2. The rules of the game — and why they exist
Lacrosse has been called the fastest sport on two feet, and the fastest-growing sport in the country. The result? With an increasing number of new people being introduced to the fast-paced game for the first time, there's uncertainty about the rules that govern the game, and why they're in place. Sometimes, this can be frustrating and lead to unsportsmanlike behavior — most notably vocal displeasure — from parents on the sidelines.
Chase Howse, US Lacrosse Youth Rules Committee chair, spent 35 years playing lacrosse and the last 30 officiating the game. His message to parents: "Take whatever time and steps you feel necessary to learn the rules before your son or daughter steps on the field. Is he or she learning from his coaches during practice? Or is it from watching a bunch of fouls being called during a game — often accompanied by howls of displeasure from coaches and fans?"
US Lacrosse, in conjunction with its Sports Science and Safety Committee, in 2012 released the Youth Rules and Best Practices Guidebooks. As part of the organization's effort to develop consistent national rules based on the physical, cognitive and psychological development stages of children, US Lacrosse developed these gender-specific guidebooks to help explain the rules and the rationale behind them. The three golden principles: safe, fun and fair.
A reminder from Cathy Russo, US Lacrosse Girls Youth Rules Interpretation chair: "Our No. 1 priority is always to keep the players safe."
The guidebooks — along with the website uslacrosse.org — provide a tremendous foundation from which to learn about the game.
Beyond reading the rulebook, US Lacrosse officials and education manager Lucia Perfetti Clark said, "The best way to learn the game is to get out there and do it; some of the best officials are parents." Russo and Clark suggested attending an officials/umpires training course or rules interpretation session, which are often offered through US Lacrosse chapters or affiliated youth organizations.
These sessions can help clarify the most misunderstood rules of each gender's game — which, it should be noted, are significantly different.
On the boys' side, the least understood rules revolve around contact, and there's varying amounts of legal contact allowed at every level of the game. At higher levels, the loose ball push versus push with possession leads to confusion. On the girls' side, shooting space violations and three-second held ball calls are most bewildering.
"In both games, even if a call goes against your team or kid, be happy when officials make calls for safety," Perfetti Clark said.