coaches' conduct
US Lacrosse has prepared a Women’s Game Official Manual to assist officials in their pursuit of officiating excellence. This manual provides the following guidance to officials regarding coaches’ conduct:
- Coaches who feel they have the right to control the officials as well as their players during a contest are not in compliance with the “spirit of the rules” as written in the USL Rule Book.
- A coach should not:
- Question an official’s calls without full knowledge of the rules.
- Question an official’s judgment or show obvious disagreement or dissent in such a way as to interfere with the flow of the game or the concentration of the official.
- Use verbal comments, actions or gestures which are disrespectful or profane.
- Move beyond the team area, move onto the field, or be in the team substitution area.
- The Head Coach is not only responsible for his or her behavior but for the behavior of anyone officially connected with their institution, including assistant coaches, team personnel, and players in the team bench area.
WWLOA respectfully requests coaches be aware of and comply fully
with these guidelines.
Coaches and officials should have a common goal of maintaining
the spirit of the game while ensuring safe and legal play.
These goals can be achieved by professional, competent and
respectful behavior by both coaches and officials.
players' conduct
WWLOA recognizes that women’s lacrosse players are allowed to play with passion, speed and intensity. At the same time, WWLOA reminds players that their conduct on the field should comply with the rules. The rules that govern women’s lacrosse identify actions by players that constitute misconduct. These are:
- Excessively rough, dangerous, or unsportsmanlike play.
- Persistent or flagrant violation of the rules.
- Deliberately endangering the safety of an opposing player.
- Baiting or taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule, or demean others.
- Excessive dissent or abusive language.
- Non-playing team member leaving their team bench area during the game.
- Re-entering the game before yellow card or green/red penalty time has been elapsed.
- Any type of behavior that, in the umpire’s opinion, amounts to misconduct.
This type of behavior by a player is considered a misconduct foul and subject to issuance of a card by an official.
parents, fans and spectators
Parents and fans are an important part of women’s lacrosse. These individuals not only provide encouragement at games, but they often provide critical support to teams and individual players. WWLOA encourages spectator attendance and enthusiasm at games. At the same time, WWLOA reminds spectators that their behavior should be respectful and consistent with the rules.
The rules for women’s lacrosse include the following requirements pertaining to spectators:
- Spectators must remain at least 4 meters from the sidelines.
- This is an important safety requirement. Players and officials often run along and outside the sidelines. It is essential that spectators keep at least 4 meters, about 14 feet, back from the sidelines to avoid collisions with players and officials.
- Spectators are not allowed immediately behind the team bench or table area except in permanent stadium seating.
- This is necessary to avoid spectators interfering with or distracting the players, coaches, scorers and timers who are in the team bench or table areas.
- No spectators are allowed behind the end lines except in permanent stadium seating positioned behind protective netting or fencing.
- This is a safety requirement to protect spectators from being hit by a lacrosse ball.
- Coaches shall assist the officials in keeping the game under control. It shall be their duty, upon the request of an official, to effectively control actions of spectators not in conformity with standards of proper conduct.
- Disruptive or inappropriate behavior by a spectator may result in the head coach of their team being penalized and assessed a misconduct foul.