Georgia high school lacrosse rules. Georgia High School Lacrosse: Rules, Policies, and Championship Information

What are the key rules and policies for high school lacrosse in Georgia. How does the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) govern lacrosse competitions. What should players, coaches, and officials know about Georgia high school lacrosse regulations.

GHSA Lacrosse Policies and Procedures

The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) oversees high school lacrosse in the state, implementing various policies and procedures to ensure fair and safe competition. These guidelines cover everything from officiating requirements to game conduct and weather-related protocols.

Officiating Policies

Officials play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of high school lacrosse games. The Georgia Lacrosse Officials Association (GLOA) has established several key policies:

• Officials must keep their contact information and availability updated on Arbiter, the scheduling platform.
• GLOA-assigned games should be prioritized by members.
• The Umpire must contact the Referee 48 hours before the contest to arrange meeting details.
• Proper uniform and equipment are mandatory for all officials.

Are there specific requirements for official uniforms? Yes, uniforms should be clean, not discolored, and in good repair to present a professional image. The referee determines the specific uniform choices for each game, such as long-sleeve vs. short-sleeve or shorts vs. rain pants.

Game Day Responsibilities

To ensure smooth game operations, officials and schools have specific responsibilities:

1. Officials should meet 45 minutes before varsity games and 25 minutes before sub-varsity contests.
2. The referee must provide Certification/Rating Cards to coaches.
3. Schools are responsible for providing adequate security for officials.
4. The NFHS Mercy Rule applies when one team leads by 10 or more goals in the second half, resulting in a running clock.

Weather-Related Protocols in Georgia High School Lacrosse

Inclement weather can significantly impact lacrosse games. The GHSA has established clear guidelines for handling such situations:

Lightning Detection and Safety Measures

How do schools handle lightning threats during games? All GHSA schools are required to have a lightning detector on-site. When the detector indicates a dangerous situation, officials must suspend play immediately. Games can only resume when the detector signals it’s safe to do so.

What if a school doesn’t have a lightning detector? In such cases, officials follow the NFHS Rule Book procedure: when thunder is heard or lightning is seen, play is suspended, and everyone must take shelter. A minimum of 30 minutes must pass after the last thunder or lightning before resuming play.

Game Cancellations and Postponements

The GHSA has specific rules regarding game cancellations:

• Schools must notify officials of cancellations at least three hours before the scheduled start time.
• If a team doesn’t arrive within 30 minutes of the scheduled game time without prior notification, the game is forfeited.
• A game becomes official if called after the second quarter is complete.

What happens if a game is interrupted? For varsity teams in the same classification, the game must be played to completion. Administrators can agree to postpone and resume the game at the point of interruption later. The team that’s behind may choose not to resume.

GHSA Boys Lacrosse Championships

The GHSA Boys Lacrosse Championships represent the pinnacle of high school lacrosse competition in Georgia. These championships showcase the best teams and players from across the state, culminating in intense battles for the coveted state titles.

Championship Structure

How are the GHSA Boys Lacrosse Championships organized? The championships are typically divided into multiple classifications based on school size and other factors. This structure ensures fair competition among schools with similar resources and student populations.

The championship tournament usually follows a bracket format, with teams advancing through rounds until the final match determines the state champion for each classification. These games are often held at neutral sites to provide an equal playing field for both teams.

Qualification and Seeding

Teams qualify for the GHSA Boys Lacrosse Championships through their performance during the regular season and region tournaments. The seeding process takes into account factors such as win-loss records, head-to-head results, and strength of schedule to determine the tournament brackets.

Player Eligibility and Regulations

The GHSA maintains strict eligibility requirements for student-athletes participating in high school lacrosse:

• Age restrictions: Students must not have turned 19 before May 1st preceding the school year of participation.
• Academic requirements: Athletes must be on track for graduation and maintain a certain GPA.
• Residency rules: Students must live in the school district they represent or meet specific transfer criteria.

What happens if a team uses an ineligible player? Using an ineligible player can result in severe penalties, including forfeiture of games and possible suspension from postseason play.

Safety Protocols and Equipment Standards

Safety is paramount in high school lacrosse. The GHSA follows NFHS guidelines for equipment standards and safety protocols:

Required Equipment

All players must wear:

• Approved helmets with face masks
• Mouthguards
• Protective gloves
• Shoulder pads
• Athletic cups (for male players)

How often is equipment checked? Officials inspect player equipment before each game to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Concussion Protocol

The GHSA takes concussions seriously and has implemented a comprehensive concussion management program:

1. Any player suspected of having a concussion must be removed from play immediately.
2. Players cannot return to play on the same day if a concussion is suspected.
3. Players must receive clearance from a healthcare professional before returning to play.
4. Schools must provide concussion education to coaches, players, and parents.

