1. Holding is Considered a Minor Penalty
The penalty arises when a player holds an opponent by using his arms, legs or hands, according to rules from the National Lacrosse League and the International Lacrosse Federation. The player who is in possession of the ball cannot use the free arm to ward off an opponent. He cannot use a free hand or arm to hold or control the direction or movement of an opposing player, but using the free arm to take the contact or blows from an opponent is allowed.
2. The Other Team Gets the Ball
According to the rules of most lacrosse leagues, any violation of the holding rule will result in the ball going into the possession of the team that has been offended. A player who holds, pushes or grabs an opponent while pursuing a loose ball or defending a player with the ball will be assessed a minor penalty.
3. A Player Cannot Make Stick Contact Using a Hand
A player using a hand to check the crosse with the intent on making stick on stick contact on his opponent will receive a minor penalty if contact is made with the off-hand on the opposing player. A player will also receive a minor penalty for holding that impedes the progress of any player with or without the ball with only one hand on his stick.
4. Holding an Opponent's Stick is Subject to Penalty
Players are not permitted to hold an opponent's stick. A player cannot hold an opponent or an opponent's crosse except to hold off an opponent who is in possession of the ball or who is within 3 yards of a loose ball or who is within 3 yards of a ball in flight with either closed gloved hand on the handle of his stick, or with either forearm. Both hands of the player who is doing the holding must be on his crosse.
5. Legal Maneuvers
Here are a couple of maneuvers that may seem illegal but are actually allowed by most lacrosse leagues. A player may check the stick, or the gloved hand holding the stick, of an opponent who is in possession of the ball. The player does not have to release his check and is allowed to force down his opponent's stick so that the ball becomes loose. A player may hold an opponent's crosse or an opponent's gloved hand holding his stick with his own crosse or his own gloved hand holding his stick, provided that the opponent has possession of the ball, or the opponent is within 9 feet of a loose ball, or the ball is in flight within 9 feet of the opponent. A player in possession of the ball may protect his crosse with his hand, arm, or other part of his body when an opponent makes a play to check his stick. The hand, arm, or other part of his body may only be used to stop the stick check, and it must not be used to hold, push or control the direction of the movement of the checker's crosse or body.
Member Comments