🥍Rules Lacrosse

Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin in which players use a stick fitted with a netted head (the pocket) to carry, throw and catch a ball. Two teams compete to score in the opponent's goal. It comes in several formats: field (outdoor), box (indoor), women's field and Sixes, the latter being the format chosen for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Score more goals than the opponent by sending the ball into their goal using the stick, while preventing the other team from scoring.

• •The ball is carried, thrown and caught only with the stick, never by hand (except the goalkeeper within their zone depending on the format).
• •A goal is scored when the ball fully crosses the goal line into the opponent's goal.
• •Contact and marking rules differ by format: body contact is more permitted in the men's game (field/box) than in the women's game.
• •The stick must keep the ball moving or protected; possession can be lost on a foul or when the ball goes out.
• •The goalkeeper defends a protected area around the goal (the crease) that attackers may not enter.
• •At the start of play the ball is put into play at the centre using a format-specific procedure (face-off, draw or other).

Each goal is worth 1 point and is awarded when the ball fully crosses the goal line within the goal frame. In all World Lacrosse formats (field, box, women's and Sixes) and in Olympic lacrosse, each goal counts for 1 point; a 2-point arc exists only in some professional leagues (e.g. the Premier Lacrosse League), not under World Lacrosse or Olympic rules. The team with the most points wins. Refer to the rules of the format being played for the exact goal value.

Duration and structure vary by format. Field lacrosse is generally played in four quarters; Sixes is played in short periods (for example four periods) with a shot clock. Refer to the official rules of the format and competition for exact durations.

The team that has scored the most goals at the end of regulation time wins. In the event of a tie, overtime (often sudden death) or a tie-breaking procedure may apply depending on the format and competition.