Lacrosse is a well-known team game in North America, especially in the United States and Canada. The distinctive feature of this sport is the use of sticks equipped with a net at one end, where the athletes must hold the ball while playing. Come on, it’s time to learn all about lacrosse!
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All about Lacrosse: history
Lacrosse is a sport that originated from a game that was practiced for centuries by various indigenous tribes in Canada, each with their own traditions and spiritual reasons;
This practice was carried out in homage to the Creator and in gratitude to the Great Spirit for allowing peaceful and harmonious coexistence with nature, as reported by Lacrosse Canada (formerly known as the Canadian Lacrosse Association);
The games, which could last several days, involved hundreds of men and took place on vast fields.
When the colonizers arrived, they began to notice the sporting activity carried out by the natives;
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The term “la crosse” has French origins and means stick. A Jesuit missionary used this name for the first time at the beginning of the 17th century to describe the indigenous game.
It was in the 19th century that lacrosse gained popularity. The first lacrosse clubs were formed by non-native people;
During this period, dentist William George Beers founded the Montreal Lacrosse Club and revised the rules of the game, reducing the length of matches and the number of players to 12 per team;
In 1859, the sport was declared Canada’s National Game and, in 1867, Lacrosse Canada was established, which organizes the sport’s national championships. Lacrosse was also included in the 1904 and 1908 Olympic Games.
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All about Lacrosse: how is it played?
Lacrosse involves teams trying to throw a rubber ball at the opponent’s goal using a stick with a net on the end;
This net makes it easy to carry, pass, receive and send the ball, while only the goalkeepers are allowed to manipulate the ball with their hands.
The use of full protective equipment is mandatory and the poles are raised in the air, characterizing this sport as one of intense contact.
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All about Lacrosse: types
There are currently four types of lacrosse: field, box, women’s and sixes. Now we’ll show you the details of each one.
Field Lacrosse: is the traditional version played outdoors on large fields. Each team has 10 players and matches last 60 minutes, divided into four 15-minute periods. The field usually measures 100m x 55m.
Box Lacrosse: is played indoors, like field hockey arenas, with less space and more physical contact. Each team has 6 players and the games are fast and intense. The field is smaller, between 55m and 61m long and 24m to 27m wide.
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Women’s Lacrosse: has rules adapted to reduce physical contact. Each team usually has 12 players, and the use of bodychecking is prohibited. The matches are similar in duration to men’s Field Lacrosse, but with differences in the rules of play and equipment.
Lacrosse Sixes: a newer, more compact version, promoted to increase the popularity of the sport. Played on a smaller pitch, with six players per team, and four periods of eight minutes each. This version is faster and with rules that encourage continuous action.
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All about Lacrosse: rules and regulations
Now it’s time to learn all the rules and regulations for each of the lacrosse disciplines we’ve shown you above!
Field Lacrosse
Game structure
- Number of players: each team has 10 players on the pitch, including a goalkeeper.
- Match duration: the match is divided into four periods of 15 minutes each, totaling 60 minutes of effective play. Breaks are usually taken between periods.
- Campo: o campo mede aproximadamente 100m de comprimento por 55m de largura, com zonas específicas para ataque, defesa e o meio-campo.
- Objective of the game: score goals by throwing the ball through the opponent’s crossbar. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins.
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Game rules
- Crosses: players use sticks with a net at the end to carry, pass and throw the ball. The dimensions and design of the sticks can vary depending on the player’s position.
- Protective equipment: players wear helmets, shoulder pads, gloves, mouth guards and, in some cases, leg protection. The equipment is essential to protect against physical contact during the game.
- Physical contact: in men, bodychecking is allowed, i.e. physical contact to knock down or destabilize the opponent with the body. Bodychecking is prohibited in the women’s game. Players should avoid direct physical contact and focus on skills such as dribbling and passing the ball.
- Faults:
- Technical foul: includes violations such as obstruction, pushing, or holding the opponent’s stick.
- Personal Foul: more serious fouls that result in penalties, such as excessive use of force or unsportsmanlike behavior.
- Expulsion Foul: very serious fouls that result in a temporary exclusion of the player, which can vary from 1 to 3 minutes depending on the seriousness of the foul.
- Ball possession: teams try to keep possession of the ball through passing and strategic movement. Possession is often contested in face-offs, where two players compete to get the ball at the start of the game and after each goal.
- Goal zone: the area around the goal is known as the “goal zone”, and players cannot touch the goalkeeper or interfere in his area without the ball.
- Goalkeeper: the goalkeeper has additional equipment for protection and can use any part of their body to defend the goal. Goalkeepers are prohibited from leaving the restricted area without the ball.
