MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA—The NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee proposed alterations to its rules to adjust player behavior and address a growing concern for the safety of the sport. The committee’s actions, which were approved during its June 16-18 annual meeting, must be considered by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel before final implementation.

The committee voted to alter the progressive process of its carding procedures. In the proposal, a player that receives a card will leave the field for three minutes and no substitute will be allowed. Previously, the offending team did not play short until a fourth card was issued.

Red cards, which are in place to penalize egregious and flagrant actions, will include an automatic suspension in the next contest. As was the case last season, two yellow cards do not result in a red card.

“In reviewing the current state of our game, it became clear that we need to change some player behavior,” said Karen Borbee, chair of the committee and senior woman administrator/women’s lacrosse coach at Swarthmore College. “When a card is administered, the penalty will be immediate with no substitution allowed for the carded player. This sends a strong message that safety is our top concern.”

These actions are part of a commitment to work jointly with US Lacrosse, the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association and National Federation of State High School Associations to address participant safety at all levels.

The committee also made slashing and dangerous contact around the head area a point of emphasis for next season. Stick to body contact, a point of emphasis last season, continues to be a concern and will be emphasized again.

“As this exciting game continues to evolve and the athleticism of our student-athletes increases, participant safety remains to be a main guiding principle,” Borbee said. “We need to change what has become accepted behavior in the game.  Officials will be instructed to err on the side of safety.”

The committee reviewed numerous proposals from the coaching community and made several proposed adjustments to the rules, including:

•         Ball. The committee approved the use of an orange ball and will allow a slightly textured ball next season.

•         Substitution Procedures. These rules were clarified in an effort to clean up the substitution box and more efficiently manage these procedures.

•         Stick Checks. The committee is mandating that at least two stick checks be performed by officials on each team in each half. Also, coaches will have one additional stick check request during play.

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, Stevenson University; 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.

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