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 | Girls Lacrosse |
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Girls's lacrosse is a non-contact game played by 12 players: a goalkeeper, five attackers
and six defenders. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal.
The team scoring the most goals wins. |
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Girls's Lacrosse Positions: |
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The Attack:
- First Home:
The first home's responsibility is to score. Located in front of
the goal, the first home must continually cut toward the goal for
a shot, or cut away from the goal to make room for another player.
She should have excellent stickwork.
- Second Home:
The second home is considered the playmaker. She should be able
to shoot well from every angle and distance from the goal.
- Third Home:
The third home's responsibility is to transition the ball from defense
to attack. She should be able to feed the ball to other players
and fill in wing areas.
- Attack Wings:
The wings are also responsible for transitioning the ball from defense
to attack. Wings should have speed and endurance and be ready to
receive the ball from the defense and run or pass the ball.
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The Defense:
- Point:
The point's responsibility is to mark first home. She should be
able to stick check, body check and look to intercept passes.
- Coverpoint:
The coverpoint's responsibility is to mark second home. She should
be able to receive clears, run fast and have good footwork.
- Third Man:
The third man's responsibility is to mark third home. She should
be able to intercept passes, clear the ball, run fast and have good
footwork.
- Center:
The center's responsibility is to control the draw and play both
defense and attack. She should have speed and endurance.
- Defense Wings:
The wings are responsible for marking the attack wings and bringing
the ball into the attack area. Wings should have speed and endurance.
- Goalkeeper:
The goalkeeper's responsibility is to protect the goal. She should
have good stickwork, courage and confidence.
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Field Layout |
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Rules |
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- Girl's lacrosse begins with a draw, which is taken by the center position. The ball is
placed between two horizontally held crosses (sticks) at the center of the field. At the
sound of the whistle, the ball is flung into the air as the crosses are pulled up and
away. A draw is used to start each half and after each goal, and it takes place at the
center of the field.
- The collegiate game is 60 minutes long, each half being 30 minutes. The high school
girl's game is 50 minutes long, each half being 25 minutes. In both collegiate and
high school play, teams are allowed one timeout per half.
- There are visual guidelines on the side of the field that are in place to provide a
consistent indicator to the officials of what is considered the playing field. The minimum
dimensions for a field is 120 yards by 70 yards. Additional markings on the field include
a restraining line located 30 yards from each goal line, which creates an area where only
a maximum of seven offensive players and eight defensive players (including the
goalkeeper) are allowed; a 12-meter fan, which officials use to position players after
fouls; and an arc in front of each goal, considered the critical scoring area, where
defenders must be at least within a stick's-length of their attacker.
- The boundaries are determined by the natural restrictions of the field. An area of 120
yards by 70 yards is desirable.
- When a whistle blows, all players must stop in place. When a ball is ruled out of play,
the player closest to the ball gets possession when play is resumed. Loss of possession
may occur if a player deliberately runs or throws the ball out of play.
- Rough checks, and contact to the body with the crosse or body, are not allowed.
- Field players may pass, catch or run with the ball in their crosse. A player may gain
possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponent's crosse with a check. A check is
a controlled tap with a crosse on an opponent's crosse in an attempt to knock the ball
free. The player must be one step in front of her opponent in order to check. No player
may reach across an opponent's body to check the handle of a crosse when she is even with
or behind that opponent. A player may not protect the ball in her crosse by cradling so
close to her body or face so as to make a legal, safe check impossible for the opponent.
- All legal checks must be directed away from a seven-inch sphere or "bubble"
around the head of the player. No player is allowed to touch the ball with her hands
except the goalkeeper when she is within the goal circle. A change of possession may occur
if a player gains a distinct advantage by playing the ball off her body.
- Fouls are categorized as major or minor, and the penalty for fouls is a “free
position.” For major fouls, the offending player is placed four meters behind the
player taking the free position. For a minor foul, the offending player is placed four
meters off, in the direction from which she approached her opponent before committing the
foul, and play is resumed. When a minor foul is committed in the critical scoring area,
the player with the ball has an indirect free position, in which case the player must pass
first.
- A slow whistle occurs when the offense has entered the critical scoring area and the
defense has committed a major foul. A flag is thrown but no whistle is sounded so that the
offense has an opportunity to score a goal. A whistle is blown when a goal is scored or
the scoring opportunity is over. An immediate whistle is blown when a major foul,
obstruction or shooting space occurs, which jeopardizes the safety of a player.
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Fouls |
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Major Fouls |
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- Blocking: Occurs when contact is
initiated by a defender who has moved into the path of an opponent with the ball without
giving that player a chance to stop or change direction.
- Charging: Occurs when a player charges, barges, shoulders or backs into an opponent, or
pushes with the hand or body.
- Dangerous Shot: Occurs when a player propels the ball toward the goal without control, or
in the direction of a field player or the goalkeeper.
