Men's Field Lacrosse Rules

Men's field lacrosse is an extremely physical contact sport. Teams are made up of 10 players to a side, including: 1 goalkeeper (or goalie), 3 defenders, 3 midfielders (or middies), 3 attackers. The object of the game is to score goals by tossing a rubber ball into the opponent's goal. And prevent the opponent's from scoring in your goal.

Generals

The field is about 100 metres (110 yards) long and 55 (60 yards) wide, and it is divided into two: a "defensive area" and an "attack area". Defenders and attackers must remain in their respective areas. Midfielders can move anywhere, as well as run behind the doors.

Men's lacrosse game is 80 minutes long, divided into 20 minute quarters, with 5-minute intermissions between the first and the second and between the third and the forth periods. Plus a 10-minute intermissions at half time.

Each quarter starts with a "face-off" in which the ball is placed on the ground and two "face-off-men" lay their sticks horizontally, next to the ball. Face-off-men scrap for the ball, often by "clamping" it under their sticks. They flick the ball out to the midfielders, who start on the wing restraining line near the sideline, and sprint it when the whistle is blown to start play. Attackers and defenders cannot cross their "restraining line" until one player from the midfield takes possession of the ball. A face-off also restarts the game after each goal.

The ball may be carried, thrown, or batted with the stick (crosse), or kicked; it may never be touched by hand, except by a goalkeeper attempting to prevent the other team from scoring.

"Stick checking" and "body checking" are only allowed on players with the ball or near a loose ball.

"Stick checking" provides that only the stick or hands, of the opponent, are hit.

"Body checking" is the act of hitting a player with your own body. It is also allowed if the opponent is hit with two hands next to each other on a stick (no pushing with the stick) and only below the shoulders and above the hips.

If the ball goes out of bounds, the team that last touched it loses possession.

There is an exception: if the ball goes over the end line as the result of a shot on goal, it is awarded to the player, of either team, nearest it when it went out.

The attackman cannot enter the crease (circle) around the goal, but he may reach in with his stick to scoop a loose ball.

Positioning

Attacker: The attackman's responsability is to score goals. The attackman is an offensive player who usually plays in front of or around the goal area. A good attackman demostrates excellent stick work with both hands, and has a quick feet to maneuver around the goal. Each team should have three attackmen on the field during play.

Midfielder: The midfielder's responsability is to cover the entire field, playing both offense and defense. The midfielder is a key to the transition game, and is often called upon to clear the ball from defense to offense. A good midfielder demostrates good stick work, including throwing, catching and scooping. Speed and stamina are essential. Each team should have three midfielders on the field.

Defender: The defenseman's responsability is to defend the goal. The defenseman should be able to react quickly in game situations. Agility and aggressiveness are necessary, but great stick work is not essential to be effective. Each team should have three defensmen in the field.

Goalkeeper: The goalie's responsability is to protect the goal and stop the opposing team from scoring. A good goalie also leads the defense by reading the situation and directing the defenseman to react. A good goalie should have excellent hand/eye coordination and a strong voice. Quickness, agility, confidence and the ability to concentrate are also essential. Each team has one goalie in the goal during play.

Equipment

The crosse (lacrosse stick): The cross is made of wood, laminated wood or synthetic material, with a shaped net pocket at the end. The crosse must be an overall length of 1 metres (40-42 inches) for attackmen and midfielders, or 1.80 metres (52-72 inches) for defenseman. The head of the crosse must be 16 centimeters (6.5-10 inches) wide, except a goalie's crosse, which may be 30 centimeters (10-12 inches) wide. The pocket of a crosse shall be deemed illegal if the top surface of a lacosse ball, when places in the head of the crosse, is below the bottom edge of the side wall.

The ball: The ball must be made of solid rubber and be white, yellow or orange. The ball is 6 centimeters (7.75-8 inches) in circumference and 150 grams (5-5.25 ounces).

The helmet: A protective helmet, equipped with face mask, chin pad and cupped four point chin strap fastened to all four hookups, must be worn by all men's players. All helmets and face masks should be NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) approved, otherwise they are illegal (except for Box-Lacrosse). Opponent teams must wear helmets of different colours.

The mouthpiece: The mouthpiece must be a highly visible color and is mandatory.

The gloves: All players are required to wear protective gloves. The cutting or altering of gloves is prohibited.

Protective equipment: All players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, must wear shoulder pads. Arm pads and rib pads are also strongly recommended and often required, as are athletic supporters and protective cups for all players. The goalkeeper is required to wear a throat and chest protector, in addition to a helmet, mouthpiece and gloves.

Jersey: The Jersey should have an identifying number visible in front and rear. Home team chooses their jersey colour.

