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More and more athletes are discovering a reason to pick up a sticks in the winter.
Field lacrosse is the fastest growing game in North America at every level. The appeal? It's a neat composite of other sports, it's
fast, it's easy to learn, and it's cool! As parents discover that field lacrosse is
more exciting than soccer, cheaper than ice hockey and not as dangerous as
football, the game is getting a closer look.
The Field
(Click on diagram below to enlarge)
Field lacrosse is played on a
rectangular playing field, 110 yards long by 60
yards wide, as shown on the above diagram. The goals are set
forward from the end lines, so play can be switched behind the goals to draw
defenders out of position. Players are
not allowed to go within the opposition's crease, marked by a large circle
surrounding each goal. The goal nets are 6 feet square in size.
The Team
There
are 10 players on the field at a time for each team: a goalkeeper (or
goalie), three defenders (or big-sticks as they carry longer sticks than
other players), three midfielders (or middies) and three attackers (or
attacks).
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Goalies and defenders try
to stop the opposition from scoring, the
attackers supply the offence, and
midfielders
are expected to do a bit
of both, generally bringing the ball
forward in transition or running back to play defence. Attackers are expected to have the best
stick skills on the team whereas midfielders are often among the fastest
players. Defenders must be quick, but also strong enough to hold their ground. The goalie wears surprisingly little
protection considering how fast the ball can be thrown. A lacrosse goalie needs to be agile,
highly reactive and able to run, so dressing up like a box goalie is not
practical.
The Game
A game is run over four quarters of 20 minutes each. Teams swap ends after each quarter.
The game begins with a face-off at midfield. After the defenders
and the attackers have moved inside the boxes at either end of the field and
the midfielders are on their wings, the two center midfielders line up in the
middle with their sticks horizontal on the ground. At the whistle, the two try to flip their
sticks down on top of the ball to gain control, and will usually flip the
ball out to a teammate. Once one team
has possession, all other players may release and move freely on their halves
of the field.
At any time, both teams
must have at least four players on their defensive half of the field
(normally the three long-stick defenders and the goalie) and three on the offensive
half (the three attackers).
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In the
event that a player, such as a defender carrying the ball, intends to step
over the midfield line, another is required to stay back in place of that
player prior to the crossing. Violation of this rule is called offside. Most goalies have the desire at some point
during the game to go crazy and leg it up the field with the ball. This is allowed and they occasionally
actually score a goal.
On defence, when the
other team has the ball, players are permitted to body check from the front
with their hands together they cannot cross-check an opponent.
Players may also use short, controlled chops
and pokes of their stick to the opponents stick and hands to try and
dislodge the ball.
Defenders can also use
their stick (usually five feet long for more reach) to strike, or 'check' the
ball carrier's stick in an attempt to release the ball. They can also check the gloved hand while it
is on the stick, to either jostle the ball or force the attacker to take that
hand off the stick, reducing their ability to shoot or pass quickly.
Attackers can 'shield' their
stick with a stationary arm to protect it from the defender's checks. Play does not stop, unless the ball rolls
off the field of play, a goal is scored or a penalty is called.
For more information, go
to the Players & Parents Page.
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