Basic Rules
BOYS
Boys' lacrosse is a contact game (except for the Youth team) played by ten players: a
goalkeeper, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen. The object of
the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring the most
goals wins.
Boys wear full protective gear which includes: helmet, mouthpiece, arm pads, shoulder
pad/chest protector, and gloves.
Generally, high school games are 48 minutes long, with 4, 12-minute quarters. Middle
school & youth plays 4, 10-minute quarters. Each team is given a two minute break
between the first and second quarters, and the third and fourth quarters. Half-time is
ten minutes long and may be shorter if coaches agree to it prior to the start of the
game.
Teams change sides between periods. Each team is permitted two time-outs each half.
The team winning the coin toss chooses the end of the field it wants to defend first.
Boys' lacrosse begins with a face-off. The ball is placed between the sticks of two
squatting players at the center of the field. The official blows the whistle to begin play.
Each face-off player tries to control the ball. The players in the wing areas can release;
the other players must wait until one player has gained possession of the ball or the
ball has crossed the goal line. Center face-offs are also used after a goal and at the
start of each quarter.
A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponent's crosse
with a stick check, which includes the controlled poking and slapping of the stick and
gloved hands of the player in possession of the ball.
Body checking is permitted only if the opponent has the ball. However, all contact must
occur from the front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders. An opponent's
crosse may also be "checked" if it is within five yards of a loose ball or ball in the air.
If the ball or a player in possession of the ball goes out of bounds, the other team is
awarded possession of the ball. If the ball goes out of bounds after an unsuccessful
shot on goal, the player nearest to the ball when and where it goes out of bounds is
awarded possession.
An attacking player cannot enter the crease around the goal, but may reach in with his
stick to scoop a loose ball.
GIRLS
The girls game is a non-contact sport comprised of 12 players on the field: one
goaltender, four attack (offense), three midfielders, and four defense. Attack and
defense are allowed to play only up to the opponent's 30 or 35 yard line. Midfielders
roam all over the field and play both attack and defense. Although non-contact,
incidental contact does occur. Stick checking is permitted at the high school level,
modified stick checking is permitted at the middle school level. No checking of any sort
is permitted at the youth level. Stick checking is basically an "art" and has many rules
set on how to properly check so that injury is avoided as much as possible. You will
notice, however, that the college game is very controlled and is not all about looking
for stick checks and is played with finesse and skill.
Below is a list of some of the basic rules---the actual rule "list" is lengthy. If you really
want to understand the game in its entirety, we suggest purchasing a rule book from
US LACROSSE.
The girl's game is played in two halves, 25 minutes each in length, with a 5-10 minute
halftime. Each team is permitted two timeouts per the entire game, which includes
overtime.
Girls are only required to wear eye goggles and a mouthpiece. Other than soft gloves,
no other protective gear is allowed.
Before the game begins, the umpires check every stick for legality. The most common
illegality in a stick is that its pocket is too deep. The strings at the bottom of the stick's
head can be pulled to tighten the pocket.
The game begins with a "draw" in the middle of the field to determine first possession.
Draws are also done after each goal in the game.
If a player commits a foul, the umpire blows the whistle and play stops. The player
fouled wins or retains the ball, while the player who fouled her is moved four meters
behind or to the side of the player she fouled.
If a major foul is committed in the arc by the defense, the umpire blows the whistle,
and a "free shot" on goal is taken by the player fouled. All of the defense players are
required to clear the arc to the border closest to which they were standing when the
whistle blew. The attack player who was fouled takes her place at the hash mark
closest to which she was standing when she was fouled. The defense must move
away at least four meters from the fouled player. When the umpire blows the whistle
again, the player can take a shot on goal or pass while the defense moves in.
The girls usually play within the soccer boundaries (yellow line around the field), but
they also may play within the football lines. This is decided at the beginning of the
game. When a ball goes out of bounds, the player who retains it or is closest to it (if
the ball has been grounded), at the umpire's whistle wins it. The player then waits for
the second whistle to begin play again, either by running with or passing the ball.
When the umpire blows the whistle because a foul has occurred, or the ball has gone
out of bounds, all players must stop and check all forward movement. Play resumes
and the players can move when the umpire blows the whistle again.
Checking -- the method by which a player knocks the ball from another's stick -- is
prohibited when it is: directed toward the face; uncontrolled; holding down the other's
stick, or when the checker's stick is too close to the head or face.
Defensemen may not remain in the arc without closely marking another player for more
than three seconds.
When the ball is grounded, covering it with the back of a stick's net, and preventing
play by another player is prohibited. Raking and kicking the ball is also not permitted.
No players, other than the goalie, may enter the circle around the goal cage if the
goalie is present.
