LAX, Not Just An Airport - Her Loyal Sons

Lacrosse, also known as lax, is finally spreading across the nation. With the start of collegiate lacrosse starting, I thought I’d give y’all a lacrosse for dummies guide (because I know I sure needed this when I watched my first lacrosse game my freshman year of college and had no clue what was going on).

Here are the basics:

Men’s:

Faceoff – happens in the center circle between two opposing players and starts off each quarter and happens after every goal is scored.
Each game consists of 4 quarters that each last 15 minutes
The crease – 9ft semicircle that goes from goalpost to goalpost that offensive players cannot enter
There are 10 players from each team on the field

3 midfielders – responsible for bringing the ball up the field into the attack zone,

3 attackers – best stick handlers, primary goal scorers

3 defenders – use longer sticks, constantly checking other players and working with the goalie to clear the ball

1 goalie – only player allowed to touch the ball with their hands (only when blocking shots)

Only midfielders can run the entire field without restrictions
Offensive players stay in the opponent’s defensive zone
Substitutions can happen at any time during the game
Wear helmets and more padding than women’s lacrosse players

Men are allowed

body checking– using the body to hit an opposing player that is either within fifteen feet of a loose ball or holding the ball
stick checking – hitting the ball carrier’s stick with their own stick in order to dislodge the ball
poke checking – defender hits his stick against the hands of the ball carrier
slap checking – slashing the opponent’s hands
wrap checking – defender’s stick is swung around the body or over the head of the ball carrier

Women’s:

The only protective gear they wear are gloves, mouth guard and eye goggles.
Wear kilts with shorts as part of the uniform
Game is two 25 minute halves
Women’s lacrosse does not allow slashing, checking, pushing, shoving, tripping or any other physical contact with the opponent
Free Position – given to a player after a major or minor foul has been committed

If it was a major foul all players must stand four meters behind the player that was awarded the free position

There is no offsides in women’s lacrosse
Players may cover the whole field
Attackers – primary goal scorers, front line of the offensive attack
Midfielders – two defense wings, two attack wings & one center, cover the entire length of the field, control the tempo of the game
Defenders – point, cover point & 3rd man, generally stay on the defensive side, work to clear the ball
Goalkeeper – plays inside the crease, wears extra padding, allowed to block shots with hands