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The Field
Lacrosse is played on a field approximately the size of a football field: 110 yards long by 60 yards wide. Beginning in the 2014 the NFHS approved the increased size of the substitution area (box area), from 10 yards wide to 20 yards wide to accommodate the new rule change of no horn substitutions. The goals are 6 feet square and are placed in a crease, which is a circle with a 9-foot radius. Offensive players are not allowed in the crease at any time during the game.
The Game
The fastest game on two feet ... a combination of the speed of basketball and physicality most similar to hockey ... a game in which a scoring opportunity on one end of the field can be transformed into a goal at the other end in a matter of seconds ... skill, power, speed, endurance and intelligence ... This Is Lacrosse.
Originally called baggataway, lacrosse was played by Native Americans for a variety of purposes: religious rituals, training of warriors, or to settle inter-tribal disputes. Often the games were played without any boundaries and with goals separated by many miles. It was not unusual to have players injured or killed during baggataway contests. The game acquired its present name because the sticks originally resembled the staffs, or croziers, carried by the French Jesuit missionaries who first observed the game. Thus, we have lacrosse.
The Players
There are 10 players in action at one time on a lacrosse team: a goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders, and three attackmen. At all times, a team must have three men on its offensive half of the field and four men on its defensive half.
Goalie: Also called a goalkeeper, the goalie uses a wider stick and wears a chest protector, as his job is to stop the opponents' shots, which may come flying at him at over 100 mph. The best goalies are either brave or crazy ... or a little of both. After making a save and gaining possession of the ball, the goalie is allowed to stay in the crease for only four seconds. During that time, no one is allowed to touch him.
Defensemen: Defensemen use a longer stick (52-72 inches) and generally stay on the defensive half of the field. Their job is to guard the opponent's attackmen and take the ball away from them. Defensemen need to be quick, aggressive and tough. Middies use a short stick (40-42 inches).
Midfielders: Middies, as they are also called, play both offense and defense, thus, they must run the length of the field. They are usually substituted frequently in units so as to keep them fresh. Speed and endurance are essential for middies. Coaches also use "long-stick middies" -- middies with defense sticks -- as defensive specialists and don't forget the FOGO's, a term used for face-off specialists (FOGO = Face Off, Get Off).
Attackmen: Attackmen use the shortest stick so as to limit the chance of losing the ball. They generally stay on the offensive half of the field and coordinate the offense. They are usually the best stick handlers and must be quick and agile. Attackmen use a short stick (40-42 inches).
The Equipment
All players must wear helmets, shoulder pads, gloves and mouthpieces. Full arm pads or arm guards are usually worn by middies and attackmen with defenseman using a smaller set of pads typically called elbow pads, and rib pads have also become popular with offensive players in more recent times. In addition, goalies wear a chest protector and a throat protector. The sticks used are generally made of molded plastic with either a nylon mesh (various types) or a leather and nylon woven pocket (called traditional), with either an aluminum, titanium or alloy handle and even some form of wood (hickory). The sticks vary in length from 40 to 72 inches, depending upon the position played. Sticks can be ruled illegal for either a deep pocket or an illegal crosse; to narrow acrosse the top of the stick (head of the stick) or to short in stick length. A deep pocket brings a 1-minute non-releasable penalty and stick is allowed to be fixed after the penalty time is served. An illegal crosse brings a 3-minute non-releasable penalty, this crosse is not allowed back in the field of play for the remainder of the game.
Some Basic Terminology (for additional general terminology click HERE)
Face-off: The game begins with the ball placed at the middle of the field between the sticks of two opposing midfielders and other midfielders behind the two "wing lines". At the sound of the official's whistle, the two players try to clamp, push and/or rake the ball under their sticks and gain control of it. Face-offs also occur after each goal and usually at the start of each quarter. Attack and defensemen must stay in their "restraining area" behind the until someone gains possession of the ball or the loose ball enters the restraining area.
Clearing: The attempt to get the ball from your defensive end of the field to the offensive end.
Riding: The attempt to stop an opponent's effort to clear the ball from their defensive end.
Slide: When a defender moves from his offensive man to another to help a teammate double-team an opponent threatening to score.
Checking: Using your stick to hit the stick of an opponent in possession of the ball.
Body checking: Using your body (shoulder) to hit an opponent in possession of the ball.
Man-Up: is commonly referred to as EMO and EMO means extra-man offense. When the opposing team has a player in the "penalty box", the offensive team goes to its EMO.
Man-down: When a team has a player in the "penalty box" then it is in a man-down situation.
Play
Offensively: On offense, the attacking team will run the offense through formations and set plays just as a basketball team would, with cutters, picks (no moving picks allowed), feeders and quick ball movement. They will usually go one-on-one, or free-lance. Naturally, there are numerous opportunities for fast breaks, or unsettled and transition situations.