Field of Play

Lacrosse is played on a large rectangular grass field which is about 100 metres (110 yards) long and 55 (60 yards) wide.

An "X" or a circle with a radius of 10 meters (around 4 yards) are marked in the center of the field.

All other lines and dimensions can be checked out in the above picture.

Four balls must be placed at each end-line so that the game can be as continuos as possible. When a quick whistle is not possible because balls are not available or not on the end lines, a delay of game penalty must be assessed and the clock must be stopped until a team is in possession of the ball .

Length of the Game

Regulation periods are 20 minutes quarters.

It must be stopped when there is an undue delay in retrieving an out of bounds ball.

The clock shall also stop during team and official time-outs, and during all stoppages of play during the last three minutes of the fourth period (this includes when goals are scored during that time).

In case of sudden victory overtime, it shall be 4 minutes in the length and the clock shall stop during all stoppages in play.

Each league shall decide the status of the game in a forfeited game vs no contest situation .

Personal Fouls

The penalty for a personal foul results in a 1 to 3 minute suspension from play and possession to the team that was fouled.
Players with 5 personal fouls are ejected from the game.

Slashing:Occurs when a player's stick viciously contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or gloved hand on the stick.

Tripping:Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent at or below the waist with the crosse, hands, arms, feet or legs.

Crosse Checking: Occurs when a player uses the handle of his crosse between his hands to make contact with an opponent.

Unsportsmanlike conduct: Occurs when any player or coach commits an act which is considered unsportsmanlike by an official, including taunting, arguing, or obscene language or gestures.

Unnecessary roughness: Occurs when a player strikes an opponent with his stick or body using excessive or violent force.

Illegal crosse:Occurs when a player uses a crosse that does not conform to required specifications. A crosse may be found illegal if the pocket is too deep or if any other part of the crosse was altered to gain an advantage.

Illegal body checking: Occurs when any of the following actions takes place:

Body checking an opponent who is not in possession of the ball or within 2 meters (5 yards) of a loose ball
Avoidable body check of an opponent after he has passed or shot the ball.
Body checking an opponent from the rear or at or below the waist.
A body check must be below the shoulders and above the waist, and both hands of the player applying the body check must remain in contact with his crosse.

Illegal Gloves: Occurs when a player uses gloves that do not conform to required specifications. A glove will be found illegal if the fingers and palms are cut out of the gloves, or if the glove has been altered in a way that compromises its protective features.

Technical Fouls

The penalty for a technical foul is a 30-second suspension if a team is in possession of the ball when the foul is committed, or possession of the ball to the team that was fouled if there was no possession when the foul was committed.

Holding: Occurs when a player impedes the movement of an opponent or an opponent's crosse.

Interference: Occurs when a player interferes in any manner with the free movement of an opponent, except when that opponent has possession of the ball, the ball is in flight and within 2 meters (5 yards) of the player, or both players are within 2 meters (5 yards) of a loose ball.

Offsides: Occurs when a team does not have at least 4 players on its defensive side of the midfield line or at least 3 players on its offensive side of the midfield line.

Pushing: Occurs when a player thrusts or shoves a player from behind.

Screening: Occurs when an offensive player moves into and makes contact with a defensive player with the purpose of blocking him from the man he is defending.

Stalling: Occurs when a team intentionally holds the ball, without conducting normal offensive play, with the intent of running time off the clock.

Warding off: Occurs when a player in possession of the ball uses his free hand or arm to hold, push or control the direction of an opponent's stick check.

More about Lax Rules

Illegal facing-off: If any player commits a technical violation before or during a face-off, the ball shall be awarded to the offended team and play shall be restarted immediately. The NCAA rule requiring the faceoff man to leave the field when a face-off violation occurs shall not be used;

Substitution: A horn is not used. All substitutions during live play shall be on the fly through the special substitution area. Following the scoring of a goal, players may leave and enter the field through the bench area;

Time out: During live play the team in possession of the ball can call a time-out in both the defensive and offensive half of the field. The player in possession of the ball does not have to be in contact with the ground when the time-out is called;

Illegal Equipment-Head Coaches Request: A head coach can request a stick check, but not a personal equipment check. During a stick check officials are not to check personal equipment. This does not preclude officials from taking action if they happen to observe illegal equipment. The two “random stick checks” must be conducted.

Player Out On A Penalty: After a penalized player has reported to the penalty area he can be substituted for at any time, but he cannot reenter the game until his penalty time expires.

Penalty Time: Penalty time shall not start until the whistle has blown to restart play. Thereafter, the penalty clock and the game clock shall run concurrently Penalty time for all personal fouls shall be “full time served.” Technical fouls are the only fouls that are released when goals are scored against the team of a player serving them unless a “simultaneous foul” situation exists.