Game Basics:

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• Women's lacrosse is a non-contact game played by 12 players: a goalkeeper, 4 attackers 4 defenders and 3 midfielders. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring the most goals wins.

• Women's lacrosse begins with a draw, which is taken by the center position. The ball is placed between two horizontally held crosses (sticks) at the center of the field. At the sound of the whistle, the ball is flung into the air as the crosses are pulled up and away. A draw is used to start each half and after each goal, and it takes place at the center of the field.

• The collegiate game is 60 minutes long, each half being 30 minutes. The high school girls game is 50 minutes long, each half being 25 minutes. In both collegiate and high school play, teams are allowed one timeout per half.

• There are visual guidelines on the side of the field that are in place to provide a consistent indicator to the officials of what is considered the playing field. The minimum dimensions for a field is 120 yards by 70 yards. Additional markings on the field include a restraining line located 30 yards from each goal line, which creates an area where only a maximum of seven offensive players and eight defensive players (including the goalkeeper) are allowed; a 12-meter fan, which officials use to position players after fouls; and an arc in front of each goal, considered the critical scoring area, where defenders must be at least within a stick's-length of their attacker. The boundaries are determined by the natural restrictions of the field. An area of 120 yards by 70 yards is desirable.

• When a whistle blows, all players must stop in place. When a ball is ruled out of play, the player closest to the ball gets possession when play is resumed. Loss of possession may occur if a player deliberately runs or throws the ball out of play. 

• Rough checks, and contact to the body with the crosse or body, are not allowed.

• Field players may pass, catch or run with the ball in their crosse. A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponent's crosse with a check. A check is a controlled tap with a crosse on an opponent's crosse in an attempt to knock the ball free. The player must be one step in front of her opponent in order to check. No player may reach across an opponent's body to check the handle of a crosse when she is even with or behind that opponent. A player may not protect the ball in her crosse by cradling so close to her body or face so as to make a legal, safe check impossible for the opponent.

• All legal checks must be directed away from a 7-inch sphere or "bubble" around the head of the player. No player is allowed to touch the ball with her hands except the goalkeeper when she is within the goal circle. A change of possession may occur if a player gains a distinct advantage by playing the ball off her body.

• Fouls are categorized as major or minor, and the penalty for fouls is a "free position."  For major fouls, the offending player is placed four meters behind the player taking the free position. For a minor foul, the offending player is placed four meters off, in the direction from which she approached her opponent before committing the foul, and play is resumed. When a minor foul is committed in the critical scoring area, the player with the ball has an indirect free position, in which 

• case the player must pass first.

• A slow whistle occurs when the offense has entered the critical scoring area and the defense has committed a major foul. A flag is thrown but no whistle is sounded so that the offense has an opportunity to score a goal. A whistle is blown when a goal is scored or the scoring opportunity is over. An immediate whistle is blown when a major foul, obstruction or shooting space occurs, which jeopardizes the safety of a player.

Major Fouls:

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• Blocking: When contact is initiated by a defender who has moved into the path of an opponent with the ball without giving that player a chance to stop or change direction.

• Charging: When a player charges, barges, shoulders or backs into an opponent, or pushes with the hand or body.

• Dangerous Shot: When a player propels the ball toward the goal without control, or in the direction of a field player or the goalkeeper.

• Misconduct: When a player conducts herself in a rough, dangerous or unsportsmanlike manner, persistently causes infringement of the rules, or deliberately endangers the safety of opposing players.

• Slashing: When a defender swings her crosse at an opponent's crosse or body with deliberate viciousness or recklessness, whether or not the opponent's crosse or body is struck.

• Three Seconds: A defender may not stand within the eight meter arc, unless she is closely marking an opponent, for more than three seconds.

• Obstruction of Free Space: When a defender is not closely marking her opponent and is in the free space to goal of the attack player with the ball. The attack player must have the opportunity and be looking to shoot.

Minor Fouls:

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• Goal Circle Fouls: When any part of an offensive or defensive player's body or crosse, except that of the goalkeeper or deputy, enters the goal circle.

• Warding Off: When a player guards a ground ball with her crosse or foot, removes one hand from the crosse and uses her free arm to ward off an opponent, or checks an opponent's empty crosse while she is trying to get possession of the ball.

• Empty Cross Check: A player may not check an opponent's cross unless the ball is in the opponent's cross.

• Body Ball: A ball that hits a field player's body to her distinct advantage.