Central PA Lacrosse Officials Crease Rules

1. Central PA Lacrosse Officials Crease Rules March 12, 2009

2. Agenda • Discuss any play situations from scrimmages • Review Crease Rules • Discuss Crease mechanics • Review Play situations

3. Crease Rules • Rule 4-19 : • General – crease belongs to the defense in general and to the goalie specifically. • Defense can enter the crease, offense can’t • Goalie privileges : • Goalie may stop or block a shot in any manner, except to catch the ball with his hand • Outside the crease – can’t touch with hand • Any defensive player can receive a pass while in the crease • No opponent can contact the goalie or his stick while the goalie is in the crease • A goalie is in the crease when any part of his body is in the crease • An attacking player can reach into the crease to play a loose ball – no contact with goalie or his stick allowed • A goalie’s stick, outside the crease cylinder, can be checked as long as the ball is loose

4. Crease Rules - continued • Rule 4-9-2-c - Goal not counted • “When any part of the body of a player of the attacking team is in the goal crease area at the time”. • Rule 4-20 - Crease prohibitions • An attacking player that jumps/dives on a shot and his momentum carries him into the crease and scores – NO GOAL • An attacking player cannot be in the crease at any time • Even if illegally contacted – causes the play to stop • No player can enter the crease in possession of the ball • No player can be in possession of the ball in the crease for longer than 4 seconds • In the crease = any part of the body touching the crease • Outside the crease = no part of the body in the crease • Interference restrictions apply only to the designated goalie • Rule 4-21 – ball stuck in the mud or caught in the netting, stop play and award ball to defense – goal line extended.

5. Crease Rules – continued • Rule 6-2 : • When B has the ball : • Crease violations or goalie interference while the ball is outside the crease - slow whistle, flag down, technical foul. • Crease violations or goalie interference while the ball is in the crease – play on. • If goalie has possession and fails to run the ball out or complete an outlet pass – free clear to B at center x. • If ball is loose and goalie gains possession, play-on is over.

6. Crease Mechanics • Lead has most of the crease responsibilities • Officiate as close to the crease as play allows, always keep players in front • Know how any player got into the crease – blocked - legal/illegal, not blocked • 4 second count when goalie gains possession, also start 20 second beeper – same time, slight delay • Stop play immediately if A enters crease, regardless of how • Trail can help with crease when lead is pulled to endline or sideline, not too far inside attack box • Trail and Lead – on a score – if a player in the crease get together (if needed) and discuss to get it right • If you take a goal away because a player was in the crease – be sure and sell it !

7. Crease Rules – Play situations • A1 shoots, a) the ball gets stuck outside the net or b) is loose in the crease. The lead, thinking a goal was scored, blows his whistle. • Ruling – in both a and b – play is stopped and the ball is awarded to B goal line extended. Mechanics ? • Loose ball in the crease, goalie picks up the ball and puts it in his stick. • Ruling – technical foul on goalie, ball dead, award ball to A goal line extended. • Goalie makes a save and completes and outlet pass to a teammate. The ball is then passed back to the goalie with one foot in the crease and the other outside the crease. Legal ?

8. Play Situations • Goalie makes a save and the ball is loose in the crease. Goalie places his stick over the ball and is about to rake it in. A1 checks thru the goalie’s stick from the front. • Ruling – goalie interference, play-on. Play continues or award ball to B goal line extended. • Goalie makes a save and the ball is loose in the crease. A2 pokes at the loose ball. Then the goalie has his stick over the ball and A2 makes contact with the goalies stick • Ruling – goalie interference play-on. Play continues or award ball to B goal line extended. • Loose ball in front of the crease. Goalie reaches out to pickup the ball and A3 checks his stick. • Ruling – legal – the ball is loose outside the crease. • Loose ball in front of the crease. A4 covers the ball to rake. Goalie makes contact with A4’s stick. • Ruling – legal – not interference. • Goalie B1 makes a save. B1 takes off, A5 legally contacts B1 back into the crease and still has possession of the ball. • Ruling – illegal re-entry of the crease with possession. Ball awarded to A goal line extended.

9. Crease Rules – famous graphics • The lead has most of the crease responsibility • Lead should officiate as close to the crease as possible, as play allows • Be aware of A players that threaten the crease • Must know how A got into the crease…..on his own or blocked, then legal or illegal contact, always kills the play. • Trail can help somewhat on opposite side • Trail – when off-ball focus on the low crease area (interference) • Trail can help with legality of contact that causes A to be in crease. • If lead is pulled to endline or the alley – adjust position to get better look at crease – it’s yours until lead returns • Goal scored with A in crease – get together and communicate if needed, unless it’s obvious that player entered crease after ball was dead. • If A is pushed into crease, throw flag and kill the play. A’s technical foul stops the play. • If you take a goal away – sell the call • Watch for action in front of the crease • Watch crease after change of possession