Although the origins of lacrosse are not blatantly obvious, the game has evolved to become one of the world's most popular sports. In America, the National Collegiate Athletics Association sanctions play at universities across the nation. According to US Lacrosse, some early data from the 1630s scantly mentions a game just like lacrosse, and written reports emerged in the middle of the 19th century. Teams score points by throwing the ball into the opposition's net and the team with the most points after the clock runs out wins.
Field Dimensions
The NCAA rule book lists that the playing field must be rectangular, with the horizontal sidelines being 110 yards long and the vertical end lines being 60 yards long. Lines marking the boundaries shall be white or another color than contrasts with the playing surface. There should also be a bold line through the center of the field, 55 yards from the end lines, that extends from sideline to sideline. That line is the center line and should go through any logos on the field surface.
Game Personnel
The rule book states that each team shall have 10 players and that includes the goalie. If players get injured or ejected and a team can not fill 10 spots, it can play with fewer than that. Each team must have a head coach and the head coach is responsible for making sure his players are properly equipped. Only the head coach is supposed to communicate with officials, and the officials shall address questions by the coaches at halftime. A minimum of two officials is required by the rule book, but a three-official group is recommended, with a referee, umpire and field judge.
Fouls
An official determines if a player commits a personal foul, and then determines whether the penalty is one, two or three minutes, depending on severity and intent. The rule book states that illegal body checking is a personal foul, as is slashing, cross-checking, tripping, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct and use of illegal equipment. An expulsion foul is an ejection and a three-minute penalty for the team. Fighting, flagrant misconduct and tobacco use are reasons for an expulsion foul.
Penalty Enforcement
Referees immediately should blow the whistle and stop the game when they observe a penalty by an offensive player. Officials shall wait to blow the whistle if the offender is on the defensive team, then blow it when that team loses possession. A player called for a foul must immediately leave the field and go to the special-substitution area. He may not leave the area until the timekeeper there allows him to leave.
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