BOYS LAX

Here are some of the Fundamentals of lacrosse that we cover during practices and that you should be aware of so you can use and understand the terms with your athlete. We also recommend going to KUDDA VIDEO LIBRARY for BOYS & GIRLS training videos.

  Crosse
The Crosse must be between 40 - 42" for attackmen / mid-fielders and 52 - 72" for defensemen. The head is to be 6 1/2 - 10" wide. Goalies head may be 10 - 12" wide. All Bantam and Lightning players will use shorter sticks. The Crosse contains three components:

Shaft
Made from a variety of materials; including wood, metal or plastic. Most common is aluminum and its alloys. Aluminum and metal alloy shafts are the most popular for their relative strength and light weight. The length of the shaft should grow with a player's size, development and skills. When selecting a shaft, the most important point to consider is how it feels in a player's hands. Younger, more inexperienced players, need to concentrate on feel and weight, not on materials of construction. Strength of shaft becomes critical with older, stronger, more experienced players.

Head
Sole purpose is to act as a frame for the pocket. The head can be made of wood, plastic, or other synthetic material. The most common is plastic, because of its strength and lightness. There are a wide variety of heads available. It is best for beginners and younger players to stay with basic, simple heads.

Pocket
Net that forms a pocket in which the ball is carried and cradled and from which the ball is thrown. The pocket is the single most important and controllable part of the Crosse. It is very important that players get to know their pockets and how to adjust them. A player with average equipment, but good stick skills, and a good feel for the pocket will always perform better than a player with expensive equipment and average skills. Pockets come in two types: Traditional and Mesh.

• Traditional
  consists of four leather thongs, around which are interwoven synthetic cord and shooting strings. This produces a more accurate pass and shot, making it easier to control and absorb the ball. Major drawback: it takes time to soften the leather and form the proper pocket.
• Mesh
  A single piece of open nylon mesh material that is stretched between the sides of the head and attached with nylon cord, through which shooting strings run. This forms a good pocket immediately, is durable, and easy to adjust. This pocket is more forgiving while learning the basics and is preferred for those just starting the game.
• Shooting Strings
  Made of heavy-duty shoelace material, which are interwoven across the pocket. The purpose is to form a release point of the pocket. The actual pocket is formed just below the last shooting string. The objective is to form a short, smooth path for the ball to travel out of the stick.
• Adjustments
  The pocket must be adjusted so that the top of the ball does not fall below the bottom edge of the head when the stick is held horizontally. The purpose of this rule is so a player can't make it difficult for an opponent to dislodge the ball with a check. For safety purposes, all sticks are to have a plastic or wood plug covering the end of the stick opposite the head. Sticks are not to be physically bent, or altered, other than material added on the exterior surface for improved grip and weight.

Top hand
That hand that is closest to the head (for a right hander, it is your right hand)

  Bottom hand
That hand that is closest to the bottom of the handle.

  Catch and Throw
How we move the ball from one person to another and back again and up and down the field.  It is a push with the top hand and a pull down with the bottom like a lever, while stepping toward your target.

  Box area
That area where the head of your stick is when properly held.  The area we try to throw the ball toward.

  Scoop
How we get the ball off the field.  We never use our hands.  The stick should be parallel to the ground, we bend our knees and accelerate through the ball, pushing the head of the stick under and through the ball.

  Rake
We try to never do this, we scoop.

  Cradle
What we do to keep the ball in the head of the stick.  The top hand controls the motion of the stick in your hands and you gently roll the handle in you hand while moving your arm up and down.  The bottom hand is simply used as a guide.  When we catch the ball, there is a slight cradle to keep the ball from flying out.

  Goal
That 6' x 6' object with the net in the crease that we are attempting to get the ball in or keep the ball from going in.  Also what is achieved when the ball goes into it.

  Crease
An actual lined circle with a 9 ft. radius where the goal is located and where the goalie resides during play on their defensive end of the field.  Also, no Offensive player is ever allowed in the crease at any time.  Defenders are allowed in the crease but can not carry the ball into the crease.  Goalies can handle the ball in the crease but after possession only have 4 seconds to get the ball out of the crease.

  The Ball
Is white and is made of solid rubber. The ball is 7 3/4 - 8" in circumference and weighs 5 - 5 1/4 ounces.  The ball is NEVER to be thrown in the house!  BALL is what is "called or yelled" when the ball is on the ground and a player is going to pick it up.

  Release
What a player says after he picks the ball up to signify to his teamates that he has the ball.

Helmet
Each player is required to wear a protective helmet that includes a metal face mask with a chin pad, and a cupped four point chin strap fastened at all points to the helmet. All helmets and face masks should be NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) approved. The fit is the most important point to consider when selecting a helmet.

Mouthpiece – must be colored, NOT Clear
Must be a highly visible color and worn at all times while on the field.