Coaching Certifications and Requirements

Coaches play a crucial role in developing players and ensuring safe practices. The GHSA has specific requirements for lacrosse coaches:

• All coaches must complete a GHSA-approved coaching education program.
• Certification in CPR and First Aid is mandatory.
• Coaches must attend annual rules clinics to stay updated on rule changes and interpretations.

Are there different requirements for head coaches and assistant coaches? While all coaches must meet basic certification requirements, head coaches may have additional responsibilities, such as attending mandatory meetings and submitting required paperwork to the GHSA.

Sportsmanship and Conduct Expectations

The GHSA places a strong emphasis on sportsmanship in all athletic competitions, including lacrosse:

Player Conduct

Players are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. This includes:

• Respecting opponents, officials, and spectators
• Avoiding excessive celebrations or taunting
• Accepting officials’ decisions without argument

What are the consequences for unsportsmanlike conduct? Penalties can range from in-game penalties to suspension from future games, depending on the severity of the offense.

Coach and Spectator Behavior

Coaches and spectators are also held to high standards of conduct:

• Coaches must set a positive example for players and refrain from arguing with officials.
• Spectators are expected to cheer positively and not interfere with the game.
• Schools are responsible for controlling spectator behavior at their home games.

The GHSA may impose sanctions on schools that fail to maintain appropriate conduct among coaches, players, or spectators.

Regular Season and Postseason Structure

The structure of the lacrosse season in Georgia high schools is designed to provide a balanced and competitive experience for all teams:

Regular Season

During the regular season:

• Teams typically play a set number of games, including both region and non-region contests.
• Region games are particularly important as they often determine postseason seeding.
• Schools may also participate in tournaments or showcase events.

How long is the typical high school lacrosse season in Georgia? The season usually runs from late winter to early spring, with specific dates set by the GHSA each year.

Postseason Play

The postseason structure includes:

1. Region tournaments: Teams compete within their regions to determine final standings and state playoff berths.
2. State playoffs: Qualifying teams enter a single-elimination tournament to determine the state champion.
3. Championship games: The final games in each classification are often held at a prestigious venue, showcasing the best teams in the state.

This comprehensive overview of Georgia high school lacrosse rules, policies, and championship information provides valuable insights for players, coaches, officials, and fans. By adhering to these guidelines and embracing the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship, participants contribute to the growth and success of lacrosse in Georgia.

Policies

General GLOA Polices for Officials

Contact Information, Blocks and Pre-Game Communication

• Ensure you keep your contact information, availability, and blocks updated on Arbiter.
• It is expected that GLOA members will make themselves available for GLOA assigned games as their priority. Repeatedly ignoring this could result in suspension or expulsion from GLOA.
• It is the Umpire’s obligation to contact the Referee 48 hours prior to contest to arrange meeting time and location.

Uniform and Equipment

• Officials are responsible for ensuring they have all the required uniform items and equipment.
• Uniforms should be clean, not discolored, and in good repair. We want to present a professional image to the teams. In case of differing selections (long sleeve vs. short sleeve or shorts vs. rain paints), the referee determines what is to be worn. Please see the Uniforms and Equipment page as well as the GLOA Gear page for more details.

Game Conduct and Responsibilities

• Crews should plan on meeting at least 45 minutes prior to game for all varsity contests and 25 minutes for sub-varsity contests.
• The referee for a given game is responsible for providing Certification/Rating Cards to the coaches.
• Note NFHS (Federation) Mercy Rule — if one team is up by 10 or more goals in the 2nd half, then go to a running clock.
• Schools must provide adequate security for officials. Find out who the site coordinator is before the game begins. The home team is responsible for security. Do not allow fans to congregate behind the team bench areas.

Insurance

• If you are officiating a game that has not been assigned through GLOA and the Arbiter, then GLOA has no responsibility to you financially and you are not covered by the Association’s insurance.
• Report any player/coach misconducts using the Incident Report Form within 24 hours of the contest. (This was formally the Game Report Form)
• Get in, do the job, then leave. Do not loiter on the field or in the parking lot following a game!
• Have fun, be safe, and think!

Inclement Weather, Postponements and Game Cancellations

In the event of inclement weather, the following procedure must be followed by officials and schools. Detailed both in the GHSA Constitution (a.k.a. “White Book) and in the NFHS Lacrosse Rule Book (see Rule 3, Section 5 and Appendix D).

