LACROSSE BASICS

Lacrosse is a traditional Aboriginal sport, played for days at a time on fields several kilometers long. Distinct lacrosse communities were distinguished by their types of sticks, balls and dress. This sport was revered for its healing power, believed to teach courage, strength, honor, respect, generosity, and fair play. It requires teamwork, stamina, ball handling skills, and game strategies.

The game we know today:

Game Duration: Four 12 minute quarters
Number of Players: Maximum of 10 players on the field

Two basic types of fouls:

PERSONAL FOULS: Cross checking, slashing, tripping, unnecessary roughness, illegal body checking, unsportsmanlike conduct, equipment. These penalties incur a one minute penalty. Additional minutes or ejection can result for severe infractions. When a personal foul occurs, the offending player must leave the field of play and remain in the penalty box until the penalty time is served, or the opposing team scores, whichever occurs first.

TECHNICAL FOULS: Holding, off sides, pushing, screening, interference, stalling, warding off. These penalties result in loss of possession, and the ball being turned over to the opposing team.