What is the shooting space rule?

A defender must not block or guard the goal with any part of their body for the purpose of obstructing the shooting lane. The rule applies only when the attacking team has possession inside the 15 m marking area.

• Obstruction occurs when a defender is illegally in the shooting space at their own initiation.
• It is not obstruction if the defender is drawn into or through the lane by an opponent they are legally marking within a crosse length (about 1.5 m), or is standing below the goal line extended.
• The call should be made only if the ball carrier is "looking" to shoot and has the opportunity to.
• When approaching the ball carrier, a defender's body (not their crosse) must stay outside the shooting space until within a crosse length of the ball carrier.
• It is an immediate whistle. If a shot has been released and a goal is scored, the goal counts.