Dimensions for Lacrosse

Lacrosse is a team sport that is played with either 10 players (men) or 12 players (women), each of whom uses a netted stick to pass and catch a hard rubber ball with the aim of scoring goals. The team scoring the most points after two halves wins.

Related topics: lacrosse

The information in this guide is general in nature and cannot be relied upon as professional advice concerning the design of, or marking out for, sporting facilities and playing areas. No assurance is given as to the accuracy of any information contained in this guide and readers should not rely on its accuracy. Readers should obtain their own independent and professional advice in relation to their proposed sporting activity.

Men's lacrosse

The playing field

The lacrosse playing field is a rectangular field 100.58m long and 54.86m wide. The boundaries of the field are marked with white lines. All lines referred to (except the centre line and goal lines) are 5.08cm wide.

The centre line is a white line, 10.16cm wide, marked through the centre of the field perpendicular to the side lines. The boundary lines on the long sides of the field are sidelines, lines at each end are endlines.

Soft, flexible cones or pylons of red or orange plastic or rubber are placed at the four corners of the field, at each end of the gate within the special substitution area and at that end of the halfway line which is opposite the bench area. The cones or pylons are at the outside edge of the boundary lines.

Goals

Each goal consists of two vertical posts joined by a rigid crossbar. The posts are1.83m apart and the top crossbar is1.83m from the ground. The goal posts are centred and placed 73.15m apart and 13.72m from each endline.

The goal posts are made of 3.81cm pipe secured to the ground and painted orange. A line drawn between the goal posts is the goal line.

Around each goal there is marked a circle known as the goal crease. This circle is marked by using the mid-point of the goal line as the centre and drawing a circle around that point with a radius of 2.74m.

Each goal is fitted with pyramidal shaped cord netting fastened to the goal posts, the crossbar and the ground so as to prevent the passage of the ball. The mesh of the net must not exceed 3.81cm. The centre of the goal net is fastened to the ground 2.13m behind the centre of the goal line.

Goal areas

At each end of the field a goal line is marked from side line to sideline 18.29m from the centre line. The areas between the goal lines and the endlines (but excluding the lines themselves) at each end of the field are the goal areas.

Wing areas

Lines parallel to the sidelines are marked on each side of the field 18.29m from an imaginary line joining the centres of the goal lines. These lines extend 9.14m on each side of the centre line and are the wing area lines. The area between the wing area lines and the sidelines are the wing areas.

Centre

A point on the centre line equidistant from each side line marked with an 'X' is the centre.

Substitution area

The special substitution area is indicated by two lines marked on the side of the field next to the timer’s table. These lines are 6.1m long and extend away from the field of play at right angles to the sideline from points on the side line 4.57m from the centre line. The part of the sideline between the special substitution area lines is 9.14m in length and called the gate.

Men's lacrosse pitch

Women's lacrosse

Women’s lacrosse is an open, flowing, non-contact sport, with emphasis on the skills of catching, throwing and running. Women’s lacrosse is played with a team of 10 players including the goalkeeper. The duration of the game is 50 minutes (two halves of 25 minutes each). Each team is allowed one 90 second team time-out per half. Time-outs may be taken only after a goal has been scored.

Playing area

The playing area is marked with a solid lined rectangular boundary, 100m–22m long between end lines and 50m–60m wide between sidelines. Four cones may be used to mark the corners of the field. All lines used in marking the field are 5.1cm wide. A playing area of 122m x 60m is used for international events.

The team bench sideline boundary is 4m away from the scorer’s table. There is 2m to 4m of space between the opposite sideline and end line boundaries and any natural or artificial objects, such as trees, bushes, athletic tracks, spectators or stands etc.

Goal area

A line called the goal line is marked at each end of the field and are no less than 82m and no greater than 92m apart. The goal lines are1.83m in length and are marked parallel to the end lines (Rule 2).

There is 9m–15m of playing space behind each goal line running the full width of the field. The 9m–15m of playing space behind each goal line is measured from the back outside edge of the goal line extended to the front inside edge of the end line.

Two small visible marks are added to the field behind each goal, 4m in from the boundary and 11m from the centre of the goal line. These marks indicate the nearest spot to restart play when the playing space from the goal line to the end line boundary is less than the 15m maximum.

Around each goal line a circle, called the goal circle, is marked. It has a radius of 3m measured from the centre back edge of the goal line to the outside edge of the goal circle.

Restraining lines

Restraining lines are marked at each end of the field, 27m up field from each goal line. These solid lines extend across the full width of the field. The 27m is measured from the back edge of the goal line to the front/midfield edge of the restraining line.

In the centre of the field, a centre circle is marked and has a radius of 9m when measured from the centre of the circle to its outside edge. Through the centre of this circle, a centre line 3m in length is marked parallel to the goal lines.

Women's lacrosse pitch

Sofcrosse

Sofcrosse is a version of lacrosse designed for the younger athlete. It provides a great introduction to a team sport for young children. Basic skills include throwing, catching and team work. The game is non-competitive and non-contact. Sofcrosse uses a stick with a plastic head instead of a net to hold the ball when the player is scooping the ball up and running. The field size is roughly 20m wide and 40m long.

Modcrosse

Modcrosse is played in two age ranges ─ eight to 11 years (Under 11s) and 11 to 13 years (Under 13s). Modcrosse is a team game played with a crosse and soft sponge rubber compound ball and is a minimal contact team sport. Unlike sofcrosse, the game is played with a conventional lacrosse stick and goalies are included.

Modcrosse is the fastest junior sport available as well as high scoring. A typical modcrosse game will have each side scoring 15 goals.

The field of play is 100m x 55m. The goals are located 25m either side of the centre line and midway across the width of the field. Flag or cone markers are placed at the four corners, at the centre line opposite the substitution area and at the extremities of the substitution area.

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