Inclement Weather

• All GHSA schools are required to provide a lighting detector on site.
• When the lightning detector indicates a dangerous situation, the official will suspend play.  When the lighting detector indicates that it is safe to resume play, the contest may resume.
• If you are officiating at a site with no lightning detector, follow the procedure detailed in the NFHS Rule Book (Appendix D) – “when thunder is heard, or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning.   Suspend play and take shelter immediately.”  Only resume play when a minimum of 30 minutes have elapsed since the last audible thunder or cloud-to-ground lightning bolt.

Game Cancellations

• Cut off time for notifying officials of a cancellation is three (3) hours prior to the scheduled start time for the game. Since most of the games are 4:30 – 5:00 start times the cut off for an afternoon game would be 1:30 – 2:00.
• If the game is cancelled the schools are obligated to contact the officials by phone to let them know of the cancellation.
• Game is official if called after the second quarter is complete.
• If a team does not arrive at the game site for any contest without notifying the host opponent of a late arrival, that contest will be forfeited 30 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Referees

• The referee should contact the school if there is a concern regarding whether the game will be played.
• It is the referee’s obligation to notify the umpire (and field judge should one be assigned).

Postponement and Continuation 

• GHSA Varsity teams are from the same classification, the game must be played to completion.  Administrators from the competing schools may agree to postpone the contest and resume competition at the point of interruption at a later time.  The team that is behind may choose not to resume the contest at a later date.
• Note that by rule, the officials may suspend the game – this may become necessary if the administrators from the competing schools disagree about postponing the game and if the officials are concerned for the continued safety of the players.
• All other games, GLOA will observe GHSA Constitution 2.93.c. (the “two hour-wait-rule” – i.e. the game will be stopped if the delay is two hours cumulative), except for sub-Varsity games in which the two-hours will be reduced to one-hour.  Note that this applies to all leagues to which GLOA assigns officials unless there is a specific league policy superseding.

Payment 

• Failure of the schools to contact the referees obligates the school for payment of the fees.Game postponed or cancelled after official is on site but before the face off, team pays travel fee.
• Game postponed or cancelled after face off but before the end of the second quarter, team pays travel and one half of game fee.
• If you as the official are scheduled for a game and you do not show up, the association is liable to monetary compensation to the school. GLOA may choose to recoup these expenses from your game fees.

Lacrosse – GIAA

GIAA Commissioner

Tommy Marshall joined the GISA Team in 2021 as League Commissioner and he brought with him years of outstanding, highly recognized, and sincerely respected experience.

As an Atlanta native, Tommy coached at the high school level for 8 years in the Atlanta Area. He began his collegiate coaching career at Mars Hill College before returning to his alma mater, Furman University. During this time, he was part of the 1979 Redan State Championship Team and the 1988 Furman University National Championship Team. He served as President of the Furman Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an organization he continues to serve today. He also served on the Furman University Alumni Board from 2011-2016. After a 17-year high school and college coaching career, in May of 1996, Tommy joined the Marist School staff as Director of Athletics where he has served to this day, retiring in June of 2021.

Tommy Marshall’s years of extraordinary dedication to students and his committed service have not gone without notice. He is a member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), is an NIAAA Certified Master Athletic Administrator, and has served on the NIAAA Board from 2008-2010. In recognition of his work at the local, state, and national levels, NIAAA awarded Marshall the 2004 State Award of Merit, the 2009 Citation Award, and the 2012 Distinguished Service Award for outstanding leadership and achievement. Marshall was recently awarded the NIAAA State Award of Merit for Georgia for the second time for the year 2020-21. In 2006 and 2015, Tommy served as President of the Georgia Athletic Directors Association (GADA). He was named the GADA Region Athletic Director of the Year in 1998, 2002,2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011 and the AAAA State Athletic Director of the Year in 2002 and 2007. Tommy served as Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Region Secretary from 2006-2016 and as 7-AAAA Region President from 2016-2020. He currently serves as the Region 6-AAAA Region Secretary. Marshall was inducted into the GADA Hall of Fame in the spring of 2015 and was named the 2017 Georgia Tennis Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). In 2019, GADA presented Tommy with the first annual Bob Stinchcomb Leadership Award for his commitment to developing the role of athletic administrators across the state. Tommy was elected to the GHSA Board of Trustees this fall in the newly created position of a private school representative.

Throughout his stellar career, Tommy has exhibited his unwavering commitment to students, as well as his eagerness to serve his colleagues as a mentor in order to provide the best possible leadership for the students of Georgia.

