Churchville

So, you're interested in lacrosse, or you're new to the game.  Here is some basic information on the game of lacrosse: from the size of the team, to some basic rules, to the gear you will need to play.

First of all, lacrosse has many similarities to hockey.  In both games, players use sticks to try to score goals while others use sticks to prevent goals.  In both games, the team that ends the game with the most goals wins.  A game clock dictates the length of the game, and scoring goals is the sole determiner of who wins and who loses.  Here are a few technical essentials to understanding the game:

• Four quarters equal a game:  The length of a lacrosse game is 60 minutes, or four 15-minute quarters.  Unless...
  
  
• Two halves make a whole game:  Depending on the age or gender of the teams playing, variations on the length of a lacrosse game exist.  Women's lacrosse matches are divided into halves instead of quarters, and can range from 50-60 minutes.  Other variations are 8 or 12-minute quarters to three 20-minute periods.  High school field games have 12-minute quarters.
  
  
• Faceoff:  A faceoff at the center circle starts each game and each quarter, and begins play after every goal is scored.  It is an organized way to begin game play or continue play after is was stopped.  In a box lacrosse faceoff, the teams surround one of the two lined circles on the floor, with two players in the center of the circle awaiting a referee's whistle to begin play and go for the ball.  In field lacrosse, a faceoff consists of two players at the center X and two players from each team perched on the wing area lines.  Once possession is gained by one of these players, the rest of the players can cross the restraining lines that are perpendicular to the sideline.
  
  
• Games don't end in ties:  Sudden-death overtime determines the winner.
  
  
• Stay out of the crease:  Offensive players must stay out of the crease area in front of the goal.  The crease is a 9-foot semicircle that arcs from goalpost to goalpost.
  
  
• Stay in your own backyard:  Defenders always stay on the same side of the field as their goal.  Offensive players stay on side of the opposing team's goal.

• The Crosse (lacrosse stick)
  The crosse is made of wood, laminated wood, or synthetic materials.  It has a shaped net pocket at the end.  The crosse must be an overall length of 40-42" for attackmen and midfielders, or 52-72" for defensemen.  The head of the crosse must be 6.5-10" wide, except a goalie's crosse which may be 10-12".
  
  
• The Ball.
  The ball must be made of solid rubber and can be white, yellow or orange.  The ball is 7.75-8" in circumference and 5-5.25oz.
  
  
• The Helmet.
  A protective helmet, equipped with a face mask, chin pad and cupped four-point chin strap.  Players must wear a certified lacrosse helmet.  Helmets designed for other sports are NOT acceptable.  For players purchasing new equipment, the Churchville-Chili Lacrosse Club prefers players purchase a white helmet so our players have a uniform appearance.  White is not required, however.
  
  
• The Mouthpiece.
  The mouthpiece must be highly visible in color and is mandatory.
  
  
• The Gloves.
  All players are required to wear protective gloves.  The cutting or altering of gloves is prohibited.
  
  
• Other Protective Equipment.
  All players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, must wear shoulder pads.  Arm pads are required and rib pads are strongly recommended, and often required, as are athletic supporters.
  
  The goalkeeper is required to wear a throat protector and chest protector, in addition to a helmet, mouthpiece, gloves and a protective cup.

• The Crosse (lacrosse stick).
  The stick is made of wood, laminated wood, or synthetic material.  It has a shaped net pocket at the end.  A girl's crosse must be an overall length of 35.5-43.25".  The head of the crosse must be seven to nine inches wide.  The pocket of the stick must be strung traditionally; no mesh is allowed.
  
  
• The Ball.
  The game ball must be yellow and made of solid rubber, smooth without dimples for games and must be visible color, other than clear or white.  The ball must be 7.75-8" in circumference and weigh 5-5.25 ounces.
  
  
• The Mouthpiece.
   All players must wear mouthguards.
  
  
• Other Protective Equipment.
  Close-fitting gloves, nose guards and soft head gear are optional and may be worn by all players.  All field players must properly wear eye protection that meets ASTM specifications for women's adult/youth lacrosse for the appropriate level of play.
  
  
• Goalkeeper Equipment.
  The goalkeeper must wear a helmet and face mask, separate throat protector, padded gloves, mouth piece, and chest protector.  The goalkeeper may wear padding on arms, legs, and shoulders which does not excessively increase the size of those body parts.  Goalies are required to wear padded gloves.

The rules of lacrosse will vary between different leagues, and different age groups.  Here, we'll try to outline some of the basic rules that mostly apply to high school men's lacrosse:

• There are 10 players on each lacrosse team. Four of the players must stay on the defensive half of the field, three must stay on the offensive half, and three can go anywhere on the field.
  
  
• The game is typically divided up into two halves and 4 quarters with each quarter being 12 minutes long. College lacrosse games are longer and kids games are shorter.
  
  
• The game starts with a face-off between two players on each team. The ball sits on the ground between the two players and the referee blows the whistle. This signals that the players can both try to get the ball.
  
  
• Only the goalie can touch the ball with their hands. All other players must use the lacrosse stick to carry, pass, shoot, or catch the ball.
  
  
• When an opponent has the ball or is within five yards of the ball, a player can body check them. A body check is contact from the front between the waist and the shoulders. You can also stick check the player on the stick or gloves to try and knock the ball away or to keep a player from getting the ball.
  
  
• There is an area around the goal called a crease. An opponent is not allowed to enter the crease, but they can reach in with their stick to pick up the ball.
  
  
• When a player with the ball or the ball goes out of the field of play, the opposing team gets the ball unless the ball goes out of bounds after a shot. In that case, the team with the player closest to the ball when it went out of bounds gets the ball.

Some plays that you are not allowed to do in lacrosse are called fouls. If a player commits a foul, they will get put in a penalty area for 1 to 3 minutes. Like basketball, at 5 personal fouls the player is removed from the game. 

Lacrosse personal fouls include tripping, unnecessary roughness, cross checking (making contact with another player with the stick between your hands), slashing (a stick check not on the opponents gloves or stick), or illegal body checking. 

Some Lacrosse technical fouls include holding, offsides (not the right number of players on each half of the field), setting screens, stalling, and pushing.