Chico State
Santa Clara
Sonoma State
UC Berkeley
UC Davis
Cal Poly
UC Santa Barbara
UCLA
USC
Arizona
Arizona State
San Diego State
U San Diego
UC San Diego
Humboldt State
Nevada, Reno
San Jose State
Stanford
UC Santa Cruz
Biola
CSU Fullerton
CSU Long Beach
CSU San Marcos
Loyola Marymount
SBCC
UC Irvine
UNLV
Marymount College
Northern Arizona
WWLL Announcements and News
January 16, 2012
Convention Recap: 2012 USL Rules for Women's LacrossePlease read the following from our Southern Umpire Rep:
I just returned from the USL National Convention, where there was a lot of discussion about the new rules. I wanted to offer you some assistance as we all navigate the rule changes and points of emphasis for 2012.
2012 Rule Book
First, if you didn't receive a rule book in the mail from USL, please check it out online or order one to have with you during games.
http://www.uslacrosse.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Cv__yfgfRBM%3d&tabid=2459
Coaches are expected to be familiar with all the rules and signals (old and new) in women's lacrosse. There are several rule changes this year, and not every one is covered here, on the USL website, or in the rules interpretation video. Read your rule book!
Clarifications
There has been some confusion about rule changes for collegiate play (WCLA/USL vs. NCAA), so I wanted to offer some clarification here on just a few. Remember, WWLL and WCLA play with USL rules, so make note of the following for 2012:
- Regarding misconduct penalties, all Yellow and Red cards will be penalized with a full TWO minute suspension. (Nonreleasable).
- Suspensions are to be served in the team bench area (there is no separate penalty area).
- Teams will play a man down starting with the 4th card of the game (Y/R)
- Same as last year for the draw, 5 people are allowed between the restraining lines.
- The draw setup will change slightly where the sticks should overlap only the top third of the stick head.
- It is ILLEGAL to check toward the body or through the sphere.
Illegal Cradle
A major point of emphasis this year is stick in the sphere. Expect this to be called tightly for defense, but also be aware of the implications for offense. The standards are tighter for an illegal cradle, and if there is an opponent in playable distance, the attack with the ball will not be able to hold her stick in her sphere AT ALL (this includes even parts of the cradle).
At the National Convention, we had a great demonstration to illustrate the sphere, where the instructor took pipe cleaners, cut them to 7 inches, and stuck them all over an old baseball hat using styrofoam half-spheres which had been glued on. This is incredibly helpful for players in understanding how they need to alter stick skills to ensure a legal cradle or check. It is easy, cheap, and I expect will save you many fouls on the field. Have fun making them with your team and wearing them during practice!
Annual Rules Interpretation Video
Looking for more clarification? I expect the Rules Interpretation Video to be posted soon at: http://www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav2Right/Rule/WomensRules.aspx (The old one is still up at the moment). Please note that there are a few errors in the 2012 video in its current state, and USL is working to get a PPT package posted online with the video to acknowledge what corrections should have been made.
If you would like to have an official come to your school to answer questions, get in touch with your Local Board Chair to request a Rules Interpretation session. (Ask if you don't know who this is). We can look into setting one up for your team or, more preferably, a group of coaches in your region. There will be a Rules Interpretation hosted by LAUB at the SB Shootout Friday evening at 7p, and I would be happy to open this up to teams if there is interest. Please RSVP to me if you or members of your team are interested in attending the SB Rules Interp - we would probably need to get a bigger room.
Game Fees
For those of you outside NorCal, remember to tell your team treasurer that game fees are different if you have two or three officials. 2012 IRS mileage rates are $0.555/mile ( http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=250882,00.html ).
Let me or Scot Mehl know if you have any questions and we'll do our best to help you out!
Regards,
Stephanie Svetlik-Haley
Assistant Commissioner of Umpires and Officials - South