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Box Lacrosse
Game structure
- Number of players: each team has 6 players on the pitch, including a goalkeeper.
- Match duration: matches are usually divided into three periods of 20 minutes each, but the duration can vary depending on the league or tournament.
- Field: the field is smaller and enclosed, usually measuring between 55m and 61m in length and 24m to 27m in width, similar to the size of a field hockey rink.
- Game objective: the objective is to score goals by throwing the ball through the opponent’s goal. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins.
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Game rules
- Crosses: players use sticks with a net at the end, similar to those used in Field Lacrosse, but generally shorter to adapt to the reduced space.
- Protective equipment: due to the greater physical contact, players wear more intense protective equipment, including helmets with face masks, shoulder pads, gloves, mouth guards and, in some cases, leg protection.
- Physical contact: Box Lacrosse allows a significant level of physical contact, including bodychecking (using the body to destabilize or knock down the opponent). The rules on contact are more permissive compared to Field Lacrosse.
- Faults:
- Minor Fouls: result in the temporary exclusion of a player for 2 minutes, and the opposing team receives a power play (numerical advantage).
- Serious Fouls: result in a temporary exclusion of a player for 5 minutes or more, depending on the severity of the foul. Serious fouls can include actions such as high sticking or excessive use of the body.
- Expulsion Fouls: in cases of very serious fouls or extreme unsportsmanlike conduct, a player may be expelled from the game.
- Goalkeeper: the goalkeeper uses specific equipment to protect vital areas and can use any part of their body to defend the ball. The goalkeeper must remain within the restricted area unless they are trying to play the ball.
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Lacrosse Sixes
Game structure
- Number of players: each team has six players on the pitch, including a goalkeeper.
- Field: the field is smaller than a traditional Field Lacrosse field, measuring approximately 70m x 36m, with goals located about 10m from the end lines.
- Match duration: matches are divided into four periods of eight minutes each, with a short break between periods.
- Aim of the game: the aim is to score goals by shooting the ball through the opponent’s goal. The team with the most goals at the end of regulation time is the winner.
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Game rules
- Attack timer: each team has a limit of 30 seconds to attempt a goal after gaining possession of the ball. If the team fails to make a shot on goal within this time, possession reverts to the opponent.
- Possession: if a team returns the ball to its own half after crossing into the opponent’s half, this results in a change of possession for the opposing team.
- Faults:
- Minor Fouls: result in a player being excluded from the penalty area for 30 seconds.
- Serious Fouls: result in an exclusion for one minute. Serious fouls can include actions such as high sticking, excessive use of the body or intentional aggression.
- Ball movement: the ball must be moved exclusively with the sticks. Players may not touch the ball with their hands.
- Equipment: players wear standard lacrosse equipment, including helmets, shoulder pads, gloves and, in some cases, leg protection. Protection is crucial, given the fast pace and physical contact allowed.
- Goalkeepers: goalkeepers have special equipment to protect vital areas and can use any part of their body to defend the ball.
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Women’s Lacrosse
Game structure
- Number of players: each team has 12 players on the pitch, including a goalkeeper.
- Match duration: Normally, matches are divided into two halves of 30 minutes each, totaling 60 minutes of effective play.
- Field: the field measures approximately 100m x 55m, with specific zones for attack, defense and midfield.
- Goal of the game: The aim is to score goals by throwing the ball through the opponent’s goal. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins.
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Game rules
- Crosses: players use sticks with a net at the end to carry, pass and throw the ball. The sticks are designed to allow precise control and efficient execution of passes and shots.
- Protective equipment: players wear helmets with visors or face shields, gloves and mouth guards. Protection is less intense than in Box Lacrosse, given the less physical contact allowed.
- Physical contact: prohibition of Bodychecking: Physical contact is very limited. Bodychecking (using the body to knock down or destabilize the opponent) is prohibited.
- Allowed actions: players can use the sticks to intercept passes and mark, but must avoid direct contact with opponents.
- Faults:
- Technical Fouls: include infractions such as obstruction, interference or incorrect use of the stick.
- Personal Fouls: more serious fouls that can result in the offending player being sent off the pitch.
- Penalties: players can be sent to the penalty box for 3 to 5 minutes depending on the severity of the foul.
- Possession of the ball: possession of the ball can be contested in face-offs at the start of the game and after certain types of interruptions. The face-off involves the players positioning themselves on a central line to contest the ball.
- Goalkeeper: the goalkeeper wears a helmet with a face guard and special gloves. She can use any part of her body to defend the ball, but must remain within the restricted area.
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