Eastern MA Lacrosse Officials Association

NFHS 2024 Rule Changes (one pager)

Major NFHS Rule Changes 2024

4-24-11 (NEW)... ART. 11. . . If a player has the helmet come off during play, play shall be suspended immediately, and the player shall leave the field until after the next dead ball following the resumption of play.
5-4-2 (NEW)... CHECKS INVOLVING THE HEAD/NECK OR DEFENSELESS PLAYER ART. 1. . . A player shall not initiate contact to an opponent’s head or neck with a crosscheck, or with any part of the body (head, elbow, shoulder, etc) ART. 2 . . . A player who makes indirect contact to an opponent’s head and/or neck when the initial force of the contact is to the body of the opponent then slides up to the head and/or neck area.
- PENALTY: A one-minute non-releasable foul. An excessively violent violation may result in a longer non-releasable penalty or an ejection.
6-6-4 (NEW)... ART. 4. . . First team violation of Rule 4-18-4: No defensive player, other than the properly equipped goalkeeper, can enter the player's own crease with the perceived intent on blocking a shot or acting as a goalkeeper.
5-10j (NEW)... ART. 10j. . . A team's second violation of Rule 4-18-4: No defensive player, other than the properly equipped goalkeeper, can enter the player's own crease with the perceived intent on blocking a shot or acting as a goalkeeper.

Points of Emphasis

4-3-2... ART. 2 . . . The faceoff is considered to have ended when the ball crosses the defensive area line or it has gone out of bounds in the center-field area. If the officials cannot determine who was responsible for the ball going out of bounds, the ball shall be refaced. (formerly alternate possession)
5-6... A player may not use equipment that does not conform to specifications. Use of illegal equipment or failure to properly wear mandatory equipment will be penalized as a non-releasable foul 1-min
- (fingers and palms of hands must be covered by gloves)
- EXCEPTION: Mouthpiece violation. (6.5.2x)
4-3-3i... ART. 3i . . . Upon the whistle starting play, players shall not initiate a body check against their opponent; a body check against a crouched player is an illegal body check.
4-3-3j... ART. 3j . . . A violation will be called if a player picks up and carries the ball on the back of the stick. It is legal to clamp the ball with the back of the stick, but it must be moved, raked or directed within one step.

Complete Listing of 2024 NFHS Rule and Editorial Changes

Rule Books can be purchased. USALacrosse $6.00 NFHS $12.00

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