The NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee has clarified cross-checking as it applies to the list of “stick-to-body” contact fouls the panel is seeking to reduce.  

Meeting June 14-16 in Indianapolis, committee members voted to identify cross-checking as a foul to bolster existing rules that protect student-athlete safety. The type of contact involved in cross-checking (typically the stick being forced horizontally to an opponent) has always been enforceable, but the committee wanted to redefine the terminology to make it clear.

Committee Chair Danie Caro, head coach at Quinnipiac, said the addition of cross-checking to the list should be a further deterrent to overly physical play.

“Continued diligence with stick-to-body contact and physical play is needed,” Caro said. “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 is a foul that, if judged to be egregious or intentional enough to earn a yellow card, can be assessed a three-minute penalty.

The committee in fact was pleased with the effect of last year’s rules change that required players receiving a yellow card to sit out for three minutes.

The panel forwarded cross-checking, charging and shooting space as points of emphasis for next season. Members also identified dangerous checks and several other safety rules as areas of concern that require diligent enforcement.

The committee’s actions must be considered by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel before final implementation.

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 in regulation and one during overtime. The carding change will ensure the proper identification of carded players and help the committee monitor the long-term effects of rules.