About Lacrosse
Boys Lacrosse Field Positions


ATTACK
The attackman's responsibility is to score goals and to make passes that lead to goals (passes that leads to goals are called assists). The attackman generally restricts his play to the offensive end of the field. A good attackman demonstrates excellent stick work with both hands and has quick feet to maneuver around the goal. Each team should have three attackman on the field during play.

MIDFIELD
The midfielder's responsibility is to cover the entire playing field, playing both offense and defense. The midfielder is a key to the transition game, and is often called upon to clear the ball from defense to offense. A good midfielder demonstrates good stickwork including throwing, catching and scooping. Speed and stamina are essential. Each team should have three midfielders on the field.

DEFENSE
The defenseman's responsibility is to defend the goal. The defenseman generally restricts his play to the defensive end of the field. A good defenseman should be able to react quickly in game situations. Agility and aggressiveness are necessary, but great stick work is not essential to be effective. Each team should have three defensemen on the field.

GOAL
The goalie's responsibility is to protect the goal and stop the opposing team from scoring. A good goalie also leads the defense by reading the situation and directing the defensemen to react. A good goalie should have excellent eye/hand coordination and a strong voice. Quickness, agility, confidence and the ability to concentrate are also essential. Each team has one goalie in the goal during play.

Lacrosse Rules for Boys

Boys' lacrosse is a contact game played by ten players: a goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponents goal. The team scoring the most goals wins.

Each team must keep at least four players, including the goalie, in its defensive half of the field and three in its offensive half. Three players(midfielders) may roam the entire field.

Collegiate games are 60 minutes long, with 15-minute quarters. Generally, high school games are 48 minutes long, with 12-minute quarters. Youth games are 32 minutes long, with eight minute quarters. Each team is given a two-minute break between the first and second quarters, and the third and fourth quarters. Halftime is ten minutes long.

Teams change sides between periods. Each team is permitted two timeouts each half. The team winning the coin toss chooses the end of the field it wants to defend first.

The players take their positions on the field: four on the defensive clearing area, one at the center, two in the wing areas and three in their attack goal area.

Men's lacrosse begins with a face-off. The ball is placed between the sticks of the 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 area can run after the ball when the whistle sounds. The other players must wait until one player has gained possession of the ball, or the ball has crossed a goal area line, before they can release.

Center face-off is also used at the start of each quarter and after a goal is scored. Field players must use their sticks to pass, catch and run with the ball. Only the goalkeeper may touch the ball with his hands. A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponents stick with a stick check. A stick check is the controlled poking and slapping of the stick and gloved hands of the player in possession of the ball.

Body checking is permitted if the opponent has the ball or is within five yards of a loose ball. All body contact must occur from the front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders, and with both hands on the stick. An opponent's stick may also be checked if it is within five yards of a loose ball or ball in the air. Aggressive body checking is discouraged.

If the ball or a player in possession of the ball goes out of bounds, the other team is awarded possession. If the ball goes out of bounds after an unsuccessful shot, 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 this stick to scoop a loose ball.

A referee, umpire and field judge supervises field play. A chief bench official, timekeepers and scorers assist. There are personal fouls and technical fouls in boy's lacrosse. The penalty for a personal foul results in a one to three minute Suspension from play and possession to the team that was fouled. Players with five personal fouls are ejected from the game. The penalty for a technical foul is a thirty-second suspension if a team is in possession of the ball when the foul is committed, or possession of the ball to the team that was fouled if there was no possession when the foul was committed.

Personal fouls for boys

Slashing: Occurs when a player's stick viciously contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or gloved hand on the stick.

Tripping: Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent at or below the waist with the stick, hands, arms, feet or legs.

Cross-checking: Occurs when a player uses the handle of the stick between his hands to make contact with an opponent.

Unsportsmanlike conduct: Occurs when any player or coach commits an act that is considered unsportsmanlike by an official including taunting, arguing, or obscene language or gestures.

Unnecessary roughness: Occurs when a player strikes an opponent with his stick or body using excessive or violent force.

Illegal stick: Occurs when a player uses a stick that does not conform to required specifications. A stick may be found illegal if the pocket is too deep or if any part of the stick was altered to gain an advantage. Illegal body checking occurs when any of the following actions take place:

a. body checking an opponent who is not in possession of the ball or within five yards of a loose ball; b. avoidable body check of an opponent after he has passed or shot the ball c. body checking an opponent from the rear or at or below the waist; d. body checking an opponent above the shoulders. A body check must be below the shoulders and above the waist, and both hands of the player applying the body check must remain in contact with his stick.

Illegal gloves: Occurs when a player uses gloves that do not conform to required specifications. A glove will be found illegal if the fingers and palm are cut out of the gloves, or if the glove has been altered in a way that compromises its protective features.

Technical Fouls for boys

Holding: Occurs when a player impedes the movement of an opponent or an opponent's stick.

Offsides: Occurs when a team does not have a least four players on its defensive side of the midfield line or at least three players on its offensive side of the midfield line.

Interference: Occurs when a player interferes in any manner with the free movement of an opponent, except when that opponent has possession of the ball, the ball is in flight and within five yards of the player, or both players are within five yards of a loose ball.

Pushing: Occurs when a player thrusts or shoves a player from behind.

Screening: Occurs when an offensive player moves into and makes contact with a defensive player with the purpose of blocking him from thee man he is defending.

Stalling: Occurs when a team intentionally holds the ball, without conducting normal offensive play, with the intent of running time off the clock.

Warding off: Occurs when a player in possession of the ball uses his free hand or arm to hold, push or control the direction of an opponent's stick check.