Above all, Tommy Marshall is committed to his faith and family. Tommy and his wife Dana have two married children and five amazing grandchildren.

Tommy’s belief in a continuum of cooperation, communication, and collaboration has served him well and brought him great success. We are indeed fortunate that Tommy Marshall has chosen to begin a new journey with GISA/GIAA, continuing to serve the students and educators of the independent schools of Georgia.

US Boarding School Association – Networking Cocktail for Leading Educational Agents Abroad

Ross School – Worcester Academy – Idyllwild Arts Academy – Hillside School – Wyoming Seminary School – The Ethel Walker School – The Hockaday School – Southwestern Academy – Villanova Preparatory School – Perkiomen School – Admiral Farragut Academy – King’s Academy – Asia Pasific International School – Darlington School

Dear Friends and Partners in education in USA VikiVisa. Ru!

On behalf of the US Embassy and the US Boarding Schools Association, I would like to welcome you warmly TABS.

The Association of Boarding Schools USA would like to invite you and your colleagues Igor Ozerin, Eduard Ozerin and Elena Moksina to a networking cocktail for leading Education Agents Abroad with participation of Representatives of 14 leading US boarding schools which will take place on in the National Hotel (Moscow, Mokhovaya St. 15/1 p. 1), “Petrovsky”

In addition, those of you, who will be in St. Petersburg , we are glad Invite colleagues for non-playing cocktail for leading agents by education abroad with the participation of representatives of 14 leading US schools, which will be held in the hotel “ Four Seasons 9000 Saint Petersburg » Education Specialists Abroad Eduard Ozerin Vasilyevich, Elena Mo ks ina Alexandrovna and Igor Ozerin Vasilyevich registration for meetings and events has been confirmed

We bring to your attention a brief description of the schools and their programs:

As part of the European tour TABS brings to Moscow 14 unique schools that are extremely popular in North America, as they are the benchmark for the quality of school education.

The geography of schools for every taste – from sunny California and the beautiful state of Hawaii to the status of Connecticut.

Ross School

Co-ed private boarding school for children aged 13 to 19years, founded in 1991 and located in East Hampton, 2 hours from New York, USA.

In addition to the classical elements of the academic program, students of the school study space, anthropology, biotechnology and many other modern innovative subjects, and often go on study trips around the world.

The school has 100 acres of land in east Long Island. The campus has science laboratories, equipped classrooms, art and creative workshops, a photo lab, a library, basketball and baseball courts, a tennis court, a gym and 3 athletics fields.

The school is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSA) and is awarded the first international credential ever issued by the MSA.

Worcester Academy

A co-educational private boarding school for students aged 12-18 located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Founded in 1834, Worcester Academy is one of the nation’s oldest boarding schools, with alumni including Edward Davis Jones, Harry John Benjamin and Cole Porter. The campus of the school covers 73 acres of land, which includes a middle school with approximately 150 students from grades 6 to 8, and a high school with approximately 500 students from 9to 12th grade. Currently, 80 foreign students from 28 countries of the world study at the school.

The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 65% ​​of all applicants.
Worcester Academy is a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the New England Association of Independent Schools, and the New England Preparatory Schools Athletic Council.

Idyllwild Arts Academy

World renowned co-educational arts private school located on 205 acres of pine forest in the San Jacinto Mountains in Idyllwild, California, USA. Idyllwild Arts Academy was the first private arts boarding school in the Western United States.
Currently, the school has more than 300 students from 30 countries aged 15 to 18 years old.

Students of the school study various aspects of the arts: music, theater, visual arts, creative writing, film and media, and fashion design. Idyllwild Arts Academy graduates excel in all professional areas of the arts, including Broadway theatre, prime time television, classical and jazz music, film, graphic design, photography and more.

Idyllwild Arts Academy is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Hillside School

Compact boarding school for boys aged 11 to 15 located in Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA.

The school has 237 students, 18% of whom are foreigners. The school campus, located on a 150-acre site, is an ideal place for the academic, athletic, creative and social development of boys. The school also adheres to a policy of constant dialogue, which contributes to the formation of a warm relationship between students and teachers.

Wyoming Seminary School

Co-educational private boarding school for girls and boys ages 6 to 18 located in the small town of Kingston, Pennsylvania, USA.

This school is famous for its high quality teaching; students have access to a huge number of extra-curricular clubs and activities, and the school territory is equipped with everything necessary and modern: students can spend time in creative studios, a library, gyms, scientific laboratories, a stadium, playgrounds for various sports and so on.

