Men's Timer / Scorer Instructions Document
2008

Timer Instructions for Men’s Lacrosse

Game Length

• High school Varsity: four 12-minute periods
• JV: 12-minute
• Freshmen/Youth: 10-minute
• College: four 15-minute periods.
• Stop timer when whistle blows to stop play.
• Start timer when whistle blows to start play.

End of period

• All periods: Notify nearest official verbally when there are 30 seconds remaining, and then count down loudly from 10, sounding horn at zero.  If the field has a visible electronic clock with a functioning horn, these notifications may be modified by the Referee.
• Fourth period: Notify the nearest official when there is 2:10 and 2:00 remaining. If the field is equipped with a functioning electronic clock, the Referee may choose to eliminate this verbal warning from the official timer.
• There are two minutes between all periods (including overtime periods) except for halftime.
• Halftime is ten minutes long.   Notify officials when there are four minutes and 30 seconds remaining in the halftime.

Signaling of penalties 

* The Official signals the team color, the number of the player, the nature of the foul, and  the length of the penalty, in that order

• The number is signaled with one hand; holding the fingers pointing up signals 0 through 5, while holding the hand sideways adds 5 to the number indicated. A closed fist indicates zero.
• A "T" formed with the arms indicates a 30- second technical foul.
• One, two, or three fingers held overhead indicates the number of minutes to be served for a personal foul.
• Some penalties are non-releasable, which is indicated by clasping hands over the head.
• Occasionally the officials will indicate that the first part of a penalty is non-releasable but the second part is releasable.
• Common non-releasable penalties are unsportsmanlike conduct and illegal sticks.

Timing of penalties

• When the penalty is signaled in, write down the player's jersey color and number, the length and nature of the penalty, the time the player should be released, and an "NR" if the penalty is non-releasable in the official scorebook.
• Penalty time starts when the whistle blows to re-start play
• If team A scores a goal, all releasable penalties for team B are released.
• If team A scores a goal, penalties for team A are not released.
• Non-releasable penalties always serve the full penalty time no matter how many goals are scored.
• Unexpired penalty time at the end of a period carries over into the next period.

Timeouts

• The referee will keep track of the length of timeouts, all of which are 2 minutes long

Horn

• If the coach calls for a horn during a sideline out of bounds, sound the horn once.  The official will signal a sideline out of bounds by holding both of his arms above his head.  If there is a problem and you need to notify the official, blow two short blasts on the horn during the next dead ball situation. Do not repeat the two-blast notification unless none of the officials responds.

Overtime

• Overtime periods are four minutes long.
• Two minutes between overtime periods.
• Count down final 10 seconds and sound horn at zero (see electronic clock guidance in the “End of Period” section).
• Game is over once a goal is scored

Scorer Directions for Men’s Lacrosse

Record keeping: The scorer will keep a written record of the goals, assists and other statistics. This record will be kept in the official scorebook, which is provided by the home team. The visiting team may elect to keep a similar book, with corresponding information, but the home team book is the official game record.

Timeouts: Record the period in which each timeout is taken and the time remaining when it is taken. Timeouts between periods are charged to the previous period.

Penalties: The scorer will keep an accurate record of the number of each player to whom a penalty is assessed, the type of violation, the time and the quarter when the foul occurred and the duration of the penalty. The scorer will work with the timer in this effort.

Fouling out: If a player accumulates 5 separate personal fouls (regardless of the length of time for each penalty), notify the nearest official immediately. A player with 5 personal fouls has fouled out of the game; he will serve his penalty but then must exit to the bench area and another player will take his place on the field. Technical fouls have no bearing on fouling out of a game.

Scoring: The scorer is responsible for determining and recording goals, assists, saves and shots. If there is any question as to the correctness of a recorded scoring statistic, the scorer should consult with an official. Team coaches may provide information if the scorer requests it, but the scorer and the game officials make the final determination.

• Goals: For a goal, record the number of the player scoring the goal and the time remaining in the period.
• Assists: You may award an assist if a player makes direct pass "to a teammate who then scores a goal without having to dodge or evade an opponent other than the goalkeeper." Only one assist may be awarded on any goal, and many goals in lacrosse are unassisted.
• Saves: Whenever the goalkeeper stops or deflects a shot that otherwise would have entered the goal, a save is awarded. A shot that misses the goal on its own is not recorded as a save.
• Shots: Whenever the offensive team propels the ball toward the goal with the intent of scoring, a shot is awarded (even if the ball is kicked, flipped directly from the ground with a stick, or intentionally deflected toward the goal). A shot may miss the goal entirely without being saved. A goal scored by the defensive team is not credited as a shot.