The action almost never stops in the game of lacrosse, which creates physical demands similar to football, requires team strategy akin to basketball, calls for conditioning similar to soccer play and entails individual skill as in baseball, according to the book, "Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition." Penalties inevitably occur with all of this action. The consequences for breaking game rules vary depending on the seriousness of the infraction. Consequences also differ between the men's and women's versions of the sport.
Technical Fouls
Minor infractions of game rules are regarded as technical fouls. In men's lacrosse, the offending player is punished via suspension from the game for 30 seconds when the offending team does not have ball possession. If the offending team has ball possession, the opponent is awarded the ball.
Personal Fouls
More serious fouls, like unnecessary roughness, are regarded as personal fouls. A player who commits a personal foul is suspended from the game for one to three minutes, according to the BBC. Other examples of personal fouls include an illegal body check, tripping or pushing an opponent.
Women's Rules
The penalty for fouls is different in women's lacrosse. The team that was fouled against gains a free position. Defenders have to be three yards behind the player who is awarded free position. A direct free position is given for major fouls, such as tripping or pushing. When a player is given a direct free position, she can pass to another team member or attempt a shot on goal. An indirect free position is given for minor fouls, like guarding a ball with feet. With an indirect free position, no shot on goal is allowed, according to "The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching Girls' Lacrosse." There are no time penalties in women's game rules, according to the BBC.
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