Gloves, Shoulder & Arm pads, Cleats, and Jerseys
Required protective equipment for all regulation games. Rib Pads and athletic protectors are highly recommended.

Overview of Boys 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,  games are 40 minutes long, with 10minute 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.
• 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 half
• 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, with the exception of interfering with the Goalie's stick

Penalties

There are personal and technical fouls in lacrosse. The penalty for a personal foul is a one to three minute suspension from play and possession to the team that was fouled. Players with five personal fouls are ejected from the game. The penalty for a technical foul is a thirty second suspension if the team is in possession of the ball when the foul is committed, or possession of the ball goes to the team that was fouled if there was no possession when the foul was committed.

Personal Fouls

• SLASHING: Occurs when a player's stick contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or hands.
• TRIPPING: Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent below the waist with his stick, feet or legs.
• CROSS CHECKING: Occurs when a player uses the handle of his stick to contact an opponent.
• UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT: Occurs when any player or coach commits an act which is considered unsportsmanlike by an official, including taunting, obscene language or gestures, and arguing.
• UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS: Striking an opponent with hi stick or body using excessive force.
• ILLEGAL STICK: Occurs when a player uses a stick that does not conform to required specifications.
• ILLEGAL BODY CHECKING: Occurs by checking a player not within 5 yards of the ball, a late hit, or contact from behind, above the shoulders or below the waist. 

Technical Fouls

• HOLDING: Occurs when a player impedes the movement of an opponent or an opponent's stick.
• INTERFERENCE: Occurs when a player interferes with the free movement of an opponent.
• OFFSIDES: Occurs when a team does not have 4 players on the defensive side of the midfield or 3 players on the offensive side of the midfield.
• PUSHING: Occurs when a player thrusts or shoves a player from behind.
• SCREENING: Occurs when an offensive player moves into and makes contact with a defensive player.
• STALLING: Occurs when a team intentionally holds the ball, without advancing towards the goal.
• WARDING OFF: Occurs when a player with the ball uses his free hand to direct an opponent.

Rules of the Game and more available at US Lacrosse.

GIRLS LAX
The fundamentals of lacrosse are the same for both boys and girls but rules and equipment differ. In both games, players use a lacrosse stick to throw, catch and carry (cradle) a ball down the playing field to ultimately shoot the ball into the opposing team’s goal. Each goal scores one point and the team with the most points wins the game. The boys’ game allows some degree of stick and body contact. Helmet, pads, gloves, and mouth guards are worn by male players. Girls’ rules limit stick and body contact. Girls are required to wear eye protection and mouth guards. Even the lacrosse sticks used by girls and boys are different.

Lacrosse, often referred to as “the fastest game on two feet”, is one of the fastest growing team sports in the United States. Lacrosse has had the greatest growth of any sport at the NCAA level over the past five years. At the high school level, lacrosse’s growth has outpaced any other sport over the last 10 years. Youth membership (ages 15 and under) in US Lacrosse has more than tripled since 1999 from 40,000 to over 125,000 players.

While growing in popularity, some girls hesitate to try this up-and-coming sport. Few people have seen a girls’ lacrosse game, let alone have had any playing experience. It is important to realize that Girls can pick up lacrosse at any age. We can and will teach them the stick skills and get them up to speed quickly, especially if they’ve played another sport. We’ve also found that once they experience how fast-paced and exciting the game of lacrosse can be they are motivated to learn and they usually get "hooked”

Overview of Girls Rules

• Before the game begins, the umpires check every stick for legality. The most common illegality in a stick is that its pocket is too deep. The strings at the bottom of the stick's head can be pulled to tighten the pocket.  
• If a player commits a foul, the umpire blows the whistle and play stops. The player fouled wins or retains the ball, while the player who fouled her is moved several yards behind or to the side of the player she fouled.  
• If a major foul is committed in the arc by the defense, the umpire blows the whistle, and a "free shot" on goal is taken by the player fouled. All of the defense players are required to clear the arc to the border closest to which they were standing when the whistle blew. The attack player who was fouled takes her place at the hash mark closest to which she was standing when she was fouled. The defense must move away at least four meters from the fouled player. When the umpire blows the whistle again, the player can take a shot on goal or pass while the defense moves in.  
• Checking -- the method by which a player knocks the ball from another's stick -- is prohibited when it is: directed toward the face; uncontrolled; holding down the other's stick,or when the checker's stick is too close to the head or face.  
• Defensemen may not remain in the arc without guarding another player for more than three seconds.  
• When the ball is grounded, covering it with the back of a stick's net, and preventing play by another player is prohibited.  
• No players, other than the goalie, may enter the circle around the goal cage if the goalie is present.

GIRLS' YOUTH LACROSSE RULES and more available at US Lacrosse.