Rules of Lacrosse – Box Lacrosse

The rules of lacrosse odviously change depending on the age. gender and where it is played.  Things can get out of hand pretty quickly if there are no official rules.

• Five players and a goalie on each side, players may only use a stick that is between 40 and 46 inches.
• 10 seconds to clear the defensive half of the floor
• 30 second shot clock
• For substitutions, players change on the fly. There is usually a box in front of each bench called the substitution box where players change through. A player can’t enter the floor if the teammate is not in the substitution box.
• Minor Penalties (Slashing, illegal cross-check, tripping etc) : The player is given a two minute sit down in the penalty box and is only release when a goal is scored or the penalty time runs out.
• Major Penalties: The player stays in the penalty box for five minutes and is not release for the whole give minutes. If the other team scores two goals then both teams back to even strength.  Even after the goals the player must remain in the box for the entire five minutes. If a players gets two majors in a game an automatic game misconduct is given and be asked to go to the dressing room.
• Penalty Shot: A team can’t be less than three players on the floor at once.  If there’s a third penalty the opposing team is awarded a penalty shot.
• Slow Whistle (Delayed Penalty): If a team commits a penalty and doesn’t have the ball the play goes on until change of possession or the shot clock expires.
• Coincidental Penalties: When both teams are given the same penalty coming from the same situation. Teams remain even but the two players involved must sit for the entire length of the penalty.