Tools · Rules at-a-glance · Lacrosse — Boys

Boys lacrosse: rules at-a-glance

Stick and ball, contact, four quarters. The rules of boys lacrosse in five minutes.

Field/court setup

Rectangular field with goals at each end. 110 × 60 yards at HS+ (full size). Restraining line midway. Goal crease around each goal. Wing line at midfield for faceoffs.

Game length

Four quarters. 8-10 minutes per quarter at youth, 12 at HS, 15 in college, 15 in MLL. Stop time on whistles. Halftime in the middle.

Scoring basics

— Goal: ball fully crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. 1 point.
— 10-team count clock at HS+. Possessing team has a clock to advance and shoot.

Calls you'll see

— Slashing: stick swing that hits an opposing player. 1-minute personal foul.
— Cross-checking: hit with the stick across an opponent. 1-minute personal foul.
— Tripping/holding/pushing: technical fouls. 30-second penalty.
— Illegal body check: hit from the back, hit above the shoulders, hit on a defenseless player. 1-3 minute personal foul depending on severity.
— Offside: must keep the right number of players in each zone (4 in defensive half, 3 in offensive half). Offside = technical foul.
— Crease violation: offensive player enters the crease (the area around the goalie). Loss of possession.
— Stalling: failing to attack the goal when in possession. Warning, then possession to defense.

Three things parents most often get wrong

— Body checking is legal but only on a player in possession of the ball or within 5 yards of a loose ball. Hits on players away from the play are illegal.
— Boys lacrosse is a contact sport with full pads and helmet. It's not the same as girls' lacrosse, which is no-contact (mostly) and uses minimal equipment.
— The faceoff is a legitimate position with specialized players (FOGOs - face-off, get off). Faceoffs determine possession after every goal.

A few specifics.

Equipment for boys lacrosse. Helmet (with cage and chin strap), mouthguard, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves, athletic cup, mouthguard, cleats. The full kit. Goalies wear a chest pad and throat protector additionally.

Field positions. 10 players per side: 3 attackers (offense only), 3 midfielders (both), 3 defenders (defense only), 1 goalie. The midfielders are the only players who run the full field.

Long sticks. Defenders use a longer stick (52-72 inches). Attackers use a short stick (40-42 inches). Three long sticks max per team on the field.

Penalty box like hockey. A player who commits a personal foul serves a man-down penalty. The team plays short-handed. If scored on, the penalty ends (for some penalty types).

Concussion rules. Same as football and other contact sports — same-day removal if a concussion is suspected, written clearance from a licensed health care provider before return-to-play. Helmet and mouthguard fit matters; the body hub on concussion applies.

Youth modifications. US Lacrosse publishes age-appropriate rules at the U13 and below levels. Limited body checking, smaller fields, modified equipment requirements.

Last updated April 2026.