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Men's
Lacrosse Rules
Men's lacrosse is a contact game played by ten players:
a goalkeeper, three defensemen, three midfielders and
three attackmen. The object of the game is to shoot
the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring
the most goals wins.
- Each
team must keep at least four players, including the
goalie, in its defensive half of the field and three
in its offensive half Three players (midfielders)
may roam the entire field.
- Generally,
high school games are 48 minutes long, with 12 minute
quarters. Each team is given a two minute break
between the first and second quarters, and the third
and fourth quarters. Half-time is ten minutes long.
- Teams
change sides between periods. Each team is permitted
two time-outs each half. The team winning the coin
toss chooses the end of the field it wants to defend
first.
- Men's
lacrosse begins with a face-off. The ball is placed
between the sticks of two squatting players at the
center of the field. The official blows the whistle
to begin play. Each face-off player tries to control
the ball. The players in the wing areas can release;
the other players must wait until one player has gained
possession of the ball or the ball has crossed the
goal line.
- Center
face-offs are also used after a goal and at the start
of each quarter.
- Players
may run with the ball in the crosse, pass and catch
the ball. Only the goalkeeper may touch the ball with
his hands.
- A player
may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from
an opponent's crosse with a stick check, which includes
the controlled poking and slapping of the stick and
gloved hands of the player in possession of the ball.
- Body
checking is permitted if the opponent has the ball.
However, all contact must occur from the front or
side, above the waist and below the shoulders. An
opponent's crosse may also be stick checked if it
is within five yards of a loose ball or ball in the
air.
- If
the ball or a player in possession of the ball goes
out of bounds, the other team is awarded possession
of the ball. If the ball goes out of bounds after
an unsuccessful shot on goal, the player nearest to
the ball when and where it goes out of bounds is awarded
possession.
- An
attacking player cannot enter the crease around the
goal, but may reach in with his stick to scoop a loose
ball.
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