Why do the Rules Rule?
Whether you are an umpire, coach, player or parent, you know that by teaching, following and enforcing the rules of the women’s lacrosse means that you share the responsibility to do the following:

Honor the origins of the game,
Commit to the core values of the game’s culture,
Respect all participants and
Recognize the value of fair play and both the letter and the spirit of the game.

Are there downsides to growth in the women’s game?
As the fastest growing youth sport in America, lacrosse is being played by more young girls and women today because it’s fun, fast, cool and relatively easy to pick up a stick and get in the game. As a result, the lacrosse community has experienced shortages of properly trained umpires and coaches relative to growing player interest across the country.

While US Lacrosse continues to work diligently with local communities to address these needs, the game continues to grow faster than its supporting infrastructure.  The addition of more and more individuals new to women’s lacrosse as coaches and umpires may actually be threatening the characteristics that embody the spirit of the traditional women’s game. Slow changes in the way the game is being coached and played, as well as increased visibility of the college game through increased media coverage, have contributed to growing concerns expressed by parents and administrators over player safety.

What does it mean to Be Fierce + Fair?
Being Fierce + Fair or B.F.F. means
...you play hard,
...you work hard and
...you don’t sacrifice safety, to win at all costs.

You are responsible for maintaining the safety and integrity of the women’s game.

What is the Rule Rules campaign and what can I do to spread the word about it this season?
The first and most visible component of this campaign is the launch of the “Rules Rule” poster which asks all of women’s game participants to place a greater value on fair play and both the letter and the spirit of the rules by committing  to “B.F.F. – BE FIERCE + FAIR.” 

For additional copies of the poster, contact womensdivision@uslacrosse.org

Talk to players and peers about what fair play is all about, with respect to positive coaching, rules intent and enforcement, good sportsmanship and most importantly, game safety. Whether you are an umpire or a coach, parent or administrator – consider asking these questions of yourselves and each other while training and preparing for the season:

♦ How and why is women’s lacrosse unique from men’s lacrosse?

♦ Is the integrity of women’s lacrosse rules, separate and distinct from the men’s game, worth preserving?

♦ How has women’s lacrosse changed through the years and how has it remained the same?

♦ In my position, how can I demonstrate the value of fair play, versus winning at all costs?

♦ What can I do to help make the game more fun and safe for those around me?

♦ What does it means to Be Fierce and Fair in women’s lacrosse?

The “Rules Rule” poster has also been mailed to thousands of US Lacrosse women’s game members, along with their choice of a 2009 US Lacrosse or NCAA Women’s Lacrosse rulebook before the US Lacrosse National Convention which was held in January in Baltimore. 

The leadership of the US Lacrosse Women’s Division will remain focused on delivering the core messages of the “Rules Rule” campaign to all constituents in the game, and will focus on developing resources such as interactive web pages and educational materials that will allow us to capture and recognize those members who have demonstrated a commitment to fair play.