NASHVILLE – Trevecca Nazarene University athletic director Mark Elliott announced the addition of Women's Lacrosse as the 17th intercollegiate sport for the NCAA Division II program.
"The addition of women's lacrosse continues our efforts to increase opportunities for more student-athletes to compete in the sports they love while pursuing their education here on the Hill as well as continuing our efforts to increase enrollment," Mark Elliott said.
"We are excited with the growth and energy in our department, coaching staff, and student-athletes in recent weeks with the addition of the sport STUNT, our cheerleading team going to compete at Nationals for the first time next month."
The search for the first coach to lead the new Trojan program is already underway. The new coach will spend the rest of the year recruiting for the first season in 2023-2024. Women's collegiate lacrosse is a spring sport giving the new coach a full year to recruit their first roster.
There is exciting news coming soon about where the new program will practice and play.
LACROSSE IN THE GREAT MIDWEST
Trevecca is the seventh women's lacrosse team in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Ashland University, University of Findlay, Lake Erie College, Tiffin University, Ursuline College, and Walsh University are the teams set to compete this spring. The Walsh Cavaliers are the two-time defending champions (story).
There will soon be three other Great Midwest schools adding women's lacrosse. First-year conference member Northwood University is adding women's lacrosse as is Malone University. Thomas More University, which is going through NCAA Division II membership process, will soon join the league and bring its women's lacrosse team into the fold.
The first season for women's lacrosse in the Great Midwest was in 2016.
LACROSSE IN TENNESSEE
Lacrosse is being added as a sport across the country at a rapid pace. There are 114 NCAA Division II women's lacrosse teams currently playing at the time of this release.
With Trevecca, there are eight schools in Tennessee with a women's lacrosse team.
Trevecca is the fourth NCAA Div. II school in the state to offer women's lacrosse. Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.), Lincoln Memorial University (Harrogate, Tenn.), and Tusculum University (Greenville, Tenn.) are the other three.
Vanderbilt University (Nashville) is the only NCAA Division 1 school with women's lacrosse in the state.
There are two NCAA Division III schools playing women's lacrosse in the state. They are Rhodes College (Memphis) and Sewanee (Sewanee, Tenn.).
On the NAIA level, Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens, Tenn.) is the lone school with a women's lacrosse team in the state.
INSIDE LACROSSE
The average lacrosse roster in NCAA Division II is 23.
Women's lacrosse is a non-contact game played with 12 players on the field: a goalkeeper, five attackers, six defenders.
Like soccer and hockey, the team that places the most shots in the opponent's goal wins the match.
A women's lacrosse match starts with a draw, taken by the center position. The ball is placed between two horizontally held crosses (sticks) at the center of the field. At the sound of the official's whistle, the ball is tossed into the air as the crosses are pulled up and away. A draw is used to start both halves and to resume a match following each goal is scored. The draw always happens at the center of the field.
For a collegiate match, the teams play a total of 60 minutes via two 30-minute halves. Teams are allowed one timeout per half.
The minimum dimension for a field is 120 yards by 70 yards. Additional markings on the field include a restraining line located 30 yards from each goal line, where only a maximum of seven offensive players and eight defensive players (including the goalkeeper) are allowed; a 12-meter fan, which officials use to position players after fouls; and an arc in front of each goal, considered the critical scoring area, where defenders must be at least within a stick's-length of their attacker.
When a whistle blows, all players must stop in place. When a ball is ruled out of play, the player closest to the ball gets possession when play is resumed. Loss of possession may occur if a player deliberately runs or throws the ball out of play.
Rough checks and contact to the body with the crosse or body, are not allowed.
Field players may pass, catch or run with the ball in their crosse. A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponent's crosse with a check. A check is a controlled tap with a crosse on an opponent's crosse in an attempt to knock the ball free. The player must be one step in front of her opponent in order to check. No player may reach across an opponent's body to check the handle of a crosse when she is even with or behind that opponent. A player may not protect the ball in her crosse by cradling so close to her body or face so as to make a legal, safe check impossible for the opponent. All legal checks must be directed away from a seven-inch sphere or "bubble" around the head of the player. No player is allowed to touch the ball with her hands except the goalkeeper when she is within the goal circle. A change of possession may occur if a player gains a distinct advantage by playing the ball off her body.
LACROSSE FIELD POSITIONS
THE ATTACK
FIRST HOME
The first home has the responsibility to score. They are in front of the goal continually cut toward the goal looking for a shot or move away from the goal to make room for a teammate. Excellent stickwork is vital.
SECOND HOME
The second home needs to be a playmaker. Possessing the ability to shoot well from various angles and distances from the goal is fundamental.
THIRD HOME
The third home charge is to move the ball from the defense to the attack. They should be able to feet the ball to other players and fill in wing areas.
ATTACK WINGS
The attack wings are also responsible for transitioning the ball from defense to attack. The key to a good wing is speed and stamina. They are always on the ready to receive the ball from the defense and then run or pass the ball to an attack opportunity.
