Attack:

The attackman's responsibility is to score goals and help his teammates score goals by passing the ball. The attackman generally restricts his play to the offensive end of the field. A good attackman demonstrates excellent stick work with both hands and has quick feet to maneuver around the goal. Each team has three attackmen on the field during play.

Midfield:

The midfielder's responsibility is to cover the entire field, playing both offense and defense. The midfielder is a key to the transition game, and is often called upon to clear the ball from defense to offense. A good midfielder demonstrates good stick work including throwing, catching and scooping. Speed and stamina are essential. Each team has three midfielders on the field.

Defense:

The defenseman's responsibility is to defend the goal. The defenseman generally restricts his play to the defensive end of the field. A good defenseman should be able to react quickly in game situations. Agility and aggressiveness are necessary, but great stick work is more essential to attack. Each team has three defensemen on the field.

Goal:

The goalie's responsibility is to protect the goal and stop the opposing team from scoring. A good goalie also leads the defense by reading the situation and directing the defensemen to react. A good goalie should have excellent hand/eye coordination and a strong voice. Quickness, agility, confidence and the ability to concentrate are also essential. Each team has one goalie in the goal during play.

The Crosse:

The crosse (lacrosse stick) is made of wood, laminated wood or synthetic material, with a shaped net pocket at the end. The crosse must be an overall length of 40 - 42 inches for attackmen and midfielders, or 52 - 72 inches for defensemen. The head of the crosse must be 6.5 - 10 inches wide, except a goalie’s crosse which may be 10 - 12 inches wide. The pocket of a crosse shall be deemed illegal if the top surface of a lacrosse ball, when placed in the head of the crosse, is below the bottom edge of the side wall.

Helmet:

A protective helmet, equipped with face mask, chin pad and a cupped four point chin strap fastened to all four hookups, must be worn by all players. All helmets and face masks should be NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) approved.

Gloves:

All players are required to wear protective gloves. The cutting or altering of gloves is prohibited.

Shoulder Pads:

All players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, must wear shoulder pads that are NOCSaE certified for 2022. 

Arm Pads:

Arm pads are required to protect the elbow and middle arm.

Protective Cup:

Athletic supporters and protective cups for all players.

Mouthpiece:

The mouthpiece must be a highly visible color and is mandatory.

Ball:

The ball must be made of solid rubber and can be white, yellow or orange. The ball is 7.75 - 8 inches in circumference and 5 - 5.25 ounces.

The goalkeeper is required to wear a throat protector and chest protector, in addition to a helmet, mouthpiece, gloves and a protective cup

USA Lacrosse has established specific rules for different age groups to create a safe, developmentally appropriate environment for youth players. Below is an overview of the key rules for boys' lacrosse across four age levels. (Individual tournament and league rules may differ, contact your coach for clarity.)

A. Grades 1 & 2 (6U/8U)

•       Team Size: 4v4 or 5v5

•       Field Size: Reduced (60-70 yards long, 35-40 yards wide)

•       Game Time: 2 halves or 4 quarters (12-15 min running time)

•       Body Checking: Not allowed

•       Emphasis: Learning fundamentals and having fun.

B. Grades 3 & 4 (10U)

•       Team Size: 6v6 or 7v7

•       Field Size: Reduced

•       Game Time: 4 quarters (10-minute running time)

•       Body Checking: Not allowed, but controlled stick checking and legal pushes are permitted.

•       Emphasis: Skill development and basic team strategies.

C. Grades 5 & 6 (12U)

•       Team Size: 10v10

•       Field Size: Full-size

•       Game Time: 4 quarters (10-minute stop clock)

•       Body Checking: Allowed but controlled; no take-out checks.

•       Emphasis: More advanced team strategies and competition.

D. Grades 7 & 8 (14U)

•       Team Size: 10v10

•       Field Size: Full-size

•       Game Time: 4 quarters (10-minute stop clock)

•       Body Checking: Full body checking allowed with restrictions on take-out checks.

•       Emphasis: Advanced skill development, strategy, and preparation for high school competition.

6. Alternative Lacrosse Disciplines: Sixes and Box Lacrosse

Beyond standard field lacrosse, there are two other popular versions of the sport: Sixes Lacrosse and Box Lacrosse. Both offer a faster-paced, more dynamic style of play and require unique skills.

A. Sixes Lacrosse

•       Team Size: 6 players (5 field players, 1 goalie)

•       Field Size: Smaller field (70x36 meters)

•       Game Time: 4 quarters (8 minutes, running clock)

•       Contact: No body checking, controlled stick checks only.

•       Emphasis: Fast-paced, continuous play with quick transitions and constant motion.

B. Box Lacrosse

•       Team Size: 6 players (5 field players, 1 goalie)

•       Field Size: Indoor rink (180x80 feet)

•       Game Time: 3 periods (20 minutes)

•       Contact: More physical than field lacrosse, with controlled body checking and tighter spaces.

•       Emphasis: Stick handling, quick ball movement, and compact team strategies in a fast, enclosed environment.

