Rules and Regulations

Welcome to the official Rules & Regulations hub for the MWUFLL. All players, coaches and officials are expected to be familiar with league rules to ensure a safe, fair and competitive season.

2025 Season - Key Rule Changes

The 2025 season brings several important updates highlighted during this year’s Officials Clinic. Please review these carefully before your next game.

Body Ball: It is no longer a foul to use your body to stop or propel the ball forward. Although, a goal is still not scored when the ball comes off the person/body of an attack player.

Empty Crosse Check: A player must not check an opponent’s empty crosse while the opponent is trying to gain possession of the ball in the air. This rule only applies when an opponent is attempting to receive a pass.

It is no longer a foul if you check your opponent's empty crosse while they are trying to pick up a loose ground ball.

Incidental contact between crosses while playing a ball in the air is NOT a foul.

Field Markings:

• Fields must include both 11m and 15m markings.
• If your field does not have these lines painted, ensure a portable goal crease and 11m arc are taped down with the hash mark between the grommets.
• Download: Field Markings Outline (PDF)
  

Equipment Checks:

• Pregame stick inspections are no longer required. Players will not line up for checks before games.
• It is now the player’s responsibility to ensure they have:
  • a legal stick
  • a mouth guard
  • goggles
  • no jewelry
    • New piercings that cannot be removed must be securely taped.
• At the captain’s meeting, officials will ask coaches/captains to confirm that all players are legally equipped.

A player found without required equipment (no goggles, no mouth guard, or wearing jewelry) will receive a minor foul (illegal equipment).

Highlights for Game Flow

Foul Administration:

When a foul is called, the offending player must move immediately:

• 4m to the side for a minor foul
• 4m behind for a major foul

Coaches are asked to emphasize quick movement off the ball to help officials maintain game flow.

Self-Start Procedure:

Players must take a settled stance (brief hesitation) before initiating a self-start. The player may then run with the ball or pass.

The offending player is released as soon as the ball carrier begins to run or makes the pass.

Self-Start is not an option when:

• the game clock is stopped due to a timeout (i.e. injury, warning card, team officials);
• there is a restraining-line violation;
• there is an illegal draw;
• all fouls occurring in the AFA (Advantage Flag Area - within the 15m fan)

Video Rule Series

Lacrosse Canada has created an excellent series of short videos explaining the current rules and recent updates. There are 17 videos ranging from 42 seconds to 8 minutes each.

We highly recommend every team watches this series to ensure consistent understanding of the rules.

Watch: Lacrosse Canada Rules Series

Full Rulebook

For full details on all current rules and regulations, please refer to the official Lacrosse Canada Women’s Field Lacrosse Rulebook.

Lacrosse Canada Women's Field Lacrosse Rulebook (PDF)