Are you a parent of a new boys lacrosse player?

This page will explain the basics of lacrosse.

What is Lacrosse?

Lacrosse is often called the oldest sport in North America, and was played by Native Americans before Europeans came to the continent.

The sports has many similarities to basketball or hockey, but the simplest way to explain it is as follows:

Two teams, with 10 players on the field at one time, try to score goals.
The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins.

The Field:

Boy's lacrosse is played on a field, 110 yards long, between 53 1/3 and 60 yards wide, with goals placed 80 yards apart.

You may see larger fields, starting in 2018. US Lacrosse allowed unified field for Girls and Boys Lax, that are 120 yards long.

The Goal:

Field lacrosse goals are squares, six feet high and six feet wide.

A goal is scored when a loose ball passes completely through the imaginary plane formed by the rear edge of the goal line the goal posts and cross bar. Starting in 2018, like basketball, in HS lacrosse the shot must be "in the air" before the horn sounds ending a quarter or the game for a goal to count. 

Duration:

Boy's games are divided into four periods (quarters) their duration is usually 12 minutes long, jv quarters are shorter, typically 10 minutes each.

The game clock will stop if:

• The ball goes out of bounds.
• When a goal is scored.
• When a penalty is enforced by the officials.
• During a time out (called by a coach or an official).

Typically games will last about 90 - 100 minutes.

At the varsity level games cannot end in ties and games will have an overtime. The first team to score in overtime wins.

There is a mercy rule in high school lacrosse that can take affect during the second half of a game. If the mercy rule is in affect, then the clock only stops for time outs.

The Teams:

Each team plays with 10 players on the field at one time.

Basic Play

Start of the game and Face-Offs:

Games start with a face-off, between one player from each team, at the center of the field. In addition to those players, each team has two players near midfield (they can be on either their offensive or defensive side of the field).  The referee positions the face-off players, places the ball between them and then blows the whistle to start play.

During a face-off the other 7 players (goalie, attack and defense) must stay in a "restraining box" until the referee indicates one team has gained possession of the ball. (If your team is playing on a football field the box starts at the 30 yard line, goes to the back end of the field, and is about as wide as the numbers on the field.)

There is a face-off after each goal, and at the start of each period.

The exception to this is if a period ends and there is an unexpired penalty against a team. Whichever team is in possession of the ball when the period expires is awarded the ball without a face-off.

Off-Sides and why are the players not moving?

You will sometimes see a ball role near the middle of the field and the attack or defensive players don't try to get it. The rules state that each team must keep  six or fewer players in their offensive end and seven or fewer players in their defensive end at all times (including players in the penalty box). Players should not cross the midfield line to get the ball, if it will result in an offsides penalty.

Shooting:

Midfield and attack players pass or dodge trying to shoot on the goal. Teams will have set plays to try and get a shot, or just move the ball around until someone gets a good look at the goal.

Stay out of the Crease:

There is a 9 foot radius circle around the goal, called the crease. Offensive players are not allowed in the crease during play for any reason. (The can go in it after a goal is scored.) They are also not allowed to touch the goalie or his stick if he is inside that circle. Defensive players are allowed in the crease, but they cannot carry the ball into the crease. In high school lacrosse offensive players can not jump into the crease when shooting.

If the one team violates these rules the ball is turned over to their opponent.

Why are they running after missed shots?

Lacrosse rules give the ball to the inbounds player / team that is closest to the ball when and where it goes out of bounds after a shot. (This rule does not apply to missed passes or dropped balls.) The rule says closest "inbound player's body", their stick does not count.

Saving a goal and clearing:

After a goal is saved or the ball is turned over to the defensive team, they have 20 seconds to get the ball into their half of the field and another 10 seconds to get into their offensive box. (The area where the attack started during the face-off.) If your team is playing on a football field the box starts at the 30 yard line, goes to the back end of the field, and is about as wide as the numbers on the field.

Sometimes you will see a defensive player cross the midfield line during a clear. When that happens the player will shout "Middie Back". He is telling his team that a middie needs to stay away from the offensive side of the field, so they don't get called for an offside penalty. (You wil loften see a midfielder raise their stick in the air to make it easy for the ref to locate the player and not accidently blow their whistle.)

I see a penalty flag but they are still playing.

When the defensive team violates a rule and a ref throws a flag, the game is allowed to continue.  This is called a "slow whistle". There are a several circumstances where the referee will end the slow whistle and enforce the penalty. The most common of those circumstances are:

• The defensive team gains possession of the ball.
• The ball hits the ground or goes out of bounds.
• The offensive team takes a shot.
• A goal is scored.

Offensive team penalties are enforced immediately.

Fewer Players after a Penalty

The player who was called for the penalty serves his time in the "box" near the scorer's table. 

When a team has a player in the penalty box it is often referred to as being man down. The other team is said to be man up or in EMO (extra man offense). The person in the penalty box counts for the offside rule. This means the penalized team will need to play with one less middie.

For example:

• Team A's attack man gets a penalty.
• Team B has the ball near team A's goal. 
• When the referee counts to make sure team A has seven players on their defensive side of the field, the penalized attack man will count.
• That means team A can only have 1 goalie, 3 defensive players and 2 middies. ( 1+3+2  + 1 in the penalty box = seven players).

There are three types of penalties.

• Technical Fouls - Are 30 second penalties and are not enforced if the offense scores a goal during the slow whistle for a defensive penalty. 
  They expire automatically if the EMO team scores a goal before the 30 seconds expires.
  If no one has possession of the ball, a technical foul will result in the ball being given to the team that was fouled.
• Personal Fouls - Are 1 - 3 minutes long and are enforced even if the opposing team scores during the slow whistle.
  They expire automatically if the EMO team scores a goal before the 60 seconds expires.
• Personal Non-Releasable Fouls - These fouls involve player safety (cross checking, slashing, illegal body check...) or use of illegal equipment.
  They are between 1 and 3 minutes long, but do not end when the EMO team scores.
  They last until the entire penalty time is served.
  At the referee's discretion, players can be ejected, from a game, for extremely violent or dangerous hits.

If you want to learn more about lacrosse rules, visit the US Lacrosse web site rules page.