The NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee established a mission statement, timeline and operating procedures for committee business at its first meeting December 11-14.

Significant discussion centered on the relationship between the NCAA and the current governing body, US Lacrosse, which currently writes the rules for the sport.

“We appreciate the hard work and dedication of the US Lacrosse rules committee, and we look forward to a cooperative relationship in governing the rules specific to the college game,” said Karen Borbee, head women’s lacrosse coach and senior woman administrator at Swarthmore College. Borbee was appointed as chair of the committee during the meeting, and Kelly Amonte Hiller was selected as vice chair.

The group felt it was important to develop a mission statement to provide direction for the committee and a better understanding of its purpose.

“Our committee was established through the NCAA structure to focus on the rules of the college game,” Borbee said. “We really had some great discussions about the scope of our responsibility and what our processes will be in conjunction with the college community we represent.”

The mission statement the committee adopted reads:

“The committee’s purpose is to govern the playing rules of the women’s collegiate game by:

• Acknowledging the traditions and image of the sport;

• Soliciting input from the various college constituencies;

• Examining existing regulations and making necessary modifications to create safe, practical, concise and enforceable rules; and

• Influencing the long-term vision and direction of NCAA lacrosse.”

The committee also set a timeline for its operations through 2006-07. It includes soliciting input from the collegiate lacrosse community that will shape the group’s discussion at its June 2006 meeting.

The timeline includes the following:

• January 2006 — Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) annual meeting in Philadelphia.

• February 2006 — Request for rules discussion items from collegiate lacrosse community.

• April/May 2006 — Rules survey developed and distributed to collegiate lacrosse community.

• June 19-23, 2006 — Rules committee meeting in Indianapolis.

• Early July 2006 — Two-week comment period for membership.

• August 2006 — NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) reviews proposals from the committee.

• September/October 2006 — First NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules book produced.

• 2006-07 season — NCAA playing rules used in competition.

Committee roster