NCAA makes rule changes

June 27, 2007

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO — The NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee reviewed its rules and made several proposed alterations to encourage safe and fair play at its June 17-20 meeting. The committee’s actions must be considered by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel before final implementation.

The committee reviewed numerous proposals from the coaching community, including a change to when timeouts may be called. In the committee’s proposal, teams will be allowed to request a timeout anytime they are in clear possession of the ball as well as after the scoring of a goal. Teams remain limited to two timeouts per game.

“This issue had strong support on our survey and the committee received numerous proposals for this change,” said Karen Borbee, chair of the committee and senior woman administrator/women’s lacrosse coach at Swarthmore College.

The committee also approved an altered definition of marking within a stick’s length. The new definition will not allow a combined arm and stick’s length as the distance considered to be marking an opponent. In the new definition, the length of the stick is the determining factor.

“The committee believes this will address several concerns with three seconds and shooting space fouls,” Borbee said. Additionally, to encourage increased enforcement and understanding of crosse to body contact, the committee added another example of illegal use of the stick. This additional description

identifies lowering the head of the stick below the shoulder and initiating crosse to body contact as a major foul.

“These changes are intended to address the growing concern regarding rough play in our game,” Borbee said.

Finally, the committee approved its points of emphasis for the 2008 season, including instructing umpires to examine defensive offsides and three seconds calls with regard to advantage.

A complete listing of rules changes will be distributed to member institutions and posted on the NCAA Website for comment before the oversight panel considers the proposals.

The current members of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee are: Danie Caro, Quinnipiac University; Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern University, vice chair; Jenny Levy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Barbara Questa, St. Bonaventure University; Cecil Pilson, Mercyhurst College; Karen Borbee, Swarthmore College, chair; Christine Paradis, Amherst College; Kathy Railey, Villa Julie College; and Pat Dillon, secretary-rules editor.

Kim Basner, national coordinator of officials, and Laura Hebert, US Lacrosse, attended the meeting as non-voting umpiring liaisons.

-Courtesy NCAA