Lacrosse Rules For Dummies

The sport of lacrosse is fast-paced, physical and exciting, but it can be confusing for the first-time player. Understanding the basic rules of lacrosse will help players and fans get the most out of the game and enjoy it to its fullest. While there are differences between men’s and women’s rules and between adult and youth games, a basic set of rules governs all levels of the game.

The goal of the game is to score points by shooting the ball into the opponent’s goal. The ball is moved down the field through passing, catching, cradling and scooping with the stick. However, players are not allowed to use their hands to play the ball or interfere with an opponent. In addition, a player cannot enter the opposing team’s goal crease without being in a legal position to shoot.

Faceoffs occur at the beginning of each quarter and when play is stopped for any reason, such as a missed shot or a whistle. In a faceoff, players surround one of the circles on the floor and await the referee’s signal to begin play. The faceoff is one of the many ways in which the game resembles hockey and basketball.

In box lacrosse, contact is limited to the body below the shoulders and above the waist. Excessive body checking can result in a penalty.

There are many other laws that must be followed to ensure safety in the game, including avoiding unnecessary roughness and maintaining good body positioning. A player may only body check an opponent when that opponent has the ball and is within five yards of the offensive team’s midfield line or the defensive zone. Furthermore, a player must make sure that both hands are on the stick before making a body check and that it is applied from the front or side of the body.

Another important aspect of the game is the “screen.” An offensive player cannot impede a defender’s path with their body or stick, and they must be stationary when setting up a screen. In addition, a defensive player must not engage an offensive player except to protect his or her goal.

A game of lacrosse consists of four periods that are each 15 minutes long. The team that scores the most goals in each period wins the game. During the game, players can also receive flagged penalties. These can include technical fouls and personal fouls.

Lacrosse players can also be penalized for violating other rules, such as offsides. Offsides occurs when a team has more than four players behind the defensive restraining line or more than five players behind the offensive restraining line. The violation results in a free possession for the opposing team. In addition, a player can be assessed a two-minute non-releasable penalty for illegally screening an opposing defender. However, if the offense is in the critical scoring area when the offside is committed, the penalty is only one minute. In general, the team that is offside will lose possession after a missed shot.