BOYS
Boys' lacrosse is a contact game (except for the Youth team) played by ten players: a
goalkeeper, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen. The object of
the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring the most
goals wins.
Boys wear full protective gear which includes: helmet, mouthpiece, arm pads, shoulder
pad/chest protector, and gloves.
Generally, high school games are 48 minutes long, with 4, 12-minute quarters. Middle
school & youth plays 4, 10-minute quarters. Each team is given a two minute break
between the first and second quarters, and the third and fourth quarters. Half-time is
ten minutes long and may be shorter if coaches agree to it prior to the start of the
game.
Teams change sides between periods. Each team is permitted two time-outs each half.
The team winning the coin toss chooses the end of the field it wants to defend first.
Boys' lacrosse begins with a face-off. The ball is placed between the sticks of two
squatting players at the center of the field. The official blows the whistle to begin play.
Each face-off player tries to control the ball. The players in the wing areas can release;
the other players must wait until one player has gained possession of the ball or the
ball has crossed the goal line. Center face-offs are also used after a goal and at the
start of each quarter.
A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponent's crosse
with a stick check, which includes the controlled poking and slapping of the stick and
gloved hands of the player in possession of the ball.
Body checking is permitted only if the opponent has the ball. However, all contact must
occur from the front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders. An opponent's
crosse may also be "checked" if it is within five yards of a loose ball or ball in the air.
If the ball or a player in possession of the ball goes out of bounds, the other team is
awarded possession of the ball. If the ball goes out of bounds after an unsuccessful
shot on goal, the player nearest to the ball when and where it goes out of bounds is
awarded possession.
An attacking player cannot enter the crease around the goal, but may reach in with his
stick to scoop a loose ball.
GIRLS
The girls game is a non-contact sport comprised of 12 players on the field: one
goaltender, four attack (offense), three midfielders, and four defense. Attack and
defense are allowed to play only up to the opponent's 30 or 35 yard line. Midfielders
roam all over the field and play both attack and defense. Although non-contact,
incidental contact does occur. Stick checking is permitted at the high school level,
modified stick checking is permitted at the middle school level. No checking of any sort
is permitted at the youth level. Stick checking is basically an "art" and has many rules
set on how to properly check so that injury is avoided as much as possible. You will
notice, however, that the college game is very controlled and is not all about looking
for stick checks and is played with finesse and skill.
Below is a list of some of the basic rules---the actual rule "list" is lengthy. If you really
want to understand the game in its entirety, we suggest purchasing a rule book from
US LACROSSE.
The girl's game is played in two halves, 25 minutes each in length, with a 5-10 minute
halftime. Each team is permitted two timeouts per the entire game, which includes
overtime.
Girls are only required to wear eye goggles and a mouthpiece. Other than soft gloves,
no other protective gear is allowed.
Before the game begins, the umpires check every stick for legality. The most common
illegality in a stick is that its pocket is too deep. The strings at the bottom of the stick's
head can be pulled to tighten the pocket.
The game begins with a "draw" in the middle of the field to determine first possession.
Draws are also done after each goal in the game.
If a player commits a foul, the umpire blows the whistle and play stops. The player
fouled wins or retains the ball, while the player who fouled her is moved four meters
behind or to the side of the player she fouled.
If a major foul is committed in the arc by the defense, the umpire blows the whistle,
and a "free shot" on goal is taken by the player fouled. All of the defense players are
required to clear the arc to the border closest to which they were standing when the
whistle blew. The attack player who was fouled takes her place at the hash mark
closest to which she was standing when she was fouled. The defense must move
away at least four meters from the fouled player. When the umpire blows the whistle
again, the player can take a shot on goal or pass while the defense moves in.
The girls usually play within the soccer boundaries (yellow line around the field), but
they also may play within the football lines. This is decided at the beginning of the
game. When a ball goes out of bounds, the player who retains it or is closest to it (if
the ball has been grounded), at the umpire's whistle wins it. The player then waits for
the second whistle to begin play again, either by running with or passing the ball.
When the umpire blows the whistle because a foul has occurred, or the ball has gone
out of bounds, all players must stop and check all forward movement. Play resumes
and the players can move when the umpire blows the whistle again.
Checking -- the method by which a player knocks the ball from another's stick -- is
prohibited when it is: directed toward the face; uncontrolled; holding down the other's
stick, or when the checker's stick is too close to the head or face.
Defensemen may not remain in the arc without closely marking another player for more
than three seconds.
When the ball is grounded, covering it with the back of a stick's net, and preventing
play by another player is prohibited. Raking and kicking the ball is also not permitted.
No players, other than the goalie, may enter the circle around the goal cage if the
goalie is present.
| Chartiers Valley Lacrosse Basic Rules |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |