LACROSSE 101:THE BASICS OF THE GAME

THE PLAYERS: There are 10 players on a team.

1 Goalie: Primary responsibility is to prevent goals and help the defense.
3 Attackmen: Typically restrict their play to offensive half of field trying to score.
3 Defensemen: Typically restrict their play to defensive half of field defending the goal. Will often play with longer sticks to aid in their efforts.
3 Midfielders:Play the entire field playing defense and offense and setting up and scoring goals.

THE GAME: The game has 4 quarters of either 8 minutes (elementary) or 12 minutes(high school).

Play is started at the beginning of each quarter and after a goal is scored with a face-off. When the whistle is blown, the center midfielders start the face-off and the two wing midfielders can leave their area. The other players may not leave their positions until the official rules possession or the ball goes out of bounds.

A goal is worth 1 point and is scored when the ball crosses the goal line.
Checking is a series of jabs at an opponent's stick to try to force them to drop the ball.

The opposing team gains control when the ball goes out of bounds. However, when the ball goes out of bounds on a shot attempt, the team with the player closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds, is awarded possession.

No offensive player is permitted in the goalies crease area.

RULES AND PENALITIES:

The offside rule states that each team must have 3 players on the attack half of the field and 4 on the defensive half at all times.

Body checking is legal if the opponent has the ball or is within 5 yards of the ball and the contact is from the front or side.

A player committing a foul is sent to the penalty box and his team must play with 1 less player. The player stays in the penalty box until the penalty is over, 30 or 60 seconds, or the opposing team scores.

Personal Fouls: 60-second suspension. Slashing, tripping, illegal body check, cross-checking or unsportsmanlike conduct.