Lacrosse Addict

Girl’s lacrosse is a non-contact game played by 12 players: 5 players in the attack positions, 6 players in defensive positions and a goalkeeper. The length of the game for high school is 50 minutes long, with 25 minute halves. Two timeouts are permitted, per team. The lacrosse gear required for girls usually consists of a mouth guard, eye protection, turf cleats (check field requirements) and stick. Goalies will need a helmet, protective shin guards and padding in addition to their stick. As the level of play progresses, so may the equipment requirements.

The game begins with a draw at the center of the field. Draw - the ball is placed between two horizontally held sticks, and at the refs whistle, the ball is flung into the air as the sticks are pulled up and away. Draws happen at the start of each half and after every goal.

The size of a lacrosse field is 120 yds x 70 yds. Markings on the field include a line 30 yds from each goal line, a 39 feet 4 inches (or 12m) fan and an arc in front of each goal. These markings determine the players’ limits - for instance the 30 yd line, only 7 offensive players and 8 defensive players, including goalie are allowed. The fan is where the ref positions players for foul shots and the arc is the scoring area, where defenders must be a stick’s length apart from their attacker. The goals are to be no more than 100 yds apart (and no less than 90 yds). There must be a minimum of 10 yds and max of 20 yds  of space behind each goal to the end line. To view a field illustration visit US Lacrosse.

Players may pass, catch, or run with the ball in the net of their lacrosse stick. A player can take possession of the ball by tapping it out of their opponent’s stick, which is called a “check.”  In order to check, the player must be a step ahead of their opponent and must not reach across the other player’s body to check the handle of their stick when they are even with, or behind that opponent. In addition, a player cannot protect the ball in their stick by cradling too close to their body or their face, making a safe and legal check impossible.

All legal checks must be made in a direction away from a 7-inch area around the head of the player. Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands (except goalie), nor may they play the ball off their body.

Rough checks, and contact to the body with the stick or body, are not allowed. Minor fouls result in the offending player being placed 4 meters off from where they came at their opponent prior to the foul, before play resumes. If a minor foul occurs in the scoring area, the player with the ball has what is called an “indirect free position” which means the player must pass first. When a major foul occurs, the offending player is placed 4 meters behind the player taking the free position.

When a referee blows their whistle, 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. Also, loss of possession can occur when a player runs or throws the ball out of play intentionally.

An official will blow a slow whistle when an offensive player has entered the scoring area and a defensive player has committed a major foul. A long whistle is blown when a goal is scored or the scoring opportunity is over. A whistle is blown any time a major foul, or obstruction, or infraction of shooting space occurs, when the safety of a player could be in danger.