How to Play Lacrosse By Peter Jelinski

Paul Rabil, Men’s USA National Lacrosse team captain.

Table of Contents iii

Table of Contents

Introduction.....................................................................................................v Background..............................................................................................vChapter One: Rules..........................................................................................1 Rules of Lacrosse.....................................................................................3 Types of Penalties....................................................................................5Chapter Two: Necessary Gear.........................................................................7 Lacrosse Gear..........................................................................................9 Lacrosse Sticks......................................................................................10Chapter Three: Formations and Strategies....................................................11 Formations and Strategies.....................................................................13

Offense............................................................................................13 Defense...........................................................................................14

Index..............................................................................................................15Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………………………………16

Introduction v

IntroductionThe problem for both players and parents interested in learning lacrosse is that it is difficult to find a reliable source they can use to learn the basics of lacrosse. This manual will give a general introduction of the sport to help people whom are new to it to become familiarized before they even step on the field. It will provide rules and field diagrams, gear necessary before taking the field, and formations and strategies. After reading through this manual, you will have a clear understanding of the game of lacrosse.

Background In present day lacrosse, we use helmets, gloves, and other padding to protect ourselves from the physicality lacrosse contains, but it was not always like this. Known to the Native American tribes as “stickball”, it was played as a ceremonial ritual that was to give thanks to the gods. The game was played on miles of land and all that was needed was a stick for each individual player and a single game ball. Games could last anywhere from several hours and could stretch over a few days.

Eventually a French missionary by the name of Jean de Brébeuf discovered the

game and decided to document what he saw. He referred the game as “la Crosse” which translates to “the stick”. Since then, the sport has progressively developed, equipment has been added, the playing field has gotten significantly smaller and rules have been put in place.

Chapter One: Rules

Chapter One: Rules 3

Rules of LacrosseAlthough lacrosse is played by both genders at all levels (youth, high school, college, and professional), rules are extremely similar. The lack of hitting in youth and girls lacrosse is really the only difference in terms of rules. This chapter will give an overview of the rules of a standard lacrosse game.

Players Each team will have no more than 10 players on the field at a time. Of these ten players, there are three offensive players, known in the lacrosse world as “attackmen” and three defensive players; they’re just known as “defensemen”. In addition to these six mentioned so far, there are three players known as “middies” (midfielders) who play both offense and defense, and of course, a goalie. For men’s high school and up levels of lacrosse, another type of player exists. They are called “long stick middies”, but are typically referred to as “LSM’s”. This player is crucial to the game during man down situations (when an LSM’s team is a player short on the field due to a penalty).

OffsidesOffsides are when only two players or less are the only players from a team on a half of the field. Excluding the goalie, at least three players must be on each side of the field at any given time regardless of which side the ball is

on.

When a player is offsides, the referee will simply blow his whistle to stop the play of game and give possession of the ball to the team that did not go offsides.

Restraining LinesIn the event of a penalty, the ball

must be kept inside the restraining box. This is the box that is labeled “Attack/Defensive Area” in the above figure. Failing to maintain possession in the restraining box will cause a turnover, giving possession of the ball to the team with the penalty (the “man down” team). FaceoffsFaceoffs occur at the center of the midfield line on the “X”. There will be a one on one fight for possession similar to hockey. Like hockey, the player facing off will have a teammate to the left and right of him/her. The referee

How to Play Lacrosse

will place the ball on the “X” and blow the whistle. Once they have done so, players on the wings are free to move anywhere around the faceoff box (the middle third of the field). There is a faceoff at the beginning of every half and most times the beginning of every quarter, there are exceptions however. If a team maintains possession at the end of a quarter, they will have possession in their own restraining box (the goalie/defenses side of the field) to start the following quarter. Most teams usually force a shot to end a quarter, much like in basketball.

Creases Creases are the circles the surround the goals. Attacking players are not allowed to step into them, only defensemen and of course the goalie. If an attackmen steps in the crease, the result is a turnover. This is known as a crease violation.

Length of Games U9

Game consists of four 12-minute running quarters (clock does not stop, regardless of a timeout or stoppage for injury). If stop-time is used, the quarters will be eight-minutes.

U11Game consists of four eight-minute stop-time quarters.

U13Game consists of four 10-minute stop-time quarters.

U15 Game consists of four 10-minute stop-time quarters.

