In 2019, significant rule changes were made in the high school and youth girls’ lacrosse rules. One of those changes, focused directly on increasing player safety, was the creation of a penalty zone.
The penalty zone is intended to simplify penalty administration for officials and address safety concerns around 8-meter free positions. Basically, the rule change stipulated that this area must be cleared by players for all 8m free positions awarded above the goal line extended.
The penalty zone is the area from inside the 8-meter arc and extending back to the dots from the 8-meter arc. If a major foul by a defensive player occurs within 8 meters of the goal circle above the goal line extended, the entire penalty zone must be cleared.
All players in the penalty zone must take the shortest route out. If a major foul by a defensive player occurs below the goal line extended, the player with the ball will go to the nearest dot. The penalty zone is not cleared when a foul is administered at a dot.
For more details about the penalty zone, including additional diagrams and answers to frequently asked questions, please click here.
For additional resources about rules of the game, please visit the USA Lacrosse girls’ and women’s rule page.