THE DEFENSE
POINT
The point is responsible to mark the opponent's first home. They should be able to stick check, body check, and look to intercept the ball from the first home.
COVERPOINT
The coverpoint assignment is to mark the opponent's second home. The resume for a coverpoint should include the ability to receive clears, run fast, and have good footwork.
THIRD MAN
The third man is assigned to mark the opponent's third home. They expected to intercept passes, clear the ball, run fast, and have good footwork.
CENTER
A good center has the ability to control a draw and play both defense and attack. They need speed and because they are always on the move, stamina, and perseverance.
DEFENSE WINGS
A defensive wing focuses on marking the attack wings and moving the ball into the attack area.
GOALIE
A lacrosse goalie has the primary task of protecting the goal and stopping the opponent's scoring attacks. A top-shelf goalie reads the opponent's attack plans and coaches their defense teammates to assist in stopping the opponent's attacks. A top goalie has tremendous hand/eye coordination and can project their voice. Other helpful attributes include swiftness, dexterity, self-confidence, and laser focus.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
BLOCKING
This takes place when a player moves into the path of an opponent without giving the opponent a chance to stop or change direction, and causing contact. When a player is running to receive the ball, a "blind-side" defensive player must give their opponent a chance to stop or change direction.
BODY CHECKING
This technique allows a defender to move with their opponent without body contact occurring, following each movement of the opponent's body and crosse with their body and causing them to slow down, change direction, or pass off.
CHARGING
This takes place when the player with the ball charges, barges, pushes into, lowers one's head and shoulders or backs into, and makes bodily contact with an opponent who has already established their position. It is not required that the opponent is in a stationary position.
CHECKING
This is an attempt to dislodge the ball from an opponent's stick by using controlled stick-to-stick contact.
CLEARING
This is any action taken by a player within the goal circle to pass or carry the ball out of the goal circle.
CLEAR SPACE
This indicates the space between players that is free of sticks or any parts of the body.
COACHES AREA
The coach's area is 20 yards in length and designated on the bench (scorer's table) side of the field. It extends from the substitution area (which is middle of the sideline five yards on either side of midfield) for 20 yards toward the end line in front of the team bench.
CRADLING
This is when a lacrosse player runs with the stick in either one or both hands in a manner that keeps the ball in the pocket.
CRITICAL SCORING AREA
The critical scoring area is an area located at the end of the field. Its boundaries are approximately 12 meters (13.1 yards) in front of the goal circle to 9 meters (10 yards) behind the goal line extended and 12 meters (13.1 yards) to each side of the goal circle. No extra lines will be marked on the field, and this will be called in the judgment of the official using the 12-meter fan, dots, and end line as helpful references.
CUTTING
When an attacker runs toward the goal looking to get open to receive a pass.
DEFENSIVE END
Extending across the width of the field, the 30 yards from the goal line to the restraining line where a team is defending their own goal cage.
DEPUTY
This is the lacrosse player on the defensive goalkeeper's team who may only enter or remain in the goal circle when their team is in possession of the ball and the goalkeeper is out of the goal circle.
DIRECTLY BEHIND THE GOAL CIRCLE
This is the area between two lines extending perpendicular and back from the goal lines extended, tangent to the goal circle. Two small circles ("dots") 4-6 inches in diameter must be added to the field behind each goal. The circles shall mirror each other, 5 yards from the hash marks on the goal line extended. They shall be marked in the direction toward the end line and measured in a line perpendicular to the goal line extended.
8 METER ARC
This is the area in front of each goal circle inscribed by two lines drawn at 45-degree angles extending from the intersection of the goal circle and the goal line (extended); connected by an arc marked 8 meters from the goal circle.
FIELD PLAYER
This is any player other than the goalkeeper. It is a defensive or attacking player whose primary responsibility encompasses an area outside the goal circle, and to whom no special privileges have been awarded according to the rules.
FREE POSITION
This is the penalty awarded for any foul. The player taking the free position may run, pass or shoot.
FREE SPACE TO GOAL
This is a path to the goal within the critical scoring area as defined by two lines extending from the ball to the outside of the goal circle. No defensive player will be penalized if positioned below the extension of the goal line.
GREEN CARD
This is issued for a delay-of-game foul and results in a one-minute releasable penalty.
GROUNDED
This refers to any part of the goalkeeper's (or a defender's) body touching the ground outside the goal circle while the goalkeeper (or defender) attempts to play the ball from inside the goal circle.
HELD WHISTLE
This is when the official refrains from enforcing a rule when a player is fouled and maintains quality possession and calling the foul would disadvantage the non-offending team.
INDIRECT FREE POSITION
Is the penalty awarded for a minor field foul by the defense inside the 12-meter fan. The player taking the free position may run or pass but may not shoot until another player has played the ball.
LOWER SIDE OF CROSSE
This refers to the wood on a wooden stick and to the right side of a plastic stick as one looks at the stick with the pocket facing the player.
