Men's field lacrosse is played by two teams of 10 who use sticks to carry, pass and shoot a small solid ball into the other team's goal. A match is 4 periods of 15 minutes, the team with more goals wins, and a tie goes to sudden victory overtime.
This page follows the World Lacrosse Men's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules 2025-2027, Version 1.1, as of November 2026. It covers the men's field game only; women's lacrosse rules differ. The rule book is written for World Lacrosse competitions and qualifiers, so school and local leagues may play some details differently.
Field, goal and ball measurements
| What | The rules say |
|---|---|
| Field length | 91.4m to 100m between end-lines |
| Field width | 50m to 60m between side-lines |
| Goal | Posts 1.83m (6ft) apart, crossbar 1.83m (6ft) high, measured inside |
| Goal position | 12m from each end line |
| Goal crease | A circle with a radius of 3 meters around each goal |
| Ball circumference | 19.70 cm to 20.30 cm |
| Ball weight | Between 141.75g and 148.83g |
The ball is solid, mostly smooth and made of an elastomer-type material.
Ten a side: who plays where
A full team is 10 players: 1 goalkeeper, 3 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 attackers. Each team must have one goalkeeper on the field at all times, fully kitted. A team can have up to 12 substitutes, and only 22 players in a squad may dress in team uniform for a game. If a team loses players to injury or fouls, it can carry on with fewer than 10.
Quarters, the game clock and sudden victory
The match is 4 periods of 15 minutes. There's a 2-minute interval between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth, and half-time is 10 minutes.
The clock stops after a goal and for time-serving penalties. It also stops whenever the ball is dead in the last 30 seconds of the first, second and third quarters, and in the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter and any overtime. That's why the end of a close game takes longer than the clock suggests.
If the score's level at the end of regulation, overtime starts after a 2-minute break. Teams play 4-minute periods of sudden victory overtime, with a 2-minute break between periods, and the first goal ends the game.
How a face-off works
Every period starts with a face-off at the centre of the field, and so does every restart after a goal. Here's the sequence:
- Before the game, the officials toss a coin. The visiting captain calls it, and the winner chooses which goal to defend.
- Two players crouch either side of the centreline with their sticks on the ground and the ball between them.
- They keep their hands and gloves still until the whistle. Feet and body can move, as long as that movement isn't passed to the gloves or stick.
- Any movement of the stick or gloves before the whistle gives possession to the other team.
- On the whistle, both players go for the ball, and play is live.
Scoring goals and the crease rule
A goal is scored when the ball, loose or not, passes completely through the plane of the goal from the front. The last attacking player who gave it the force to cross gets the credit, and it counts for the attackers even if a defender knocked it in. The team with more goals wins.
A goal doesn't count if the ball goes through after the period has ended, after an official's whistle, or while any part of an attacking player's body is touching the goal crease area.
The crease is the rule beginners trip over most. While the ball is live in the opponents' half, an attacker can't be in the opponents' crease or touch any part of the goal with their body. Stepping in is a foul, and a goal scored with a foot on the crease line comes off the board. At the other end, a goalkeeper or defender who has the ball inside the crease must get it out within 5 seconds.
The shot clock
The rule book requires two visible shot clocks that can be set to 80 seconds. If the clock runs out without a valid shot, the ball goes to the defensive team. The rule applies as of January 1, 2026 and is part of the current rules, but whether your own league uses a shot clock is down to that league.
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Checking, offside and penalties
You can't body-check just anybody. A body-check is only allowed when the opponent has the ball or is within 2.74m (3yds) of a loose ball or a ball in flight, and contact must come from the front or side, not below the hip and below the neck. Stick checks follow the same distance rule: on a player with the ball, or within 2.74m (3yds) of a loose ball or a ball in flight.
Offside in lacrosse is about numbers, not position relative to the ball. A team is offside when it has no more than 10 players on the field and more than 6 players in its attack half, or more than 7 in its defensive half, counting players in the penalty box.
Fouls come in two sizes. For a minor foul, if the offending team had the ball or the ball was loose, possession goes to the opponents at the spot. If the opponents already had the ball, the offender is suspended for 30 seconds instead. A major foul means suspension for 1, 2 or 3 minutes, depending on how severe and intentional the officials judge it to be, and a player who commits 5 major fouls is fouled out of the game.
My advice for new players and parents
I'd learn the crease rule first, because it's the one that wipes goals off the board, then the face-off rule about keeping your hands still. After that, get clear on who you're allowed to check: the player with the ball, or someone within 2.74m (3yds) of a loose one. That's most of what you need to follow a game from the sideline.
I'd skip the finer offside counts and clock-stoppage details until you're playing in an organised league. If you want a no-stick team game to build fitness and passing first, ultimate frisbee is a good place to start, and netball's rules teach the same habit of moving the ball quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How many players are on a lacrosse team?
Ten on the field in men's field lacrosse: 1 goalkeeper, 3 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 attackers.
How long is a lacrosse game?
The match has 4 periods of 15 minutes each. There is a 2-minute interval between the first and second and the third and fourth quarters, and half-time is 10 minutes.
What happens if lacrosse is tied?
Overtime is played after a 2-minute break, in 4-minute sudden victory periods. The first goal ends the game.
How does scoring work in lacrosse?
A goal is scored when the ball passes completely through the plane of the goal from the front. The team with more goals wins.
What is the shot clock in lacrosse?
A clock set to 80 seconds. If it expires without a valid shot, the ball goes to the defensive team.
