1. Lacrosse
Rules of the Game

2. Lacrosse Rules Field Layout Player Positions Player Equipment
“Offsides” and “Out of Bounds” rules
Substitution rules
Fouls
Game Situations
Different Rules for Youth Lacrosse

3. Lacrosse Field Substitution Area “Box” Team A Sideline Team B Sideline
Defensive
Zone
Face Off
Area
110 yds
Wing Area
Offensive
Zone
(“Box”)
20 yds
20 yds
15 yds
Crease
(9 ft radius)
60 yds
“X”
40 yds
Wing Area

4. Player Positions 10 players max.
3 Attack (typically on the offensive side of the field)
3 Midfielders (typically run the whole field)
3 Defenders (typically on the defensive side of the field)
1 Goalie
All players may run the entire length of the field (note “offsides” rule)
Up to 4 long sticks can be on the field at any time
Players may serve time penalties, requiring a team to play with less players on the field
“Man-up” or “Extra-Man”
vs. “Man-down”

5. Goalie’s Crease
Offensive players are not allowed in the crease (sticks are)
Defensive players can be in the crease, but cannot carry the ball from outside the crease back into it (results in possession change). This includes the goalie.
The ball can be passed back to the goalie in the crease
Goalie is protected as long as he is in the crease (as long as one foot remains in the crease)
When in the crease and in possession of the ball, the Goalie’s stick can not be interfered with (results in ‘free clear”)
Goalie has 4 seconds to get the ball out of the crease (pass it or run it out)

6. Equipment – Stick Lengths
Age
Short Stick
Long Stick U9
37” - 42”
n/a
U11
37” – 42”
47” – 52”
U13 & U15
40” – 42”
52” – 72”
Goalies: 40” – 72”

7. Equipment – Stick Pocket
Depth is legal when the top of the ball remains above the bottom of the head’s wall when placed in the pocket of a horizontal stick
Ball must freely fall from pocket when turned upside down

8. Required Protective Equipment
Helmet with 4-point chinstraps (designed for lacrosse)
Mouthpiece
Gloves (with unaltered palms; designed for lacrosse)
Shoulder pads (designed for lacrosse)
Arm pads (designed for lacrosse)
Goalies:
Chest protector (instead of shoulder pads)
Throat protector
Athletic Cup

9. Off-sides Rule Off-sides! Must always have:
4 players on the defensive side
3 players on the offensive side
Off-sides! M M A A D D A G M M A G D D D D A A M M

10. Off-sides Rule Legal Transition Must always have:
4 players on the defensive side
3 players on the offensive side
Legal Transition M M A A D D A G M M A G D D D D A A M M

11. Out of Bounds….. If ball is:
Carried out of bounds
Deflects off of a player or his stick and goes out of bounds
Passed out of bounds
the team that last touched the ball before it went out of bounds loses possession
Play restarts on the field (passing-in is not required like most other sports)

12. Ball out of Bounds…..
If ball goes out of bounds due to a missed shot, the team closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds, gets the ball
…..therefore offense (attack) should always be backing up the goal
Again, play restarts on the field

13. Substitutions Always through the Substitution Box
“On the horn” when ball goes out along a sideline
Not when ball goes out the endline
“On the fly”

14. “Horn” Substitutions M M M M M M A D A D M M A A D D G G M D M A D A M
Ball went out of bounds, along a sideline. “Horn” called by coaches. All can sub at once.

15. “On the Fly” SubstitutionsD A D A D M M A A D D M G G M M D M A D A
While play is continuing on the field. Player coming on to the field can’t come on until after the other player has left the field.

16. Checking Stick Checks Body Checks
Striking an opponent’s stick or the gloved hand holding the stick
Body Checks
From the front or side, between the waist and shoulders, with both hands on the stick
Both can be performed within 3 yards of a loose ball (on the ground or in the air)

17. Personal Fouls More serious
Results in 1, 2 or 3 minute time-serving penalty, depending on severity
Releasable (ended by an opponent’s goal) or non-releasable

18. Personal Fouls Illegal Stick (length, pocket) / Illegal Equipment
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Slashing
Vicious (“intended to harm”) uncontrolled swinging of the stick
Striking opponent in the body with the stick (a hand on the stick is considered part of the stick)
Cross-check
Checking or holding a player with the part of the shaft between the player’s hands
Tripping

19. Personal Fouls Illegal Body Check Unnecessary Roughness
At youth level, check must be delivered upright (can not lower head or shoulder)
More than 3 yards from ball
Delivered without 2 hands on the stick
From behind
Below the waist or above the shoulders
Leading with the head (can be called on the player with the ball)
Leaving feet
To a player on the ground
Avoidable (ie. well after a player has passed or shot the ball)
No “take-out” checks: considered more aggressive than necessary
Unnecessary Roughness
Can be called on the player with the ball if they intentionally try to run over the defender (it’s not football)

20. Technical Fouls Less serious
Results in change of possession if the ball is loose or the offending team has possession
Results in a 30 second releasable penalty if the offended team has possession