The average class size is 14 and the student-teacher ratio is 8:1, ensuring a high level of attention to the individual needs of each student.

The Ethel Walker School

An independent boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18 located in Simsbury, Connecticut, USA. Ethel Walker School is also one of the only American schools for girls that offers a Postgraduate program of study, thanks to which graduates can further grow academically, personally and athletically.
The campus of the school has a highly developed infrastructure, thanks to which students have access to many offers in the field of art, including 7 music groups, 16 academic courses and more than 10 sports.

The Hockaday School

An independent boarding school for girls aged 6 to 18, founded in 1913 and located in Dallas, Texas. The school provides students with a high quality education and quality preparation for further education in a college or university.
High school students take at least four academic courses per year. Paying a huge amount of attention to academic and intellectual development, the school also does not forget about the physical development of students: on campus there are 3 basketball fields, spaces for dancing and aerobics, a fitness center, a field for hockey, lacrosse and golf, as well as a swimming pool, tennis center and 10 tennis courts.

Southwestern Academy

Co-ed private boarding school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. Boarding students study at two campuses – in San Marino, California, USA and Rimrock, Arizona, USA.

Southwestern Academy has all the necessary infrastructure for sports and social events. A favorable environment and an individual approach of highly qualified teachers to each student contributes to the most profound development of the curriculum.

At Southwestern Academy, international students can quickly learn English through an intensive ESL (English as a Second Language) program.

Southwestern Academy is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Villanova Preparatory School

Founded in 1924, a private, coeducational Catholic boarding school located in Ojai, California. The school has over 260 students aged 15 to 18. 34% of students live in a boarding house and represent 14 different countries.

The campus covers more than 130 acres and contains many sports facilities, two residences, a gym and tennis courts.

The school is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is a member of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association and the only coeducational Augustinian boarding school.

Perkiomen School

Co-ed independent boarding school located in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. Students aged 12-18 study at Perkiomen School, and the school also has a Postgraduate training program. Perkiomen School was founded in 1875 by a descendant of an immigrant from the Schwenkfelder church and currently has about 350 students.

The campus covers 165 acres. On the campus there are 6 academic buildings, 6 residences, a canteen, a medical center and a faculty building. Sports facilities include a sports center with a swimming pool, two sports halls, a gym and a wrestling hall, 8 tennis courts, several sports fields, an indoor and outdoor basketball court.

Admiral Farragut Academy

Established in 1933, a private, co-educational military-style boarding school for students aged 14 to 18, located in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.
In addition to classical academic education, Admiral Farragut Academy students receive additional naval education: the school has aviation, engineering, navigation, and scuba training programs.

The school has the strict rules traditionally found in military schools. This develops self-discipline, endurance and physical qualities. At the moment, more than 330 students study at the school, among which 18% are foreign, representing 27 countries of the world. There are many interest clubs on the school grounds: outside the classroom, students can play one or more of the 14 sports available, sailing, and also take part in weekend trips and other activities.

King’s Academy

A co-educational private boarding school for students aged 12-18 located in Madaba Manj, Jordan. Named after the King of Jordan, King’s Academy aims to fulfill his vision of “raising a new generation of enlightened and creative minds”. The school offers comprehensive education and development, combining a challenging science and arts curriculum with athletic programs, community service, and extracurricular activities. Also, students can join interest clubs, of which there are more than 20 in King’s Academy.

The school’s infrastructure is rich in everything necessary for the physical development of students: on the territory there are basketball courts (indoor and outdoor), a running track, volleyball courts, a fitness center, a swimming pool, a tennis court and squash and handball courts.

A sia Pasific International School

Private, non-denominational, coeducational boarding school located in Howula, Hawaii, USA. Asia Pacific International School has students from 5 years old (zero grade) to 18 years old. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and licensed by the Hawaiian Association of Independent Schools (HAIS).
The modern campus of the school is located on the north coast of Oahu on a 97-acre cliff with stunning ocean views. The beautiful surrounding nature has a direct impact on the curriculum, one of the most important aspects of which is project activity.

The low teacher-to-student ratio ensures a high level of education, along with extra-curricular education that provides real life experiences.

There are 17 interest clubs in the school. Also on site are basketball courts, a fitness center, a technology center, volleyball courts and a beach volleyball court.

Darlington School

Private, coeducational boarding school founded in 1905 and located in Rome, Georgia, USA. Darlington School has students from 5 years old (zero grade) to 18 years old.
The school is characterized by a strong academic program, numerous opportunities for creative pursuits and a rich sports program.