Game Rules - Playing the Sport of Lacrosse

Known as the “fastest game on two feet,” Lacrosse is a team sport historically of Northeastern Native American origins. The game is played using a solid rubber ball and long handled crosse or lacrosse stick. The head of the crosse has a net strung into it that forms a pocket for holding the lacrosse ball. Offensively, the object of the game is to use the crosse to catch, carry (by cradling), and pass the ball in an effort to score by shooting the ball into an opponent’s goal. The defensive object is to keep the opposing team from scoring and to regain possession of the ball through the use of stick and body checking.

Lacrosse is played with ten players on each team: a goalkeeper; three defenders in the defensive end; three midfielders free to roam the whole field; and three attackers attempting to score goals in the offensive end. High school games are 48 minutes long, with 12-minute quarters.

The Field (click for pdf)
The playing field is 110 yards long and 60 yards wide. The goals are 6 feet by 6 feet and sit inside an area called the crease, a circle measuring 18 feet in diameter. A midfield line divides the length of the field in half. The wing area, a line perpendicular to the midfield line, is marked 10 yards in from the sidelines and extends 10 yards from each side of the midfield line. Goal areas are surrounded by a restraining box marked 35 yards from the end lines of the field. (The .pdf is very helpful.)

Basic Game Play and Rules (click for pdf)
When starting the game or game quarter, and after a scored goal, play begins with a face-off. During a face-off, two players lay their stick horizontally, head of the stick inches from the ball and the butt-end pointing down the midfield line. Face-off men scrap for the ball, often by clamping it under the stick head and flicking it out to their teammates. Attackers and defenders cannot cross their restraining line until one player from the midfield takes possession of the ball or the ball crosses the restraining line. If a team member touches the ball and it travels out of the playing area, play is restarted with possession awarded to the opposing team. An attacking player cannot enter the goal crease, but may reach in with his stick to scoop a loose ball. During play, teams may substitute players in and out freely.

Referee Signals and Penalties (click for pdf)
A referee, umpire and field judge supervise field play. A chief bench official, timekeepers and scorers assist.

For most penalties, the offending player is sent to the penalty box and his team has to play with one less player for a short amount of time. Most penalties last for 30 to 60 seconds. Occasionally a longer penalty may be assessed for more severe infractions. The team that has taken the penalty is said to be playing man down while the other team is on the man up.