Rules 101
US Lacrosse is the sport's national governing body. All rules and much more information about lacrosse for players and parents can be found on its website. This page provides a brief overview of lacrosse for those new to the sport.
Both are fast, intense games that rely on physical stamina, teamwork, and eye-hand coordination. However, the rules, equipment, and number of players on the field are significantly different.
Physical contact. The main difference is that boys lacrosse allows much more physical contact and requires more protective equipment. Women’s lacrosse is designed to be a non-contact game. Any kind of body checks or stick checks that hit the player will result in a penalty, so the gear requirements are significantly less than the men's game. Female players are required to wear goggles and mouth guards while helmets and protective padding are reserved for goalies.
Stick size and mesh. In the men’s game, stick length varies by position and the mesh netting has a soft pocket that makes it easier to hold a ball. Women’s lacrosse sticks are one size except for goalie. The mesh on women’s lacrosse sticks mimics the traditional style that is tighter with less of an actual pocket and has a shallower sidewall. Ball handling in women's lacrosse requires significantly more skill compared to men’s lacrosse.
Field size and number of players on the field. Men’s lacrosse has 10 players on the field and the women’s game has 12 players on the field. Women’s lacrosse has a larger standard playing area, a 120×70-yard surface and can be up to 140 yards long. Men's lacrosse is played on a smaller field: 110×60 yards.
Style of play. Because men's lacrosse allows more physical contact than women's lacrosse, physicality is an essential element of the men's game. Traditional lacrosse was adapted to provide that style of play. In comparison, women's lacrosse relies on more careful stick handling and ball control, and finesse with passing and ball movement.
Physical contact. The main difference is that boys lacrosse allows much more physical contact and requires more protective equipment. Women’s lacrosse is designed to be a non-contact game. Any kind of body checks or stick checks that hit the player will result in a penalty, so the gear requirements are significantly less than the men's game. Female players are required to wear goggles and mouth guards while helmets and protective padding are reserved for goalies.
Stick size and mesh. In the men’s game, stick length varies by position and the mesh netting has a soft pocket that makes it easier to hold a ball. Women’s lacrosse sticks are one size except for goalie. The mesh on women’s lacrosse sticks mimics the traditional style that is tighter with less of an actual pocket and has a shallower sidewall. Ball handling in women's lacrosse requires significantly more skill compared to men’s lacrosse.
Field size and number of players on the field. Men’s lacrosse has 10 players on the field and the women’s game has 12 players on the field. Women’s lacrosse has a larger standard playing area, a 120×70-yard surface and can be up to 140 yards long. Men's lacrosse is played on a smaller field: 110×60 yards.
Style of play. Because men's lacrosse allows more physical contact than women's lacrosse, physicality is an essential element of the men's game. Traditional lacrosse was adapted to provide that style of play. In comparison, women's lacrosse relies on more careful stick handling and ball control, and finesse with passing and ball movement.
Restraining line and off-sides. The restraining line is 30 yards in front of each goal. It prevents all players being able to chase the ball all over the field. Only seven players on a team (not including the defensive goalie) are allowed between this line and the offensive goal. That means that four players (plus the offense's goalie) must be outside the line at all times. If this is violated then off-sides is called.
Avoid the goalie circle. Players must stay out of the goalie circle. A defensive player can reach her stick inside the goal circle to block or redirect a shot.
Offensive charging. A girls’ lacrosse player with the ball cannot push into a defensive player who has established position.
Shooting space. It’s one of the most difficult rules to understand and officiate. The shooting space is the “right of way” of the shooter to take a safe shot. Any defensive player not already in the space but enters it to disrupt the shot will be called for “Obstruction of the Free Space to Goal”. This results in an immediate whistle since the offending player has created an unsafe condition for herself--she might get hit with a hard-thrown ball. Remember: They wear no protective padding.
The shooter has to have a realistic opportunity for a safe shot. If the shooter is closely guarded, within a stick length, and trying to shoot over or through players that are in the shooting space, the dangerous shot and dangerous propelling rules apply and a foul may be called on the shooter.
The shooter has to have a realistic opportunity for a safe shot. If the shooter is closely guarded, within a stick length, and trying to shoot over or through players that are in the shooting space, the dangerous shot and dangerous propelling rules apply and a foul may be called on the shooter.
3-second rule. Girls’ lacrosse encourages ball movement when the person with the ball is closely guarded within the restraining area. The offensive player has three seconds to pass the ball or change her cradle – either switching her hands or the level she is holding the ball. If the ball remains stationary for more than three seconds, the referee awards the defense with a free position. This lacrosse rule is exempt if the offensive player is behind the goal and the defensive player guarding her is in front of the goal and mirroring her.
Stick check. A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponent’s crosse with a check. A check is a controlled tap with a stick on an opponent’s crosse in an attempt to knock the ball free.
Empty stick check. A player can’t check another player’s stick that isn’t in contact with the ball. This applies only when the opponent could have gained possession of the ball.
Out of play possession. If the ball goes out of bounds 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