New Rules for 2012 HS Lacrosse

August 21, 2011 - At its annual meeting, held this year from July 12-13, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee adopted a number of new rules for the 2012 season.

Perhaps the highlight of the new changes includes a new way to handle getting the ball into the offensive end of the field (Rule 4-15-1). For a number of years offensive players had ten seconds to take the ball from the midline and step into the restraining box or lose the ball on a technical foul. Any time the ball would come out of the restraining area the offensive team would have ten seconds to move the ball into the box coaches and players would often be heard yelling out "Touch It In".

Under the newly adopted rules, teams would still have to take the ball into the restraining area after clearing but would not have to continually "touch it in". The ten second rule would apply under certain conditions, however, including anytime the offensive team regains possession in the offensive end of the field. Kent Summers, NFHS Assistant Director and Liaison to the Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee commented, "This change allows teams to run their offense more efficiently and simplifies accounting requirements for officials."

Other changes to take place in the 2012 season include changes at the face-off, definitions to in-bounds and out-of-bounds, what happens when the ball becomes stuck in a stick, off-sides when there are too few players on the field, changes in "get it in/keep it in", and checks involving the head or neck. There is new language about a player entering the game after a penalty (when there is a face-off in progress), new language about stalling and an update that makes it clear that if a design at midfield covers the face off markings it is a technical violation.

The Lacrosse Committee for the NYSPHSAA will review these national changes and can modify them for teams in New York.

For the complete list of changes see the NFHS Web Site.