HS ≤Game consists of four 15-minute stop-time quarters.

Overtime LengthIf a tie were to occur, two four-minute sudden-victory overtime half’s will be played until a winner is determined. In sudden-victory overtime, each team is entitled to one timeout per period.

PenaltiesWhen a player commits a penalty, the referee will throw a yellow flag into the air to signal he/she is calling a penalty. Once play has stopped, the referee will send the player to the penalty box and the team serving the penalty will be a man short until the penalty is released.

If a team has the ball and the opposing team commits a penalty, the team with the ball is to continue to play until the advantage is gone (that team losses possession).

Depending on the type and severity of the penalty, the referee can award a one, two, or at most three-minute non-releasable penalty. What this means

4

Chapter One: Rules 5

is that even if the team with the advantage scores a goal, the player guilty of the penalty must remain in the penalty box for the duration of his penalty. For a regular/releasable penalty, a goal by the opposite team would result in the penalty to be released.

“Man Up”When a team is man up, it means the other team is short a player due to receiving a penalty. They will have a “power play” type situation for the duration of the penalty or until they score (assuming the penalty is releasable).

“Man Down”When a team is man down, it means they are short a player due to receiving a penalty. They will have a “power kill” type situation for the duration of the penalty or until the other team score (assuming the penalty is releasable).

Types of PenaltiesBody CheckWhen a player lowers his head or shoulder with the force and intent to put another player on the ground.

SlashingWhen a defending player hits another player with his stick in the helmet or back.

Cross CheckingWhen a player checks an opponent by using the part of the shaft between their hands.

TrippingWhen a player trips another playing using his/her stick.

HoldingWhen a player uses a free hand to grab another player.

Referee Signals -Note- Not all of the above signals are penalties

How to Play Lacrosse

WardingWhen an offensive player is cradling with one had and uses their free arm to push a defenseman off.

6

Chapter Two: Necessary Gear

Chapter 2: Necessary Gear 9

Lacrosse GearLacrosse requires specific equipment that players will need in order to play. This chapter will discuss what that specific equipment is and what equipment belongs to which position.

The necessary gear is as follows:

Helmet Mouth Piece Shoulder Pads Elbows Gloves Stick Jock (Optional) Cleats

Stick Eye

Protection Mouth Piece Gloves

Goalie Stick Goalie Chest Protector

MEN’S

GOALIE’S

How to Play Lacrosse

Lacrosse Sticks

“The Shaft” Shafts can be made out of different types of metal. Some of which include

Titanium Scandium Aluminum Composite

Shafts have different textures as well; some can be smooth, some can feel like sandpaper.

For girl’s, a 30” shaft is used no matter the position (goalies excluded) however for boy’s, this is not the case. In middle school, defensive players will trade in their 30” shaft for one twice the size. Midfielders and attackmen

continue to use 30” sticks and goalies 40”.

“The Head”The head is the most unique part of the game of lacrosse. It’s an expression of a players tastes and preferences. There are hundreds of different heads made by various lacrosse companies and every string-job is different. String-jobs are important because they determine how the ball will roll off the head on a pass or shot.

WOMEN’S MEN’S

10

Chapter Three: Formations and Strategies

Chapter 3: Formations and Strategies 13

Formations and StrategiesFormations and strategies are a big part of the game of lacrosse. This chapter will discuss a few of the basic tactics used by both offenses and defenses.

Offense

The 2-3-1 is one of the most common formations for an offense to run. From this formation, teams are able to move the ball around fast because of how spread out everyone is. This is designed to draw the defense out, which will give the offense more space to work with in front of the net. The player in front of the goal is responsible for creating confusion for the defense by constantly moving to get an open shot.

To the right is a play that is frequently run out of this formation. Known as “the Triangle Offense”. This play is designed so that everyone is constantly cutting either towards or away from the ball in order to generate a shot.

M1 starts with the ball. As A2 and M2 begin to cut through M1 sets up his/her dodge from the top. If they do not have the shot, they will have A3 cutting towards them for a look.

The 2-2-2 is also another frequently used formation. Unlike the 2-3-1, this formation focuses on more activity in front of the goal in order to bunch up the defense.

To the left is a play that is commonly run when in a 2-2-2. M1 will dodge of a screen set by M2 and look to shoot. While this is happening, M3 will set a screen for A2. If M1 does not have an open shot, he will look to pass it to A2. If A2 is not open, M1’s last resort would be to pass to A1.

