INDIANAPOLIS—The NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee continued its efforts to protect the safety of student-athletes, proposing an additional definition for cross-checking.  The committee’s actions, which were proposed during its June 14-16 annual meeting, must be considered by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel before final implementation.

In reviewing the sport, the committee noted that some progress had been made as a byproduct of last year’s rules change that penalized a yellow card by removing the offending player from the field for three minutes.

“Continued diligence with stick-to-body contact and physical play is needed,” said Danie Caro, chair of the committee and head coach at Quinnipiac University. “The umpires have helped make our game safer and we hope the identification of cross-checking as a foul will assist in the continued emphasis.”

Cross-checking, charging and shooting space were forwarded as the committee’s points of emphasis for next season. Dangerous checks and several other safety rules were also identified as areas of concern and continued diligence with enforcement.

The committee left its rules virtually unchanged in other areas. The most significant rules changes dealt with team timeouts and the creation of a carding form that must be completed at field level and approved by the officiating crew. In the timeout change, the committee voted to separate the timeouts allowed, with two timeouts allowed in regulation time and one timeout allowed during any overtime play. The carding change will ensure the proper players were identified with cards and will assist the committee in monitoring its rules long-term.

A complete listing of rules changes will be distributed to member institutions and posted on NCAA.org 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, chair; Gail Cummings-Danson, Skidmore College; Missy Doherty, Towson University, Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern University, vice chair; Barbara Questa, St. Bonaventure University; Cecil Pilson, Mercyhurst College; Christine Paradis, Amherst College; Kathy Railey, Stevenson University; and Pat Dillon, secretary-rules editor.

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

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