General
Field Lacrosse
Box lacrosse
Women's lacrosse
General
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin that is played using a small solid rubber ball and a long-handled racquet called a crosse or lacrosse stick. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose netting that is designed to hold the lacrosse ball. Offensively, the object of the game is to use the lacrosse stick to catch, carry, and pass the ball in an effort to score by ultimately hurling the ball into an opponent's goal. Defensively the object is to keep the opposing team from scoring and to dispossess them of the ball through the use of stick checking and body contact or positioning. There are three main versions of the sport; men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse and box lacrosse.
Field Lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes called the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team.
Rules
Field lacrosse involves two teams, each competing to shoot a lacrosse ball into the opposing team's goal. A lacrosse ball is made out of solid rubber, measuring 19.7–20cm in circumference and weighing 140–149g.
Each team plays with ten players on the field:
• a goalkeeper
• three defenders in the defensive end
• three midfielders free to roam the whole field
• three attackers attempting to score goals in the offensive end.
Players are required to wear some protective equipment, and must carry a lacrosse stick (or crosse) that meets specifications.
Playing area
A standard lacrosse field is 100m in length from each endline, and 55m in width from the sidelines.
Field lacrosse goals are centred between each sideline, positioned 14m from each endline and 73m apart from one another. Positioning the goals well within the endlines allows play to occur behind them. The goal is 1.8m wide by 1.8m tall, with nets attached in a pyramid shape. Surrounding each goal is a circular area known as the "crease," measuring 5.5m in diameter.
A pair of lines, 18m from both the midfield line and each goal line, divides the field into three sections. From each team's point of view, the one nearest its own goal is its defensive area, then the midfield area, followed by the attack or offensive area. These trisecting lines are called "restraining lines." A right angle line is marked 9.1m from each sideline connecting each endline to the nearer restraining line, creating the "restraining box." If an official deems that a team is "stalling," that is not moving with offensive purpose while controlling the ball, the possessing team must keep the ball within the offensive restraining box to avoid a loss-of-possession penalty.
Field markings dictate player positioning during a face-off. A face-off is how play is started at the beginning of each quarter and after each goal. During a face-off, there are six players (without considering goalkeepers) in each of the areas defined by the restraining lines. Three midfielders from each team occupy the midfield area, while three attackmen and three of the opposing team's defensemen occupy each offensive area. These players must stay in these areas until possession is earned by a midfielder or the ball crosses either restraining line. Wing areas are marked on the field on the midfield line 9.1m from each sideline. This line indicates where the two nonface-off midfielders per team lineup during a face-off situation. These players may position themselves on either side of the midfield line. During a face-off, two players lay their sticks horizontally next to the ball, head of the stick inches from the ball and the butt-end pointing down the midfield line. Once the official blows the whistle to start play, the face-off midfielders scrap for the ball to earn possession and the other midfielders advance to play the ball. If possession is won by the face-off player, he may move the ball himself or pass to a teammate.
The rules also require that substitution areas, a penalty box, coaches area, and team bench areas be designated on the field.
Equipment
A field lacrosse player's equipment includes:
• a lacrosse stick
• a lacrosse helmet with facemask
• lacrosse gloves
• arm and shoulder pads
• mouthguards
• athletic supporter
Each player carries a lacrosse stick measuring between 1.0–1.1m long (a "short crosse"), or 1.3–1.8m long (a "long crosse"). On each team up to four players at a time may use a long crosse: the three defensemen and one midfielder. The lacrosse stick, or crosse, is made up of the head and the shaft (or handle). The head is roughly triangular in shape and is loosely strung with mesh or leathers and nylon strings to form a "pocket" that allows the ball to be caught, carried and thrown. In field lacrosse, the pocket of the crosse is illegal if the top of the ball, when placed in the head of the stick, is below the bottom of the stick's sidewall. The head of a crosse may be 25cm in length. The maximum width of the head across the top is 10–25cm, for international competition, or 17–25cm.
Most modern sticks have a tubular metal shaft, usually made of aluminium, titanium or alloys while the head is made of hard plastic. Metal shafts must have a plastic or rubber cap at the end. The heads are strung with string, leather, and mesh. The strings in the pocket are called shooting, accuracy, or "v" strings.