2-3-1

2-2-2

How to Play Lacrosse

DefenseThere are simply two formations for defensemen, man or zone. If a team is running a man-defense, they will be guarding a man. If a team is running a zone-defense, they will be guarding the area within a 10-yard radius.

Poke Check: the act of using one’s stick to pock at the hands or stick of an attackman. The point of this is to make them drop the ball or force a bad pass/shot.

V-Hold: the act of using one’s forearm to create a right angle with the stick so that when an attackman is dodging, they will not only keep up but also control where their opponent travels. Oftentimes defensemen will use this tactic to force their man to dodge their weak side, or the side they feel less comfortable shooting on.

Sliding: when a defenseman (D1) gets beat and allows his man to run around him, it is the responsibility of the closest defenseman (D2) to pick up the opponent with the ball. As soon as this defenseman (D2) jumps the ball, the third defenseman (D3) will slide and take (D2’s) man that was left behind. Once the original defenseman (D1) has gotten his bearings, he would pick up (D3’s) man. Sliding is simply a rotation.

Adjacent Slide: having a slide come from the side a player guarding the ball gets beat on.

Crease Slide: having a slide come directly from whoever is playing defense in from of the crease/goal.

14

Chapter 3: Formations and Strategies 15

Index

defense, 3Defense, iii, 3defensemen, 14equipment, 9formation, 13, 3

Formation, 16Lacrosse Gear, 9non-releasable, 4Rules, iii, 7, 3, 16stick, v, 3, 5, 14

How to Play Lacrosse

Bibliography

1. PhotoNo Author Identified. (November 21, 2010). Most Valuable Player: Paul Rabil. <Laxbuzz.com>. Retrieved: November 25, 2014.

2. PhotoRiver Indians Lacrosse Organization. (2014). Tribal Game. <riverindianslacrosse.com>. Retrieved: November 25, 2014.

3. PhotoNorth Idaho Lacrosse Club. (Spring, 2014). Referee Material. <northidaholacrosse.com>. Retrieved: November 25, 2014.

4. PhotoNo Author Identified. (December, 2005). Lacrosse Field Diagram. <sportspectator.com>. Retrieved: November 25, 2014.

5. PhotoLizzy Rulan. (August 2, 2014). Your Edge. <laxmagazine.com>. Retrieved: November 25, 2014.

6. PhotoOmaha lacrosse Club. (2014). Men’s Lacrosse Rules. <LeagueAthletics.com>. Retrieved: November 25, 2014.

7. PhotoBrookwood Lacrosse Association. (2014). Needed Equipment. <broncolax.com>. Retrieved: November 26, 2014.

8. PhotoWinmark Corporation. (2014). Necessary lacrosse Items. <playitagainsports.com>. Retrieved: November 26, 2014.

9. PhotoQueen Anne Quick Styx. (2014). Girl’s Gear List. <LeagueAthletics.com>. Retrieved: November 27, 2014.

10. PhotoNo Author Identified. (2012). Lacrosse Goalie Equipment. <sportsunlimitedinc.com>. Retrieved: November 27, 2014.

11. PhotoSports Only. (2013). Shafts. <sports-only.nl>. Retrieved: November 28, 2014.

12. PhotoHarrison Bollman. (2014). Brine Mantra 2: Women’s Lacrosse Head. <savingshepherd.com>. Retrieved: November 28, 2014.

13. PhotoUS Lacrosse Association. (2013). Nike Lakota U: Men’s Heads. <lax.com>. Retrieved: November 28, 2014.

14. PhotoRoyal Oak Press. (2014). Royal Oak Lacrosse on the Rise. <moprepzone.com>. Retrieved: November 29, 2014.

16

Index 17Bibliography17

15. PhotoNo Author Identified. (2008). 2-2-2 Formation. <lacrosse-information.com>. Retrieved: November 29, 2014.

16. PhotoNo Author Indtified. (2008). 2-3-1 Formation. <lacrosse-information.com>. Retrieved: November 29, 2014.

17. PhotoNo Author Indtified. (2008). Triangle Offense. <lacrosse-information.com>. Retrieved: November 29, 2014.

18. No Author Indtified. (2008). Dodge from Point – 2-2-2. <lacrosse-information.com>. Retrieved: November 29, 2014.