During a virtual meeting this week, the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Rules Committee proposed an experimental rule on video review that would go into effect in the 2022-23 academic year.
The recommendation would need approval from the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to discuss women's lacrosse rules July 20.
If it is approved, conferences could apply for a waiver to use the experimental rule in league games only.
Under the proposal, both teams would have one video review request per game. If the original on-field call is overturned, the team would retain its request. Once a team's challenge did not result in the original call being overturned, the team would not be allowed to request another video review.
Officials also could initiate video reviews in certain circumstances.
In conducting the review, officials could use television camera coverage or a video review system provided by the host school. They would be allowed to ask for replays from any camera angle.
Video review would take place at the scorer's/timer's table. Coaches would not be permitted to be near the scorer's/timer's table, including the substitution and penalty areas, during the review.
If coaches or team personnel interfere with the review, a misconduct foul would be assessed to the team's head coach. Coaches would be allowed to meet with their teams during video review.
Video reviews would be allowed in the following scenarios:
- To correct the game clock and/or possession clock when there is a malfunction or timing error. This review would be at the request and discretion of the head official.
- To determine when the release of a shot at the end of a possession, quarter or overtime period occurred in relation to the expiration of time for the game clock and/or the possession clock. This review would be at the request and discretion of the head official.
- To determine whether the ball deflects off a player of the attacking team. This review would be at the request and discretion of the head official.
- To determine whether the whole ball crossed the goal line. This review would be at the request and discretion of the head official, head coach or any player on the field of play at the time of the shot.
- To determine whether the player shooting has stepped on or into the goal circle, or any other player of the attacking team has entered the goal circle, and if so, if the act of stepping onto or into the goal circle was the result of a foul. This review would only be in response to a goal or no-goal signal and at the request and discretion of the head official, head coach, or any player on the field of play at the time of the shot.
After a week of thorough discussions of survey materials from stakeholders in the sport regarding past implementation of timing efficiencies, committee members think giving conferences the choice to use this rule is the best decision.
"The committee turned its focus to the experimentation with video review," said Kathy Railey, committee chair and associate athletics director and coach at Stevenson. "We worked hard to provide NCAA conferences the opportunity to experiment and gather data in order to bring video review to all levels of the game. It is the first step in an exciting direction toward the ultimate goal of having video review be available to coaches, players and officials in all divisions of the NCAA women's lacrosse tournament in the years to come."