MARKING
This is guarding an opponent within a stick's length.
OFFSIDE
refers to a team with more players over the restraining line than is allowed by the rules.
NON-RELEASABLE PENALTY
Any red card offense, yellow card issued for a violation of Rule 2 or the NCAA Stick Check Instructions, excluding pocket depth, or fourth or a subsequent yellow card issued to the same team, will be considered a non-releasable penalty. A player will serve the full two-minute penalty and will not be released back into the game under any circumstances.
OFFENSIVE END
Extending across the width of the field, the 30 yards from the goal line to the restraining line where a team is shooting on their opponent's goal cage.
OFFSETTING FOULS
When a player from each team commits a foul during the same play, or when the attacking team commits a foul during a slow-whistle situation.
OFFSIDE
This refers to a team with more players over the restraining line than are allowed by the rules.
PENALTY AREA
This is the area directly in front of the scorer's/timer's table and at the rear of the substitution area where any player who has been carded will sit or kneel while serving their penalty time.
PICK
This is a technique in which a player without the ball, by their positioning, forces the opponent to take another route. To be legal, the picker shall stay within their vertical plane with a stance not wider than shoulder-width apart, and shall not lean into the path of an opponent or extend the hips into that path, even though the feet are stationary. The picker is not required to face any particular direction at any time. The picker must give their opponent a chance to stop or change direction.
PLAYED
This refers to an action whereby the ball leaves the player's stick and is touched by another player, the player's stick is checked stick to stick by an opposing player, or play is stopped due to a foul by the defense. The ball does not have to be successfully dislodged from the stick.
POSSESSION
A player is in possession of the ball when the ball is in the player's stick and the player can perform any of the normal functions of control, such as cradle, carry, pass or shoot.
PROPELLED ACTION
A ball is released from a stick into the air and eventually drops to the ground.
RED CARD
This is given to an offending player, coach or any team personnel who is immediately ejected from the game. Anyone who has received a red card shall be prohibited from participating in the team's next game.
RESTRAINING LINE
This is a solid line at each end of the field 27 meters (30 yards) upfield from the goal line that extends fully from one side of the field to the other side.
RESTRICTED AREA
An imaginary rectangle consisting of a line parallel to the end line that connects the dots, a line across the top of the goal circle, extending out to the width of the dots, and then two lines that connect the two lengths of the rectangle, which run parallel to the sidelines.
SCORING PLAY
This is a continuous effort by the attacking team to move the ball toward the goal and to complete a shot on goal. The scoring play is complete when: a. A shot is taken. b. The attacking team loses possession of the ball. c. The attacking team stops the continuous attempt to score, or the player with the ball is forced by the defense to lose forward momentum. d. The attacking team fouls.
SLASHING
This is the swinging of a stick at an opponent's stick or body with deliberate viciousness or recklessness, whether or not the opponent's stick or body is struck.
SLOW WHISTLE
This is a held whistle, with flag raised, once the attack has entered the critical scoring area and is on a scoring play.
SPHERE
This is an imaginary area of 18 centimeters (7") (the average width of the head of a stick) surrounding a player's head.
SUBSTITUTION AREA
This is the area in front of the scorer's/timer's table, centered at midfield, and sectioned off by two hash marks that are each 4.5 meters (5 yards) from the center line of the field.
TEAM BENCH AREA
This is the area from the end of the substitution area to the team's restraining line, and behind the level of the scorer's/timer's table extended.
TOEING THE LINE
This refers to the placement of the foot up to, but not on, the center line.
12 METER FAN
This is a semicircle area in front of each goal circle bounded by an arc 12 meters (39'4") from the goal circles.
2-METER NON-ENGAGEMENT AREA
The 2-meter circle surrounding a player taking a free position. Players' sticks and bodies may not cross into the 2-meter circle until play is commenced by either a self-start or the official's whistle.
WITHIN A STICK'S LENGTH
This is when any part of the opponent's body is inside a stick's length. The length of a stick only, not stick and body is the distance a player must be to one's opponent to be actively marking one's opponent.
YELLOW CARD
This is given as a warning to an offending player, coach or team personnel. A second yellow card to the same individual will result in a suspension, prohibiting the individual from further participation in the game.
WHAT'S NEXT
Once the new coach is named, recruiting will begin immediately.
The new women's lacrosse team arrives on campus in the fall of 2023.
The Trojans will begin practice during the fall 2023 semester, with the first women's lacrosse match expected in the spring semester of 2024.
NEW LOOK TROJAN ATHLETES
Women's lacrosse is the seventeenth intercollegiate sport at Trevecca. Trevecca currently fields teams in baseball, basketball (M & W), cross country (M & W), golf (M & W), soccer (M & W), softball, indoor track and field (M & W), outdoor track and field (M & W), and volleyball. STUNT will begin at Trevecca next season as well. Trevecca's cheer team begins competing in January of 2023 as they head to nationals.
MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
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