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Just wanted to add my 2 cents to the topic here. While I agree that the lacrosse rulebook is not written particularly well, I don't think that the names of the offenses are the problem. Changing "holding" to "hooking" is not going to do much to foster understanding of the game. Every game has its own terminology. Fans learn the terminology as they go. In lacrosse, a personal foul is more severe than a technical foul. But in basketball, a technical foul is the more severe of the two. Should we change "personal" and "technical" so that they're the same as basketball, just b/c that's how most fans are more familiar with basketball? Just my opinion, but I don't think so.
As far as the slash call is concerned, there has to be some judgment involved. If A1 checks B1's stick, and then accidently follows through so that his stick slightly contacts B1's helmet, what do you have? Do you really want to throw a flag for that? Not me. If A1 shoots the ball and the follow through from his shot causes his stick to contact defender B9 on the leg, what do you have? Not a flag, that's for sure.
The rules are intentionally written so as to allow the officials to exercise some judgment as to whether the contact constitutes a foul or not. That's why a body check is not illegal if the player being checked turns his back while the check is being delivered. Sure there's contact on his back (and we do want to limit that, I agree), but HE caused it so we shouldn't penalize the player delivering the check.
The same is true of the other examples you gave. Is a late hit an illegal body check or interference? Is contact from behind an illegal body check or a push? These are not "confusing" situations; they simply require you to exercise some judgment as to the severity of the contact.
If you're a new official, you just need to get out there and do games (although if you're in New England like me, I'd suggest you wait for Spring). The more games you do, the more situations you see, the easier it becomes to see the difference between a push and an illegal body check.
In the meantime, post rules questions or funky situations here and ask your local fellow officials as well. This may sound cynical, but don't worry about what the fans understand. 90% of them will never understand the rules, regardless of how they're written.
Chuck
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