New Rules - Women’s Field Lacrosse 2020/21

Rule 18 - Goal Circle Rules & Penalties: Movement into Goal Circle

Rule book: (Indicates rule change)

1. Goal Circle Rules 2.  

2. With the following exceptions, no other players are allowed to enter or have their feet, body or Crosse on, or over the goal circle line at any time.  

a. On a shot, the attack shooter may follow through with her Crosse over the goal circle line, but her feet must not touch or cross over the goal circle line. The attack’s shooting motion must be initiated from outside the goal circle; therefore, the shooter’s Crosse must be outside the goal circle when she receives a pass from a teammate to attempt or complete a shot.  

b. On a shot, only the player/s directly marking/defending the attack shooter may reach into the goal circle with their Crosse/s to block the shot or check the shooter’s Crosse. The defender/s feet must not touch or cross over the goal circle line. 

c. The defensive player/s marking an opponent within a stick’s length may move through the goal circle within 3 seconds when their team is not in possession of the ball.  

Guidance: Only a defensive player who is directly marking an opponent within a stick’s length may be in the goal circle  

Guidance:  

Players on the defending team in their defensive end of the field may run through any portion of the goal circle while defending. This applies to the defensive players who are directly marking the ball carrier or a non-ball carrier. The defender(s) has 3 seconds to move through the goal circle and must abide by rule 18.A.1.

On a shot the defender(s) directly marking the shooter must move out of the goal circle but may reach into the goal circle with their stick(s) to block the shot or check the shooter’s stick.

Situation: 

A defender is legally moving through the goal circle actively marking within 1m an attacker who has the ball. The attacker suddenly turns and shoots (no dangerous follow through) and as she is shooting, the defender, who is quickly trying to step out of the goal circle, still has one foot in the goal circle as the goalie makes the save. The defender continues to leave the goal circle immediately following the shot. 

LEGAL. The defender was immediately exiting the goal circle as the attacker began to shoot. She simply could not move her feet as fast as the attacker propelled the ball. Note: The attacker must be aware of where the defender is and NOT propel or follow through dangerously into the defender.