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

Girls lacrosse: rules at-a-glance

Stick and ball, mostly no contact, four quarters. The rules of girls lacrosse in five minutes.

Field/court setup

Rectangular field with goals at each end. 110 × 60 yards at HS+ (full size). Restraining lines mid-field. Goal arc (the 'fan') around each goal. Wing line at midfield for draws.

Game length

Four quarters. 8-10 minutes per quarter at youth, 12 at HS, 15 in college. 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.
· Free position shots awarded for fouls inside the 8-meter arc.

Calls you'll see

· Free position: foul committed inside the 8-meter arc gives the offensive player a free shot at goal.
· Shooting space: defender steps into the path of the shooter's stick. Free position to attack.
· 3-second violation: defender within a stick's length of an attacker without engaging. Possession to attack.
· Slashing: stick contact across an opponent's body or head. Major foul, free position.
· Cross-check: contact with stick across an opponent. Major foul.
· Empty stick check: checking when the opposing player doesn't have the ball. Foul.
· Crease violation: offensive player enters the goal crease. Loss of possession.

Three things parents most often get wrong

· Girls lacrosse is fundamentally different from boys lacrosse. No body checking. Less protective equipment. Stick checking limited.
· The 8-meter arc is the high-action zone. Most fouls happen inside it and result in free position shots.
· Goggles are required (not helmets, except goalie). The eye protection equipment is the central safety piece.

A few specifics.

Equipment differs significantly from boys. Goggles required (not full helmet, except goalie). Mouthguard required. Stick. Cleats. No shoulder pads, arm pads, or rib pads, the no-contact rules don’t require them.

Field positions. 12 players per side: 1 goalie, 4 attack, 5 midfield, 3 defense (spelled out as 4-5-3 + goalie). The field is bigger and more spread out than boys’ 10v10.

Draw to start. Like a faceoff but standing, two players hold sticks together and the ball is set between them. Whistle releases. The midfielders battle for possession.

Rules vary at youth. US Lacrosse publishes age-appropriate modifications for U13 and below. Younger ages may use modified field sizes and stick-check restrictions.

Concussion rules apply. Even though girls lacrosse is non-contact in concept, head injuries happen (incidental stick contact, ground contact). Same protocols as other contact sports.

Last updated April 2026.