Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Card-Based Discipline
NCAA women's lacrosse uses a card-based discipline framework distinct from the men's penalty-box model. Cards are issued by the officials for fouls of progressive severity:
- Green card: warning for delay-of-game offenses; team accumulates green cards, and the third or fourth green card on the team (per the rule edition) triggers a more serious sanction
- Yellow card: 2-minute non-releasable penalty served by the offending player; the team plays short; multiple yellows on the same player escalate to a red card
- Red card: ejection from the game; the team plays short for the remainder of the penalty (and potentially the game depending on the rule edition); the player is subject to suspension for subsequent matches
The 2026/27 cycle simplified the penalty-structure framework around these cards to improve pace of play and reduce inconsistent calls.
Major Fouls (Inside the 8-Meter Arc)
A major foul committed by a defending player inside the 8-meter arc results in an 8-meter free position for the offended player. Major fouls include:
- Charging, blocking, illegal pick
- Slashing, dangerous propelling, illegal cradling toward the body
- Hitting an opponent's head with a check or stick
- Setting in the goal circle
- Dangerous shot or follow-through into a defender
Minor Fouls
Minor fouls (e.g., offsides, illegal substitution, empty-stick check, sphere violations) result in a free position taken by the offended team where the foul occurred, with no clock stoppage in most cases.
Mandatory Equipment Violations
A player on the field without required equipment (headgear, eyewear, mouthpiece) commits an equipment violation and must be removed for correction; possession is awarded to the opposing team if appropriate.
Video Review Expansion (2026/27)
Video review can be used in NCAA women's lacrosse to determine player identification for cards and to confirm or reverse yellow or red cards. The framework matches the published 2026 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Video Review Guidelines.