RULE 4 PLAY OF THE GAME

THE OFFICIALS

When you are the Trail and you don’t know where to position yourself on offense:

1) If the ball is in possession, go to the corner of the restraining box.2) If the ball is loose, go to the junction of the midfield line and the

sideline.

When you are the Lead and you don’t know where to position yourself on offense:

3) If the ball is loose or in possession of the offense, go to the goal line extended.

4) If there is a shot, go to the end line.

Six key places to go:

Here are the six key places you can’t go wrong on the field with two-man mechanics.

When the ball is being cleared and you don’t know where to position yourself:

5) If you are the new Trail, stay even with the ball, whether it is loose or in possession of the clearing team.

6) If you are the new Lead, stay at least one full zone ahead of the ball (so if the ball is in Zone 1, you are at midfield; if it’s in Zone 2, you are at the top of the box, and if the ball is inZone 3, you are on the goal line extended).

Six key places to go: (continued)

Visually checks that both players have:

- Their hands around their shafts.- All fingers touching the ground.- Their hands off the head of the stick.- Their sticks parallel to center line.- The heads of their sticks vertical.- Their sticks up to but not touching the ball (NFHS).-Their sticks up to but not touching the 4-inch-wide center line (NCAA).

Face Off

The lead official:

• Sounds his whistle immediately upon realizing the entire ball has passed beyond the goal line.

• Runs to the edge of the crease off the near pipe, turns to face “action” in front of the goal, and gives the goal signal while stationary (2–3 seconds).

• Retrieves the ball from the goal (don’t allow goalie tantrums!).

• Tosses the ball to his partner at the center of the defensive area line.

• Takes a position at the end of the wing line on the correct side of the field (always go to the left side of the field as you face midfield.

• Notes the number of the player scoring the goal on the scorecard.

• Conducts face-off duties as detailed in Mechanic 6.

The trail official:

• Waits for the goal signal by the Lead (don’t sound your whistle unless the Lead has missed the goal).

• Watches the crease for fouls.

• Moves toward the high crease.

• Goes to retrieve the ball from his partner and watch action in front of the crease (in the “hole”).

• Secures the ball from his partner and runs to the center of the field.

• Steps over midfield and turns around to face his partner (and the end of the field where the goal was just scored).

• Places the ball on the ground and straddles it while he writes the number of the player scoring the goal on his scorecard.

• Conducts face-off duties as per Mechanic 6.

The Lead official:

• Has the goal as his primary responsibility.

• Should try not to move off the goal line extended unless there is a contested play near the end line or unless he must move to get a better angle on the play.

• Should be as close to the crease as possible without interfering with play and without allowing players to get behind him.

• Should position himself relative to the ball and strive to be in good position to call a close play in the crease.

• Has end line responsibility on any shot (chase shots to the end line!).

The Trail official:

• Doesn’t signal the goal unless absolutely necessary.

• Watches crease area for violations.

• Helps with crease violations on a tight play.

• Is responsible for watching for late hits after the shot.

SCORE CARD

TEAM COLORS

CAPTAINSIN-HOME

NUMBER OF PLAYER SCORING BY QUARTER

TIME OUTS