21. Technical Fouls Offsides Pushing (from behind)
May not push a player from behind
From side and front is legal, when opponent has the ball or is within 3 yards of a loose ball
Usually occurs during a loose ball situation
Illegal Screen (moving pick, just like basketball)
Offensive player moving into or blocking a defensive player, while his team has the ball
Only called when a team has possession of the ball
Stationary picks are legal

22. Technical Fouls Holding Interference Warding off
Holding opponent with free hand or with stick
Interference
Interfering with an opposing player’s movement, when more than 3 yards away from the ball
Common interference: restricting an offensive player from running through the crease area or setting a pick and placing the stick out to the side
Warding off
Player with the ball uses his free hand to push or control the direction of the defender or the defender’s stick
Using the loose arm as a stationary “shield” is legal

23. Technical Fouls Withholding ball from play Offensive Stalling
Lying or sitting on a loose ball or clamping it for longer than necessary to obtain possession
Offensive Stalling
Team with possession is not making an attempt to attack the goal
Referee will give a warning first
Crease Violation
Illegal Procedure
illegal substitution, too many men on the field, etc.

24. Technical Fouls
Failure to Advance (similar to 10 second half-court violation in basketball)
Failure to clear the ball across midfield in 20 seconds
Once across midfield, failure to get the ball into the offensive “box” within 10 seconds
If the ball leaves the box, another 10 second countdown starts

25. Failure to Advance
> 20 seconds
> 10 seconds

26. Fouls - Delayed Calls “Play On” Slow Whistle (“Flag Down”)
For loose-ball, technical fouls when the offended player is put at a disadvantage if the play is stopped
Referee will delay his whistle until a situation of advantage (gained or lost) is complete
Slow Whistle (“Flag Down”)
When a team with the ball is fouled and keeps possession, the official calls the foul by throwing a flag
Play continues until possession is lost or the ball leaves the offensive zone

27. Game Situations
Face-offs

28. Face Offs
Play is started at beginning of each quarter and after each goal with a faceoff
Wing player may take position anywhere behind the wing line, on offensive or defensive side of midfield
Attack and Defensive players must remain behind defensive area line until possession is called
Faceoff players – crouch with sticks back to back (right handed), entire body to the left of the throat of his stick, sticks parallel to midfield line and not touching the ball.

29. Face-off Line-up M M A A D D A A G M M G D D D D A A M M
Once the Blue middie gains possession of the ball, the attack and defense can release into the face-off area

30. Game Situations
Man-up / Man-down

31. Blue Team is 1 Man-Down. Red Team is Man-up
6-5 “Man-Up / Man-Down” M A D A M D
LSM A D G A M M G D D M A D A
Blue Team is 1 Man-Down. Red Team is Man-up

32. 5-4 “Man-Up / Man-Down” M A D A M A D M D G A M G D D A D A
Blue Team is 2 Man-Down. Red Team is down 1 man, resulting in them still being Man-up.

33. Blue Team is down 2 men. Red Team is Man-up
6-4 “Man-Up / Man-Down” M A D A M M A D D G A M G D D M A D A
Blue Team is down 2 men. Red Team is Man-up

34. “Man-Down” – getting your man back on the field
LSM A D G A M M G D D M A D A
When penalty expires, the Attackman re-enters the field & maintains “on-sides”, allowing the Middie to even up the defense
Blue gets their Middie closer to the defensive zone by removing an Attackmen.
Blue Team is 1 Man-Down. Red Team is Man-up.

35. “Man-up / Man-down” Situation at End of Quarter
If penalty time remains at the end of the quarter, the remainder of the time will be served in the next quarter
If a team has possession of the ball at the end of the quarter and a penalty is still being served, that team starts the next quarter with possession (no face-off)

36. “Man-Down” Face-off Line-upG M M A G D D D D A A M M
Blue Team is 1 Man-Down. During the face-off, an Attackman can come up to the wing position. He must stay on the offensive side of the field to stay “on-sides”.

37. Last 2 minutes of the game
Game Situations
Last 2 minutes of the game

38. Last Two Minutes of the Game “Keep it in the Box”D A M M A D D A M G M G D M A D M D A
Red must keep the ball within the offensive “box”. Blue might pull the goalie from the cage and attempt to double the ball.

39. Different Rules for Youth Lacrosse
Youth rules emphasize player safety and development. As such the overall physicality of the game is less than in high school and college. All checking penalties tend to be called more strictly at the youth level.
At U9 – reduced # of players with reduced field size
Usually play: 2 attack, 2 defenders, 3 middies
Shot-blocker may be used for a “goalie”
At U9 and U11
No body checking (“boxing out” is acceptable)
No time limit for “advancing the ball”
No stalling or “keep it in” rule at end of game
At U15 ONLY:
Controlled, one-handed stick checks are legal

40. Different Rules for Youth Lacrosse
Legal stick lengths – vary by age group
Length of Game
U9: will vary depending on play-day format
U11-U15:
10 minute, stop time quarters
If score is tied at the end of regulateion, one 4 minute “sudden victory” OT period
All: “Mercy Rules”
A team 4 or more goals behind automatically gets the ball, unless waived by the losing team’s coach
After first half, if there is an 8 goal differential, running clock will be used