Players
• Goalkeeper: A goalkeeper's responsibility is to prevent the opposition from scoring by directly defending the 1.8m wide by 1.8m tall goal. A goalkeeper needs to stop shots that are capable of reaching over 160 km/h, and is responsible for directing the team's defence. Goalkeepers have special privileges when they are in the crease, a circular area surrounding each goal with a radius of 2.7m. Offensive players may not play the ball or make contact with the goalkeeper while he is in the crease. Once a goalkeeper leaves the crease, he loses these privileges. A goalkeeper's equipment differs from other players'. Instead of shoulder pads and elbow pads, the goalkeeper wears a chest protector. He also wears special "goalie gloves" that have extra padding on the thumb to protect from shots. The head of a goalkeeper's crosse may measure up to 38cm wide, significantly larger than field players'.
• Defensemen: A defensemen is a player position whose responsibility is to assist the goalkeeper in preventing the opposing team from scoring. Each team fields three defensemen. These players generally remain on the defensive half of the field. A defensemen carries a long crosse which provides an advantage in reach for intercepting passes and checking. Tactics used by a defensemen include body positioning and checking. Checking means attempting to dispossess the opposition of the ball through body or stick contact. A check may include a "poke check", where a defensemen thrusts his crosse at the top hand or crosse of the opponent (similar to a billiards shot), or a "slap check", where a player applies a short, two-handed slap to the hand or crosse of the opponent. A "body check" is allowed as long as the ball is within a certain distance of the contact and is made to the torso of the opposing player.
• Midfielders: Midfielders contribute offensively and defensively and may roam the entire playing area. Each team fields three midfielders at a time. One midfielder per team may use a long crosse, and in this case is referred to as a "long-stick midfielder." Over time, the midfield position has developed into a position of specialties. During play, teams may substitute players in and out freely, a practice known as "on the fly" substitution. The rules state that substitution must occur within the designated exchange area in front of the players' bench. Teams frequently rotate the midfielder specialists off and on the field depending on the ball possession. Some teams have a designated face-off midfielder, referred to as a "fogo" midfielder (an acronym for "face-off and get-off"), who takes the majority of face-offs and is quickly substituted after the face-off.
• Attackmen: Each team fields three attackmen at a time, and these players generally remain on the offensive half of the field. An attackman uses a short crosse and generally demonstrates good stick-handling with both hands. These are the players who score most of the goals.
Duration and tie-breaking methods
Duration of games depends upon the level of play. In international competition, college lacrosse, and Major League Lacrosse, the total playing time is sixty minutes, composed of four fifteen-minute quarters. High school games typically consist of four twelve minute quarters, while youth leagues may have shorter games. Time generally continues to run in dead ball situations such as in between goals. However the clock is stopped for any interruption during the last three minutes of the fourth quarter, and at earlier stages referees may stop the clock to avoid a significant loss of playing time—for example when chasing a ball shot far away or during care of an injured player. The method of breaking a tie generally consists of an overtime period in which the first team to score a goal is awarded a sudden victory. International lacrosse plays two five-minute overtime periods, and then applies the sudden victory rule if the score is still tied.
Ball movement and out of play
Teams must advance the ball or be subjected to loss of possession. Once a team gains possession of the ball in their defensive area, they must move the ball over the midfield line within 20 seconds. If the goalkeeper has possession of the ball in the crease he must pass the ball or vacate the area within four seconds. Failure by the goalkeeper to leave the crease will result in the opposite team being given possession just outside the restraining box. Once the ball crosses the midfield line, a team has 10 seconds to move the ball into the offensive area designated by the restraining box or forfeit possession to their opponents. The term used to define moving the ball from the defensive to offensive area is to "clear" the ball. Offensive players are responsible for "riding" opponents, in other words attempting to deny the opposition a free "clear" of the ball over the midfield line.
If a ball travels outside of the playing area, play is restarted by possession being awarded to the opponents of the team which last touched the ball, unless the ball goes out of bounds due to a shot or a deflected shot. In that case, possession is awarded to the player that is closest to the ball when it leaves the playing area.
Penalties
For most fouls, the offending player is sent to the penalty box and his team has to play without him and with one less player for a short amount of time. Penalties are classified as either personal fouls or technical fouls. Personal fouls are of a more serious nature and are generally penalized with a 60 second player suspension. Technical fouls are violations of the rules that are not as serious as personal fouls, and are penalized for 30 seconds or a loss of possession. Occasionally a longer penalty may be assessed for more severe infractions. Any player who is penalized for more than five personal fouls is ejected from the game. The penalized team is said to be playing man down defense while the other team is on the man up, or playing "extra man offense." During a typical game, each team will have three to five extra man offense opportunities.
Personal fouls
Personal fouls include slashing, tripping, illegal body checking, cross checking, unsportsmanlike conduct, unnecessary roughness, and equipment violations. While a stick-check (where a player makes contact with the opposition player's stick in order to knock the ball loose) is legal, a slashing violation is called when a player viciously makes contact with an opposing player or his stick. An illegal body check penalty is called for any contact where the ball is further than 4.6m from the contact, the check is from behind, above the shoulders or below the knees, or was avoidable after the player has released the ball. Cross checking, where a player uses the shaft of his stick to push the opposition player off balance, is illegal in field lacrosse. Both unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness are subject to the officiating crew's discretion, while equipment violations are governed strictly by regulations.
Technical fouls
Technical fouls include holding, interference, pushing, screening, "warding off", stalling, and off-sides. A screen, as employed in basketball strategy, is a blocking move by an offensive player, by standing beside or behind a defender, to free a teammate to shoot, or receive a pass. Warding off occurs when an offensive player uses his free hand to control the stick of an opposing player.
Offside has a unique implementation in field lacrosse. Instituted with rule changes in 1921, it limits the number of players that are allowed on either side of the midfield line. Offside occurs when there are more than six players are on the offensive side of the midfield line (generally: three midfielders and three attackmen) or seven players on the defensive half of the midfield line (generally: three midfielders, three defensemen, and a goalkeeper).
Box lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse and sometimes shortened to simply box. It is played between two teams of six players each, and is traditionally played on an ice hockey rink once the ice has been removed or covered. The playing area is called a box, in contrast to the open playing field of field lacrosse.
Players, equipment and officials
During play, a team consists of six players:
• a goalkeeper
• five "runners". A runner is any non-goalkeeper position player, including forwards, transition players, and defenders.
Team rosters are typically a total of 16 to 24 players. The goalkeeper can be replaced by another runner (often when a penalty has been signalled by the referee or at the end of a quarter).
A player's lacrosse stick must be between 1.0m 1.2m in length (youth levels may use shorter sticks). In most box lacrosse leagues, the use of a traditional wooden stick is allowed. Besides a lacrosse stick, each player must also wear a certain amount of protective equipment, including a lacrosse helmet with facemask, lacrosse gloves, arm and shoulder pads, and back/kidney pads (optional in some leagues).
During a typical game the number of officials can range from one to three, depending on the league and level of play. In most games there are at least two referees: a lead official and a trail official.
Goaltender
The goaltender's responsibility is to prevent the opposition from scoring goals by directly defending the net. Box lacrosse goaltenders equipment includes upper body gear (measuring no more than 13cm up and 7.6cm out off the shoulder—much larger than similar gear for field lacrosse or ice hockey goaltenders), large shin guards known as "irons", and ice hockey-style helmets.
The 2.7m to 2.8m diameter area surrounding the net is called the "crease". Players except for the goaltender may not enter the crease while playing the ball. Punishments for crease infractions include a change of possession, resetting of the time-clock, or a possible two minute penalty depending on the infraction. Opposing players may not make contact with the goaltender while he is in the crease. Once he leaves the crease, however, he loses all goaltender privileges.
The skills required to be a successful field lacrosse goaltender and a successful box lacrosse goaltender are very different and do not lend well to one another.[30]
Defenders
A defender is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring. Unlike in field lacrosse where some defensive players carry "long poles" (a lacrosse stick with a 1.8m shaft or handle), all box lacrosse defenders play with a maximum 1.2m long stick. Defensive tactics including cross checking (where a player uses the shaft of his stick to push the opposition player off balance), body checking (where a player makes contact with the opposition player in order to slow him down), and stick checking (where a player makes contact with the opposition player's stick in order to knock the ball loose).
Transition
A transition player is a player whose responsibility is primarily to play during defensive situations with an offensive mindset. The goal of this player is to create fastbreaks and scoring opportunities.
Forwards
A forward is a player position on the field whose responsibility is primarily offensive. Typically, a forward is dominant throwing with one hand or the other, and will primarily play on that side of the floor. Some players, known as creasemen, do not focus on one side or the other. These players instead focus their offensive attention near the crease area in front of the goaltender.
Playing area
The playing area of box lacrosse is typically a ice hockey rink during the summer months. The playing surface is usually the concrete floor underneath the melted ice. Generally the playing area is 55m to 61m in length and 24m to 27m in width. Some leagues, and teams that have dedicated box lacrosse arenas, have outfitted their playing surface with artificial turf.
Box lacrosse goals are dimensions are traditionally 1.2m wide 1.2m tall. In the National Lacrosse League and Major Series Lacrosse, the dimensions are slightly larger at 1.4m wide by 1.2m tall. These nets are significantly smaller than in field lacrosse nets which measure 1.8m wide 1.8m tall.
