Rule 59: OFFENSIVE SCREENS/PICKS/BLOCKS

With all the contact that happens on a typical offensive possession it can be hard to distinguish a legal pick or screen from an illegal one. This can be further complicated by the variance on how it is called from one game to the next. Over the past couple years it has been a priority by the referees to clean up this part of the game. I am happy to see we have come to a middle ground where the offensive players are given some leeway in order to set their picks. In the past the defense had been allowed to clutch and grab and otherwise impede the offensive flow. I feel this has also been adequately addressed leaving us with an exciting brand of lacrosse.

According to the the NLL Rulebook a screen, pick or block is legal if applied to the front or back or side of an opponent or on the arms, below the shoulder and above the waist. At the discretion of the referee, screens, picks or blocks are allowed as long as forceful contact with the body, and/or excessive cross checking during the application of the screen, pick or block is not made against an opponent.

An OFFENSIVE SCREEN is the legal action by an attacking player attempting to impede the defensive coverage of a defender, on an attacking player “without” possession, while looking to receive a pass.

An OFFENSIVE PICK is the legal action by an attacking player attempting to impede the defensive coverage of a defender, on an attacking player with possession, while looking to receive a pass.

An OFFENSIVE BLOCK is the legal action by an attacking player attempting to impede the defensive coverage of a defender, on an attacking player with or without possession, with no intent of receiving a pass.

The application of these rules typically result in players being allowed to set slightly moving picks or screens along with pushing off a bit as long as the attacker does not knock the defender over or significantly blow him off his line. This is obviously a gray area that is left up to the referee’s discretion.