- Misconduct: Occurs when a player conducts herself in a rough, dangerous or unsportsmanlike
manner, persistently causes infringement of the rules, or deliberately endangers the
safety of opposing players.
- Slashing: Occurs when a defender swings her crosse at an opponent's crosse or body with
deliberate viciousness or recklessness, whether or not the opponent's crosse or body is
struck.
- Three Seconds: A defender may not stand within the eight meter arc, unless she is closely
marking an opponent, for more than three seconds.
- Obstruction of Free Space: Occurs when a defender is not closely marking her opponent and
is in the free space to goal of the attack player with the ball. The attack player must
have the opportunity and be looking to shoot.
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Minor Fouls |
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- Goal Circle Fouls: Occurs when any
part of an offensive or defensive player's body or crosse, except that of the goalkeeper
or deputy, enters the goal circle.
- Warding Off: Occurs when a player guards a ground ball with her crosse or foot, removes
one hand from the crosse and uses her free arm to ward off an opponent, or checks an
opponent's empty crosse while she is trying to get possession of the ball.
- Empty Cross Check: A player may not check an opponent's cross unless the ball is in the opponent's
cross.
- Body Ball: A ball that hits a field player's body to her distinct advantage.
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Lacrosse Skills |
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- Cradle: The act of moving the stick from side to side causing the ball to remain in the
upper part of the pocket webbing.
- Checking: The act of using a controlled tap with a crosse on an opponent's crosse in an
attempt to dislodge the ball.
- Catching: The act of receiving a passed ball with the crosse.
- Cutting: A movement by a player without the ball in anticipation of a pass.
- Dodging: The act of suddenly shifting direction in order to avoid an opponent.
- Passing: The act of throwing the ball to a teammate with the crosse.
- Pick-Ups: The act of scooping a loose ball with a crosse.
- Shootings: The act of throwing the ball at the goal with the crosse in an attempt to score.
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A Glossary of Terms |
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The following is a list of terms you may frequently hear while watching a lacrosse game. Some, you may be familiar with, others, may sound a little odd at first. But all are part of knowing the
game of lacrosse. |
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- Clear: Any action taken by a player within
the goal circle to pass or carry the ball out of the
goal circle.
- Critical Scoring Area: An area 15 meters in front
of and to each side of the goal and nine meters behind
the goal. An eight-meter arc and 12 meter fan are marked
in the area.
- Crosse (Stick): The equipment used to throw,
catch, check and carry the ball.
- Crosse Checking: Stick to stick contact consisting
of a series of controlled taps in an attempt to dislodge
the ball from the crosse.
- Deputy: A player who enters the goal circle when
the goalie is out of the goal circle and her team is
in possession of the ball.
- Draw: A technique to start or resume play by
which a ball is placed in between the sticks of two
standing players and drawn up and away.
- Eight-Meter Arc: A semi-circular area in front
of the goal used for the administration of major fouls.
A defender may not remain in this area for more than
three seconds unless she is within a stick's length
of her opponent.
- Free Position: An opportunity awarded to the
offense when a major or minor foul is committed by the
defense. All players must move four meters away from
the player with the ball. When the whistle sounds to
resume play, the player may run, pass or shoot the ball.
- Free Space To Goal: A cone-shaped path extending
from each side of the goal circle to the attack player
with the ball. A defense player may not, for safety
reasons, stand alone in this area without closely marking
an opponent.
- Goal #Circle: The circle around the goal with
a radius of 2.6 meters (8.5 feet). No player's
stick or body may “break” the cylinder of
the goal circle.
- Grounded: Refers to any part of the goalkeeper's
or deputy's body touching the ground for support
outside of the goal circle when she attempts to play
the ball from inside the goal circle.
- Indirect Free Position: An opportunity awarded
to the offense when a minor foul is committed by the
defense inside the 12 meter fan. When the whistle sounds
to resume play, the player may run or pass, but may
not shoot until a defender or one of her teammates has
played the ball.
- Marking: Being within a stick's length of an
opponent.
- Penalty Lane: The path to the goal that is cleared
when a free position is awarded to the attacking team.
- Scoring Play: A continuous effort by the attacking
team to move the ball toward the goal and to
complete a shot on goal.
- Stand: All players, except the goalkeeper in
her goal circle, must remain stationary following the
sound of any whistle.
- Sphere: An imaginary area, approximately 18 cm
(seven inches) which surrounds a player's head. No stick
checks toward the head are allowed to break the sphere.
- 12 Meter Fan: A semi-circle in front of the goal
used for the administration of minor fouls.
- Warning Cards: A yellow card presented by an
umpire to a player is a warning which indicates that
she will next receive a red card and be suspended from
further participation if she continues to play dangerously
and/or conduct herself in an unsportsmanlike manner.
A green card is presented by an umpire to the team captain
indicating a team caution for delay of game.
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