New Rules - Women’s Field Lacrosse 2020/21

Rule 13 - Start & Restart of Play

Rule book: (Indicates rule change)

C. Self-Start Following a whistle for a major or minor foul outside the 11m advantage flag area, the player who is awarded the free position may continue to play when both her feet are stationary on the ground and the ball is in her Crosse, without waiting for an additional whistle. 

The offending player must immediately move 4m behind for the major foul or 4m away to the side for the minor foul to the player taking the free position indicated by the umpire. Any other player/s within 4m must move 4m away from the foul indicated by the umpire. All other players may move.  

The player who has been awarded the free position may self-start following the umpire’s signal of the foul and the umpire’s awarding the free position.  

The option to self-start is administered at the spot of the foul. However, if the ball is within playing distance (a stick and a half-length away approx. 2m) from the player who is awarded the free position she may pick up the ball and self-start.  

If the ball is outside the playing distance of the foul, the player who has been awarded the free position and the ball must return to the spot of the foul for the self-start. If the spot of the foul cannot be determined, the umpire shall indicate the location for the free position. If the umpire has to reset the free position, the umpire’s whistle will restart play.  

New para. 5  

When the ball is out of bounds, including the side and end lines, the player awarded the ball will place the ball in her Crosse and stand 2m inside the boundary from the spot where the ball went out of bounds and may self-start. All opponents must give the player awarded the ball at least 1m free/clear space (stick/body and feet). 

 If the player who has been awarded the free position chooses to self-start, then defensive players may play her immediately following the self-start. Repeated false starts, delays in moving 4m by the defence, or self-starts by the attack beyond the playing distance of the foul will result in a delay of game penalty (Rule 23.D.1&2).  

Self-start is not an option when:  

1. the game clock is stopped;  

2. there is a restraining line violation;  

3. there is an illegal draw;  

4. major or minor fouls occurring in the 11m area including goal circle fouls