LACROSSE STUDY GUIDE
HISTORY:
Lacrosse, considered to be America's first sport, was born of the North American Indian,
christened by the French, and adapted and raised by the Canadians. For over a century,
athletes and enthusiasts of the United States and the British Commonwealth have embraced
modern lacrosse. Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing team sports in the United States.
Youth membership (ages 15 and under) in US Lacrosse has more than tripled since 1999
from 40,000 to over 125,000. No sport has grown faster at the high school level over the
last 10 years and there are now an estimated 169,000 high school players. Lacrosse is also
the fastest-growing sport over the last five years at the NCAA level and that's just the tip of
the iceberg. There are more than 400 college club programs, the majority of which compete
under the umbrella of US Lacrosse and its "intercollegiate associates" level.
In 1867 the Canadian William George Beers was instrumental in framing the first rules of
modern lacrosse. In the United States, Lacrosse is governed by the U.S. Lacrosse
Association. This association includes men’s and women’s teams from the youth through
the collegiate, club and professional levels, both indoors and outdoors field lacrosse.
ABOUT THE GAME:
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Two teams of players using long-handled sticks try to throw a ball into their opponents'
goal.
The team with the highest score wins.
A centerline runs across midfield.
The goal is a netted structure (6 feet wide and 6 feet high).
The goal crease is a circle (18 feet in diameter) centered at the goal line midpoint.
Teams have 10 players: a goalkeeper, three defensemen, three mid-fielders and three
attackers.
Teams must keep at least four players (including the goalkeeper) in its defending half
of the field and three in the offensive half.
Unlimited substitutions are permitted, and may be made at any time in the game.
A game consists of four 15-minute quarters. Some levels may play shorter games or use
halfs instead of quarters.
Teams change ends between quarters. There is a 2-minute break between quarters and a
10-minute halftime.
Each team is permitted two timeouts. They may be called only when the ball is out of
play or by the team in possession of the ball.
SCORING:
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A goal (one point) is scored when a ball has been thrown from a stick and crosses
completely over the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar.
The team that scores the most goals is the winner.
LACROSSE STUDY GUIDE
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If the score is tied at the end of four quarters, there is a two-minute rest before a fourminute sudden death period. Each sudden death period is divided by a two-minute break.
One timeout is permitted per sudden death period.
A goal does not count if:
o The attacking player is inside the goal crease or crosses the crease after taking a
shot.
o Attacking team is offside (too few players in the offensive or defensive halves of
the field).
o A whistle has sounded.
o The period has ended.
o More than ten attackers are in the game.
GAME PLAY:
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The team winning the coin toss chooses which end of the field to attack.
The ball is put into play to start the game and after a score with:
o Men's game - "Face-off" (similar to ice hockey).
o Women's game - "Draw" (Sticks of two opposing players are held back to back,
waist high. The ref places the ball between the sticks and calls "ready, draw".
o Phys Ed class - Same as women's game.
Players may run with the ball in the stick, and pass or catch it.
Players may not touch the ball with a hand except for the goalkeeper.
The ball may not be held with a foot or kicked to a team's advantage .
Players may block the movement of an opponent by screening the player (shadow their
movement without body contact), causing them to slow down, change direction or pass
off.
Players may not use their sticks to interfere with an opponent.
Body checking:
o Men's game - permitted if:
 Opponent has the ball or is within 5-yards of it.
 Body checking is done from the front or sides, above the waist and below
the shoulder.
 The opponent's stick may also be struck when within 5-yards of a loose
ball or the ball is in the air.
o Women's game - No body contact or rough stick play is permitted.
o Phy Ed class - No body contact or any stick play is permitted.
If a ball or player with the ball goes out-of-bounds, the other team gets a free play
(possession to restart game) and the opposing players must stay 5-yards away.
If the ball goes out of play after an unsuccessful shot at a goal, the opposing player
nearest the ball where and when it goes out is given a free play.
Attacking players cannot enter the goal crease but may reach in with the stick to catch a
ball or get a loose ball.
The goalkeeper can stop the ball by hand, body part, or with a stick. If caught, the ball is
to be thrown back into play with the stick.
Play is continuous with no stalling allowed.
LACROSSE STUDY GUIDE
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Fouls (personal and technical) are penalized with a free play. The player who was fouled
or another team member gets the ball in their stick at the place of the foul and may run or
throw at the sound of the whistle. All other players must be at least 5-yards away.
PE Rule Adaptations:
o The ball must be passed by at least two players of the same team before a shot on
goal can be taken.
o Players must keep two hands on the stick while in possession of the ball.
PERSONAL FOULS:
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Penalty:
o One to three minute suspension (timeout) for the offending player
o Free play for the team fouled.
o Teams play short handed while the suspended player is in the penalty box.
A player with 5 fouls is out of the game.
Personal fouls include:
o In class - all body checking, blocking, and contact w/ the stick.
o Spearing and cross-checking
o Body checks beyond 5-yards of the ball
o Body checks after the ball has been thrown
o Body checks from the rear, below the waist or above the shoulders
o Reckless or dangerous use of the stick, including slashing, batting or golfing.
o Tripping or violent play
o Pushing or holding an opponent.
o Unsportsmanlike conduct
TECHNICAL FOULS:
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Penalty:
o Free Play if the team in possession of the ball commits the infraction
o 30-second suspension if the team fouled had possession of the ball
Technical fouls include:
o Offsides: Occurs when a team does not have at least four players on its defensive
side of the midfield line or at least three players on its offensive side of the
midfield line.
o Moving Pick: 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
o Stalling: Occurs when a team intentionally holds the ball, without conducting
normal offensive play, with the intent of running time off the clock
o Hand Ball: Touching the ball with the hands (except for the goalkeeper).
o Kicking / Holding the ball with a foot.
o Moving into the goal crease.
o PE class:
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One hand off the stick
Delay of time
Less than two players handling the ball before a shot on the goal.
LACROSSE STUDY GUIDE
TERMS
Attackmen - The three offensive players that operate around the goal area.
Clear - Running or passing the ball from the defensive part of the field to the offensive
side.
Cradling - The rhythmical coordinated motion of the arms and wrists that keeps the ball
secure in the stick and ready to be passed or shot.
Crease - The circle with a nine-foot radius around the goal.
Dodges Ball - carrying maneuvers used for eluding defenders.
Holding - A technical foul committed either by grabbing an opponent or by hindering a
ball carrier’s progress with one’s stick.
Interference - A technical foul committed by preventing the free movement of an
opponent who is neither in possession of the ball nor within five yards of a loose ball.
Midfielders - The three players who play in the center of the field and play both offense
and defense.
Offsides - A technical foul in which the offending team has either fewer than three
players in its offensive half of the field or fewer than four players in its defensive half of
the field.
PLAY AREA