Defensively: On defense, teams usually play man-to-man with a team concept of "help" defense using backups and slides to assist a teammate. When a person has the ball, a defensive player may check (hit) his stick or his hands in order to try to dislodge the ball. He may also deliver a body check to the player from the front between the waist and the shoulders, as long as the player with the ball is not in a defenseless position and there is absolutely no hitting in the head/neck areas(accidental or not).
Penalties
Penalties are classified as either technical or personal fouls. Technical fouls either cause the offending team to lose possession of the ball, award the other team the ball, or place the offending player in the "penalty box" for 30 seconds if the opponents had possession of the ball at the time of the infraction. Personal fouls result in a one-minute penalty. Severe abuse (fighting, etc.) may result in either a three-minute penalty or expulsion from the game. In the case of a time penalty, the offending team must play a man short, thus yielding the opponents an "extra-man" opportunity.
Some of the more common penalties are as follows:
Personal Fouls
Slashing: Striking an opponent's body other than his hand with your stick. (To an extent, striking the arms is allowed.) Depending on the severity of the foul a "slash" can be assessed a 1 to 3 minute penalty and the official has the discretion to make it non-releasable (full-time served).
Tripping: Obstructing the opponent below the knee with your body or stick, this can even be call for accidental tripping. 1 minute penalty.
Illegal body checking: Hitting an opponent from the rear, below the waist, at any point above the shoulders (even accidently), or at any point when an opponent is in a vulnerable position (i.e. blindsided, head down and/or not looking). Depending on the severity of the foul an "illegal body check" can be a assessed a 1 to 3 minute penalty and the official has the discretion to make it non-releasable (full time served). At no point may a player hit any opposing player in the head and/or neck area, again depending on the severity of the infraction it may be assessed between 1, 2 or 3 minute non-releasable foul.
Crosschecking: Hitting the opponent with the part of the stick between your hands, 1 minute penalty.
Unsportsmanlike conduct: Official's discretion, 1 to 3 minute penalty.
Technical Fouls
Offside: Failure to have either three players on your offensive half of the field or four players on your defensive half. The normal position of these players is not significant, only the number is. An offside against your team when you have the ball brings a change of possession. An offside call on your team when the opponent has the ball brings a 30 second penalty.
Holding: Holding an opponent or his stick with your body or stick. This does not eliminate body checks or holding your position, but you may not wrap your stick around an opponent and thus stop his movement. Holding brings a 30 second penalty.
Pushing: Pushing an opponent from the rear, or when he is not within five yards of the ball. All body contact must occur with both hands on your stick. You may not use your free hand to push off. A push with possession brings a 30 second penalty. A push without possession brings a change of possession.
Interference: Moving picks, preventing cutters free movement, etc. Also, hitting the goalie in the crease when he has possession of the ball. Calls can bring change of possession or a 30 second penalty, depending upon the circumstance.
Offsides: This is when one team has more than 6 players in the offensive end of the field at any time and/or when one team has more than 7 players in the defensive end of the field at any time. a) If the opposing team has possession of the ball while the offending team is deemed to be offside, it is a time serving 30 second technical penalty and b) if the offending team is determined to be offside while in current possession of the ball it is ruled a change of possesion infraction (not time serving) from the point of the whistle (in 2014 it is no longer a free clear).
There are also technical fouls from throwing the stick, lying on a loose ball, illegal substitutions, playing without a stick, delay of game and etc.
Timed infractions
Failure to advance: When a team gains possession of the ball in the defensive end, it has 20 seconds to cross midfield. Failure to do this results in a "failure to advance" call and the possession is lost. Once past midfield, the team has an initial 10 seconds to get the ball into the "offensive box" area, meaning across the restraining line and inside the rectangle made up of the endline and the two inner lines that make up the attack area. Failure to do this also results in a "failure to advance" call and loss of possession.
In addition and beginning in 2012 the NFHS has amended the continuous 10 second rule allowing offenses to leave the offensive box area without new 10 second counts, this gives discretion to the officials for "get it in/keep it in" calls rather than multiple 10 second counts. With this rule change, there will only be an initial 10 second count for each change of possession. If the offensive team is given a "get it in, keep it in" call by the officials, they are no longer allowed to step out of the offensive box area (includes stepping on the line) if they do, the ball is awarded to the defensive team for an illegal procedure call. Exceptions would be, if there is a shot by the offensive team or if the ball is deflected, kicked or pushed out of the offensive box by a defensive player only, if this was to occur the offensive team once they regain possession would then have 10 seconds to "get it in/keep it in" again.
Four-second call: When the goalie makes a save or assumes control of the ball in any way while in the crease he may remain in the crease for up to 4 seconds. If he does not vacate the crease in that time, possession is lost.
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