Duration and tie-breaking methods
A traditional game played consists of three periods of 20 minutes each (similar to ice hockey), with the teams changing ends each period. If the game is tied at the end of regulation play, overtime can be played. Overtime may or may not be sudden victory, depending on the league.
Ball in and out of play
Each period, and after each goal scored, play is restarted with a face-off. If a ball travels over the boards and outside of the playing area, play is restarted by possession being awarded to the opposing team to that which last touched the ball.
During play, teams may substitute players in and out freely. Sometimes this is referred to as "on the fly" substitution. Substitution must occur within the designated exchange area in front of the players bench in order to be legal. The sport utilizes a shot clock and the attacking team must take a shot on goal within 30 seconds of gaining possession of the ball. In additional, players must advance the ball from their own defensive end to the offensive half of the floor within 10 seconds.
Penalties
For most penalties, the offending player is sent to the penalty box and his team has to play without him and with one less player for a short amount of time. Most penalties last for two minutes unless a major penalty has been assessed. The team that has taken the penalty is said to be playing shorthanded while the other team is on the power play.
A two-minute minor penalty is often called for lesser infractions such as tripping, elbowing, roughing, too many players, illegal equipment, holding, or interference. Five-minute major penalties are called for especially violent instances of most minor infractions that result in intentional injury to an opponent, as well as for fighting. Players are released from the penalty box when either the penalty time expires, or the opposition scores a goal (or two goals for the instance of a major penalty).
At the officials' discretion a ten-minute misconduct penalty may be assessed. These are served in full by the penalized player, but his team may immediately substitute another player on the playing area unless a minor or major penalty is assessed in conjunction with the misconduct (a "two-and-ten" or "five-and-ten"). In that case, the team designates another player to serve the minor or major; both players go to the penalty box, but only the designee may not be replaced, and he is released upon the expiration of the two or five minutes. In addition, game misconducts are assessed for deliberate intent to inflict severe injury on an opponent. A player who receives a game misconduct is ejected and may not return to play. Receiving two major penalties in a game will result in a game misconduct.
A penalty shot, where a player from the non-offending team is given an attempt to score a goal without opposition from any defending players except the goaltender, may be awarded under certain circumstances. By rule, teams must have at least three runners in play. If a team commits a third penalty resulting in a "three man down" situation a penalty shot is awarded in favour of having the offending player serve in the penalty box. A penalty shot may also be awarded, at the referee's discretion, if a defensive player causes a foul to prevent a goal (by throwing his stick, holding, tripping, or by deliberately displacing the goal, or a defensive player intentionally falls and covers a ball in his own team's crease).
Fighting
Similar to fighting in ice hockey, fighting is illegal in box lacrosse. However, what separates box lacrosse and ice hockey from other sports is that at the top levels of professional and junior lacrosse, a five-minute major penalty is given and the players are not ejected for participating in a fight.
Fighting in youth or club level box lacrosse is typically penalized with expulsion and suspensions.
Women's lacrosse
Women's lacrosse, sometimes shortened to wlax or lax, is a non-contact sport played with 12 players on each team.
Rules
Women’s lacrosse is played with a team of 12 players; one of the players is usually the goalkeeper. The ball used is typically yellow. The duration of the game is 60 minutes, two halves of 30 minutes each. Each team is allowed one 90-second team time-out per half. Time-outs may be taken after a goal has been scored. In 2008, a new rule was regulated if a team has possession in their attacking end, then they may call a time out. The rules of women's lacrosse differ significantly from men's lacrosse. Differences include limiting the amount of players allowed between the two restraining lines on the draw to five players per team. Stick modifications have led to offset heads, which allow the women's game to move faster and makes stick moves and tricks easier. In 2002, goggles became mandatory equipment in the United States (but not a requirement in international rules). In 2006, hard boundaries were adopted.
Players
Women play with:
• three attackers (or "homes")
• five midfielders (or "middies")
• three defenders (starting from the back, called "point", "cover point", and "third man")
• one goalie.
Seven players play attack at one time and seven defenders are present. There is a restraining line that keeps the other four players (plus the goalie) from going into the attack. If those players cross the line, they are considered offsides and a penalty is given.
Equipment
Women's lacrosse rules are specifically designed to allow less physical contact between players. As a result of the lack of contact, the only protective equipment required is eyewear and a mouthguard. Although these are the only protective equipment, there are still many injuries due to accidental checks to the head and the overall aggressiveness of the sport. The pockets of women's sticks are shallower than those of the men, making the ball harder to catch and more difficult to shoot at high speed.
