Why does the women's lacrosse official raise a flag and let play go on?
A · Advanced · Fouls and cards · 2 of 3When a defender commits a major foul while the attack is on a scoring play near goal, the official raises a flag and holds the whistle. The attack may carry on and shoot. If it scores, the goal counts. If not, it gets the free position for the foul. Elsewhere on the field, the official may hold the whistle if a fouled player keeps good possession.
How it works
- The flag: "a held whistle for a major foul committed by the defending team when the attacking team is on a Scoring Play inside the AFA".
- A scoring play: a continuous effort by the attack to move the ball to goal and shoot.
- It ends: with a shot, or when the attack takes or passes the ball behind the goal line and does not continue the move to score.
- A shot: completes the advantage. "If the shot on goal is successful, the goal counts."
- No goal: play continues, or the fouled player is given the free position for the foul.
- A second defensive foul: a free position at the hash mark nearest the most recent foul.
- A foul by the attack during the flag: alternate possession.
- A card due: a carded defender's team still serves it. After a goal, play restarts with a free position at the centre line.
- Defensive offside: during a scoring play the whistle is also held.
- Elsewhere: an official may hold the whistle with an arm out when a fouled player keeps good possession.
The glossary has the play-on entry and the slow whistle. The advantage flag is not yet in it.
Tricky cases
The flag is up and the attacker scores. Is the foul forgotten?
The goal counts. A foul that must be carded is still carded, and play restarts with a free position at the centre line.
The flag is up and the attack passes the ball behind the goal to set up again. Does the flag stay up?
No. Taking the ball behind the goal line to start a new move ends the scoring play.
During the flag, an attacker fouls a defender. What happens?
Alternate possession.
The flag is up and the shot is saved. What happens next?
Play continues and the official lowers the flag, or the fouled player is given the free position, as the rule provides.
Why the rule exists
Stopping play for a defender's foul would often help the defence by ending a good attack. The flag lets the attack finish, with the free position still waiting if the chance goes.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Women's field | Advantage flag for defensive major fouls near goal | WL Women Rule 21.A.1 |
| Foul by the attack during the flag | Alternate possession | WL Women Rule 21.B.4 |
| Men's field | Slow whistle for any defensive foul with a scoring play | WL Men Rule 82.1 |
| Sixes | Slow whistle | From the sixes set |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2025-2026 Women's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules, Rules 18.B.4, 21 and Appendix A. Checked 21 October 2026. Official document: World Lacrosse Women's Field Rules 2025-2026 (PDF).