Women's Lacrosse: The Game

Field size
Game time
Positions
Penalties

Women's lacrosse is an exciting, fast-paced and very strategic game played with skill and speed. The women's game is a non-contact sport played with only a stick and ball, as well as a mouth guard, and goggles for equipment. Gloves are optional. The stick has a shaft and head with strings that make up the pocket. The pocket is essentially flat, thus we typically say no pocket is allowed in the girls' game. Therefore, the player needs to learn a set of skills in order to master the game and participate as a member of a team. To catch a ball with no pocket requires a "give" motion, and a well-formed cradle is necessary to keep the ball securely in the stick.

The game begins with a center draw. One player from each team is selected to handle the draw, in which the ball is placed between the back-side of their pockets and push upward at the whistle. Propelling the ball in the desired direction is a specialty skill in its own right. A maximum of four players from each team line the circle at the draw. Winning the draw and controlling possession is an important strategic element of the game. The ball is then moved toward the goal area via passing and running/cradling. The attack needs to get to the 8-meter critical scoring area to create opportunity to score and win the game.

From a tactical standpoint, lacrosse has a lot of similarities to basketball. In particular, defensive strategies are modeled and structured as they are in basketball. Lacrosse uses man-to-man, zone and match-up zone defenses. Good footwork, double teaming and collapsing on attackers is a must. On attack, you'll see fast breaks, cutting, movement, some use of picks and often set plays; again, similar to what you see in basketball.

Please visit the Coaches Corner for more on game strategy and skill development.

Below is a list of some of the basic rules and structure of the game.

Field size

Optimal dimensions for a field are 120 yards by 65 yards. Markings on the field include a restraining line located 30 yards from each goal line and the center circle which is 60 feet in length (30 feet in diameter). A 12-meter arc extends from the front of the goal in a fan formation and the 8-meter critical scoring area also extends from the goal cage and sits inside the 12-meter arc. The goal cage sits inside a "crease" which is 8.5 feet in radius (4.25 feet in diameter).

Game time

College : two 30-minute halves

• Clock stops after every goal and every foul under the two-minute mark
• Two time-outs per game

High school : two 25-minute halves

• Clock stops after goals and after every foul under the two-minute mark in most leagues Some leagues it is a full-running clock
• Two time outs per game

JV, Middle School, Youth : two 20-minute halves

• Full-running clock in most leagues
• Two time outs per game

Positions

There are 12 players on the field in lacrosse positioned as follows:

1 Goalie

2 low defenders- mark the low attackers, remain behind restraining line on offense, good footwork and defensive instinct

2 high defenders- remain behind restraining line on offense, have defensive instinct and skill, can manage the transition game well

3 midfielders- play full field, both offense and defense, requires good endurance and speed, all around players, typically one of the midfielders does the center draw

2 high attackers- usually have speed and skill, good at scoring and offensive moves, strong in transition as well as inside the 8, remain behind the restraining line on defense

2 low attackers- good scorers, accurate shot, know how to re-defend, remain behind the restraining line on defense

Penalties

Note: In lacrosse, if the whistle blows for any foul, every player must freeze and hold their spots until the whistle blows again.

Stick/Equipment check: At the start of every game, each player's pocket will be checked by the officials to make sure it meets women's lacrosse requirements of no pocket. The top of the ball must be seen above the rim. If the ball is below the rim, the pocket is too deep. Coaches or officials can call for random stick checks on any player throughout the game. In addition, the ref is required to make a minimum of two random stick checks per half to any player.

General fouls that can occur on both side of the ball

Offsides = there must be a max of 7 players onsides and 4 players behind the restraining line. If a team is offsides, the ball will be turned over to the closest player.

Empty stick check = when a player checks a stick with no ball in the pocket; often this is seen in a scramble for a loose ball

Holding stick = when a player holds an opponent's stick to prevent the player for picking up a loose ball

Covering = covering in the ball with your pocket is not allowed

Body ball = use of body to impede direction of the ball

Illegal draw = draws to soon or does not attempt to draw up and away

False start = move before the whistle is blown

Defensive fouls

Shooting space = any part of the defenders body cannot be between the ball and goal

Pushing = push with hands, body or stick

3 seconds in the 8-meter area = the defender must be within an arm's length of the player they are covering (non-ball player) when they are inside the 8 for more than 3 seconds

Cross body check = reach across the attacker with the ball to check the stick

Check to the face or head = any check on or at the face/head

Slashing = a hard swinging check, vicious, reckless

Rough or dangerous check = reckless, dangerous or out-of-control check

Tripping = accidental or intentional trip of opponent

Goalie Rules

• The goalie cannot step out of the cage and then go back in; to do so, the goalie needs to toss the ball back into the crease then she can go back in.

• If the goalie has the ball inside the crease, she has 10 seconds to pass it or has to step out of the crease.

• Unlike other players on the field, the goalie can cover the ball inside the crease.

Offensive fouls

Illegal pick = picks are allowed only if the defending player can see it coming. A blind pick is illegal in women's lacrosse.

Dangerous shot = shooting without control or in a dangerous situation

Charging = an attacker makes contact with the defending opponent after she has established position.

Out of bounds = if you throw the ball out of bounds, it is a turnover. Note: an exception is if you take a shot on goal and it goes out of bounds, the player closest to the ball is awarded possession. If you run out of bounds, it is a turnover.

Illegal cradle = cradles to close to the face or body making a legal check impossible

Minor foul = free possession is awarded, offending player moves 4 meters away from the ball in the same direction from which she approached prior to the foul (side, front, etc.).

Major foul = free possession is awarded, offending player moves 4 meters directly behind the attack player.

Slow whistle = this occurs when there is a major foul by a defensive player inside the critical scoring area (8-meter arc) and the attack player is involved in a scoring play. The official raises the flag, but holds the whistle if the attack player maintains possession of the ball or is involved in a scoring opportunity. The umpire may blow the whistle to halt a dangerous play if deemed necessary. The whistle will be blown if the attack player cannot get the shot off due to the foul, so no advantage is gained. The whistle will also be blown if it is a yellow card situation. If the attack player gets the shot off, the flag is lowered and play continues on.

Green card = delay of game warning

Yellow card
If you receive a yellow card, you must play a man down for 3 minutes. After two yellow cards, you must sit out the remainder of the game.

A yellow card will be given in the following three situations:

• Any time there is a check to the face or head, it is an automatic yellow
• Slashing is an automatic yellow
• Dangerous follow-through

Red card = flagrant misconduct results in immediate suspension from the game . In addition, a player with two yellows receives a red card and sits out the remainder of the game as well as the next game.

Visit the US Lacrosse web site to download a rule book or for additional information.

Visit NCAA Women's Lacrosse web site to download a rule book or for additional information.