Lacrosse is a fast-paced and exciting game. Lacrosse has an illustrious history dating to the early 1500s, and was reportedly played by American Indian tribes. In modern times, the game of lacrosse is thriving in the United States, with thousands of schools competing in the NCAA lacrosse game and a professional men's league known as Major League Lacrosse. Field lacrosse rules vary between the male and female game.
Playing Area
Field lacrosse, as opposed to indoor box lacrosse, is played on an outdoor field. The playing surface is grass or turf. The NCAA lacrosse rule book states that a typical lacrosse field is 110 yards long and 60 yards wide. The goals are to be placed no more than 100 yards apart, with the playing field behind the goals still classed as in play up to the field end line. NCAA lacrosse rules state that there must be a minimum of 10 yards, and a maximum of 20 yards, behind each goal. To ensure the safety of players who might run out of bounds, a minimum of about 2 yards of clear space must exist beyond each end line. A little more than 4 yards must exist between the sideline and the scorer's table. A lacrosse field must have a clearly marked halfway line with a restraining line painted 20 yards on either side of the half.
Teams
Team personnel differ by sex. Men's field lacrosse is played with 10 players. The team is divided into one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. In women's field lacrosse, 12 players make up a full team. In each form of the game, one player must be designated as a speaking captain. This captain is permitted to communicate with the referee throughout the game. Substitutions are allowed during the game but substitutes must enter the game through a designated gate area and wait for their teammate to leave the field.
Timing
The minimum regulation time for a field lacrosse game is 50 minutes for high school and 60 minutes in the collegiate and adult game. NCAA lacrosse rules permit two team timeouts per game that can be called by the coaching staff. Field lacrosse games are split into two halves with an intermission between. If the score is tied in the NCAA, two overtime periods of three minutes each will be played. A team that scores the most goals at the end of regulation or overtime is the winner.
Fouls
Cross checking is not permitted in field lacrosse, and body checking is only allowed when a player is within 9 feet of the ball. When a foul occurs, a free position is awarded to the fouled team by the referee. Serious foul play can be punished by ejection from the game.
Equipment
All lacrosse sticks and safety equipment are checked before the game by a referee. A player with dangerous or inadequate equipment will be forbidden to take part in the game.
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