7. Contact Rule Differences for 10U (Field, Sixes, and Box)

At the 10U level, the contact rules are designed to protect young players while fostering skill development. The differences in contact rules between Standard Field Lacrosse, Sixes Lacrosse, and Box Lacrosse are as follows:

A. Standard Field Lacrosse (10U)

•       No Body Checking: Body contact is not allowed. Only controlled pushes are permitted.

•       Stick Checking: Allowed, but must be controlled. Slashing is penalized.

•       Emphasis: Focus on positioning and skill development.

B. Sixes Lacrosse (10U)

•       No Body Checking: Contact is limited to incidental bumps in the fast-paced game.

•       Stick Checking: Controlled checks are allowed, but aggressive checking is penalized.

•       Emphasis: Focus on speed, ball movement, and minimal physicality.

C. Box Lacrosse (10U)

•       Limited Body Checking: Controlled checks are allowed, but no take-out or high checks. Pushes must be within the rules.

•       Stick Checking: More physical than field or Sixes, but still controlled. Cross-checking and slashing are penalized.

•       Emphasis: More physical game with focus on handling and strategy in tight spaces.

Catching: The act of receiving a passed ball with the crosse.

Checking: The act of attempting to dislodge the ball from an opponent's stick.

Poke Check: A stick check in which the player pokes the head of his stick at an opponent's stick through the top hand by pushing with the bottom hand.

Slap Check: A stick check in which a player slaps the head of his stick against his opponent's stick.

Wrap Check: A one-handed check in which the defender swings his stick around his opponent's body to dislodge the ball. (This check is only legal at the highest level of play.)

Cradling: The coordinated motion of the arms and wrists that keeps the ball secure in the pocket and ready to be passed or shot when running.

Cutting: A movement by an offensive player without the ball, toward the opponent's goal, in anticipation of a feed and shot.

Feeding: Passing the ball to a teammate who is in position for a shot on goal.

Passing: The act of throwing the ball to a teammate with the crosse.

Scooping: The act of picking up a loose ball with the crosse.

Screening: An offensive tactic in which a player near the crease positions himself so as to block the goalkeeper's view of the ball.

Shooting: The act of throwing the ball with the crosse toward the goal in an attempt to score

Attack Goal Area: The area around the goal defined by the endline, the Goal Area Line and the two broken lines located 20 yards on either side of the goal. Once the offensive team crosses the midfield line, it has 10 seconds to move the ball into its attack goal area.

Body Check: Contact with an opponent from the front - between the shoulders and waist - when the opponent has the ball or is within five yards of a loose ball. At no time should a player initiate or receive body contact with his head.

Box: An area between the two team benches used to hold players who have been served with penalties, and through which substitutions "on the fly" are permitted directly from the sideline onto the field.

Check-Up: A call given by the goalie to tell each defender to find his man and call out his number.

Clamp: A face-off maneuver executed by quickly pushing the back of the stick on top of the ball.

Clearing: Running or passing the ball from the defensive half of the field to the offensive half of the field.

Crease: A circle around the goal with a radius of nine feet into which only defensive players may enter. Deffensive players may not take the ball into the crease.

Crosse (stick): The equipment used to throw, catch and carry the ball.

Defensive Clearing Area: The area defined by a line drawn sideline to sideline 20 yards from the face of the goal. Once the defensive team gains possession of the ball in this area, it has 10 seconds to move the ball beyond the Goal Area Line. Once beyond the Goal Area Line, the defensive team may not pass or run the ball back into the Defensive Clearing Area.

Extra Man Offense (EMO): A man advantage that results from a timeserving penalty by the other team.

Face-off: A technique used to put the ball in play at the start of each quarter, or after a goal is scored. The players squat down and the ball is placed between their crosses.

Fast-Break: A transition scoring opportunity in which the offense has at least a one-man advantage.

Ground Ball: A loose ball on the playing field.

Handle (shaft): An aluminum, wooden or composite pole connected to the head of the crosse.

Head: The plastic or wood part of the stick connected to the handle used to catch, throw and shoot.

Man Down Defense (MDD): The situation that results from a timeserving penalty which causes the defense to play with at least a one man disadvantage.

Midfield Line: The line which bisects the field of play.

On-The-Fly Substitution: A substitution made during play.

Pick: An offensive maneuver in which a stationary player attempts to block the path of a defender guarding another offensive player.

Play On: If a player commits a loose-ball technical foul or crease violation and an offended player may be disadvantaged by the immediate suspension of play, the official shall visually and verbally signal ³play on² and withhold the whistle until such time as the situation of advantage, gained or lost, has been completed.

Pocket: The strung part of the head of the stick which holds the ball.

Rake: A face-off move in which a player sweeps the ball to the side.

Riding: The act of trying to prevent a team from clearing the ball from the offensive half to defensive half of the field.

Release: The term used by an official to notify a penalized player in the box that he may re-enter the game occurs at the conclusion at a time-serving penalty.

Unsettled Situation: Any situation in which the defense is not positioned correctly, usually due to a loose ball or broken clear.