Playing area
There are two different surroundings around the goal on both sides of the field. The eight meter arc and the 12 meter fan. When committing a major foul inside either of these areas, all players that were previously inside the surrounding must take the most direct route out. The player who was fouled now moves to the nearest hash mark that is located around the edges of the arc or fan and either takes position to shoot or to pass (although, most often to shoot). When the whistle is blown, the player with the ball may move up and try for a goal.
The most important rule in women's lacrosse is shooting space, this is a violation of the rules. It occurs when a defender moves in at a bad angle on the offender while shooting in the 8 meter arc. This is a dangerous play made by the defender.
Duration and tie-breaking methods
Women's games are played in two 30-minute halves. These 30 minutes are running time, except for the last two minutes, during which time stops when the whistle is blown (This can differ when playing high school or middle school games). While the whistle is blown, players are not allowed to move. In women's lacrosse, players are not allowed to touch the ball with their body or cover the ball with their stick in order to scoop it into their stick or protect the ball from picked up by an opponent.
Ball in and out of play
The "draw" is what starts the game and keeps the game going after a point. The draw is when two girls, one from each team, stand in the centre circle with the backs of their sticks facing each other. Then the referee places the ball between the two sticks. Each player has to push their sticks together parallel to the ground to contain the ball. There are allowed four players from each team to stand along the circle surrounding the centre circle during the draw. The players’ sticks around the circle cannot break the line until the whistle is blown. The centres must lift and pull their sticks over their heads releasing the ball.
When the referee blows the whistle during play everyone must stop exactly where they are. If the ball goes out of bounce on a shot then the player that is closest to the ball receives the possession. If the ball goes out of bounds not on a shot then the other team is awarded with the possession. For example, if a player threw a bad pass to her teammate and the ball went out of bounds then the other team would receive the ball.
Protecting one's stick from being checked is a very important key in the game of women's lacrosse. In order to protect the stick from being checked, the player must cradle the ball. If the player has a strong "cradle", it would make it much more difficult to recover the ball for the opposing team. "Cradling" is the back and forth movement and twisting of the head of the stick, which keeps the ball in the pocket with centripetal force.
In women's lacrosse, players may only check if the check is directed away from the ball carrier's head. Also, players may only check using the side of their stick. If caught by one of the referees using the flat of the head, it will be called as a "held check" and the opposing team will get the ball.
There are two types of fouls in woman's lacrosse, major and minor. When a minor foul is committed anywhere on the field, the player who fouled is set four meters to whichever side she was guarding the person she obstructed. If a major foul occurs outside of the 12 meter fan or eight meter arc, the fouler must stand four meters behind the player she fouled.
Penalties
Penalties for women's lacrosse are assessed with the following cards:
• The green card, given to the team captain, is for a delay of game.
• The yellow card is for a first-time penalty and results in the player being removed from the field for three minutes.
• The red card is the result either of two yellow cards or one unsportsmanlike behaviour ruling, and causes the player to be ejected from the game. If the red card is for unsportsmanlike behaviour, the player is also not permitted to play in the following game. Women's lacrosse includes both major and minor fouls.
Major fouls
• Rough/Dangerous Check
• Check to the Head (Mandatory Card)
• Slash(Mandatory Card)
• Holding
• Crosse in the sphere
• Illegal Contact
• Illegal Use of Crosse
• Hooking
• Reach across the body
• Illegal cradle
• Blocking
• Charging
• Pushing
• Obstruction of the Free Space to Goal(Shooting Space)
• Three Seconds
• Illegal Pick
• Tripping
• Detaining
• Forcing Through
• False Start
• Playing the ball of an opponent
• Dangerous Propelling(Mandatory Card)
• Dangerous Follow-Through(Mandatory Card)
• Dangerous Shot
• Illegal Shot
Minor fouls
• Covering
• Empty Stick Check
• Warding off
• Hand Ball
• Squeeze the Head of the Crosse
• Body Ball
• Throwing her crosse in any circumstance.
• Taking part in the game if she is not holding her crosse.
• Illegal Draw
• On the center draw, stepping on or in to the center circle or on or over the restraining line before the whistle.
• Illegal crosse
• Scoring a goal with a crosse that does not meet the field crosse specifications.
• Adjusting the strings/thongs of her crosse after an official inspection of her crosse has been requested during the game. The crosse must be removed.
• Jewelry
• Illegal Uniform
• Illegal Substitution
• Delay of game
• Play from out of bounds
• Illegal re-entry
• Illegal Timeout