during stop-clock play. She commences play with a self-start from out of bounds. The official stops play and indicates a false start. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Self-start is not an option when the game clock is stopped. The game clock stops on every whistle, including boundary balls during stop-clock play when there is under two minutes left in a half. [3-7- 2f, 4-1-2, 5-4-4a, 10j(1)]

SITUATION 2: An 8-meter free position has been awarded at a hash mark to a Blue player and the Blue team calls a possession time-out. At the end of the time-out, the Blue team resumes play at the closest dot. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: Play will resume at the location of the free position at the 8-meter hash mark, the player who was fouled shall take the free position and the offender shall take a position 4 meters behind. (4-3-3b, 4-3-3c)

SITUATION 3: A Blue player has the ball in the 12-meter fan and a possession time-out is called. At the end of the time-out, the Blue team resumes play at the closest dot and all players move 4 meters away. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Play will resume at the closest dot when a possession time-out is called in the critical scoring area unless a free position is being administered at another location in the critical scoring area or the goalkeeper has possession of the ball in the goal circle. (4-3-3b, 4-3-3d)

SITUATION 4: The Blue goalkeeper gains possession of the ball in the goal circle and a possession time-out is called. At the end of the time-out, the Blue team’s goalkeeper maintains possession in the goal circle and the official continues his/her count from where he/she left off before the timeout was called. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: If the goalkeeper has possession in the goal circle when the time-out is called, possession will resume with the goalkeeper in the goal circle. (4-3-3d, 7-2-1)

SITUATION 5: A Red player is awarded a boundary ball and self-starts relative to where the ball went out of bounds without coming to a stop. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: A player may self-start from out of bounds without coming to a stop as long as she enters the field of play relative to where the ball went out of bounds. (6-3-1a)

SITUATION 6: A Blue player is awarded a boundary ball and steps in bounds. From a settled stance, she self-starts within 2 meters of where she entered the field. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: A player may come to a settled stance and initiate a self-start as long as she enters the field of play relative to where the ball went out of bounds. (6-3-1a, 6-3-1c)

SITUATION 7: A Red player is awarded a boundary ball, steps inbounds and waits for a whistle start within 2 meters of where she entered the field. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: A player may wait for a whistle to resume play when the ball has gone out of bounds. (6-3-1c)

SITUATION 8: The official is setting up an 8-meter free position and the penalty zone has been cleared. A player runs through the penalty zone. The official blows the whistle and indicates a false start. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: Preventative officiating may be used to reset the free position without penalty. The official should clear the penalty zone and continue administration of the 8-meter free position. Repeated attempts by players to run through the penalty zone after it has been cleared may result in a delay of game. Once the free position is set and the official’s hand is up for a restart, all attempts to run through the penalty zone shall result in a false start. [9-1c(4), 10-1j]

SITUATION 9: A Blue defender takes a hash mark adjacent to an 8-meter free position and an offensive player stands next to the defender on the 8-meter arc. Another Blue defender tries to stand next to the defender on the adjacent hash and force the offensive player to move. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: One defensive player is entitled to each adjacent hash. Players next to them may be from either team and are entitled to an open position in the order in which they arrive. (10-1 PENALTIES 4e)